Americans valued location, flexibility and comfort over square footage and flashy upgrades when searching for homes to purchase this year, according to the 2025 Zillow Zeitgeist report.

“2025 was the year people stopped searching for more home and started searching for more meaning at home,” Amanda Pendleton, Zillow’s home trends expert, said in a press release. “Across the country, buyers want homes that can flex for family, offer access to nature and deliver small daily comforts that make life feel easier and more joyful.”

Evidence points to home shoppers prioritizing the experiences they’ll have in their home over the style or size, Zillow said. Homebuyer interest in yards and patios, plus water-related features like lakes, ponds, docks and beaches, spiked in 2025. Searches for water frontage even increased in popularity in states with historically low interest, like Mississippi, Montana and Oklahoma, and outpaced 2024 frontrunners including “acreage,” “duplex” and “ranch.”

Buyers also craved security, searching for gated or fenced yards that offer privacy and protection. They also searched for features that suggest everyday comfort, like fireplaces and gardens.

Meanwhile, keyword searches related to high-end, luxury homes, like “mansion” or “acreage,” declined nationwide.

Instead, home shoppers were increasingly interested in accessory dwelling units (ADUs), guest houses, casitas and in-law suites — all features that serve more than one purpose, whether that be multigenerational living or rental income.

Homebuyers’ requests varied by region: In the Southwest, shoppers sought out regional architectural styles like adobe, while those in the Mountain West wanted ranches, horses and rivers. Similar searches were conducted in the Heartland, where prospective buyers looked for barndominiums and pole barns.

In contrast, shoppers in coastal states prioritized oceanfront views, docks and balconies, while buyers in the Pacific Northwest wanted modern styles, ADUs and yards with views.

Top-searched home features by state. Image courtesy of Zillow.