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What Zillow’s new climate risk data could mean for Massachusetts' real estate game
Editor's Note: This is an excerpt from WBUR's daily morning newsletter, WBUR Today. If you like what you read and want it in your inbox, sign up here.
We’ve got beach weather on the forecast for mid-October. New England, you never fail to surprise us.
Before you start working on excuses to call out sick today, let’s get to the news:
You’ve found your dream home. But what are the climate risks associated with it? To help prospective homeowners answer that question, Zillow will soon offer a climate risk rating system to score a house’s likelihood of fire, wind, poor air quality, heat and — most relevant to the Bay State — flooding.
- Zoom in: Under that new system, more than 70,000 properties in the state are at risk of “extreme” flooding, according to First Street, where Zillow sources its climate data. And the situation may only get worse, as northeast storms bringing at least 1.5 inches of heavy rain in a day are expected to surge in the coming decades.
- What does this mean for Mass.’s competitive real estate game? Anyone selling a house in Massachusetts does not legally have to disclose information about past flooding (unless directly asked by a buyer). Theresa Hatton, CEO of the Massachusetts Association of Realtors, told WBUR’s Josie Guarino that some realtors have had access to a similar risk assessment tool, but through private subscriptions. “I’m glad this tool is available to the public. More information is always better,” Hatton said. “The only concern that I really have is that it’s not 100% accurate all the time. Landscapes change; we’ve had issues in the past where properties have been included into updated FEMA maps looking as though they’re in a flood zone, but when you actually get somebody out and do a survey, it’s not.”
- Hatton advises wannabe homeowners to not fully rely on Zillow’s assessment, and instead do their own research. “If you have concerns, talk to your insurance provider,” said Hatton. “You can always call FEMA and get their information as well.”
The good news: The MBTA’s 13-day Orange Line closure between Forest Hills and Back Bay ends today. The not-so-great news? Track work on the line still isn’t complete, and there’s another closure (on the other end of the line) coming up next week.
- Shuttle buses will replace service between Oak Grove and Ruggles on the weekend of Oct. 26. Then, there will be five-day closure for more track work between Oak Grove and North Station from Oct. 28 to Nov. 1.
Massachusetts’ annual STEM Week begins today with a kickoff event at the Boston Children’s Museum. The statewide events series, sponsored in part by Gov. Maura Healey’s administration, is meant to expose young learners interested in science, technology, engineering and math to different aspects of the field. It’s not just for kids, either. There are a number of networking events for adults involved or interested in the field, too. You can find a full list of STEM Week events, organized by region, here.
- Go deeper: Many of Massachusetts’ community colleges have become training grounds for careers in STEM fields like cybersecurity and biotech. Educators say there’s an increased demand for such roles, and students are eager to get a piece of the (previously hard-to-access) pie.
Boston’s North Washington Street Bridge may still be under construction through the end of the year, but by the time it’s unveiled, it’ll also have a new name: The William Felton “Bill” Russell Bridge. The City of Boston is officially renaming the bridge after late Celtics star Bill Russell, in recognition of the athlete’s “dedication to civil rights and the fostering of Boston’s youth and young athletes,” Mayor Michelle Wu said in a statement.
- Russell’s wife, Jeannine, Celtics co-owner Steve Pagliuca, team players and alumni, and Healey will all take part in the renaming ceremony today on Causeway Street.
Happy birthday, Old Ironsides! To commemorate its 227th birthday, the USS Constitution will fire off a 21-gun salute in Boston Harbor at 11:30 a.m. You can view the birthday blowout today from the Boston Harborwalk, Castle Island and the Charlestown Navy Yard.
P.S. — I’d like to give a big thank you to all the WBUR fans who swung by the station’s tent at the Head of the Charles Regatta this weekend. It was great to meet so many of you in person.
