11+ Best Real Estate Websites for 2023

Buying a house is the most important and expensive purchase most people make.

Whether you’re a homebuyer looking for your family’s forever home or a real estate investor out to streamline your research, there are dozens of real estate websites that offer valuable features.

We’ve evaluated the best real estate websites based on their features, user experience, and fees. Read on for our top picks.

11+ Best Real Estate Websites

Here are the best real estate websites for buying or selling a home online in 2023:

1. Zillow

  • Best For: Most Listings
  • Fees: $0
  • App availability: iOS and Android

With around 60 million unique monthly visitors, Zillow is the most popular real estate website on the internet, and it boasts the most listings, too. The site can be used for a range of real estate activities, from buying and selling to renting, financing, and remodeling.

When you’re house-hunting, Zillow gives you an immersive photo experience to help you get a full picture of the property.

Zillow’s Zestimate home valuation model uses data provided by users and other sources to appraise the value of homes using factors like home features, location, and real estate market conditions. This tool is available for rental properties and houses that are for sale.

Zillow also has more than two dozen apps across various platforms, making it the operator of the most popular suite of real estate apps.

2. BiggerPockets

  • Best For: Real Estate Community
  • Fees: Up to $32.50/month
  • App availability: NA

BiggerPockets is a valuable resource with a wide range of resources equipped to help seasoned and new real estate investors connect with properties, resources, and other professionals.

With more than 2 million active users, it’s growing into a popular real estate website.

The platform features books, online courses, podcasts, and tech tools to help active real estate investors develop their investing strategies.

The pro account is well worth considering for its networking features. With the account, you can connect directly with industry pros and build a team for your next venture.

BiggerPockets helps you scope out and compare agents and lenders to find the ones that are the right additions to your upcoming projects. BiggerPockets Pro account costs $32.50 per month when paid annually.

3. Realtor

  • Best For: Finding a Realtor
  • Fees: $0
  • App Availability: iOS and Android

As useful and sophisticated as real estate websites can be, they’re not a substitute for a real estate agent—and Realtor recognizes this.

Realtor helps you focus on what you’re looking for in a property instead of stressing over jargon, paperwork, and technical documents.

Realtor works closely with the National Association of Realtors, making it a professional and trustworthy place to start looking for a property.

You can use Realtor to get pre-approved for a competitive mortgage, look for your home, and find out about a neighborhood. To get started, enter any address or city to find statistics about everything from crime rates to local schools.

4. Trulia

  • Best For: Mobile App
  • Fees: $0
  • App availability: iOS and Android

A close competitor of Zillow and similar in many ways, Trulia has over one million homes for sale and rent.

Trulia makes it easy to find a property that matches your preferences, with more than 35 filters and a custom keyword search.

You’ll be able to analyze a neighborhood in all its glory and pitfalls. Trulia has more insights than competitors, from drone footage to reviews with residents. There are also guides available for buying, renting, and selling.

Although Zillow has the most popular suite of real estate apps, Trulia stands out for its app, which is simple to use and loaded with features.

5. Homes.com

  • Best For: Finding a Good Value
  • Fees: $0
  • App availability: iOS and Android

Homes.com features more than 120,000 homes taken from MLS listings and other real estate websites.

An interesting feature is the chance to view the value history of a property and compare it to the histories of other homes in the same area.

This is a helpful tool for figuring out if a property genuinely offers good value, which can be tricky to define and assess.

While browsing, you can find out about local schools and neighborhoods, as well as more technical information related to property tax, insurance, and mortgage payments. There’s also a helpful step-by-step guide to becoming a homeowner.

6. Apartments.com

  • Best For: Rental Properties
  • Fees: $29 for 10 applications
  • App availability: iOS and Android

Apartments.com is one of the best websites for renters, with over a million properties to choose from. These span apartments, houses, condos, townhouses, and other property types.

A professional research team contacts properties to verify information on subjects like their rates, fees, lease lengths, and pet policies.

The platform stands out for its user experience, with several interactive tools. A unique feature of the site is its drawing tool, which lets users define their search areas on a map and find properties within it.

There’s also a commute planner to help customers find a home as close to their place of work as possible.

You can browse apartments for free and apply for up to 10 apartments per month for $29.

7. HomeFinder

  • Best For: Search Features
  • Fees: $0
  • App availability: iOS and Android

It might not have the most features, but HomeFinder is a premier search portal with millions of listings that span all 50 states. It’s been in business since 1999, consistently ranking among the top real estate websites.

You can search for properties for sale and rent, but also properties that are off the market, which can help you snap upcoming deals.

HomeFinder can also be used to view local mortgage rates for each state—you can add in your purchase price, down payment, and credit score to increase accuracy. Then, you’ll get a quote from various loan companies.

8. RedFin

  • Best For: Brokerage Services
  • Fees: $0
  • App availability: iOS and Android

Redfin is a broker as well as an online real estate platform that lets you browse property listings, with its own arsenal of real estate agents to connect you with. This is slightly different than a Realtor, which can connect you with realtors but doesn’t act as a broker.

The listings are less comprehensive than some other sites on this list, but there are some unique features. You can take 3D tours of home listings, making it easier to figure out if you want to book a tour.

Redfin claims that, by using their agents, you can save $8,400 on average while receiving a full service that includes the ability to make same-day house bookings.

