Trulia and Zillow are two of the most popular real estate websites. Both property websites list homes to sell, buy or rent. Zillow and Trulia are also popular among real estate investors in determining property values and performing comparative market analysis. But the big question is: If you’re considering investing in real estate, which is best—Trulia vs. Zillow?
At first glance, Zillow and Trulia appear similar. They are real estate databases that feature property listings for both homes for sale or rent.
Let’s say you are looking for properties to buy or rent. Is Zillow or Trulia the Best Option? This article compares two popular real estate websites to help you decide which is best for your needs.
Trulia Overview
Trulia is a real estate database containing market listings of properties to buy, sell or rent. The website is free to use as it earns money from advertising. In addition to real estate listings, Trulia has comprehensive neighborhood information, including schools, local insight, and resident reviews.
Trulia provides users with a great experience when buying, selling or renting. The map on the right shows properties with listings and photos on the left. Clicking on a specific listing opens a new page with complete property details.
Trulia History
Trulia was founded in 2005 as a property listing website for California. However, the real estate platform covered the entire United States by the following year. In 2015, Zillow Group acquired Tulia.
So, when comparing Trulia vs Zillow, it’s good to remember that many of the features are the same because the property data comes from one database.
Zillow Overview
Zillow is one of the most popular websites in the real estate industry. Zillow provides tools for selling, buying and renting properties, and for financing real estate transactions. A unique feature of the website is Zillow’s Zestimates – a helpful tool for determining a home’s value or estimated monthly rental price.
Like Trulia, Zillow is free to list a property for sale or rent, and it makes its money through advertising.
Zillow provides a graphical interface for users to search for properties in specific areas of the country. First, the map on the left shows relevant properties. Then scrolling the properties to the right highlights the property on the map. After clicking on a property, you get complete listing information, including photos, agent information, and the option to request a tour.
A cool feature for homebuyers is that Zillow Mortgage Marketplace provides home loan quotes without revealing personally identifying information to you.
Zillow History
Richard Barton and Lloyd Frink founded Zillow Group in 2006. Over the years, the company has acquired various real estate websites, making it one of the largest in the US. According to statistics, there are more than 135 million households in the database.
Similarities Between Trulia and Zillow
Zillow and Trulia are very similar when it comes to buying, selling or renting real estate. Searching for rental properties is easy as both websites show search results on a map. You can also find detailed information on price history, market trends and facts from country records.
Both websites also provide a breakdown of monthly costs such as property taxes, mortgage payments, home insurance, mortgage insurance, and applicable union fees. In addition, featured agents pay to have their listings appear at the beginning of search results.
Difference Between Trulia and Zillow
Knowing the differences between Zillow vs. Trulia can help you decide which real estate platform best suits your needs.
The main difference is that Trulia provides more detailed information about neighborhoods. However, Zillow’s home value estimator “Zestimate” is a powerful tool for real estate investors.
Let us compare the features of both the websites in more detail.
comparative market analysis
Zillow’s Zestim is the main feature that sets it apart from Trulia. The handy tool gives the estimated market value for any residential property. In addition, you can also find useful information on projected property value growth – extremely useful if you are a real estate investor.
In addition, Zillow also has a Rent Zestimate calculator for investors to estimate the potential rental income from an investment property. These tools can help you decide whether to rent or own a property.
Trulia Estimate is also a home value estimator tool similar to Zestim. However, compared to Zillow, it does not provide detailed information. This is because it does not provide off-market estimates.
Connected, What is a comparative market analysis?
Filter Options
One area where Zillow is more useful when searching for active listings is its extensive filters. Although Trulia has nice search filters, Zillow lets you filter property searches by:
- 3D Virtual Tour
- parking lot or garage
- number of days on zillo
- basement
- number of stories
- View Type – Mountain, City, Water or Park
- facilities
- senior living community
Using keyword filters on Trulia makes it possible to get similar results. However, Zillow simplifies property searches.
site features
Zillow and Trulia have excellent property and neighborhood information on their websites. For example, there is information about walk scores, schools, market trends, property comps, and tour information.
