Zillow enhanced its AI-powered natural language search feature in 2024 , allowing people to use everyday language instead of preset filters. The results of 2024’s searches show what Americans want in their next home, and some rather unique home-search trends.
Most-Searched-for Home Attributes
Top home-search trends in 2024 showed a preference for variety and character: ranch and ranch-style homes led the way for their charm and single-story convenience, with modern and Mid-Century Modern designs showing later down the list.
Then there were scenic escapes (e.g., lakeside retreats and cabins) and unique options like “barndominiums.” Flexible living spaces have been gaining popularity, and Zillow saw a rise in duplexes and lofts. Of course, the usual suspects such as garages and patios continue to be in high demand.
According to Zillow, the most-searched home attributes in 2024 were:
- Ranch Style Homes
- Lake Homes
- Duplexes
- Cabins
- Farms
- Acreage
- Garage Space
- Lofts
- Luxury Homes
- Furnished Homes
Top Search Terms by State
The top home-search terms by state indicated how geography, lifestyle, and climate shape what people wanted in their homes, and how many home shoppers share similar priorities. “Pool” was among the three most frequent searches in 38 states this year, with warmer states like California, Florida, and Texas posting it as a top search. Meanwhile, “garage” made the list in 46 states, especially colder or more rural states like Alaska, North Dakota, and Wyoming, as did “ranch” homes.
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 home searchers looking for properties that “allow small dogs.”
Still, home shoppers in some states had distinct preferences. Maine was the only state where “farms” cracked the top three, and “backyard” landed in the same area for Mississippi shoppers.
More Specifically …
Some searchers had specific tastes, including one Colorado shopper who was looking for a “roller coaster,” and a Michigan customer who was aiming for “laser tag.” And then there was the industrious shopper (or maybe Instagram influencer?) who searched all over the country for a “party barn.”
And for those Halloween aficionados, 22 states had at least one shopper hunting for a “haunted” home. Shoppers in Illinois, Ohio, and Oregon were willing to settle for just a “spooky” house.
Locations for Every Lifestyle
Lifestyle trends group people together in certain areas of the country:
- Outdoor and nature enthusiasts: These folks call Michigan, Hawaii, Idaho, North Carolina, and Alaska home, searching for features like “lake,” “beachfront,” and “cabin.”
- City folks: Home shoppers in New York, Pennsylvania, and Georgia prioritized listings that include “downtown,” “loft,” and “high rise.”
- Pet-obsessed: Pet parents were on the move: Arizona, Tennessee, Florida, and Colorado topped the list with searches for “pet-friendly” and homes with a “barn.”
- Luxury living: Shoppers in states like California, New Jersey, Texas, and Nevada were pursuing properties characterized as “luxury,” or as having a “mansion,” or “views.”
Top Point-of-Interest Searches
Top points of interest for home shoppers in 2024 leaned toward scenic retreats and waterfront destinations. Myrtle Beach, Lake Tahoe, and Long Island 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.
It’s What’s Inside That Counts
In New York, what’s inside their apartment building is just as important as what’s outside. That’s according to StreetEasy, Zillow’s New York City brand. New Yorkers and soon-to-be New Yorkers shopping for their homes on StreetEasy searched for amenities so they could do more without leaving home, a trend StreetEasy expects to continue next year. Demand for pet-friendly spaces and outdoor areas surged, while in-unit laundry remained a top priority.
Click here for more on Zillow’s most unique home searches in 2024.
