Name: Zillow
Rating: 4.6

LAST UPDATED: August 19th, 2024

Zillow was developed as an online real estate search engine that was incorporated in 2004. It was created by Rich Barton and Lloyd Bring, former Microsoft gurus who were key in the development of the Expedia website. Spencer Rascoff serves as the company CEO. The company has data on over 110 million homes in the United States, in addition to the 2 million that are currently listed on the website for sale. The site offers value estimates on homes, gives key data on how the price of a home will change over a given timespan, gives aerial views of homes and helps customers find data on similar homes that exist in the same search area. The website accesses basic public data on a home and also gives information on the square footage and number of bedrooms listed in a home. If a home has a recently added feature, such as a renovation, this information is also tracked on the website for the home. Zillow also has API integration and developers can also network Zillow's search feature into websites developed for other realtors. Zillow has a unique functionality that is not found on many realtor websites. The "Make Me Move" feature is a great way to get a pre-market price on the home out there. One of the nice features of the Zillow website is the rental search feature, which was launched in 2009. The website doesn't list as many rentals as homes, but this helps renters find an affordable website. Zillow is also used to power other key real estate search paradigms, such as AOL Real Estate and MSN Real Estate, in 2013 and 2014 respectively. Zillow also was one of the first companies in the industry to begin using apps to access its real estate search database. Here is a list of apps available and the dates that they were launched:

April 2009, iPhone app
March 2010, Android app
April 2010, iPad app
March 2011, Blackberry app
July 2012, Windows phone app
November 2013, Windows 8.1 app.

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The Good

Search functionality
Apps

The first thing that we noticed about the Zillow website was its functionality. We liked the number of listings that we saw available. The search feature is also easy to use. Site users can do multiple types of searches. It is possible to search by address, state, map, type of home, rental or home purchase, the number of bedrooms in a home, and other search criteria. It also includes a "Make Me Move" price, where customers can see new homes that are just starting to enter the market. Another thing that we liked about the website was the feature that lets users see factors that increase a home's values. Price valuation increases in a home can be projected for a 5- or 10-year timespan. Also, the site lists recent renovations to a home that may also increase its price. We also liked the number of apps available for Zillow. When we looked at apps in the industry, many of the apps were only geared for the iPhone. We saw apps available for the iPad and Google tablets as well. The Zillow app is very flexible to use on the Windows 8.1 phone, a major plus in our opinion, given the Zillow functionality of the MSN Real Estate website. We found that the Zillow "Zestimate" was also accurate. We looked at homes on the website and then checked these prices with real estate websites and other listings. The Zestimate feature allows users to see a price that is projected based on several factors, including prices of homes that are also going in the same search area. Zestimate, however, is not always accurate. One of the problems that we found with "Zestimates" was that the price accuracy varies by location and current offers if buyers are negotiating for the home.

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The Bad

Customer support
Zestimate accuracy

One of the things we noticed right away was the lack of support available for the Zillow website. They don't offer a toll-free number for customers to call in. There is also no live chat app for customers who are looking for information about a particular home. Another problem that we found with Zillow was that the Zestimate and home prices listed on the website was not always accurate. We found that a homeowner who rented had lost income on a property because the property was incorrectly listed as being "in foreclosure." The client asked to receive funds to help compensate for their losses, but Zillow responded by saying that their information is received from third-party sources. We found that the pricing critiques of the website hinged on the following factors:

Some data used to compile the Zillow price estimate can be as old as twenty years and is based on old bank data, public data, and sales transactions.
Only 65% of Zillow's listing stock can be considered "accurate," according to Fortune magazine.
Real estate agents and brokers are more likely to know the most up-to-date and factual information about a home that is listed for sale.

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The Bottom Line

Overall, we would recommend Zillow as a website for listing your home or looking for a new home. Here is what we liked about Zillow's website:

Accurate data, for the most part, that is compiled from trustworthy and up-to-date public sources.
The "Zestimate" price that is listed for homes.
The search functionality of the website.
The ability for site users to ask real estate questions in a public forum.
The map feature and aerial views offered for homes.
Price valuation information for a home that is listed in timespan intervals.
Rental listings that are almost as extensive as sales listings.

