Don't Miss Your Dream Home by Searching Zillow Alone
Big news in the real estate world: Zillow is changing how it handles property listings—and it could affect your home search more than you think.
Starting in May 2025, Zillow will no longer display homes that have been marketed privately for more than 24 hours without being submitted to a Multiple Listing Service (MLS). This move is designed to increase transparency and ensure every buyer gets equal access to new listings. But here’s the catch: Zillow might no longer show you the full picture of what’s really on the market.
As a real estate agent, I see this as a reminder of why having a professional by your side is more important than ever.
What’s Changing with Zillow?
Zillow’s new rule means that if a home is advertised publicly—on social media, through a "For Sale" sign, or even on a brokerage’s website—it must be listed on the MLS within 24 hours to remain on Zillow. If it’s not, it disappears from the platform.
This change supports the National Association of Realtors’ Clear Cooperation Policy, which aims to prevent “pocket listings”—homes that are shown only to a select few buyers before going public.
What this Means for Homebuyers
Here’s the reality: Not all properties make it to Zillow.
Some agents may continue to market properties privately or hold off on MLS submission for various strategic reasons. On top of that, Zillow doesn’t pull from every MLS across the country—there are over 500 MLS systems in the U.S., and not all brokerages have agreements with the platform.
So, if you’re only using Zillow, you might be missing out on homes that are perfect for you but simply don’t show up there.