Climate House Hunting: Hollywood Edition

Glued to real estate posts on The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Dwell, Spaces, The Modern House, or Architectural Digest and wondering how those gorgeous homes will hold up in the next decades? I have you covered.

Heatmap has partnered with my new climate risk platform, Habitable. Every Friday, we add a climate risk score to the real estate listings featured in the news this week and ask: Could you live here as the climate changes?

Using a model developed by a team of Berkeley data scientists at Climate Check, Habitable scores each property for heat, flood, drought, and fire risk on a scale of 1-10. One represents the lowest risk and 10 is the highest. Our rating for each hazard is based on climate change projections through 2050. (You can check your own home’s climate risk here.)

For today’s edition, I apply the Habitable Index to this week’s headline-generating real estate to find out: Is drought driving celebrities to blaze a trail out of L.A.? And can a ranch house with fire risk — even if it is Jim Carrey’s — actually sell for $26 million? Read on for the verdict on the most habitable homes in the news this week, from best to worst:

1. Hockey legend Chris Chelios’s Malibu beachhouse shocker

Zillow

The seaside compound of NHL legend Chris Chelios, nestled in the hillside is for sale for $75m. Located in‘Paradise Cove’ Malibu feels suspect from a climate risk perspective but, Chelios scores a hat trick:: low flood, heat, and drought risks! Also zero risk for fire. Not sure this climate paradise exists anywhere else on this Malibu coastline. Chelios and his wife who are escaping to Michigan for grandkids, might want to move them all in here. Featured in The Dirt for $75 million.

2. Jim Carrey’s ‘ranch’ house in Brentwood

Sotheby’s International Realty

The Brentwood 1951 ranch house of Jim Carrey has more than 12,000 square feet and 6 fireplaces (even in the bathrooms). The sprawling mid-century is positioned, as usual, for severe drought and medium fire risk. Featured in Dwell and now listed for $26,500,000 (down from $ 28,900,000 when originally listed 2 months ago). (And don’t lose heart Jim, Angela Lansbury’s Brentwood home just sold $500k over asking price with the same fire and drought risk.)

3. Carol Burnett’s famous sign off on her Wiltshire

Redfin.

My favorite comedienne, Carol Burnett sold her Los Angeles condo this week. It was on the 13th floor (she was clearly not superstitious) of the Wilshire Corridor condominium near Century City. Turns out the place is surprisingly cool and dry — no heat or flood risk. And like most of L.A., Burnett’s apartment suffers from severe drought risk although slightly less fire risk than surrounding areas — only 6/10. Featured in WSJ and sold for $3,700,000.

4-tie. Is Madmen creator mad to ask $15 million for high fire and drought risk?

Compass.

Mad Men creator Matthew Weiner and his former wife, architect Linda Brettler’s restored Blair House, a 1924 Spanish Mediterranean-style home which hit the market this week for $15,495,000. You would be mad to think the Mediterranean Mansion can withstand the severe drought and fire risk. Featured on Mansion Global and listed for $15,495,000.

4-tie. Brad Pitt must be thirsty.

Realtor.com

Once upon a time in Hollywood, a gorgeous actor with great taste in art, architecture, and real estate nabbed his next real estate gem. Pitt just bought Steel House, a gleaming mid-sized mid century property, designed by noted architect Neil Johnson. The house is on a tree-filled hillside in the hip Los Feliz neighborhood and has an unfortunately severe (9/10) drought risk which will only exacerbate the also-severe fire risk, I hope this story has a happy ending. Featured in Realtor.com and sold for $5.5 million.

4-tie. Emily Blunt and John Krasinski’s quiet place

Compass.

A ‘60s house meticulously renovated by Emily Blunt and John Krasinski has just hit the market. This very quiet place, high in the Hollywood Hills, off Mulholland Drive, has soaring views over L.A. Equally soaring is the drought and fire risk. Featured in Dwell and listed for $6 million.

5. Another fire sale in Bel Air: Jennifer Lopez drops price of mansion.

Zillow.

Jennifer Lopez dropped the price on her eight-acre estate in Bel Air with its own lake and beach. The climate forecast shows the place will stay relatively cool. Given the risk for severe drought and fire, the on-site water would be a huge selling point if not for the uptick in flood risk. Featured in WSJ and listed for $39,995,000.