We saw a pattern of complaints such as occasional inaccurate price information for a new home. Some landlords lost money due to homes being listed as "in foreclosure" on the website when they were in fact not. Also, we had concerns with some property information on the website, especially bank data, as being as much as two decades old. Even though Zillow gets its information from third-party sources, more supervision of the data is needed to ensure its accuracy.

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User Reviews

Star Rating

4.6

1,132 Reviews

Review Breakdown

5 grade

58%

4 grade

28%

3 grade

10%

2 grade

1 grade

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Laurie Spencer

Love Zillow!! Before we even started searching for our home, I started watching the trends in the area through Zillow to see what houses were going for and how long they were on the market. I used this information when talking to realtors to find the best ones. I also saw several degrees of advertising on there and that was an eye opener. So much information available at your fingertips. I trust the pros!

8 months ago

Deborah Dyer Hendersonville, TN

We have used Zillow in the past when we were considering a move from one city to another. The Real estate Agent I worked with was very personable, professional and extremely knowledgeable in her line of work. We informed her what our interests were in what our next house would have to have, in order to please us. From that first day, she worked rapidly emailing me daily several pictures and information on at least 6-10 houses she thought we would like within our price range. She performed market values of the homes that had sold within our neighborhood and surrounding areas comparing them with the price we had decided to sell our home for. Unfortunately, due to an Unexpectedly and quite involved health issue, we were not able to move at the time we had hoped. However, she kept in touch with us, even mailing me a beautiful ‘Thinking of you’ card which I thought was very nice. I still receive quotes for our home as the home market continues to go up and down. We will use her again someday if and when we decide to move.

1 year ago

Chris

Love that it will find every address you search. It lets you know the school districts and how long the property has been occupied or vacant. I always search Zillow before anything else.

Michelle Thomas Anaheim, CA

Zillow is my favorite site when looking up the price of homes in areas I search for homes. This site is valuable for searching homes for sale across the US. I have helped friends to find new homes in Washington and Nevada. Overall you will find every thing you need to know about a home you own or are looking to purchase. Zillow is a definitely a 5 star site.

Robbie NJ

Zillow is our go to real estate company. I use it not only to see what the housing markets are all over the country, but have an account to rent out or search for property purchases. I like the new rental application that provides everything you need to rent properties. They should expand in to vacation rental and give VRBO etc. a run for their money [their fees are ridculous now].

2 years ago

Brittney Mac Gregor Louisville, KY

I have been using Zillow for a couple of years to monitor houses for sale in areas that I am interested in moving to. Zillow gives a lot of feedback to the users. It let's you know how much the houses are going for, what it was sold for, average statistics and demographics in the area. There are usually pictures listed as well. There is also information on who to get in touch with for properties that you are interested in.

3 years ago

Deanna Ryde Madison, WI

Zillow Home Loans was wonderful to work with. The process was smooth and quick. They gave us quick responses to questions. The closing was one of the quickest we and our closing company have ever experienced. I would definitely recommend them! As an experienced real estate agent, I have worked with many mortgage companies and this is one of my top picks!

Chris G

I love their search features! Go by zip code or draw a circle around the area you want a house in. This allows more freedom to find less populated or more populated areas. Another fantastic feature is giving the history of the property. How many times it has been on the market, the last time it was sold, for how much etc. So when someone buys a piece of land for $15k 6 months ago and are now trying to sell it for 200k, you have more bargaining room - or can just run! It also has information if the land was harvested for the trees, then replanted with cheap pine. (A healthy woodland has various types of trees. All pine says it has already been strippe d of anything valuable). They can be a little generous in estimating your homes value, but it's not too far off. Their search features can't be beat! I tried a few.

