The Top 10 Features Home Buyers Searched for In 2023, According to Zillow

Sharon Greenthal
·2 min read
2

The top-searched phrase shows house hunters prioritized practicality.

If you were looking for a house or condo to purchase on Zillow this year, it's likely that “garage” was one of the phrases you typed into your search. According to the real estate website, that was the top term of the 250 billion searches by home seekers in the past year, indicating buyers are prioritizing practicality and convenience.

Artificial intelligence has enhanced Zillow’s search capabilities in the past months, allowing users to pose conversational questions to find their dream homes. For example, you can ask, “I’m looking for a cozy house with a screened-in porch,” and Zillow will show you listings for properties with those exact details. Zillow can also notify users when new listings come up with their specific requests.

<p>Kip Dawkins</p>

Kip Dawkins

“Natural language search gives us this ability to look at unique and highly local trends across the U.S.,” said Nicholas Stevens, vice president of product, artificial intelligence at Zillow. “This lets us go deeper than the typical search filters, helping us better show shoppers homes with the features they really want.”

Related: Farmhouse Is Out, Brutalism Is In: Predictions from Zillow's 2024 Trend Report

In addition to garage, the other top search terms (both practical and luxury) include:

  • Backyard

  • Fireplace

  • Walk-in closet

  • Patio

  • Open floor plan

  • Pool

  • Family room

  • Basement

  • Granite counters

<p>Zillow</p>

Zillow

Zillow also shared the most popular searches in cities across the country. Central air and heat came in at the top of lists in 22 of 30 cities, including Atlanta, Charlotte, Dallas, Jacksonville, Los Angeles, Nashville, San Antonio, and Tampa, perhaps in response to shifting climate patterns resulting in extreme weather. Views, depending on where people are searching, are also important. In Seattle, city, mountain, and water views are among the top five most-desired features, while in Miami, water views are a must have.

Some of the more unique top search terms by city are double vanities, wanted by Atlantans; tennis courts, popular in Naples, Florida; and contemporary homes in Tucson, the only home style to top a list in any location. San Antonio’s top request is an “eat-in kitchen,” which may align with the decline of interest in open-concept.

Related: Goodbye, Open Concept—People are Adding Walls in Their Homes

In metropolitan areas, the requests focus more on convenience and luxury—Philadelphia’s top search terms are for street parking and basements (great for storage or rental potential). New Yorkers covet doormen and terraces.

No matter what you're looking for, though, the most essential aspect of all is finding a place that feels like home to you and your family. That's when you know the search is over.

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