The Hottest Housing Trend? Pet-Friendly Homes

For many of us, our pets are an essential part of our family. According to new research from real estate company Zillow, 78% of 2023 home buyers said they share a home with “at least one pet,” as opposed to just 40% who report at least one child.

It follows, then, that 2023 would also see a spike in the sales of pet-friendly homes, with 80% of pet-owning home buyers saying their pet influenced their decision substantially. This rate increases to 88% for buyers aged 18 to 29.

To get a full picture of the pet-friendly home buying trend, we spoke to Amanda Pendleton, Zillow Home Trends Expert. She told us why pet-friendly houses are so coveted, what to look for in a house or neighborhood to determine if it’s a good fit, and how to seal the deal on a pet-friendly house.

The Growing Demand for Pet-Friendly Homes and Neighborhoods

According to Zillow’s research, rates of pet ownership among home buyers have risen a whopping 14 percentage points since 2020. Pendleton credits the coronavirus pandemic for this dramatic increase.

“The pandemic sparked a boom in pet ownership as people craved connection and had a lot more time on their hands and a lot more time at home to care for an animal,” she says.

“The pandemic also brought increased awareness and prioritization of mental and physical health. Pets have been proven to improve health and wellbeing and lead to more exercise, more outdoor time and more social interaction [which] can make an impact on our happiness.”

What to Look for In Pet-Friendly Homes

Koldunova_Anna/Getty Images

Pendleton says fenced backyards are the most coveted pet-friendly home feature, with 33% of pet-owning buyers calling a fenced backyard “essential.” Additionally, homes with a fenced backyard sell three days faster than similar homes, according to Zillow’s research.

The second most popular feature appears to be a doghouse or proximity to a dog park, with 33% of pet-owning buyers considering these essential. Pendleton says homes close to walking trails can “sell more than a day faster” than similar houses.

How to Tell If a Neighborhood Is Pet-Friendly

“There’s no substitute for touring a neighborhood in person, preferably with your pet!” Pendelton says. This way you can look for walking trails and dog-friendly businesses, like groomers or dog-washing stations, pet stores or even restaurants with pet-friendly patios.

If you can’t tour a neighborhood in person, Pendleton says, “Apps like Rover and Yelp can help identify where there’s a high availability of pet stores, veterinarians and pet sitters.” Additionally, lean on your real estate agent, who she says can be a “trusted, valuable source of information on all the local amenities.”

More Advice from an Expert

Pendleton says to expect more competition and be ready to act quickly.

“Get your financial ducks in a row,” she says. “Understand how much home you can afford using a mortgage calculator.” Then, she says, look for a lender and get pre-approved for a mortgage, not just pre-qualified. Pre-approval will help allow you to make a more competitive offer on the house of your dreams.

Next, she says, hire a great real estate agent. “Do your homework, read agent reviews and check past sales before interviewing your top candidates,” she says. “An experienced agent can give you a competitive edge and the intel you need to win the deal.”

And finally, rely on tech. “New tools like virtual 3D home tours and interactive floor plans can give you a more immersive experience of a home from your living room,” she says. Using these tools, she says, will help you quickly winnow down your options and act faster when your perfect home hits the market.

For more advice on purchasing a pet-friendly home, be sure to check out our 100 best tips for buying a house.