Access to the outside, flexible living
Search activity reflected growing demand for outdoor and experiential roles. Searches for homes with pools, patios, gardens and views increased year on year, while searches for luxury properties – including townhouses and large acreages – fell compared to 2024.
Access to water emerged as a prominent theme nationally.
Searches for terms like lake, river, dock, waterfront and beach appeared across the country, including in states where interest in waterfront has historically been limited, such as Mississippi, Montana and Oklahoma.
Buyers also showed increasing interest in flexible living arrangements.
Searches for accessory dwelling units (ADUs), guest houses, casitas and in-law suites increased, indicating demand for multi-generational living options and adaptable floor plans that can support rental income or extended family needs.
At the same time, comfort-related features gained traction in luxury markers. Searches for fireplaces, gardens and fenced yards increased, while interest in high-end descriptions cooled.
Increasing searches for gated properties and fenced yards also indicated increased concerns about privacy, security and a sense of tranquility.
Shifts from 2024, state preferences
Zillow Zeitgeist comparisons with 2024 search behavior show a clear shift in priorities.
Interest shifted from home types such as ranches, cabins and duplexes to lifestyle amenities such as pools, lakes and water access.
Experiential features – including views, patios, gyms and proximity to beaches – outpaced searches focused on utilities, such as garages and vacant lots.
Regional and state-level data showed clear local preferences.
In Alaska, for example, searches for hangars and four-plexes reflected aviation uses and multifamily housing needs. In New Mexico, adobe homes remained a major search term.
Michigan shoppers often sought land contracts that reflected local financing practices, while buyers in New York and New Jersey continued to show strong interest in mother-daughter homes for multi-generational living.
In Arizona, the search for RV ports and casitas remained common. In Hawaii, buyers often looked for cheap properties that reflected the state’s unique ownership structures.
Broader regional patterns
Home buyers in the Southwest showed strong interest in ADUs, guest houses and solar energy facilities.
In the Mountain West, the search for farms, horses, rivers, and land remained widespread. Coastal states were dominated by searches for beach access, oceanfront properties, docks and balconies.
In parts of the Midwest, interest in barndominiums, pole barns and acreage grew, while in the Pacific Northwest demand continued for modern homes with views, yards and water access.
Zillow said the findings suggest that affordability pressures and changing household needs are changing the way Americans define an ideal home — placing more value on livability and flexibility than luxury or scale.
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