Sierra Jo Smith Pomeroy, WA

Zillow.com is the go-to website for real estate. With a user-friendly interface, robust search functionality, and a vast database of listings, it revolutionizes the way we navigate the housing market. The site provides comprehensive property details, including price history, amenities, and neighborhood data, allowing informed decision-making. Innovative tools like the interactive map view and "Zestimate" feature enhance the home search experience. Zillow's mortgage calculator simplifies financial planning. Whether you're a buyer, seller, or enthusiast, Zillow.com is an invaluable resource for all your real estate needs.

Ilspbeth Bruce

I have been using Zillow for years and just love it! It is a fantantic tool has everyting neat and organized, very user friendly. All of the tools like the payment calculator are wonderful and its great to not have to go between diferent sites and apps to get everything that you need. We were out looking at properties over the weekend and where we were looking the cell service is VERY limited but with Zillow i was able to go thru and add the 8 properties we wanted to see all in a row and in line with the best routes to get to each and the quickest ways to get from one to the other and send all of that information from my pc at home to my phone so that no matter if i had cell service or not we could see exactly where we were going. It was a great day and we say everything that we wanted. Zillow is what i will always use!!!!

Sa Bellevue, WA

My wife and I have been using Zillow for about 6 years now, and it has become like part of our family! We’ll typically sit around the dining table after dinner, pour some coffee, and review the properties Zillow has presented to us that week. We’ve made a very handsome profit in the last few years from our property investments—enough to guarantee us a great retirement, with travel options and exploring all the wonderful places in the world we’ve always wanted to see! For us—and often several family members at a time—Zillow has made looking at potential investment properties in the evenings an enjoyable pastime, providing us with details it would take us too much time to research by ourselves. Their info is comprehensive and trustworthy. Six years in, we wouldn’t know what to do without Zillow—thanks guys!

Frank Herbert Portland, OR

Zillow has been my go-to source for real estate valuations and listings since 2008. I own residential property in Portland and rental property in Seattle and Southern California. Zillow gives me accurate FMV rental estimates and property valuations in all locations. I can also enter my owner's information to fine tune the valuations. I have sold property in Northern Virginia and Southern California and my real estate agents have always listed on Zillow to gain maximum exposure. The listed valuations are accurate based on actual sales prices in the area. Zillow is easy to use and comprehensive in coverage, so I continue to use in all my real estate transactions.

Wendy Barney Vancouver, WA

Zillow has been fantastic the last two years as we have been wanting to move out of our current state to another area of the US. We want more land and need a home with a mother in law suite for our family needs. Zillow has wonderful filters to narrow down the property searches. There are often great pictures with the properties and Zillow dictates which schools the property is in (including their score comparisons). There is an easy tool to consistently show the time to specific locations for places that you may work. Above all, Zillow is easy and there is an easy way to tell which properties you have already seen and which ones you texted to a friend to see too! Zillow has enabled us to zero into one specific location from three very large areas in the US to potential move locations. Thank you Zillow! We have found where we can afford to live and still get what we want!

abw fsu Tallahassee, FL

Zillow is easily one of the best website for finding a home! I love how specific the filter and map functions are. I can see EXACTLY where the property is, which leaves little room for doubt or ambiguity. I also like that I can specify whether I am looking to rent or own a home/apartment. I feel like a big misconception is that Zillow is only for grown people who are looking for somewhere to start a family and settle down but this is so wrong! Zillow is great for young people who are starting a new job or phase in their academic career, to find an apartment within their price range without worry of being scammed. Zillow is a great resource!

3 years ago Edited September 14, 2021

Russ Hamstring Lake Havasu City, AZ

I always use Zillow's free services when I'm looking to buy a home. The information they provide is honest and to the point. It's a great tool to use if looking for home values in a certain area or to see your home's value. They show you a map with values. It's just great.

Joseph Faenza Washington, DC

Zillow is a great resource when I was searching for my last home. I like how you can takeoff the boundary part of the map and keep searching all around the country if need be. Their zestimate is also a great option if you want to know what your current house is roughly worth.

