Exclusive | ‘Property Brothers’ star using new disaster-proof tech to rebuild the home his in-laws lost in the LA wildfires

Nypost · May 14, 2026 · 783 words · By Jennifer Gould

Disaster Resilience Construction Technology Celebrity Philanthropy/Projects

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‘Property Brothers’ star using new disaster-proof tech to rebuild the home his in-laws lost in the LA wildfires “Property Brothers” star Jonathan Scott is hard at work on his next passion project — and it’s one that hits very close to home.

Claims checked 11

Techniques found 2

Topics 3

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage

Left0%

Center80%

Right20%

5 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

Why it matters

He’s doing a ground-up rebuild of his fiancée Zooey Deschanel‘s childhood home, which burned to the ground in 2025 during the devastating Palisades Fire in Los Angeles.

Common ground

The 1920s Spanish Revival-style residence, where she grew up in with her sister, former “Bones” actress Emily Deschanel, was one of the oldest properties in the Palisades.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language, Glittering Generalities: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

Follow-up questions

What new context would change how readers understand this Disaster Resilience story?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that He shared details on the project on an affordable housing panel at the Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills earlier this month?
How does this story connect Disaster Resilience with Construction Technology over the next few days?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://nypost.com/2026/05/14/real-estate/jonathan-scott-using-new-tech-to-rebul…

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 2 propaganda techniques in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning

Loaded Language 80% confidence

Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.

Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.

Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

warning

Glittering Generalities 70% confidence

Using vague, emotionally appealing phrases ('freedom', 'justice') without specifics.

Why it matters: Recognizing glittering generalities helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 11 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

info Single Source 4

check_circle Corroborated 3

help Insufficient Evidence 2

verified Verified 1

schedule Pending 1

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Claim 1: “He shared details on the project on an affordable housing panel at the Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills earlier this month”

CORROBORATED

Web search results confirm Jonathan Scott spoke about housing supply and possibilities at the Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Milken Institute is an American independent, nonpartisan economic think tank based in Santa Monica, California, with offices in Washington, D.C., New York, Miami, London, Abu Dhabi, and Singapore.…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milken_Institute

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — A major worldwide financial crisis centered in the United States took place in 2008. The causes included excessive speculation on property values by both homeowners and financial institutions, leadin…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_financial_crisis

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Ayman El-Mohandes is an American epidemiologist and the dean of the CUNY Graduate School of Public Health & Health Policy since 2013. He was the dean of the College of Public Health at the University …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayman_El-Mohandes

+ 3 more evidence sources

info

Claim 2: “The 1920s Spanish Revival-style residence... was one of the oldest properties in the Palisades”

SINGLE SOURCE

While the loss of the home is corroborated, the specific architectural style (1920s Spanish Revival) and its status as one of the oldest properties are not explicitly confirmed in the provided evidence snippets.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Zooey Claire Deschanel (born January 17, 1980) is an American actress and singer. She made her film debut in Mumford (1999) and had a supporting role in Cameron Crowe's film Almost Famous (2000). Desc…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zooey_Deschanel

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web search NEUTRAL — Zooey Claire Deschanel was born in Los Angeles, California,[2] the younger daughter of cinematographer and director Caleb Deschanel and actress Mary Jo Deschanel (née Weir).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zooey_Deschanel

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web search NEUTRAL — Zooey Deschanel and Emily Deschanel and their childhood home. Zooey and Emily Deschanel are amid the hundreds of residents impacted by the ongoing Los Angeles wildfires. Zooey revealed in an Instagram…
https://www.yahoo.com/news/zooey-emily-deschanel-childhood-h…

+ 1 more evidence source

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Claim 3: “Jonathan Scott is doing a ground-up rebuild of his fiancée Zooey Deschanel‘s childhood home”

CORROBORATED

Multiple web search results confirm that Jonathan Scott is rebuilding Zooey Deschanel's family home following its destruction in wildfires.

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web search NEUTRAL — Jonathan (Hebrew: יְהוֹנָתָן/יוֹנָתָן, Standard: Yehōnatan / Yōnatan, Tiberian: Yŏhōnāṯān / Yōnāṯān[1]) is a common name given to males which means " YHWH has given" in Hebrew. [2][3] The earliest kno…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonathan_(name)

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web search NEUTRAL — Apr 2, 2026 · Jonathan, in the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) books 1 and 2 Samuel, the eldest son of King Saul. Jonathan’s intrepidity and fidelity to his friend, the future king David, make him one of…
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Jonathan

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web search NEUTRAL — May 29, 2025 · Jonathan is often used as a boy name. Learn more about the meaning, origin, and popularity of the name Jonathan.
https://www.parents.com/jonathan-name-meaning-origin-popular…

info

Claim 4: “the rebuild, which he is chronicling for a documentary”

SINGLE SOURCE

The evidence confirms the rebuild is happening, but does not independently corroborate the existence of a documentary chronicling it.

