16 Alternative Sites & Companies Like Zillow for Real Estate and Agency Listings

In February 2006, Rich Barton (former Expedia CEO) and former Expedia and Microsoft executive Lloyd Frick, established their real estate media empire in Seattle. Like all fabulous ideas, the past 14 years have inspired other entrepreneurs to emulate the Zillow model, albeit with their own unique twists.

If you’ve got time on your hands and you’d like to know all of the details involved with jumpstarting Zillow you can visit GeekWire to see what the two innovators who created this 10-year-old company have to say about their success.

Although Zillow is probably the most popular site for Real Estate Listings for buying, selling, renting properties etc, there are several similar websites around the same concept. 

The following 16 marketplaces have many of the same services, but each has a distinct and unique approach to doing business. Let’s see the various alternatives to Zillow below.

Note that the series below is in no particular order:

Trulia

If you like Zillow but tend not to follow the crowd, Trulia may be of interest since it is owned by the Zillow Group, so you get the brand via an alternate resource.

Trulia’s philosophy is that “when it comes to finding a home, what’s outside the front door is just as important as what’s behind it.”

The website goes “beyond typical listing” methods by using over 34 neighborhood map inlays so folks looking for rentals or home purchases can assess specific areas more confidently.

Visit the site, scroll down to the menu listing real estate and rental markets by state. It’s that easy to find the home you’re searching for.

Compass

Featured in top business publications, Compass focuses on only 16 states and cities with the most vibrant real estate markets.

Calling themselves “A real estate company with a purpose and mission to help everyone find their place in the world,” Compass considers itself the builder of the first modern, virtual real estate platform staffed by top industry talent.

Professionals employ the latest technology so client search and sell experiences are intelligent and seamless. Whether you’re just browsing or have targeted a specific area, visit Compass to gain immediate access to 12,000+ agents operating from Seattle to Miami and from Boston to San Diego. But you only need one expert and that person is just a click away.

Homesnap

Staking a claim to 1 million agents, the Homesnap app enables you to tap the entire domestic real estate industry’s national search portal so it matters not whether you conduct your search for a new home from Hong Kong or Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Download the app at HomeSnap, connect with an agent and gain access to real time data about everything from property history to school attendance zones.

You could find yourself lingering on the site longer than you planned because Homesnap is filled with tips and advice related to home searches.

Best of all, when you’re part of the network, you receive immediate alerts that let you in on new listings, price changes and market updates.

Want to be “the first to know” when news about property in a targeted zip code changes? This resource can deliver it in a literal snap!

HomeBay

When technology-driven Home Bay Technology announced plans to expand their reach to Colorado, that brought the total of states served by this targeted website to six.

The San Diego-based group prides itself on offering diverse services for a flat fee, thus shoppers in Florida, Illinois, Texas, Georgia, California–and now the Rocky Mountain State–avail themselves of home search resources via Home Bay’s innovative app.

Home buyers don’t have to estimate commissions because Home Bay operates via flat fees. If you are interested in this type of arrangement, Home Bay says you could save an average of $16,000 per transaction.

Whether you’re buying or selling within zones Home Bay services, it may be worth your while to visit HomeBay. By the way, Home Bay was given a 4.8 on Zillow’s 5-point rating scale.

Redfin

As an authority on buying and selling homes, Redfin’s mission is “redefining real estate in the customer’s favor.”

This service began as a map-based search tool, designed from the ground up, that bypassed running ads on behalf of real estate brokers. Instead, Redfin joined forces with them.

Dedicated agents represent the company’s desire to put customers first and because every agent is affiliated with the company, there is more direct Redfin-to-consumer contact.

This company’s ability to survey customers and pay bonuses based on reviews makes it unique among competitors.

Redfin does it all: home tours, listings and they even handle the escrow process. Need proof their success? Ask the 80,000 customers who have found homes through Redfin.

Realtor

Don’t let the name of this website confuse you; it’s not just for realtors. Owned and operated by Move, Inc., Realtor.com plays matchmaker between home shoppers and agents.

According to the company’s objectives, Realtor.com maintains comprehensive lists of for-sale properties and gives browsers the information and tools they need to shop specific areas.

“No matter what stage of the home journey you may be in, we’re here to empower you by making all things home simple, efficient, and enjoyable,” say agents affiliated with this resource.

Clients enjoy using the My Home dashboard because it gives them valuable data that includes property value tracking, home improvement resources and research that keeps tabs on comparable properties. Visit the site to see if it’s right for you.

RealEstateABC

If you’re seeking help with a home purchase or sale and prefer to turn to folks who have been around the block, consider working with RealEstateABC.com, launched in 1998.

This company’s goal is to “candidly inform home buyers and sellers about the real world of real estate,” minus the hype.

Browse the agent directory, sorted by geographic parameters. Try the Home Values tool designed to deliver ABC Value estimates on select properties based on recent sales.

This company’s “how-to” guides have been published on 30,000+ real estate web sites and ABC claims to be one of the most-linked-to resources in cyberspace.

Even media has taken notice. Named “Cool Site of the Day” by CNBC’s “Power Lunch” and declared one of “100 Best Sites You Didn’t Know You Couldn’t Live Without” by PC magazine, if you’re looking for longevity and a pedigree, this site is as easy to use as ABC.

LoopNet

Are you looking to purchase commercial real estate? Turn to LoopNet, a digital marketplace for commercial properties that attracts 12.6 million+ monthly visits.

Positioning itself as “the most heavily trafficked commercial real estate marketing platform” on the web, LoopNet can help you acquire space, tell your story and serve as your full-service commercial partner from search to closing.