1 year ago Edited August 7, 2023

L. Jones11 Philadelphia, MS

I’m a HUGE fan of Zillow! The site is really easy to navigate and understand, it would be easy for anyone to use. I’m not a fan of the app though, the setup is completely different so I definitely prefer the app but it’s a decent app overall. I love the option for having virtual walkthroughs, it’s so fun and a good way to get a good feel for a property if you aren’t in the situation to go visit it in person! Would definitely recommend to anyone!

Carlos M. Hercules, CA

I like Zillow because you can see houses for rent and for sale. you can set your zip code and you can see all houses around your city. Zillow is up to date on houses for sale. it's pretty easy to use. Ill used it for my next house I buy.

Anoushka Ahuja Orlando, FL

It’s very easy to find houses on Zillow especially listings that are not on An actual MLS. You can find listings from pre-foreclosures two for sale by owners. Zillow also gives you Zestimate That sometimes may not be very accurate but overall a very good website to use when looking for houses

Luke Swierczynski Franklin, MI

Found our current home on zillow, flagged an open house and we placed an offer. There search filters and criteria make is super simple to find what your looking for. Just wish I had noticed the "No HOA" filter before falling in love with our home.

3 years ago Edited November 30, 2021

JJ Jenkins Phoenix, AZ

Zillow is one of the best companies for buying and selling homes. They keep homes listed even if they are no longer for sale so that you can go back And find out Facts about homes even after they have sold. They give reliable Information and photos for homes in the area that you are looking to buy or sell a home property.

Leonard Leo Potomac, MD

One of favorite go to site to check home sale prices and current comps in the area, i.e. Zestimates. You can search by type of property, prices and areas. Zillow gives you free information that a typical MLS service would, including school districting, taxes, previous sale price. Unfortunately, this free service cannot complete with the paid MLS service.

Eddie Rios Ogden, UT

Zillow is industry leading in search tools in real estate. I found that they had more variables to choose from, more options and more comprehensive search results. I made Zillow my choice tool when I was in the real estate market. I will do so again very soon.

5 years ago

Tanner Cook Gilbert, AZ

Using Zillow was a great resource for my wife and I, as many listings on there or not on the MLS. Even though we had a realtor, we found the property that we most like through Zillow. When it comes time to rent in a year, will be using Zillow again

6 years ago

Cassidy Gundersen Orem, UT

Zillow is hands down the best place we have found to look for homes. It is easy to use and find homes and most of the homes have all of the information that you would need to make a decision. Because there are so many users- there are lots of choices. I have never had issues with the app

7 years ago

Dusty Baca

I used Zillow when buying our home in 2020. I find the site easy to navigate with very helpful filters. I’m also a writer and use Zillow to get information about neighborhoods, housing costs, etc. when I’m writing about settings I’m not very familiar with. It’s been very useful!

Charli Peaden

Zillow is easy to use and the app is simple to navigate. There has been a couple of properties that listed available that actually were already sold. Which is to be expected. I will say that Zillow's listings are much more accurate and up to date then some of it's competitors, though. Several times I have recommended Zillow when the topic of house hunting come up and will continue to do so!!

9 months ago

Nora Mosley

I love to use Zillow because it helps us see who is selling and at what cost in our service area. I am looking for a new home and Zillow always sends me an email update when something new comes up. We can also look up different locations and it allows you to search only what you can afford versus just giving you everything that is out there. So you are able to search for only what you need. :)

Janessa P Logan, UT

I have used Zillow to keep me up to date on houses posted and listed on the MLS. I have found it to be almost always accurate and equal to what other MLS sites state. Usually Utah Real Estate is a little quicker but Zillow keeps up well. I appreciate that Zillow has house estimates and a graph of the history of the value of the house over time. I also appreciate that many times Zillow will also list when the house was listed and purchased previously and sometimes for how much. It is very helpful when searching for a home inside of Utah and also searching in other places across the United States.

Arooj Naeem Washington, DC

I find Zillow incredibly useful in my home search. The user-friendly interface and detailed property information make it a go-to platform. The Zestimate feature adds value, although I'm mindful of occasional inaccuracies. Overall, it streamlines the house-hunting process, offering a comprehensive and accessible resource for potential homebuyers like myself.

