Dec 05, 2023 By Susan Kelly
If you've ever attempted to buy, rent or sell a property or perhaps just checked to find out the value of your house, then you've probably tried Zillow as well as Trulia. Both provide real-time information about homes that offer for-sale and rental listings for the general public, connect users with real estate agents and share a few key traits. They're both now members of the same firm Zillow Group. Zillow Group acquired Trulia for $3.5 billion in February 2015.
Both websites feature listings that include pictures, a thorough description, prices, and details about the neighborhood. The information on properties displayed on each site is usually similar since they are based on MLS listings. Users can utilize a certain set of criteria to find homes on each website, which include the price, the number of bedrooms available, the kind of construction, square footage, and the size of the lot.
Zillow was established in 2006. It was founded in 2006 in Seattle; the company was created with the help of two ex- Microsoft executives, Rich Barton and Lloyd Frink. According to the website, Zillow can be described as "the most popular rental and real estate platform" for customers. It connects them with the right information and real estate professionals needed to buy, rent, sell, or purchase homes. Over 135 million homes are on the market in the first quarter of 2022, including those not being offered for sale.
Zillow is completely free for owners, agents for listing, and landlords. Most of the income comes from selling advertising space on its range of sites - Zillow, Trulia, Hotpads, and others- to firms that manage properties, mortgage lenders, and other companies. In comparison to Trulia, the user experience on Zillow is more graphic.
On the left, you'll find an interactive map of the properties within your search area that meet your chosen criteria. By scrolling over each, you'll see tiny thumbnails with the cost and the number of bathrooms and bedrooms. The individual properties are displayed on the right-hand side of the screen, beginning with the most current listing for sale. Information about properties is readily accessible through various sections:
Trulia is another well-known real estate site. It was established in 2005 and is headquartered in San Francisco. Like Zillow, Trulia offers prospective buyers, sellers, and renters real estate listings. Similar to Zillow, Trulia makes most of its income through advertising.
Although Zillow controls the company, it offers users a distinct experience on the internet. Search results show maps on the right side and listings on the left. When you click on a specific listing, the most important details--prices, address, bathrooms, bedrooms, and square footage-- are listed at the top, with an estimation of a monthly mortgage.
Although the same proprietor operates both companies, there are some distinctions. Zillow is more global than Trulia and lists houses in a variety of Canadian cities, as well as in the United States. There are also differences in how they determine the cost of homes. Zillow's "Zestimate" is said to be reliable within 1.9 percent for homes on the market using a proprietary formula based on user and public information. The Trulia Estimate is calculated from the Zestimate; however, it takes into consideration other factors. Trulia says its 34 overlays on neighborhood maps offer consumers more insight into what it's like living in a home and the neighborhood.
Trulia also offers an overview of the monthly expenses for the house, including mortgage payments tax, property taxes, and home insurance, as well as any associated fees and mortgage insurance. It gives potential buyers an impression of whether they can afford the house they want. One of Trulia's unique characteristics is its crime map information. The site aggregates crime statistics for local neighborhoods, compiled by local law enforcement agencies and news sources, allowing users to evaluate the neighborhood's security.