What is Zillow Data?
Zillow Data refers to the collection of real estate information, market statistics, and property metrics gathered and distributed by Zillow Group. This includes historical and current data on home values, rental prices, inventory levels, market trends, and demographic information across various markets and submarkets.
The data encompasses millions of property records, transaction histories, and the company’s proprietary Zestimate valuations. It also includes metrics like days on market, price cuts, and listing activity that help stakeholders understand market dynamics.
How Zillow Data Came to Be
Zillow was founded in 2006 by Rich Barton and Lloyd Frink, former Microsoft executives who also created Expedia. The company launched with the goal of increasing transparency in real estate by making property information publicly accessible.
Initially, Zillow introduced the Zestimate, an automated valuation model that provided estimated home values for millions of properties. Over time, the platform expanded to aggregate listing data, rental information, and market analytics. The company went public in 2011 and has since acquired several real estate technology companies to enhance its data capabilities.
What Zillow Data Offers and Supports
Zillow Data provides multiple datasets and tools for real estate professionals, researchers, and investors. The company offers public access to market trends through its website, as well as premium data services for commercial use.
Key offerings include the Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), which tracks median home values across regions, and the Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI) for rental market analysis. The platform also provides inventory data, showing available listings and absorption rate trends that indicate how quickly properties sell in specific markets.
Additionally, Zillow offers API access and bulk data downloads through its research portal. This supports analysis of everything from neighborhood-level pricing to broader metropolitan trends, including activity in less-tracked areas sometimes referred to as the shadow market.
Zillow Data Use Cases in Real Estate
Real estate professionals use Zillow Data for market analysis and pricing strategies. Agents reference the data when preparing comparative market analyses and advising clients on listing prices.
Investors and developers rely on Zillow Data to identify emerging markets and evaluate investment opportunities. The data helps assess submarket performance, compare neighborhoods, and track absorption rates to gauge demand.
Lenders and appraisers incorporate Zillow Data into their valuation processes, using it as a supplementary data source alongside traditional methods. Researchers and economists also utilize the datasets for studying housing trends and market cycles.
Real-World Applications of Zillow Data
A property investor might analyze Zillow Data to identify submarkets with declining inventory and strong absorption rates, indicating high demand. This insight can inform purchasing decisions and timing.
A real estate agent preparing to list a home could review recent sales data and active listings in the area through Zillow Data. This helps establish competitive pricing aligned with current market conditions.
An economist studying housing affordability might use Zillow’s historical home value index to track price appreciation over time across different regions. This provides context for broader economic analysis and policy discussions.
Property managers evaluating rental rates can compare their units against Zillow’s rental data for similar properties in the area. This ensures competitive pricing that reflects local market dynamics, including properties in the shadow market that may not be widely advertised.