LoopNet represents 33 years of experience and $4 billion in investment dollars, all of which have helped LoopNet become a fixture for folks searching for office, industrial, retail, apartments, businesses and land for sale.

LoopNet boasts 22 times the number of unique visitors than competitors combined. Ready to learn what LoopNet can do for you?

Apartments

Apartments.com run lots of TV ads, but it’s the memorable name and ever-changing rental apartment market that help this website thrive.

This California-based entity is prepared to hand over keys to 1 million rental apartments thanks to affiliations with ApartmentFinder.com, ApartmentHomeLiving.com, Apartamentos.com, WestsideRentals.com, ForRent.com, ForRentUniversity.com, After55.com and CorporateHousing.com.

According to the website, “The team makes over one million calls monthly to apartment owners and property managers, collecting and verifying current availabilities, rental rates, pet policies, fees, leasing incentives, concessions and more.”

Their secret weapons? the Polygon™ tool that allows browsers to “define their own search areas on a map” and the “Plan Commute” feature that showcases reports on rentals at specific addresses. Need new digs? They’re just a click away.

RealtyTrac

When RealtyTrac entered the marketplace back in 1996, the company’s aim was becoming the “leading mobile and online real estate resource that provides comprehensive foreclosure and housing data for home buyers and investors looking to purchase distressed real estate.”

They’ve succeeded. If you’re interested in foreclosures, pre-foreclosures, auctions, bank-owned properties and distressed markets, this resource is your go-to link.

As a service to clients, RealtyTrac supplements property profiles with extensive background data on surrounding communities, including schools, crime statistics, environmental features and more.

Owned and operated by ATTOM Data Solutions–a provider of publicly-recorded tax, deed, mortgage and foreclosure and proprietary neighborhood and parcel-level risk data for 150 million+ U.S. properties—RealtyTrac will get you on the right track if you’re seeking affordable homes and deals across the nation.

ForSalebyOwner

Once upon a time, FSBOs (for sale by owners) were the bane of real estate professionals because that meant commissions flew out the window.

These days, home buyers still do all of the work associated with their real estate transactions, but they don’t take the journey alone.

Striving to “empower sellers and buyers with resources to sell or buy properties directly,” clients employ a user-friendly suite of marketing tools to post listings online.

Additionally, the company produces how-to guides and has offered live customer support since 1999. Consumers love the fact that they retain control of their home’s listing, but this service isn’t free.

Clients provide a credit card number that is tapped when adding “packages” or requesting other services.

Eppraisal

Eppraisal calls itself the resource everyone needs to properly estimate the market value of properties in which they have an interest.

Calculations are based on recent sales of similar properties and for those taking advantage of this service, Eppraisal reports include detailed property information, surrounding area analyses and comparables.

Up to 20 similar properties are used to calculate values via analytics that take into consideration multiple factors.

Clients visit the site, provide contact information and data about the property in question and Eppraisal uses public records to verify the value of the property.

In some cases, homes are so unique, comparison estimates can’t be produced. If all that’s missing from your home sale or purchase is knowing its value so you can price it intelligently, there’s an excellent chance this site can help.

NeighborhoodScout

For parents as eager to know whether child predators live in a neighborhood as they are about school system quality, Neighborhood Scout is a resource designed for the times.

Created by Dr. Andrew Schiller, Neighborhood Scout’s management includes data scientists and experts in geographic information systems.

Referred to as “THE ultimate neighborhood search engine”, Neighborhood Scout uses lifestyle markers to match up buyers with properties.

Patented tools reduce time spent online so home shoppers can reach buying or selling decisions faster. Operating since 2002, Neighborhood Scout digs deep into zip codes to service clients, so whether or not you understand how algorithms work, you can count on calculations and staffers to deliver excellence in data and customer service.

Rent

Rent.com’s claim to fame is connecting people to rental properties that meet their criteria via verified listings gleaned from highly-trusted community resources.

Rent.com can show a client how space is allocated by posting HD photos, 3D floor plans, ratings and reviews from people who actually live in these rental homes.

Properties can be sorted by state, type, city and proximity to universities, colleges and military bases. Helpful articles related to renting are also found on Rent.com.

As an extra measure of reassurance, Rent prides itself on going the extra mile by offering “Legit listings” assurances so site visitors know that everything they see online has been personally visited or otherwise vetted by Rent.

Movoto

Founded in 2005 and based on the principle that “real estate should be easy,” Movoto strives to be “the most trusted source” for home shoppers.

Using demographics and market trend analyses, Movoto specializes in lead generation, marketing support and state-of-the-art search methods. Further, Movoto is “the second-largest, 50-state, fully-licensed online real estate brokerage in the US.”

Movoto management values teamwork and collaboration and promotes innovation and excellence. Additionally, this company, named one of Inc. Magazine’s 500/5000 fastest growing private companies for three straight years, is “committed to fostering an environment rich in opportunity and professional growth.”

If you seek a nationwide real estate entity that takes pride in its reputation and client relationships, see what Movoto can do for you.

Homes.com

Homes.com is a full-service resource offering home search tools designed for easy access and navigation. Visit the site and you will notice a page header that reads Homes.com Match. This describes the personalized home search tools available to clients, not the dating service. But Homes.com likes to get personal.

Visit the site and you’ll be asked what matters to you when you enter the portal in search of a home. Use the website, mobile app, tools like the “Snap and Search” section guides and the mortgage calculator to help refine your search and discover other resources like financing conduits and moving companies. Get a taste of Homes.com. It could be the match you’ve been searching for.