17.3M Homes in High Environmental Hazard Risk Areas – NMP Skip to main content

17.3M Homes in High Environmental Hazard Risk Areas

Feb 16, 2017
The real estate industry mantra “location, location, location” took on a rather toxic hue with ATTOM Data Solutions’ third annual Environmental Hazards Housing Risk Index

The real estate industry mantra “location, location, location” took on a rather toxic hue with ATTOM Data Solutions’ third annual Environmental Hazards Housing Risk Index, which determined that 17.3 million single-family homes and condos with a combined estimated market value of $4.9 trillion are in ZIP codes with high or very high risk of Superfunds, brownfields, polluters or poor air quality.
 
ZIP codes with the 10 highest Total Environmental Hazard Index values were in Denver; San Bernardino, Calif.; Curtis Bay, Md. (in the Baltimore metro area); Santa Fe Springs, Calif. (in the Los Angeles metro area); Fresno, Calif.; Niagara Falls, N.Y.; St. Louis; Mira Loma, Calif. (in the Riverside-San Bernardino metro area); Hamburg, Pa. (in the Reading metro area); and Tampa, Fla.
 
“Home values are higher and long-term home price appreciation is stronger in ZIP codes without a high risk for any of the four environmental hazards analyzed,” said Daren Blomquist, senior vice president at ATTOM Data Solutions. “Corresponding to that is a higher share of homes still seriously underwater in the ZIP codes with a high risk of at least one environmental hazard, indicating those areas have not regained as much of the home value lost during the downturn.”
 
However, Blomquist noted that home price appreciation over the past five years was stronger in the higher-risk ZIP codes markets. “Environmental hazards likely impact owner-occupants more directly than investors, making the latter more willing to purchase in higher-risk areas,” he said. “The higher share of cash sales we’re seeing in high-risk ZIP codes for environmental hazards also suggests that this is the case.”
About the author
Published
Feb 16, 2017
Strong Jobs Report Threatens Mortgage Rate Rally

October hiring more than doubled expectations, pushing Treasury yields higher

Nov 06, 2026
Fed Holds Rates, But Pricing Pressures Persist

Rising Treasury yields and fresh inflation data complicate rate locks, borrower qualification, and lender margins as markets anticipate another hike in December

Oct 29, 2026
Zippy Adds Capital For Manufactured-Home Lending Push

The $20 million investment from Saluda Grade will support expansion beyond 27 states and new loan products across wholesale, retail, and community channels

Oct 16, 2026
Inflation Hits 3.7%, Putting Mortgage Rate Relief At Risk

September’s inflation pickup puts recent rate improvements at risk, potentially eroding affordability gains from lower home prices and seller concessions

Oct 14, 2026
PLACE Acquires Ardley, Expanding Push To Turn Existing Borrowers Into New Loans

The latest deal connects borrower retention technology with Maxwell's origination platform and PLACE's real estate network, creating new opportunities for lenders

Oct 09, 2026
Equifax, TransUnion Launch New Tools To Cut Credit Report Costs

Both bureaus introduce ways to purchase credit scores separately from reports, while Equifax reports growing VantageScore adoption and extends $1 pricing through 2028

Oct 09, 2026