Zillow’s Climate Risk Data Shift: Understanding the Changes and Impact
In a notable shift that has sparked industry-wide discussions, Zillow has recently altered its approach to presenting climate risk information on its platform. Instead of displaying this critical data directly on property listings, the home search leader now redirects users to the website of its data partner, First Street. This change, which affects all listings across the platform, has raised questions about data ownership, industry influence, and the ongoing challenges related to climate risks in real estate.
The modification comes at a particularly sensitive time for the housing market, as homeowners nationwide face skyrocketing insurance premiums linked to climate concerns. According to Zillow, this update “ensures consumers continue to have access to important information to help them consider factors such as insurance, repair costs, and long-term homeownership planning.” The company maintains that the change reflects their “long-standing commitment to empowering consumers with transparent information,” despite removing this data from direct view on their property pages. What makes this situation particularly interesting is that competitor platforms like Redfin continue to display climate risk scores directly on their listings, highlighting divergent approaches within the industry to handling this increasingly important information.
Behind this change lies a complex dynamic between Zillow and multiple listing services, particularly the California Regional Multiple Listing Service (CRMLS). Initially reported by The New York Times, the story suggested that Zillow’s decision came under pressure from CRMLS, whose CEO Art Carter had expressed concerns about perceived discrepancies in climate risk data. However, Zillow’s official statement frames the change differently, noting it was made “to adhere to varying MLS requirements and maintain a consistent experience for all consumers.” Interestingly, when questioned about specific rule changes that might have prompted Zillow’s action, a CRMLS spokesperson stated plainly: “There was no change in the rules.” This apparent contradiction raises questions about the true catalyst for Zillow’s decision and highlights the ongoing tension between major real estate platforms and listing services over data control.
This dispute can be viewed as part of a larger industry conflict over listing data ownership and control. Just months earlier, CRMLS and Compass engaged in a high-profile disagreement regarding the MLS’s end user licensing agreement. Compass CEO Robert Reffkin criticized the agreement for forcing “over 100,000 agents to accept a 10-page agreement giving CRMLS the right to sell the agents’ content and contribution.” CRMLS defended its position, with Carter explaining that the MLS serves its users by managing data “as a set, not as a bunch of individual fragments.” These disputes illustrate the increasing value of real estate data and the struggle for control over how this information is distributed and displayed to consumers. Zillow’s climate risk data decision appears to be another battlefield in this ongoing industry tension.
The timing of this change is particularly significant as homeowners across the country face dramatic increases in insurance costs, with California homeowners experiencing especially severe impacts. According to Cotality Chief Data and Analytics Officer John Rogers, average annual increases in homeowners insurance premiums reached 14% in both 2023 and 2024, with projections of 10% for 2025 and 8% for both 2026 and 2027. These aren’t just minor adjustments but substantial financial burdens that directly impact housing affordability and ownership costs. The California Association of Realtors’ latest State of the Market report reveals that over a quarter of member agents reported their buyers struggling to obtain insurance, with more than 16% of agents in 2025 experiencing deals falling through specifically because buyers couldn’t secure homeowners insurance – up from 14% the previous year.
As climate change continues to reshape the real estate landscape, the question of how, when, and where to present climate risk information has become increasingly contentious. Zillow’s decision to redirect users rather than display this data directly represents a significant shift in approach to transparency and consumer information. While the company maintains its commitment to empowering consumers with important information, the change inevitably places additional steps between homebuyers and critical climate risk data that could influence their purchasing decisions. As insurance costs continue to rise and climate impacts become more pronounced across different regions, the industry’s approach to presenting climate risk information will likely remain a focal point of debate. For consumers, understanding these changes and knowing where to find complete climate risk assessments becomes increasingly important in making informed homebuying decisions in a changing environmental landscape.
