December 2025 – A recent SFGate article brought major attention to a significant shift in the real estate industry: Zillow has removed climate-risk scores from more than one million home listings across California and the U.S. These scores, previously displayed on each listing, estimated wildfire, flood, extreme heat, and other environmental risks.
The change comes after growing concern from real estate professionals and MLS groups who argued that these automated climate models were often inaccurate, overly generalized, and potentially misleading, especially in complex areas like the Bay Area.
Why This Matters for California Real Estate
For homeowners and buyers, the removal of upfront risk ratings has real implications:
- Insurance challenges in California make accurate data more important than ever.
- Automated models often miss property-specific factors like mitigations, upgrades, and neighborhood microclimates.
- Local expertise becomes essential in evaluating long-term value and safety.
This shift highlights the growing need for trusted, knowledgeable real estate guidance, exactly what Brett brings to his clients.
Brett Caviness’s Expert Insight Featured in the Article
In the SFGate piece, Brett Caviness was quoted as a local expert, explaining that Zillow’s climate-risk scores were frequently too broad and didn’t reflect the reality of individual homes.
Brett emphasized that while climate risk is an important factor in today’s market, clients benefit far more from personalized guidance than from one-size-fits-all risk models. His perspective reinforces the value of an advisor who understands both the data and the local market nuances.
Why Brett’s Feature Matters
Brett is a trusted, transparent, and highly informed real estate professional. Being included in this widely read SFGate article underscores his commitment to:
- Providing clear, accurate information
- Helping clients interpret complex risk data
- Advocating for transparency and informed decision-making
- Leading conversations about how climate and insurance trends affect California real estate
For buyers and sellers navigating an evolving market, Brett’s insight is more valuable than ever.
Ready for Expert Real Estate Guidance?
If you’re thinking about buying or selling, Caviness, Straub & Associates is here to help.
Contact us today for expert, personalized real estate guidance tailored to your goals.
📞 (650) 288-3230
📧 [email protected]
Brett Caviness // DRE01935984
Don Straub // DRE01896844
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