Natural language search reveals insights into
how people searched for homes this year
SEATTLE, Dec. 20,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- From barns to laser
tag, Zillow® AI-powered natural language search revealed
2024's unique home-search trends, offering a window into what
Americans wanted in their next home.
This year, Zillow enhanced its natural language search feature,
allowing home shoppers to search for their next home as naturally
as they would speak to family or friends. Buyers and renters can
use everyday language instead of preset filters to search by
commute time, affordability and nearby schools or points of
interest. This new feature showed what Americans were prioritizing
in their home search this year.
Most-searched-for home attributes
This year's top
home-search trends highlighted a preference for variety and
character in housing. Ranch and ranch-style homes led the way for
their charm and single-story convenience, while modern and
Mid-Century Modern designs also made an appearance farther down the
list.
Scenic escapes, like lakeside retreats and cabins, along with
unique options, like "barndominiums" and horse properties, weren't
far behind. There has been growing interest in flexible living
spaces, with duplexes and lofts rising in popularity. Typical
features like garages and patios continued to be in high demand,
showing that homeowners have been blending practicality with
personal style. Check out the most-searched home attributes:
- Ranch (ranch style)
- Lake
- Duplex (duplexes)
- Cabin (cabins)
- Farms
- Acreage
- Garage
- Loft
- Luxury
- Furnished
Top search terms by state showed home shoppers everywhere had
a lot in common …
The top home-search terms by state
indicated how geography, lifestyle and climate shaped what people
wanted in their homes, and also how many home shoppers shared
priorities. In states like California, Florida and Texas, "pool" topped the list. Meanwhile,
practical features like "garage" or "ranch" homes were the
most-searched terms in colder or more rural states, like
Alaska, North Dakota and Wyoming.
"Pool" was among the three most common searches in 38 states
this year, while "garage" made the list in 46 states. Alabama, Connecticut, South
Carolina and Tennessee all
shared the same top three search terms: "pool," "garage" and
"lake," in that order. Coastal California and Indiana saw the most shoppers seeking places
that "allow small dogs."
Still, home shoppers in some states had distinct preferences.
Maine was the only state where
"farms" cracked the top three in search criteria; it was the same
with "backyard" for Mississippi
shoppers.
… but some were seeking a more fun and customized home to
buy
Some searches trekked off the beaten path. One Colorado home shopper looked for a "roller
coaster," while another in Michigan was keen on a home with "laser tag."
If the home shopper who searched all over the country for a "party
barn" found what they were looking for, their house could be the
place to be in 2025.
And for those embracing the eerie, at least one shopper in each
of 22 states was hunting for a "haunted" home, while home shoppers
in Illinois, Ohio and Oregon opted for something less intense — a
"spooky" house.
Locations for every lifestyle
The desire for theme
park rides and ghostly roommates might be rare, but there are
lifestyle trends that pull plenty of people together — and to
certain areas of the country.
- Outdoor and nature enthusiasts may have found paradise
in states such as Michigan,
Hawaii, Idaho, North
Carolina and Alaska. Home
buyers in these states searched for features such as "lake,"
"beachfront" and "cabin."
- Meanwhile, home shoppers in New
York, Pennsylvania and
Georgia prioritized listings that
included "downtown," "loft" and "high rise," showing a desire for
city living.
- For the pet-obsessed, pet parents were also on the move,
with Arizona, Tennessee, Florida and Colorado topping the list in
searches for homes that were "pet-friendly" and homes with a
"barn," to accommodate their four-legged family members.
- For some, luxury living was a must. In states like
California, New Jersey, Texas and Nevada, home buyers were pursuing properties
characterized as "luxury," or as having "mansion" or "views."
Top point-of-interest searches
This year, home
shoppers gravitated toward scenic retreats and waterfront
destinations as their top points of interest.
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina;
Lake Tahoe, Nevada; and
Long Island, New York, topped the list, along with lakeside
favorites Lake Minnetonka,
Minnesota; Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri; and Smith
Mountain Lake, Virginia. Other popular spots included
Flathead Lake, Montana; Lake
Oconee, Georgia; and Amelia Island, Florida.
For home shoppers looking for less barn and more concrete
jungle: StreetEasy's 2024 Year in Review
According to
StreetEasy®, Zillow's New York
City brand, New Yorkers were focused on what's inside their
apartment building just as much as what's outside of it. Renters
and buyers shopping for their homes on StreetEasy sought amenities
that meant they could do more without leaving home, which is a
trend StreetEasy expects to continue next year. In-unit laundry
remained a top priority, while pet-friendly spaces and outdoor
areas saw demand surging.
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, dedicated partners and
agents, and easier buying, selling, financing, and renting
experiences.
Zillow Group's affiliates, subsidiaries and brands include
Zillow®, Zillow Premier Agent®, Zillow Home Loans℠, Zillow
Rentals®, Trulia®, Out East®, StreetEasy®, HotPads®, ShowingTime+℠,
Spruce®, and Follow Up Boss®.
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). © 2024 MFTB Holdco, Inc., a
Zillow affiliate.
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SOURCE Zillow, Inc.