However, in comparing the two websites, Trulia is more visually appealing. For example, there are real resident reviews and ratings regarding the following:
- pavement
- walking distance to grocery stores and restaurants
- Parking
- Reviews on schools, commuting, community and dog walking
Another cool feature of Trulia is that comparable properties are shown on a map to help you better understand the surrounding area.
Trulia vs Zillow for Sellers: If you’re planning to sell your home the FSBO route, Zillow is the best option. Real estate professionals and homeowners can list homes for sale without commission fees. You can also search for a Zillow Premier Agent to make home selling easier.
Zillow vs Trulia for Buyers: Zillow makes it easy to contact agents if you’re looking to buy a home. However, it’s worth checking out Trulia as it has better visual information on neighborhoods sourced from locals.
Zillow vs Trulia for Real Estate Investors: Zillow is a preferred choice for property investors because it has good comparative market analysis (CMA) tools. You can easily find compass, get complete property details and check current market price with Zestim. Unlike Trulia, it provides market information on off-market properties, which can be helpful in CMAs.
Trulia vs Zillow for Renters: Trulia is used by most people looking for rental listings. Although Zillow’s rental listings are similar, Trulia has more comprehensive neighborhood information.
Trulia and Zillow Alternatives
Redfin is the most popular alternative to Zillow and Trulia. Its website has a similar design, allowing home buyers, sellers or renters to search for suitable properties. Additionally, Redfin shows information about the home’s appreciation, value, HOA and year built. It also has a home value estimate calculator and mortgage search from the home page.
When comparing Redfin vs Zillow, there is one key difference. The company employs a team of professional real estate agents, making it easy to buy or sell a home. Additionally, Redfin charges a low commission fee when selling a home. So, it might be worthwhile checking out Redfin if you’re looking to list a home or buy one.
Plus, Redfin’s estimates on home values are relatively accurate. However, they have a more significant error margin than Zillow Zestimates.
Here is a list of other alternatives to Trulia and Zillow:
- Apartment.com: This website is ideal for real estate agents, brokers and investors looking to buy rental properties. The site also includes a suite of property management tools for landlords.
- realtor.com: This online real estate platform has MLS listings and information similar to what Zillow and Trulia offer. However, it is not free for agents to use.
- HomeSnap: HomeSnap’s popularity among real estate investors is its mobile app. It is possible to manage listings from a mobile device. In addition, homebuyers can search local MLS and get complete information on properties.
- Faujdari.com: As the name suggests, this platform is for real estate investors or homebuyers looking to find foreclosures. Furthermore, the platform provides valuable data on profit potential.
- FSBO.com Allows home owners to sell homes without a real estate agent. For less than $100, the FSBO package lists homes on Redfin and includes unlimited photos and one video upload. A more expensive MLS package lists the property on popular real estate websites such as the MLS and Zillow.
Are Listings on Trulia or Zillow Accurate?
Zillow is one of the most accurate real estate databases for home estimates. According to Zillow, the Zestimate median error rate for on-market homes is 3.2%. For off-market properties, the average error rate is 7.52%. Trulia’s estimates for on-market properties are just as accurate as Zillow’s because the data is from the same source.
Trulia and Zillow allow you to connect with a local real estate agent for a more accurate home value estimate.
Zillow Zestimates have a margin of error. Therefore, it is important to remember that real estate website estimates are no substitute for an official appraisal. Therefore, it is important to get a professional home value report before making an offer on a home.
What real estate investors should know about Trulia and Zillow
Trulia and Zillow are great resources for investors and real estate professionals looking to find homes for sale or post-rent listings. For example, Zillow has one of the most comprehensive real estate databases with millions of properties listed across the country. In addition, both sites have tools for analyzing housing market data and neighborhoods.
Real estate agents and landlords who want to go down the FSBO route can post listings for free without sales commissions. However, you may have to pay an agent’s commission. The listing appears on Zillow and a day later on Trulia. For real estate professionals, Zillow has a “Zillow Premier Agent” subscription, which helps investors generate high-quality leads.
One useful feature of Zillow and Trulia is home value estimates. While this is only a ballpark estimate, it provides valuable information for finding the right investment property for your portfolio.
Note by BigPockets: These are the views expressed by the author and do not necessarily represent the views of BigPockets.
