“2025 was the year people stopped searching for more home and started searching for more meaning at home,” said Amanda Pendleton, Zillow’s home trends expert. “Across the country, buyers want homes that can flex for family, offer access to nature and deliver small daily comforts that make life feel easier and more joyful.”
Outdoor access, flexible living
Search activity reflected growing demand for outdoor and experience-driven features. Queries for homes with pools, patios, yards and views increased year over year, while searches tied to luxury properties — including mansions and large acreage — declined compared with 2024.
Water access emerged as a prominent theme nationwide.
Searches for terms such as lake, river, dock, waterfront and beach rose across the country, including in states where waterfront interest has historically been limited, such as Mississippi, Montana and Oklahoma.
Buyers also showed rising interest in flexible housing arrangements.
Searches for accessory dwelling units (ADUs), guest houses, casitas and in-law suites increased — pointing to demand for multigenerational living options and adaptable floor plans that can support rental income or extended family needs.
At the same time, comfort-related features gained traction over luxury markers. Searches for fireplaces, gardens and fenced yards rose, while interest in high-end descriptors cooled.
Increased searches for gated properties and fenced yards also suggested heightened concerns for privacy, security and a sense of calm.
Shifts from 2024, state preferences
Zillow Zeitgeist comparisons with 2024 search behavior show a clear shift in priorities.
Interest moved away from home types such as ranches, cabins and duplexes toward lifestyle amenities like pools, lakes and waterfront access.
Experience-driven features — including views, patios, gyms and beach proximity — outpaced searches focused on utility, such as garages and undeveloped land.
Regional and state-level data highlighted distinct local preferences.
In Alaska, for example, searches for hangars and four-plex properties reflected aviation use and multifamily needs. In New Mexico, adobe homes remained a leading search term.
Michigan shoppers frequently searched for land contracts, reflecting local financing practices, while buyers in New York and New Jersey continued to show strong interest in mother-daughter homes for multigenerational living.
In Arizona, searches for RV gates and casitas remained common. In Hawaii, buyers frequently searched for fee-simple properties, reflecting the state’s unique ownership structures.
Broader regional patterns
Home shoppers in the Southwest showed strong interest in ADUs, guest houses and solar features.
In the Mountain West, searches for ranches, horses, rivers and acreage remained prevalent. Coastal states were dominated by searches for beach access, oceanfront properties, docks and balconies.
In parts of the Midwest, interest grew in barndominiums, pole barns and acreage, while the Pacific Northwest continued to show demand for modern homes with views, yards and waterfront access.
Zillow said the findings suggest that affordability pressures and changing household needs are reshaping how Americans define an ideal home — placing greater value on livability and flexibility than on luxury or scale.