(NewsNation) — Assessing an area’s climate risk before buying a new home has become more vital as natural disasters threaten increasingly large areas of the country.
A Zillow survey published earlier this week reported that more than four out of five prospective homebuyers consider climate risks when pondering where to live.
In response, Zillow launched a climate risk feature that will show how vulnerable for-sale properties are.
First Street, a climate modeling company, partnered with Zillow last month to add the information.
Home shoppers will gain insights into five key risks: Flood, wildfire, wind, heat and air quality. The data comes directly from listing pages, complete with risk scores and interactive maps. The feature also estimates a home’s climate risks 15 years and 30 years into the future.
Additionally, Zillow said it’s the only platform to offer tailored insurance recommendations, as well.
“Climate risks are now a critical factor in home-buying decisions,” Skylar Olsen, chief economist at Zillow, said in a statement. “As concerns about flooding, extreme temperatures and wildfires grow — and what that might mean for future insurance costs — this tool also helps agents inform their clients in discussing climate risk, insurance and long-term affordability.”