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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Elinés Avilés

Overall the page is very manageable, but sometimes I get lost. I don't know if it is because of the area I am looking for, but it tends to send me other area codes instead of the one I am using. I have to go back and put the zip code or name of the town a lot of times, so that I can keep seeing the houses at the area I am looking for. But overall the page is very user friendly and can get you different houses in a variety of prices. Just need some adjust.

1 year ago

Mark Troxel Provo, UT

The good about Zillow, it is easy to search local areas, use filters and find listings. The bad: Zillow does a poor job at keeping its listings current. If you don't filter you will find a lot of listings are aged. Many are no longer on the market and the only reason they are there, it seems, is to drive you to meet with a realtor. We found that the listings were generally no longer on the market. Agents know that most listings on Zillow are not current. There are a lot of listing directed to you that show "pre-forclosure". These are completely useless and not accurate. The main sources on Zillow appear to be new developments that are pushing new construction. For the person looking for existing homes you are better off to find a good realtor who will only show you what you are looking for. Zillow looks well developed, is pleasing to the eye and has lots of features. It is just polluted with so much duff, that we lost interest in using it as a source and went with a realtor. There are better sites where the listings are kept more current.

4 years ago

Herbert Mills Anniston, AL

Great site for starting the home buying process. Very easy to look around and find potential house/apartments/etc. Their user interface is easy to use once you get the hang of it, but setting filters is not as easy as on realtor. Their team is very helpful and prompt in getting you in touch with real estate agents in your area, and it's very easy to get a mortgage pre approval through them. I didn't use them for my mortgage, so I can't speak to how good their lenders are, but from my experience they were fantastic.

Jennifer Vallejos Albuquerque, NM

I work as a freelance agent and I am skilled at several different things this particular job was a data entry job posting several homes for sale or rent and when trying to list the properties with Zillow I received an error message and then my account was suspended for absolutely reason. Unfortunately for me it was a Saturday when this occurred and although I sent a message straight away I never received a response of any kind. It was after I believe my fourth attempt at posting a listing when I was finally able to get customer support who were very apologetic the issue was fixed.

K.I.W. Lawrence, KS

This website can be useful for certain things, like studying how the housing market can be manipulated. They have access to user data which gives them inside insights into which properties to buy. Their algorithm and home-flipping strategies are unethical and play a part in making homes unaffordable and screwing us all when it comes to accessible housing.

KmanAuto

Great for searching local area. Previously I was also able to list my home for sale by owner, which they have since removed the option to do so. Also, opened the app once while on a road trip to see the home prices in the city/state we were traveling through. I never saved any search or anything, now the app constantly is trying to get me to purchase homes 6 states over, and I cannot find any way to disable this. Lastly, Zestimates are insanely inaccurate.

Ms. ESQ. Savage.

Pertains to my personally ,well they did come with flawless recommend from a past business pa. who once co opped with me , and I can definitely see the value of their footholds niche . But it did not quite pan out due to a annoying minor detail for me and Zillow , but they treated me very good high rating for their polite treatment and attitude toward me

2 years ago

Mickey Ross Kennesaw, GA

While I really like the Zillow app, it is not always easy to maneuver in the app. When I type in an area or zip I want to look into, I am brought to a map rather than a listing of houses to look at. I think this is a bit confusing to the average user and compared to other sites, it would be best to see the listings first, be able to filter on specifics (which Zillow does) and then choose to look at a map if I want to do that.

3 years ago

Jason Walker LaFayette, GA

I believe Zillow is overplaying its hand with the "Zestimate." What is the purpose of this nonsense? For example, I have two homes - one of which is substantially overvalued given the market and one substantially undervalued. Changes, updates and market conditions do not reflect in the "Zestimate" even after several months. I feel Zillow has become a leader in data collection and listings, however I do not feel the information Zillow generates from their market study is worthwhile.

3 years ago Edited January 20, 2022

James Lapeyre Bryan, TX

Zillow amasses an extraordinary amount of properties for you to look at. The user-interface is terrific: searching is easy, and you can set parameters for cost, B/B, and so on very easily. The biggest problem is that you can waste a ton of time because their data isn't always up to date. Properties under contract are often displayed as available, which wastes a lot of time.

