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For the buyers, First Time BuyersPublished April 28, 2025
What Zillow’s Big Changes Mean for Homebuyers in 2025
If you have been casually scrolling Zillow, dreaming about your future home, here is a big heads-up. Starting May 1st, 2025, not all homes will be listed on Zillow anymore. Yes, you read that right. Thanks to some major industry shifts and a lot of legal battles behind the scenes, Zillow is about to look very different. The days of thinking you could find every available home online with a few taps are officially over.
Because of new rules around how listings are shared, brokers are no longer required to send their homes to Zillow or other public real estate sites. Some brokerages may choose to only post homes on their own websites or share them selectively. This means Zillow, Redfin, and others will no longer show the full picture of what is actually for sale. You could be missing out on amazing homes without even knowing it. The one with the dream kitchen, the perfect backyard, or the cozy office you have been manifesting might not pop up in your search.
Now more than ever, you need a real estate agent in your corner. An agent has direct access to the full MLS, which still shows everything that is listed whether it appears on Zillow or not. If you are only relying on public sites, it is like trying to win a scavenger hunt with half the clues missing. Buyers who have an agent working for them will know exactly what is out there and will have a serious advantage.
Not to mention, the market moves fast. Good homes get snapped up quickly, and if you are seeing listings late or missing them altogether, it is going to feel like you are constantly playing catch-up. An agent can alert you to homes before they hit the big sites or even help you get in for private tours. In today’s environment, being a step ahead matters more than ever.
Bottom line. If you are serious about buying a home, find an agent you trust and stick with them. It is not just about opening doors and writing offers anymore. It is about having full access, smart strategy, and someone who is one hundred percent on your team. The perfect home might be out there right now and without the right help, you might never even know it existed.
Thinking about buying? Let’s connect and make sure you are seeing everything, not just what happens to pop up on the apps. Your dream home should not stay hidden.
Taylor Tebeau
Realtor® | Realty ONE Group
HouzAZ & Associates
Serving the Phoenix Metro
@azhomeswithtaylor
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