Weekly Real Estate News
Florida’s attorney general has sued First Street Technology, alleging the company’s property-level climate-risk scores mislead buyers and sellers about threats including flooding, wildfire, wind, heat and air quality.
Attorney General James Uthmeier announced the lawsuit October 23. The complaint, filed in Polk County, invokes the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act. The allegations have not been established in court, and the case should not be interpreted as a judicial finding that First Street’s models are inaccurate.
Property Risk Ratings Under Scrutiny
First Street’s Risk Factor ratings appear alongside property listings on major real estate websites, where buyers may consult them while evaluating homes. Florida alleges the company’s presentation overstates confidence in parcel-level forecasts and fails to adequately disclose uncertainty or limitations. The state also argues that disputed ratings may influence offers, property values and insurance decisions.
The complaint points to properties whose private flood-risk scores differ from federal flood-map classifications. Such differences alone do not establish error: FEMA flood maps and forward-looking private models may assess different time horizons, risks and assumptions. The legal question concerns the accuracy and presentation of the company’s claims under consumer-protection law.
Florida seeks injunctive relief and monetary remedies, including statutory civil penalties. The amount ultimately recoverable, if any, will depend on litigation and judicial findings.
Second State Challenge
Nebraska filed a separate lawsuit involving First Street earlier in 2026, likewise challenging how property-level risk estimates are presented. The lawsuits raise questions about the disclosures buyers see when comparing homes, but neither establishes that climate risks should be ignored.
As of October 27, First Street had not provided a response to a request for comment reported by HousingWire. WRE News has not independently reviewed the full court complaint or obtained a direct company response; its allegations are attributed accordingly.
Sources: Florida Attorney General, October 23; HousingWire, October 27.
