Buying a home in 2024 takes a lot more consideration than ever before. Potential buyers have to think well beyond the scope of property value, school district, and community when choosing their next family house—they have to think about longevity too. Climate risk has become a serious factor when making a large purchase like a home, a car, and or even booking a vacation destinations.
Because of an increased awareness of these factors and a larger conversation about how these might affect home buyers, Zillow will add climate change information and climate risk data on all home listings on the site moving forward. This data will fall into five broad categories that pose a significant danger to US communities: Air quality, flooding, fires, extreme wind, and extreme heat.
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According to Zillow’s survey data, more than half (55.5 percent) of all new listings nationwide face a major risk of extreme heat. This compares to a third of homes that are at major risk of extreme wind exposure, while 16.7 percent have a major wildfire risks. To round it out, 13 percent of newly listed homes nationwide have a major air quality risk, while only 12.8 face a major risk of flooding. It’s not all bad news—these cities still offer wonderful places to live and to raise a family—but it’s important to take these factors into consideration in when purchasing a home.
To help keep potential home buyers as well informed as possible, we’re breaking down the five US cities that are most at risk for future, harmful climate events.
San Jose, CA
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98.5% of new listings in August had a major air quality risk.
Due to city smog, air pollution, and wildfire risk in the surrounding area, over 98 percent of new home listings in San Jose, California have a major air quality problem. The mountains that ring the city trap air, and the proximity to the harbor also increases pollution levels. If San Jose is your dream place to live, consider investing in air purifiers, take care of regular vent filter maintenance and replacements, and invest in weathertight windows and doors.
Riverside, CA
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70.5% of all new listings in August had a major fire risk.
The incidence of wildfires in California have increased tenfold over the last few years due to higher temperatures, higher wind speeds, and lower rainfall. In Riverside, California, a city west of Los Angeles, over 70 percent of new homes for sale are being listed on Zillow with a major fire risk advisory. The Santa Ana winds blow through Riverside, which causes fires to spread more rapidly in their.
New Orleans, LA
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76.8% of all new listings in August had a major flood risk.
Rising sea levels are affecting coastal cities and towns all across the country, but nowhere more than New Orleans. Here, over 76 percent of homes are listed with a disclaimer of major flood risks. Of course, many homes in the area are raised or are built with the foundation above the base flood elevation, but this is still something to keep in mind.
Baltimore, MD
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97.9% of all new listings in August had an extreme heat risk.
While Baltimore may not seem like the prime area for extreme heat, rising temperatures affect cities across the United States, even in the middle of the Eastern Seaboard. Here, you can expect nearly 98 percent of home listings to have a heat risk advisory. This often means higher than usual utility prices (electric bills especially), a strain on the power grid, and higher temperatures throughout the year, not just in the summer.
Virginia Beach, VA
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97.7% of all new listings in August had an extreme wind risk.
Because of the lack of structures and topography to block coastal winds, many oceanfront cities and towns are more vulnerable to high wind speeds than inland areas. In Virginia Beach, Virginia, 97.7 percent of new homes listed for sale are prone to extreme wind risk advisories. Extreme winds can also accelerate erosion of sandy or looser topsoils.