How Americans surfed Zillow in 2023

Rhea-AI Summary

Zillow (Z) reveals top search terms from 250 billion queries, highlighting home shoppers' preferences and desires. The AI-powered natural language search feature provides insights into the most sought-after home features, including practical needs like a garage, backyard retreats, and modern amenities like open floor plans and granite counters.

Insights

Market Research Analyst

Understanding consumer preferences is crucial for real estate companies and investors, as it can drive both marketing strategies and development projects. The data from Zillow's analysis of search queries is a valuable indicator of market trends and consumer demand. For example, the emphasis on climate control systems in home searches reflects not only comfort preferences but also potential concerns about energy efficiency and climate change. Such insights can influence the types of properties that are developed and the features that are marketed, potentially affecting the real estate market's direction.

Real Estate Industry Analyst

The search terms highlighted by Zillow can have implications for various stakeholders in the real estate sector. Homebuilders and renovators might adjust their offerings to include more of the sought-after features, such as garages and open floor plans. Real estate agents could tailor their listings and marketing to highlight these amenities. Moreover, the regional preferences for views and architectural styles indicate localized market opportunities that developers and investors could capitalize on. Understanding these preferences can be a competitive advantage in targeting the right audience and optimizing portfolio performance.

Data Analyst

Zillow's use of AI-powered natural language search to analyze consumer behavior provides a nuanced understanding of the housing market that goes beyond traditional data analysis. This approach can reveal subtle shifts in consumer preferences, which may not be immediately apparent through standard metrics. The correlation between search terms and actual purchasing behavior, however, requires further investigation to assess the impact on sales and pricing trends in the real estate market. Additionally, this data could be cross-referenced with economic indicators to predict future market movements and investment potential.

Analysis of 250 billion queries on Zillow reveal top search terms

SEATTLE, Dec. 21, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- After analyzing more than 250 billion search queries, Zillow® has compiled the top search terms for 2023, showing the wide range of desires and preferences among America's home shoppers.

Earlier this year, Zillow introduced an AI-powered natural language search feature that lets home shoppers search for homes in a conversational way, similar to how they talk to family or friends. This search data provides a unique glimpse into what Americans were searching for in a home this year.

Top 10 Zillow search terms
From practical needs like a garage to sought-after amenities such as backyard retreats, pools and fireplaces, these preferences showcase a variety of both modern and classic housing desires.

1. Garage: Practical and convenient storage for vehicles.
2. Backyard: A private outdoor retreat.
3. Fireplace: A feature offering warmth and coziness.
4. Walk-in closet: Space and organization for storage.
5. Patio: An extension of indoor living for outdoor relaxation.
6. Open floor plan: Modern, interconnected living spaces.
7. Pool: A luxury, especially in warmer areas.
8. Family room: Space for shared moments.
9. Basement: Versatile extra space for various uses.
10. Granite counters: Durable elegance in kitchens and bathrooms.

"Natural language search gives us this ability to look at unique and highly local trends across the U.S.," said Nicholas Stevens, vice president of product, Artificial Intelligence, at Zillow. "This lets us go deeper than the typical search filters, helping us better show shoppers homes with the features they really want."

Hot and cold: Climate control systems rule home searches
Climate control Systems — centralized AC and heating — emerged among the top three search terms in 22 out of 30 cities. Central heating took the No. 1 spot in these southern cities with typically mild climates: Atlanta, Charlotte, Dallas, Jacksonville, Los Angeles, Nashville, San Antonio and Tampa. Buyers' heightened interest in heating features might be a response to shifting climate patterns, influenced by recent occurrences of extreme cold snaps.

City sights or mountain heights
Buyers are searching for a home with a view. In Seattle, mountain views, city views and water views rank among buyers' top five searches, respectively,

In Miami, buyers are looking for water views, while buyers in Atlanta and San Francisco search most often for city views. In Colorado Springs, mountain views are a top search term.

Search standouts
One of the top searches in Atlanta is for a double vanity.  While buyers in Naples are looking for tennis courts, clubhouses and tile roofs, Miamians and New Yorkers prioritize fitness areas and gyms.

Buyers in Philadelphia are most often searching for street parking and finished basements. San Antonio shoppers want an "eat-in kitchen." Tucson is the only city with an architectural choice among the top five searches across all cities, favoring "contemporary style" homes.

New York, New York: StreetEasy x Zillow
New Yorkers want space and convenience, which shows up in popular searches as terraces and doormen. In NYC, a city known for its limited space, basements also have become a popular search item. Home shoppers, especially those looking at brownstones, recognize the potential of basements as additional rentable units.

StreetEasy®, a Zillow brand built specifically for NYC, took an in-depth look at how New Yorkers searched for homes in 2023. It found that other amenities that ranked at the top of New Yorkers' searches in this year included in-unit laundry, acceptance of pets, dishwasher, elevator and doorman.

For more StreetEasy research on how New Yorkers are searching for homes, click here.

About Zillow Group:
Zillow Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: Z and ZG) is reimagining real estate to make home a reality for more and more people. As the most visited real estate website in the United States, Zillow and its affiliates help people find and get the home they want by connecting them with digital solutions, great partners, and easier buying, selling, financing and renting experiences.

Zillow Group's affiliates, subsidiaries and brands include Zillow®, Zillow Premier Agent®, Zillow Home Loans℠, Trulia®, Out East®, StreetEasy®, HotPads®, ShowingTime+℠, and Spruce®.

All marks herein are owned by MFTB Holdco, Inc., a Zillow affiliate. Zillow Home Loans, LLC is an Equal Housing Lender, NMLS #10287 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org). © 2023 MFTB Holdco, Inc., a Zillow affiliate.

 

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SOURCE Zillow

FAQ

What are the top search terms revealed by Zillow?

Zillow has revealed the top search terms from 250 billion queries, showcasing a wide range of preferences among home shoppers.

What are some of the top search terms identified by Zillow?

The top search terms include garage, backyard, fireplace, walk-in closet, patio, open floor plan, pool, family room, basement, and granite counters.

What are some common home features that emerged as top search terms?

Practical needs like a garage and modern amenities like open floor plans and granite counters emerged as top search terms among home shoppers.

What is the significance of the AI-powered natural language search feature introduced by Zillow?

The AI-powered natural language search feature provides unique insights into Americans' home search preferences, allowing for a conversational way of searching for homes.

What are the climate control systems that emerged as top search terms?

Centralized AC and heating systems emerged as top search terms, especially in cities with typically mild climates, indicating buyers' heightened interest in heating features.

What are some of the popular search items in New York City?

Popular search items in NYC include terraces, doormen, in-unit laundry, acceptance of pets, dishwasher, and elevator, reflecting New Yorkers' desire for space and convenience.

What are some unique search preferences in different cities?

Different cities have unique search preferences, such as double vanity in Atlanta, tennis courts and clubhouses in Naples, fitness areas and gyms in Miami and New York, street parking and finished basements in Philadelphia, and contemporary style homes in Tucson.