9. RealtyTrac

  • Best For: Foreclosure Properties
  • Fees: $49/month
  • App availability: NA

RealtyTrac is a real estate website that focuses entirely on foreclosures and distressed properties, with the largest selection of foreclosed properties online.

In addition to accessing listings and participating in auctions, users can work with professional agents to guide them through the process. You’ll also have access to a variety of resources to teach you more about the pros and cons of choosing this type of property.

Although the basic features can be accessed for free, the paid subscription includes unlimited access to property information, auction dates and locations, and loan history. If you’re unsure whether it’s worth the money, you can access a seven-day trial instead.

10. Century 21 Real Estate

  • Best For: Reliable Realtors
  • Fees: $0
  • App availability: iOS and Android

Century 21 has been around since 1972 in various forms and now has thousands of brokers worldwide. Priding itself on brand awareness, Century 21 aims to provide a network of trustworthy realtors.

You can find lots of information about a local area, including in-depth demographic data and details about schools and the weather.

There’s a range of resources to help you make the right decisions when it comes to buying, which take you from the process of choosing a house to closing the deal.

11. ReMax

  • Best For: Luxury Properties
  • Fees: $0
  • App availability: iOS and Android

ReMax lists properties and provides agents for cities and countries all over the globe, although the majority of properties are focused in the U.S.

It also has a special collection of luxury properties, which are defined as properties worth at least twice the value of the average selling price in their zip code. The site features a section for commercial real estate as well, including acquisitions and dispositions.

You can find financing options, loan amounts, and monthly payments for properties of interest using the integrated mortgage calculated.

The free app features a dynamic map search, the ability to navigate neighborhoods with interactive maps, driving directions to properties of interest, and a handy save feature.

12. Movoto

  • Best For: Updated Listings
  • Fees: $0
  • App availability: iOS and Android

Movoto uses adaptive AI technology, data scientists, and client communication tools to change the face of real estate and provide the most accurate information.

It’s a user-friendly option for home sellers, buyers, and real estate companies.

If you find a property you’re interested in during your home search, you’ll be connected to a local agent for a free no-obligation appointment. You can also seek pre-approval and obtain information about mortgages and financing directly on the website.

If you’re a real estate agent, you can pay a monthly fee to join Movoto’s network of real estate professionals.

13. Point2Homes

  • Best For: Commercial Real Estate
  • Fees: Up to $1,299 per year
  • App availability: iOS

Whether you’re an agent, real estate investor, or you’re shopping for a home of your own, Point2Homes is worth considering.

The site features homes for sale and rent, which you can filter by popular cities and the type of property you need.

But Point2Homes shines in the commercial real estate marketplace, featuring nearly 200,000 commercial listings, including office spaces, coworking spaces, and commercial properties.

Inventory and property data are updated regularly, and you can connect with a broker directly when you’re interested in a property.

The site is free to use to scroll properties, and you can choose from three professional packages ranging from $199 to $1,299 per year for advanced features for brokers.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most popular real estate website?

Zillow is the largest real estate website in the US based on its web traffic, app downloads, ratings, and the size of its database.

Where do real estate websites get data?

Some real estate website data is updated by their algorithm, while other information gets manually updated. These sites may have a team of researchers who analyze local real estate markets to supply accurate data.

In some cases, when properties are for sale by an owner or a real estate agent, these individuals supply and update property information themselves.

Is Zillow or Realtor better?

Zillow is a great place to browse for a property due to the vast number of listings and the useful resources available. It also has an option to connect you with a local real estate agent. In contrast, Realtor.com works directly with the National Association of Realtors and is an expert at connecting you with the right realtor for your needs.

The best choice for you depends on whether you’re more concerned about having access to more listings and information or finding the right realtor.

Which is more accurate, Zillow or Redfin?

Unlike Realtor, Redfin is a broker and has its own real estate agents. This differentiates it significantly from Zillow and Realtor. By using their agents, you could save thousands compared to a traditional process. However, Redfin is limited when it comes to the ability to browse and look at houses, so Zillow wins on this front.

Is MLS better than Zillow?

The MLS (Multiple Listing Service) is a good starting point when you’re looking for properties since it shows everything available, but it’s just a list. To contact sellers or find useful information, it’s best to use a website like Zillow, which provides real services to walk you through the buying process.

Once you’re connected with a real estate agent (which is almost always an essential step), they’ll provide access to the full MLS and guide you through it.

Real Estate Sites Make Home Buying Simple

Technology has made the process of buying a home simpler, cheaper, and more transparent than ever before.

You might still need a realtor along the way to ensure you’re doing everything correctly, but you can browse properties from the comfort of your own home and even complete the buying process online in some cases.

Our Methodology

To choose the best real estate websites, we evaluated each website’s user interface, examining its ease of use and overall design. Secondly, we assessed the website’s search functionality, exploring its filters, options, and accuracy.

We also considered the website’s property listing quality, analyzing the level of detail provided and the presence of essential information like price, location, and property features.

Additionally, we considered each site’s accessibility, considering whether it also has a mobile app.  We also evaluated membership plans, comparing features offered by premium plans.

Lastly, we considered the website’s additional features and resources, such as mortgage calculators, neighborhood information, and customer support.

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