September 8, 2024

Zillow’s AI Search Upgrade Transforms How You Find Your Next Home

Zillow’s AI-powered search experience is getting an upgrade. Now buyers and renters can search for their next home using simple, everyday language in even more ways — including by commute time, affordability, schools and nearby points of interest.

By Brian K. Neal

Zillow is enhancing its AI-powered search functionality, allowing homebuyers and renters to find their next home with even greater ease. By incorporating everyday language queries—such as commute times, affordability, nearby schools, and points of interest—Zillow provides a more intuitive and personalized search experience. Leveraging natural language processing (NLP), the platform now analyzes millions of listings to deliver tailored results based on user preferences.

As the first and only major real estate marketplace to implement this advanced AI-driven search, Zillow is pushing the boundaries of how users interact with property listings. Beginning today, users can bypass traditional filters and describe their ideal home directly in the Zillow app as if they were chatting with a friend. Whether specifying layout, location, or style, users now have the added ability to search based on critical lifestyle factors like proximity to work, budget constraints, and quality of local schools.

Josh Weisberg, Senior Vice President of Artificial Intelligence at Zillow, said, “From streamlining the home search to personalizing the user experience, Zillow applies AI in practical ways to help people get home. Search is one of the bedrocks of our platform, and we’re always improving it to make it easier for users to find homes that meet their unique needs.”

This upgrade is now available on Zillow’s iOS and Android apps, with Zillow.com following soon. The enhanced search is powered by machine learning models that continuously improve based on how users interact with the platform, delivering more human-like responses and better search results over time.

To experience the new search features, users simply need to update their app and enter prompts like:

  • Commute: “Homes 30 min drive from Millennium Park”
  • Points of Interest: “Apartments near Denver Union Station”
  • Affordability: “Austin homes under $400,000” or “Seattle homes under $4,000 monthly”
  • Schools: “3-bedroom houses near Roosevelt High School”

Along with these search upgrades, AI powers several of Zillow’s signature features, including the Zestimate® home valuation, personalized recommendations, and AI-driven Showcase℠ listings. These tools allow users to explore homes in-depth before ever setting foot inside.

This latest enhancement underscores Zillow’s commitment to reshaping the home search experience through cutting-edge technology.