Home Listings Now Show A Sunscore From 0 To 100 Plus ZIP Level Weather After Nearly 70% Of People Surveyed Said Sunlight Affects Satisfaction With Where They Live

House hunters have long checked the kitchen, the roof and the school district. Now the real estate site Redfin wants you to check the sun too. Its home listings now show a Sunscore from 0 to 100, along with ZIP code level weather, and the company says the idea comes from what buyers keep telling it.

A sunlit living room with a sofa and a desk by the window, showing how daylight fills a home.

In a Redfin survey, nearly 70% of people said sunlight affects their satisfaction with where they live. Another 11% called it non-negotiable when searching for a home. The details were laid out in a Redfin news post published November 9, 2026.

A Sunscore From 0 To 100 For Every Property

The Sunscore is a property-level rating that shows how much sunlight a home gets. Redfin created it with Shadowmap, a sunlight analysis platform, and it relies on 3D modeling of how shadows fall across a home through the day and across the seasons.

Each score takes into account the home’s own 3D shape and structure, the buildings, trees and terrain around it, the sun’s position during the day and the changes from season to season. That means a house shaded by a big oak or a taller neighbor can score differently from one next door.

What The Five Tiers Mean

Redfin groups the scores into five tiers. A score of 0 to 50 means low sunlight, and 50 to 70 is moderate. From 70 to 80 the home has good sunlight, 80 to 90 is very good, and 90 to 100 is exceptional.

Redfin also notes that sun exposure relates to solar potential, which can reduce energy costs over time. A bright, open roof is a better candidate for solar panels than one buried in shade.

Weather Is The Top Reason People Say They Are Moving

The company’s survey, conducted by Ipsos, found that 22% of Americans planning to move to another state said better weather was motivating the move. Out of nearly 30 options, that was the most-cited reason, ahead of affordability, job opportunities and being closer to family. Another 21% said concerns about climate change or natural disasters were shaping where they want to live.

In July, Redfin partnered with The Weather Company, which owns The Weather Channel app and weather.com, to bring historical weather data to every for-sale listing. The Weather Company is Redfin’s exclusive historical weather provider.

ZIP Code Averages For Temperature, Snow, Humidity And UV

Each listing now shows ZIP code level averages for temperature, precipitation, snowfall, humidity and UV index. If you are moving from Ohio to the Southeast, for example, you can see what the typical humidity looks like before you ever visit.

Daycare Options Now Appear On Listings

Redfin says it is the first major real estate portal to partner with Winnie, which it describes as the largest marketplace for childcare and early education in the U.S. Nearby daycare and preschool options now appear on for-sale listings.

The details include distance from the home, tuition, licensing status, financial aid availability and staff certifications. For families with young children, or grandparents who help with childcare, that can save hours of searching.

Quiet, Wellness And Vibrancy Join Walk, Bike And Transit

Walk Score, Bike Score and Transit Score were already on listings. Redfin has now added three more, using data from Local Logic. The Quiet Score reflects the level of nearby noise. The Wellness Score counts the amenities within walking distance that support physical activity and healthy eating. The Vibrancy Score measures the level of nearby street activity.

For buyers who want a peaceful street, or one with a lively main drag, the numbers give a quick first look before a showing.

How To Use The Numbers When You Tour A Home

Scores are a start, not a verdict. A good habit is to visit a home at different times of day, since morning light in the kitchen is not the same as afternoon light in the living room. Look at which way the windows face and what trees or buildings sit near them, and think about how that might shift with the seasons.

If you care about energy costs, a high Sunscore may point to a roof that could suit solar panels, while a low one may mean you will want brighter bulbs and lighter paint. If you work from home, the room where you will sit all day may matter more than the whole-house score.

Weather averages can help you plan the practical side of a move, such as heating and cooling budgets, snow removal or garden choices. A buyer who loves sunshine but hates humidity can compare ZIP codes quickly instead of guessing.

Sunlight also shapes everyday life in small ways. A bright breakfast nook can lift a morning routine, a sunny back bed gives vegetables and flowers a better start, and a south-facing sitting room can be a cozy spot in winter. Shade has its upsides as well, since a cooler house can mean a lower summer air conditioning bill.

Taken together, the new data points to a shift in how people shop for homes. Buyers once looked at square footage and price first. Now they can also ask how bright the living room is, how quiet the street is and how far the nearest preschool sits.

Willow and Hearth