SEATTLE, May 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- More than 1 in
10 Americans say they moved in the past year, often driven by
shifting family priorities or increased flexibility while working
remotely. But one group flies under the radar: Pet parents making a
move for their dogs' sake. Dogs are increasingly seen as part of
their families, so it follows that they factor heavily into moving
decisions -- and may even be the catalyst for some, especially as
pet adoptions have boomed during the pandemic.
According to a new survey from Rover® and Zillow®, 24% of
dog owners in the U.S. have moved into a new home since
March 2020, and 62% would consider
moving to a new home to better accommodate their dog.i
With that group in mind, Zillow and Rover have teamed up to
introduce a list of the Top Emerging Dog-Friendly Cities for
2021.
"Home became more important than ever during the pandemic,
sparking the Great Reshuffling. As we rethink where and how we want
to live, we're reevaluating what we want and need in a home in this
new normal. For many families, that includes considering what's
best for their four-legged family members," said Zillow home trends
expert Amanda Pendleton. "Homes with
a dog house sold for 3% more than expected last year, while homes
with a fenced yard or dog run sold a few days faster than similar
homes without these features, even in a year where the market was
moving exceptionally fast."
To create the list of Top Emerging Dog-Friendly Cities for 2021,
Rover looked at new dog accounts on their platform, whether from
dog owners new to the area or longtime residents with a newly
adopted dog, and Zillow dug into cities where dog-friendly rentals
and listings mentioning home features dog owners covet are on the
rise.
"This year, we spent an extraordinary amount of time with our
pets, and many of us relied on their companionship more than ever.
As a result, our emotional bonds with our pets also strengthened,"
said Kate Jaffe, trends expert at
Rover. "Pets are taking on an even greater role in our families, so
it's no surprise that our dogs' needs are a top priority for pet
parents considering a new home."
Top 15 Emerging Dog-Friendly Cities, according to Zillow and
Rover:
- Denver, CO
- Orlando, FL
- Anaheim, CA
- Charlotte, NC
- Birmingham, AL
- Atlanta, GA
- Boston, MA
- Glendale, AZ
- New Orleans, LA
- Tampa, FL
- Fayetteville, NC
- Fort Worth, TX
- Miami, FL
- Nashville, TN
- Saint Petersburg, FL
Denver takes the top spot,
largely because of the number of new Rover accounts created,
followed by Orlando and
Anaheim. Orlando saw strong growth (4%) in the number
of rentals listed as dog-friendly during the pandemic, and has one
of the highest shares of for-sale listings mentioning dog parks.
Anaheim has among the highest
share of for-sale listings that feature a dog run.
A large majority of dog owners surveyed (86%) say dog-friendly
features -- things like a home with a dog door or living near a dog
park -- are an important factor in their moving decision, and 84%
are willing to spend more for these features.
A fenced-in outdoor space is the most-desired home feature for
dog owners Rover and Zillow surveyed. The good news for home
shoppers is that the share of listings mentioning fenced yards and
outdoor spaces grew more during the pandemic than any other
dog-friendly feature Zillow analyzed. But interested buyers should
strike quickly when a home with a yard for their dog catches their
eye -- homes sold 5 days faster than expected last year when
the listing mentioned a fenced yard.
Moving remains challenging whether you're bringing a dog along
or not, but 80% of recent movers say their most-recent move was
worth it. Technology like Zillow 3D Home tours is making it
easier than ever to find and explore a new home online, even
hundreds or thousands of miles away, giving buyers shopping
remotely a greater degree of confidence. Whether you welcomed a new
pet into your family or moved into a new city this past year, Rover
makes it easy for pet parents to find loving care within your
neighborhood. Services include overnight care with pet sitting and
boarding and daytime services such as dog walking, doggy daycare,
drop in visits and grooming in select markets.
Research Methodology
Top Emerging Dog-Friendly Cities
ranking is according to Rover's
April 21 report of new dog accounts
in U.S. cities from its database of millions of pet
profiles, and Zillow rentals and for-sale listings data. For
each city, Rover data on trends in new dog accounts was combined
with Zillow data on the share and year-over-year growth of rentals
listed as pet-friendly, and the change in frequency of pet-friendly
features mentioned in for-sale listings for all homes sold in 2020.
The final ranking put equal weight on both Rover and Zillow data --
and within Zillow data, equal weight was given to data on frequency
of pet-friendly features mentioned in for-sale listings and the
share of pet-friendly rentals. Only cities with a population of
200,000 or greater according to 2019 U.S. Census Bureau estimates
were considered.
Survey results are based on a Rover and Zillow survey of 1,000
US dog owners via Pollfish in April
2021.
About Zillow Group
Zillow Group, Inc.
(NASDAQ: Z and ZG) is reimagining real estate to make it easier to
unlock life's next chapter.
As the most-visited real estate website in the United States, Zillow® and its affiliates
offer customers an on-demand experience for selling, buying,
renting or financing with transparency and nearly seamless
end-to-end service. Zillow Offers® buys and sells homes directly in
dozens of markets across the country, allowing sellers control over
their timeline. Zillow Home Loans™, our affiliate lender, provides
our customers with an easy option to get pre-approved and secure
financing for their next home purchase. Zillow recently launched
Zillow Homes, Inc., a licensed brokerage entity, to streamline
Zillow Offers transactions.
Zillow Group's brands, affiliates and subsidiaries include
Zillow®, Zillow Offers®, Zillow Premier Agent®, Zillow Home Loans™,
Zillow Closing Services™, Zillow Homes, Inc., Trulia®, Out East®,
StreetEasy® and HotPads®. Zillow Home Loans, LLC is an Equal
Housing Lender, NMLS #10287
(www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org).
About Rover®
Founded in 2011 and
based in Seattle, Rover is
the world's largest online marketplace for pet care. Rover connects
pet parents with caring pet care providers who offer overnight
services, including boarding and in-home pet sitting, as well as
daytime services, including doggy daycare, dog walking, drop-in
visits, and grooming. Millions of pet parents have booked a service
on Rover, with more than 500,000 pet care providers across
North America and Europe.
i Source: A Rover and Zillow survey of 1,000 U.S. dog
owners via Pollfish in April
2021.
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SOURCE Zillow