How to Opt Out of Homes.com
Homes.com lists property information including names of current and past homeowners from public records. If you're concerned about privacy, here's how to request removal of your personal information:
Homes.com typically responds that they don't delete public records data. You may need to contact your local recorder's office to have records redacted at the source.
Contact Methods for Opt Out:
- Phone: (800) 431-5509
- Email: Support@homes.com or Privacysupport@homes.com
- Website: Homes.com Opt Out Page
Sample Email Template:
Subject: Request to Remove Personal Information from Homes.com
To Whom It May Concern,
I am writing to request the immediate removal of my personal information from Homes.com. I have serious privacy concerns about my personal details being publicly accessible.
Please remove all information associated with:
Name: John A. Smith
Address: 123 Privacy Lane, Anytown, CA 90210
I understand this information comes from public records, but I am requesting you honor my privacy by removing or masking my personal details from your website.
Please confirm when this action has been completed.
Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
John A. Smith
Sample Response from Homes.com:
"Thank you for reaching out. Our goal at Homes.com is to provide a comprehensive, accurate, and informative overview of the residential market for the benefit of all users. That includes displaying public records data, which may include individual names. Homes.com does not delete publicly published data records. To have public records redacted or access to those public records removed, please contact your local recorder's office."
Using the Colorado Privacy Act for Removal
The Colorado Privacy Act (CPA) provides Colorado residents with stronger data deletion rights. Unlike standard opt-out requests, CPA requests have been successful in getting owner names removed from Homes.com listings.
Success Story: Using the CPA request template below, Homes.com successfully removed the requested owner names. Note that the property listing may still appear with Google Street View imagery, but personal identifying information can be removed.
Colorado Privacy Act Request Template
Send this email to: privacysupport@homes.com
Subject: Colorado Privacy Act - Data Deletion Request
To Whom It May Concern,
Pursuant to the Colorado Privacy Act (C.R.S. § 6-1-1301 et seq.), I am submitting a request for the deletion of personal data and associated photos from your public website and any cached or indexed copies.
Data and items to be deleted:
- Names: [Your Full Name, Any Variations]
- Addresses: [List all addresses to be removed]
- Photos showing or associated with the above names and addresses
- Any listings, directory entries, cached or archived pages, thumbnails, or other content displaying the above information
Verification information:
- Full legal name: [Your Legal Name]
- Email: [Your Email]
- Phone: [Your Phone Number]
If identity verification is required, please specify the minimal documents needed and provide a secure method for submission. Do not request unrelated personal information.
Requested actions:
- Remove the listed names, addresses, and any associated photos from your public site, including thumbnails and image caches.
- Remove or de-index any cached or archived versions and notify search engines to remove cached results.
- Confirm in writing within 45 days that the deletion is complete, including the date of deletion and a description of what was removed.
- If you refuse this request in whole or in part, provide the legal basis for retention under the Colorado Privacy Act.
I expect this request to be processed in accordance with the CPA. Please confirm receipt and advise of any next steps or verification requirements.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Email]
[Your Phone]
Actual Response from Homes.com (Successful):
"We have completed our evaluation of the personal information (PI) held by Homes.com per your request below. We have processed your request by deleting any PI that is not subject to an exception under applicable Law. As a result, we have marked this request as completed. It may take a few days for this to be reflective on our site."
Important Notes
- • Owner names were successfully removed from the listing
- • The property listing may still appear with Google Street View imagery
- • Changes may take a few days to reflect on the site
- • This approach works best for Colorado residents citing the CPA
CCPA Success Story
California residents can leverage the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) to request data removal. Here's a success story from a Reddit user who successfully used this approach.
Success Story: A Reddit user reported CoStar to the CCPA and successfully had their information removed.
Reddit User Success Story
"I reported them to the CCPA and it worked. CoStar is a data broker and data broker opt out rules apply. Also, the info is public but when CoStar publishes it widely with other info it creates a nexus of PII."
Key Insights
- • CoStar Group qualifies as a data broker under California law
- • Data broker opt-out rules apply to their operations
- • Even though individual data points are public, aggregating them creates personally identifiable information (PII)
- • Filing a complaint with the CCPA can be an effective approach for California residents
How to File a CCPA Complaint:
- Visit the California Attorney General's CCPA complaint portal
- File a complaint stating that CoStar Group is operating as a data broker
- Explain that they are aggregating public information to create a nexus of PII
- Request that your personal information be deleted under CCPA data broker provisions
Homes.com Company Information
Corporate Addresses
-
Irvine, CA Office:
17600 Laguna Canyon Rd.
Irvine, CA 92618 -
Norfolk, VA Office:
50 Granby Street, 10th Floor
Norfolk, Virginia 23510, USA
Contact Numbers and email
- Main: 888-952-6393
- Alternative: (866) 774-2947
- Broker Services: brokerservices@homes.com
CoStar Group - Parent Company of Homes.com
Homes.com is owned by CoStar Group, a leading provider of commercial real estate information, analytics, and online marketplaces. Contact CoStar Group to ask about redacting your private info from homes.com.
CoStar Group Leadership
Andy Florance
CEO & Founder
Andrew (Andy) Colden Florance is the founder and has served as CEO of CoStar Group since its inception in 1987.
Christian M. Lown
Chief Financial Officer
Responsible for CoStar Group's financial operations, reporting, and investor relations.
Frank Simuro
Chief Technology Officer
Leads the technology strategy and development for CoStar's platforms.
Contacting Andy Florance
Biography
Andy Florance is the CEO and Founder of CoStar Group, Inc., which he founded from his dorm room as an undergraduate at Princeton University in 1987. He enjoys his spare time on a farm in the Virginia Blue Ridge Mountains with his wife Heather and two sons, Christopher and Matthew.
Public Address
Andy Florance lives at
3542 Newark St NW
Washington, DC 20016
View property on Zillow
LinkedIn:
Andy Florance's ProfilePublic Email Addresses:
Andy Florance Phone Numbers
Publicly available phone numbers associated with Andy Florance:
Contacting Lisa Curtis Ruggles
Biography
Lisa Curtis Ruggles (also known as Lisa Curtis Crow) is the Senior Vice President, Global Operations at CoStar Group. She is 58 years old and is known for her leadership in commercial real estate data operations. Lisa currently resides in Richmond, VA.
Current Address
2517 Hanover Ave
Richmond, VA 23220
View Street View
View property photos on Zillow
Spouse
Frank Lee Ruggles, Age 58
Public Email Addresses:
Lisa Curtis Ruggles Phone Numbers
Publicly available phone numbers associated with Lisa Curtis Ruggles:
Contacting Chris M. Lown
Biography
Christian (Chris) Mark Lown is the Chief Financial Officer of CoStar Group. He is 55 years old (born January 1970) and has an extensive background in finance and executive leadership.
Spouse
Emily Victoria Lown, Age 52
Public Email Addresses:
Chris Lown Phone Numbers
Publicly available phone numbers associated with Chris Lown:
CoStar Group Headquarters
Address: 1201 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA 22209
File a complaint with the BBB to help resolve your dispute: CoStar HQ, CoStar Group of Florida