Debra Fort Lauderdale, FL

I can always count on Zillow for ease of use and help with a sale or rent. I bought my apartment a few years ago and would never have found it If the seller had posted on Zillow and I had not looked!. My daughter just rented a home after selling her home and used Zillow. Super easy to use and we are always successful! Keep up the great work Zillow!

Kelsey T.L. Lansing, MI

I've been using Zillow for a while now, and I must say it's a fantastic resource for both homebuyers and sellers. While it's not perfect, there are many aspects of Zillow that I truly appreciate. Zillow's user-friendly interface makes it easy to search for homes in your desired area. The filters are incredibly helpful, allowing you to narrow down your options by price range, property type, and various other criteria. I've found this feature especially useful in my home search. Another aspect I find valuable is the wealth of information available for each listing. You can view detailed property descriptions, high-quality photos, and even take virtual tours. This helps you get a better sense of a property before deciding to visit it in person. Another aspect that I've appreciated is the "Zestimate" tool. This has proven to be very helpful when assessing the value of a home, and in our experience, it's been very accurate. Our house's appraisal came in at the exact Zestimate. However, this was not accurate for our friends in the same home-buying process. It may depend on the location of the home. Overall, Zillow is a reliable platform for real estate research, and it has been a valuable tool in our homebuying journey. With a few minor improvements and more accurate data, it could easily earn a solid five-star rating.

Tyrone Walton Atlanta, GA

I was on the house hunt for several months on my own but a close veteran buddy ask me have I ever heard of Zillow I said no but looked it up and I was hooked. The website made it easy and brought all the properties to me with just a click. The site is so user friendly and to my surprise very current on what you see on the site and what you see when you visit the property. I highly recommend Zillow to all future homeowners. Allow Zillow to put you in your dream home.

Clela Finn Schertz, TX

I don’t know if I would have found my home if not for Zillow. We were spending every weekend viewing homes that my realtor brought up and it was a true bidding war. One day after viewing several, feeling frustrated and a bit defeated, I saw an ad on Facebook for Zillow, and I downloaded the app. I saw several homes that were along the lines of what we wanted and two that allowed self viewing. We fell in love with the first and called the realtor and made the offer that day. Still love the home and can’t say enough how much I appreciated Zillows services.

Sherran Nutson Atlanta, GA

I use Zillow to check property value of my home and other homes in my area. I check Zillow to find properties in my area that are for sale and have a lake on the property. I use Zillow to find out how much homes sold for in my area. I love Zillow it's a one-stop-real estate shop. I'm about to find out just about anything on Zillow when it comes to real estate.

Lynn Hart GA

I really like the full description of a property on Zillow including price per square foot and lot size. Also, if a property is off-market, Zillow gives a “zestimate” price range on the going buy/sell rate or cost to rent. My favorite thing is seeing the sales history of the home. Very interesting! You’re my #1 go-to Zillow for all my real estate and rental needs

Kris H Clearwater, FL

I have used Zillow on several occasions - to find rentals, to check home prices in the area, to compare rental prices and to help me navigate the crazy real estate market during a huge influx of people into my area. Zillow is user-friendly and informative. Not all info is always totally up-to-date but I believe this is due to the quickly changing world of real estate. They really do try to stay updated as much as possible.

Christopher Lally Denham Springs, LA

Zillow was really good at the specifics with great pictures. The information of the home and it's features, the neighborhood, the total sqft and the price per sqft. It even gives you the estimated monthly payment to be expected give or take. The pictures that they take are of the good, the bad and the ugly so there are no surprises or hidden or unsuspected WOW's. And this is why Zillow gets 5/5⭐ from me.

Crystal Batavia, IL

I used Zillow to find our first home! It's my favorite website when looking for houses online! It has the best features! Like being able to draw an area on the map to narrow down and pinpoint where you do and do not want to look that way you're not just looking based on the entire city. It also shows you how the home prices have fluctuated over the years! I also love the mortgage calculator! It allowed me to figure out how much home I could afford to buy with a 15 year loan and 20% down to avoid the bank fee. Very handy website!

