Climate change and global warming are very real and the effects can be seen worldwide today. This is why popular real estate platform Zillow Maps is gearing up to display climate-related catastrophe alerts to all users.
The news comes amid a devastating Hurricane Helene that ravaged Florida recently, leaving millions without power. Moreover, beachfront properties were significantly impacted and were witnessed getting washed into the ocean. This is why Zillow says it’s important to keep homeowners aware of the risks as they build up with time.
Now, Zillow plans to add data related to floods, wildfires, air quality, and more that’s linked to homes across America. Such information will solely depend on the climate risk at stake. For instance, when you look at homes prone to flooding, the page will display the frequency and depth of floods in any area.
In terms of wildfires, it would showcase how many fires took place in recent memory and also the probability of that getting impacted by the fire over the next few years.
The information will be present on the company’s map and will also be color-coded to display the different kinds of disasters so everyone can check the areas where all five risks are present at the same time. Meanwhile, it confirmed how the data would be property-specific. So that means every user can beforehand check out the risks, if any, before adding offers.
The feature will likely be rolled out on the page and iOS app by this year’s end with support for Android devices arriving during the start of 2025.
The company released a statement on this front, adding how climate risks are a huge consideration when citizens invest in property. This is why markets are only deemed healthy when buyers have the right kind of data accessible to them so they can make the right decision.
This tool is also sufficient, considering the timing of extreme weather conditions. From floods and high temperatures to wildfires and more, the tool can assist agents keep their clients informed about any risks. Be it climate change, insurance, or even factors like affordability in the long term.
This is why Zillow has collaborated with First Street to get the right predictions and provide proper risk assessment. As it is, the firm calls itself a great model for determining climate risk and financial modeling.
As per the company, studies proved that 80% of all investors always take climate risks into account before making a property purchase. This entails the growing accounts of wildfires and homeowners’ insurance that might be destroyed by hurricanes.
With this new feature, buyers will remain informed and make the best purchasing decisions without regret as new listings seen in August were mostly at risk for wildfires and flooding. So if you ask us, the company is certainly giving buyers the reassurance they need, ahead of time.
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