Skip to main content

Zillow wants to help millennials buy their first homes with RealEstate.com

zillow real estate for millenials 550337 10151268806835831 1544042889 n
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Becoming a homeowner may not be such a pipe dream after all, at least not with RealEstate.com in your back pocket. On May 2, online real estate marketplace Zillow Group announced the launch of a new tool aimed at millennials. Aptly named RealEstate.com, the site is heralded as a “new consumer real estate brand tailored to first-time home buyers,” which allows potential customers to search for homes based on critical criteria like monthly payment and down payment amounts.

While young home buyers may be interested in whether or not a building is pet friendly or how big a home’s master bedroom may be, the top concern is still budget, according to the 2016 Zillow Group Consumer Housing Trends Report. Be that as it may, Zillow’s study suggests that younger, more inexperienced home buyers are almost twice as likely to overspend than repeat buyers, putting them in sticky situations that could preclude the possibility of, well, becoming a repeat buyer.

But RealEstate.com hopes to solve that. The site gives interested parties an “All-In Monthly Price” for each and every home, also providing estimated expenses that could contribute to the overall monthly spend, including principal and interest, property taxes, homeowner’s insurance, HOA fees and utilities, and closing costs. Moreover, all this information can be seen in English, Spanish, or Chinese.

“RealEstate.com is designed to equip the next generation of home buyers to find a home that suits their needs and budget,” said Jeremy Wacksman, CMO at Zillow Group. “We know from our research that affordability is a huge driver for home buyers, and that first-time buyers are more likely to go over budget. By tailoring the home search experience on RealEstate.com around a home’s monthly cost, we hope to make the home buying experience less daunting and even more transparent for first-time buyers.”

Lulu Chang
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Fascinated by the effects of technology on human interaction, Lulu believes that if her parents can use your new app…
Eve MotionBlinds Upgrade Kit and Blinds Collection join the Matter lineup
The Eve MotionBlinds Upgrade Kit being installed.

Eve is a prominent name in the smart home world, with the company responsible for a variety of devices covering everything from smart plugs and security cameras to smart light switches and motion sensors. Its catalog is growing even more enticing today, with the Eve Blinds Collection and MotionBlinds Upgrade Kit gaining Matter support.

The MotionBlinds Upgrade Kit will likely appeal to more customers, as it costs just $200 and works with most existing setups. Installation is as simple as removing your shades, placing the MotionBlinds Upgrade Kit through the roller rod, then reinstalling the unit on your windows. Blinds with a roller between 1.5 inches and 2.0 inches are compatible with the upgrade kit.

Read more
Philips Hue lights have a rare discount, but there’s a catch
A TV with ambient backlighting from Philips Hue.

One of the cool things about Philips Hue lighting is how much freedom it gives you over creating the perfect ambiance in your home. One of the cool things about buying Philips Hue products over at Best Buy right now is how much freedom Best Buy is giving you over what you buy to save money. Right now, when you buy two or more select Philips Hue smart lighting product in Best Buy's offer builder, you can save 15%. Tap the button below to start building your own bundle and see all of the products available. While they don't include the best smart light bulbs that Philips produces, you'll be amazed by the versatility of the lightstrips. Or keep reading for an overview of some of the top picks from the bundle.

What you should purchase from the Philips Hue offer builder
The place to start with this deal is the and the if you don't already have them. These are the devices that take your movies, music, and games and syncs them to your lights.

Read more
Samsung’s futuristic Jet Bot AI+ robot vacuum is $400 off
The Samsung Jet Bot AI+ Robot Vacuum cleaning the floor.

For families who need a lot of help in keeping their floors spotless, the Samsung Jet Bot AI+ is an investment that you'll want to make. It's pretty expensive at its original price of $1,300, but a $400 discount from Samsung pulls it down to $900. It's still not cheap, but this futuristic robot vacuum could be the only device that you need to keep dirt, debris, and pet hair away from your sight. You're going to have to complete your purchase for it as soon as possible though, as there's no telling when the offer expires.

Why you should buy the Samsung Jet Bot AI+ robot vacuum
The Samsung Jet Bot AI+ checks all the boxes in the features that are recommended by our guide on how to choose a robot vacuum. It's equipped with powerful sensors and object recognition technology that allows it to avoid furniture when it's cleaning your floors, while LiDAR technology allows it to create accurate maps of the rooms in your home so that it can properly navigate and clean more efficiently. The robot vacuum also features a five-layer filtration system that allows it to release clean air, and when it's done, it goes back to its Clean Station where it empties its contents.

Read more