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web search NEUTRAL — Jonathan Silver Scott (born 28 April 1978) is a Canadian reality television personality, construction contractor, interior designer, and television and film producer.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonathan_Scott_(television_per…

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web search NEUTRAL — Jonathan is also currently rebuilding Deschanel’s family home that was destroyed in the L.A. wildfires. While Jonathan Scott and Zooey Deschanel are still in the early phases of their wedding planning…
https://www.aol.com/articles/jonathan-scott-wants-intimate-w…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Inside Zooey Deschanel & Jonathan Scott’s NYC Home. Watch Now. Save this story.Located in a turn-of-the-20th-century building, the unit was a much-neglected, not-so-white box when they first toured it…
https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/zooey-deschanel-jo…

verified

Claim 5: “their parents — multiple Oscar-nominated cinematographer Caleb Deschanel and actress Mary Jo Deschanel, of “Twin Peaks” fame — still lived when they fled the flames”

VERIFIED

Wikipedia confirms Caleb Deschanel is a cinematographer and Mary Jo Deschanel is an actress who appeared in Twin Peaks. Web search results confirm they lived in the home that was lost to the Palisades Fire.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Joseph Caleb Deschanel (born September 21, 1944) is an American cinematographer and director of film and television. He has been nominated for the Academy Award for Best Cinematography six times. He i…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caleb_Deschanel

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Emily Erin Deschanel (; born October 11, 1976) is an American actress. She played Dr. Temperance "Bones" Brennan in the Fox crime procedural series Bones (2005–2017).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emily_Deschanel

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Mary Jo Deschanel (née Weir) is an American actress. She appeared in the film The Right Stuff (1983) and the television series Twin Peaks (1990–1991).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Jo_Deschanel

+ 3 more evidence sources

help

Claim 6: “the technology has been around since the 1990s and is “well established,” it was mainly used in industrial applications”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was found in the search results regarding the history or industrial use of RSG 3-D technology.

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Claim 7: “which burned to the ground in 2025 during the devastating Palisades Fire in Los Angeles”

CORROBORATED

Multiple sources confirm Zooey Deschanel's childhood home was lost to the Palisades Fire in Los Angeles.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Jamie Lee Curtis (born November 22, 1958) is an American actress, producer, and children's author. Known for her performances in the horror and slasher genres, alongside multiple comedies, she is rega…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamie_Lee_Curtis

+ 3 more evidence sources

info

Claim 8: “The technology, RSG 3-D, uses 3-D structural concrete-insulated panels to build energy-efficient and disaster-resilient structures”

SINGLE SOURCE

The web search results for 'RSG' returned Republic Services, Inc. (a waste management company), not a construction technology company. No evidence was found for 'RSG 3-D' structural concrete panels.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Find the latest Republic Services, Inc. (RSG) stock quote, history, news and other vital information to help you with your stock trading and investing.
https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/RSG/?fr=sycsrp_catchall

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web search NEUTRAL — 1 day ago · RSG | Complete Republic Services Inc. stock news by MarketWatch. View real-time stock prices and stock quotes for a full financial overview.
https://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/RSG

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web search NEUTRAL — 22 hours ago · A detailed overview of Republic Services, Inc. (RSG) stock, including real-time price, chart, key statistics, news, and more.
https://stockanalysis.com/stocks/rsg/

info

Claim 9: “Scott is using a disaster-proof technology to build it back better and stronger — without wood”

SINGLE SOURCE

The general fact that he is rebuilding the home is corroborated, but the specific detail about 'disaster-proof technology without wood' is not independently verified in the provided evidence.

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web search NEUTRAL — Repairing homes, revitalizing communities, rebuilding lives. Every April, during National Rebuilding Month, we ask Americans to rethink what it means to solve our housing crisis. The dominant narrativ…
https://rebuildingtogether.org/

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web search NEUTRAL — 2 days ago · The meaning of REBUILD is to make extensive repairs to : reconstruct. How to use rebuild in a sentence. Synonym Discussion of Rebuild.
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rebuild

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — 1. To build again. 2. To make extensive structural repairs on. 3. To remodel or make extensive changes in: tried to rebuild society.
https://www.thefreedictionary.com/rebuild

schedule

Claim 10: “It blocks cell signals”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

help

Claim 11: “It’s still around 10% more than building a wood-framed home”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was found regarding the cost comparison between RSG 3-D technology and wood-framed homes.

info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.