Calista Huber Phoenix, AZ

I loved using Zillow before searching to purchase our first house! I thought I was well-informed until I talked to a couple realtors about it, and they said Zillow wasn't the greatest resource... I still appreciated being able to check Zillow for photos and any extra property information, but I ended up using Redfin and MLS as a more reliable source for information about the houses we went to see.

No Name Goshen, IN

Zillow has good and bad I think, it's according if you are a buyer or seller. A home we had was very large (6000 sq feet) and zillow low balled our equity only because no other house was like it in the area. It was custom made. People who see that want to believe the appraisal and it's not right. On the other hand, if your a buyer as written above, it helps you out. I notified zillow and to no avail was it helpful at all to change my home value. I do like getting on zillow and scoping out what's on there, but just remember home value is not really always correct.

Amanda George IL

They have helpful tools on their site to use when browsing for homes or rentals. However it's near impossible to get a hold of any of the sellers or owners and they sell your info to third parties.

Natalie

I have used Zillow to search for a new home in the past but I had an issue with listings not currently updated as sold or pending. I also ran into false advertising due to listing homes for sales as foreclosures.

Life of Frog South Bend, IN

App is easy to use but does not update regularly. Therefore you may be viewing homes that already are under contract or have sold. Good for scouting an area, but wouldn't rely on it for up-to-date housing market info.

Joshua Aidan Dunn

Pros: -Rentals and properties for sale -Customizable -Lots of details given for most properties Cons: -Default option is that they add you to lots of spammy mailing lists, and you have to unsubscribe from each of them individually -Sometimes the status of a property that shows up on a search is confusing (a dot with no details/status given)

Jim G Roseville, CA

Zillow's pricing on properties is not very accurate. The only thing it should be used for is comparing the relative value of properties. Our house sold for 25% more than the Zillow stated value. It is advisable to take everything with a grain of salt and check several sources.

Ms Missy McDonough, GA

Often times, I use Zillow as a trusted site to search for rental properties and/or houses for sale. The information is not always accurate for rentals (as far as pricing and current availability) but I've contacted Zillow personally regarding removal of my personal property information and they were promptly responsive.

A White South Bend, IN

Looking up homes on Zillow is easy and you can occasionally see homes on the inside that are off market. The downfall is that I don't feel like the "zestimate" is necessarily accurate and people might be in for a surprise when they actually work with a real estate agent.

James Walker Lithonia, GA

I like the amount of information that is available about housing market on Zillow , I’m just afraid that most of the information is old , when I see my realtor about a house I like on Zillow that say that house been off the market when it was just added on Zillow the other day.

Sharon Bordinat

Not all the information was provided on listing of the land we purchased. At the closing, we found out it was an association. The realtor blamed this company for not having all the information. I blamed her because she wrote the listing and the company published what was given to them.

Debra Howard Phoenix, AZ

Easily accessible. Filtering needs upgrade. When you filter for single family home, 4 plus bdrms, 2 plus bath, pets, minimum and maximum amount I will pay for rent, I get results for everything from studio to 3bd and an absurd monthly rent amount. Not pet friendly! Actually they should revamp thier entire search app!

Jennifer Dean Chicago, IL

I didn't find Zillow to be very user friendly when i used it. Every time i went to search for homes the page would reload or i couldn't input things for a search. Finally when it did let me search it came up with results that weren't even apart of my search perimeters.

Leah North Versailles, PA

There are many fake ads on Zillow. I know they can't weed them all out, so you gotta realize if something sounds too good to be true.. it is. Other than that, it does what its supposed to do for the most part, but I've always had to fact check all places and it would be nice if I didn't have to do that.

Yooper Colorado Colorado Springs, CO

I have used Zillow many times to look up home values for my area, for prospective areas, and places that I have lived. They give great information about locations to live but their ratings are quite a bit higher than the local assessor page. Overall they help find what you are looking for.

corrinna oandasan Kailua-Kona, HI

what i like about zillow was that they had a descent description of their apartments listed what was the part that i disliked about this site was that for the town in which i live in Hawaii Kailua Kona their was not many listing available and the ones that were there were mostly just vacation rentals

Shalon Johnson MS

It’s nice to view but the information is super inaccurate. There’s houses listed that are not available and the estimate monthly payment is super inaccurate. The only thing good about it is that it post accurate information regarding the house however if it’s actually available is very inaccurate.

