Zillow Changes Course: Some Home Listings Will Disappear Starting May 2025

Zillow is implementing a significant policy change that will affect how home listings appear on its platform. Starting in May 2025, Zillow will no longer display listings that are initially marketed privately or exclusively by brokerages before being shared publicly. This move aims to enhance transparency and ensure that all potential buyers have equal access to available properties.

Understanding the Policy Shift

Traditionally, some real estate brokerages have employed “office exclusives,” where properties are first marketed internally or on their own websites before being listed on public platforms like Zillow.

Zillow’s new policy mandates that any listing made available to the public must be simultaneously shared across all platforms, including Zillow. Listings that don’t comply will be removed from Zillow’s site.​

Zillow justifies this change by emphasizing the need for a more open and trustworthy real estate marketplace. By eliminating staggered or selective listings, the company believes buyers will benefit from a more comprehensive view of available properties, reducing confusion and potential mistrust.

Industry Reactions

The policy has elicited mixed reactions within the real estate community. Supporters, including brokerages like eXp Realty and NextHome, argue that the move promotes fairness and transparency, ensuring that all buyers have equal access to listings. They believe this could lead to a more competitive and efficient market.​

Conversely, critics, particularly from brokerages that rely heavily on exclusive listings, view the policy as a power move by Zillow to dominate the online real estate space. They argue that it limits marketing strategies and could disadvantage sellers who prefer a more controlled or private sales approach.

Some industry insiders also express concerns that this could push more listings into private channels, making them harder for the average buyer to discover.​

Implications for Buyers and Sellers

For Buyers: This policy change could simplify the home-search process by consolidating listings, reducing the need to scour multiple platforms to find available properties. However, if more listings move to private channels in response, buyers might need to engage more directly with brokerages or agents to access the full range of available homes.​

For Sellers: Sellers may need to reconsider their marketing strategies. While broader exposure through platforms like Zillow can attract more potential buyers, some may prefer the discretion of exclusive listings. Understanding the trade-offs between privacy and exposure will be crucial in deciding how to list their property.​

The Broader Context

This development is part of a larger debate within the real estate industry about data transparency and control. With over 500 Multiple Listing Services (MLS) across the U.S., there’s a lack of standardization in how listings are shared and displayed.

Zillow’s policy could prompt other platforms to adopt similar standards, potentially leading to more uniform practices across the industry.​

However, the move also raises questions about the balance of power between large platforms and individual brokerages.

As the industry grapples with these changes, the primary focus remains on ensuring that consumers have access to accurate and comprehensive information to make informed decisions in the housing market.