2 years ago Edited March 29, 2023

Muzette Alcocer Bentonville, AR

I love the search options, the list of amenities as well as area information provided for each listing is in depth. Not only can you see the best schools in your area, you can also see previous sale prices, taxes paid, and photos inside the home even if it isn't currently listed for sale. Zillow strives to provide accurate property information and is a great tool.

Alicia Rivero Dallas, TX

I have used Zillow for a long time now. I have used it to look for a home to rent as well as a home to buy. I love that it gives recommendations that are tailored to my search. I also like to use the app to keep and eye on the market and see when housing prices start coming back down. I will be keeping them on my phone in order to keep an eye on market prices to time my home purchase.

Jeff Barton Layton, UT

The thing I love best about zillow is that they know when the market is shifting and know the prices we can expect. I found a home I wanted and was able to get it for the price I wanted. Now I know I'll be buried in it when the recession hits because my value on zillow is already down 100k... so I love their service, I just wish I was as smart as they are.

Jem417me Provo, UT

Whenever I was looking for a rental or purchasing Zillow has and will always be my go to. With the rental app you apply and pay a ONE TIME fee that works for most landlords and rental companies. When I moved to Utah from Missouri the rental app fees were killing my savings and then I found Zillows app option and boom. I found my home online and drove my Uhaul with 2 dog 1200 miles to our new home all thanks to Zillow!

Jewelleah Kempers Las Vegas, NV

Zilliw is my first choice go-to site whenever I am seeking general real estate value information and Market conditions for a specific neighborhood. They keep me up to date on any changes in pricing from.month to month on my own specific saved properties. It gives me a decent amount of information totally free and is a good resource for anyone in the real estate industry or just buying, selling or renting homes! I have visited the Zillow website at least a hundred times in the last 2 years. Very reliable and professional data source for my real estate researching needs!

Judy Greene Pahrump, NV

I have found two homes using Zillow. I was living overseas and had no way of actually seeing homes for sale for when I retired. I found Zillow and was amazed at the quantity of pictures available, the information on the neighborhoods, comparison to other comparable homes, and I could actually contact a realtor. After I found my first home this way, I shortly found that I needed a bigger home. So, I went back to Zillow, had my realtor check out homes I found interesting, and checked out homes my realtor suggested, and found a great home. I was very pleased with Zillow.

Pickgrinder

Zillow came out of nowhere to me. I remember none of the information for housing was available unless it was through MLS. And with that, you had to be a realtor. It's pretty cool to have free access to real estate details and property history. I never used the real estate services they offer, just the details and data they offer. Totally appreciate it Zillow!

Austin Sisneros Idaho Falls, ID

I’ve loved using Zillow, it’s found me cheap apartments for rent in the area for years. I’ve found multiple apartments for rent through this company, they’ve provided accurate and up to date apartments as well as the landlord’s info. I would recommend buying the membership. It unlocks a lot of features that allows for easier management while house hunting for really cheap!

3 years ago Edited May 4, 2022

Philadelphia PA Reviewer Philadelphia, PA

Zillow app is very user friendly. Realtors usually respond within 2-24 hrs . The properties are nice and in good shape. Im not bombarded by ads and millions of emails after making an account . They make it where you can submit multiple inquiries without having to type the same i information over and over again. You also have the ability to personalize your messages to owners as well. I always customize. Makes you stand out :)

Erica Reynolds

We not only found our dream home using Zillow, but we also found our amazing realtor too! Zillow allowed us to search our area for the home that was just right for us. We narrowed down our options with their advanced search options. You can search for homes by number of rooms, price, and amenities. The only downfall would be houses showing up in the app as available when in reality they are no longer available

Korinne C Riverton, UT

I love Zillow and use it almost daily to see what houses are for sale near me and in other neighborhoods. I love that I can save homes and follow them. There are a few houses that I would be interested in if they ever went up for sale. The only thing I don't like about it is that sometimes I can't see listings in my area when it says there is one available. It just won't show up. But other than that I use it as my go to resource for homes for sale, and for property value info.