Billy stout Tampa, FL

I have used Zillow in Texas and in Florida. I put in specific prices, size number of bedrooms and baths and never received a reply even close to the parameters I set the houses were all nice but two to three times in price so I have quit using them.

Rosita Khalehpari Winnetka, CA

My condo's information is wrong on Zillow. They show the back garage that belongs to my neighbors as my garage. The estimated sale or rent price for my condo is less than the real price. I sent messages to them asked for the correction. No change happened!

Morgan Elijah Tallahassee, FL

I think that Zillows website can be very helpful and detailed. But the amount of emails they send out about houses in areas that I haven't looked at can be very annoying. I think they should create a service where you can choose what emails are sent to who. So that I do not have to completely unsubscribe from the several emails I do receive.

Mona-Lissa Tallahassee, FL

Zillow is definetly one of my top favorite websites to look for apartments even though I don't plan on buying anytime soon. The website, for the most part is easy to navigate, but I feel as though they should do a better job enforcing sellers to upload better pictures of their properties.

3 years ago Edited September 14, 2021

Danielle LeCheminant Lehi, UT

I've looked at Zillow for homes a few times. They have a lot of homes listed for sale or for rent that have already been purchased or occupied. It doesn't get updated often. I do like that you do not have to sign in and get endless emails like other house listing sites do.

Sonya Parker Mesa, AZ

Zillow is always behind and often have outdated information on housing listings. Houses are either sold or off the market by the time Zillow lists them. Not a reliable for homebuying shoppers.

Greatness Las Vegas, NV

I've been working with this guys shortly, but the time I've been with them they make sure all needs and concerns of mine are met. And they work with me to help reach my future goals that I need.

Henry Lebensbaum Andover, MA

i like the emails but i find their quotes, especially for rentals have no basis in fact, People rely on this even when they have sub quality units to the detriment of the market place and to the detriment of the renter

Grace Annese Fairport, NY

Loved using Zillow to look for our house but am recently unhappy to hear about the controversy of them buying up houses in certain areas and contributing to raising overall home prices

Doglover Valencia, CA

I was looking to purchase a home in the house is listed on Zillow requires that you go through them to find a local agent. I really wish that I can contact the agent listed on the listing.

Katie Marshall Brooklyn, NY

I invest in house Zillow I don't find very helpful. You can view the home I think it's better if your an agent.. Also there are recent issues with homes. I would prefer another company.

Audrey vargas San Jose, CA

I like how easy it is to maneuver around zillow site, the pictures etc. are great. down side is they don't always keep up to date with properties that are sold, or just put on the market.

Paula Pili Provo, UT

Super outdated Listings always seem to “linger” Even after it’s been sold or rented Information seems unreliable and old Someone needs to manually update their system to be more user friendly and efficient

Noureddine Lalami Brentwood, CA

Easy to use when deciding to buy or sell a home. You can get a quick estimate. The Con is that the estimates are very far off the actual value. Should only be used as a Gues-timates.

Lmt3 Provo, UT

Zillow does a good job of showing homes for sale in the area and price range you choose. However, the don’t always follow up and as a result, homes are left on long after they’ve been sold or taken off the market.

Jelitsa Velazquez Philadelphia, PA

I like that new listings are consistent, i don’t like that some listings show they are available but when you contact them, they are no longer available.

Maya My McDonough, GA

Zillow is a decent site to find homes for sale or for rent. Not the most up-to-date on their info but they're very responsive when you outreach them for assistance.

Boyd Ouden Woodbridge, VA

Zillow has a lot of homes listed in every area so you can find homes in your area. The thing I like least is the information the show for homes can be out dated.

John Showtyme Guidry Dallas, TX

I love how it’s easy to search and find what you’re looking for it has a great source of different aspects of searching so it will be easy to find ur dream home

Jason Thompson Spokane, WA

I have found it to be very user friendly and useful but also about a 3rd of the ads are some kind of spam but usually pretty easy to weed through them

GROW Program Belleville, IL

It is difficult to contact owners of the properties, there are many times too many applications, the application process is lengthy and difficult for no reason🥺

Chandler Clark GA

Well looking for apartments in a different city I’ve been using Zillow and get reminders on emails every day but it’s not been as thorough as I’d like for it to be

Teresa Mendenhall DeFord Nicholasville, KY

Using Zillow to find rental property was very disappointing. The descriptions and photos were misleading. And often, the rental prices were incorrect.