Online Home-Buying Search Terms Recently Hit 2-Year High

Online Home-Buying Search Terms Recently Hit 2-Year High

Believe it or not, there are clear signs buyer interest is heating up again.

Let’s talk about what’s really going on behind the scenes, and why the housing market might not be as quiet out there as it seems. 

Buyers Are Looking, and Search Trends Prove It

One of the clearest ways to measure what people are thinking about is to look at what they’re searching for online. And according to Google Trends, searches for phrases like “home for sale” have been climbing steadily this year.

The graph below shows an index of two common homebuyer search phrases and how popular they were on Google over the past two years. The higher the line goes, the more popular that phrase was. A 100 on the graph shows the most popular time for each phrase:

Here’s what really stands out in this data. Both phrases have been trending up overall this year, and they hit a recent high in mid-July. That’s a pretty strong sign that curiosity (and maybe even interest) in buying a home is improving.

That kind of momentum means something. Despite high mortgage rates and home prices, buyers haven’t given up. They're still watching the market. They’re still browsing. And many are just waiting for the right opportunity to act. Maybe your house is exactly what they’re looking for. But you’ll never know if it’s not listed yet.

Now, this doesn’t mean demand is going to surge like it did during the pandemic. It just means some buyers are deciding they can’t wait any longer. And those are exactly the kind of buyers you want. Motivated. Eager. Ready to move when the right house comes along.

So, if you’re holding off on selling because you’re not sure if the demand is there, this data suggests it might be time to rethink your plans. Because while it’s not 2021-level demand, it doesn’t need to be. You don’t need ten offers to sell your home. You just need the right buyer.

And that buyer may be searching for a house like yours right now.

Bottom Line

If you’ve been thinking, “I’ll sell once buyers come back,” you might want to take another look. Online search trends show they’re already interested.

What would make you feel confident putting your house on the market this year? Let’s connect to talk through it.

Discover why online home-buying search terms have surged to a 2-year high. Explore trends, insights, and tips for navigating the booming real estate market.

• Online home-buying
• Real estate trends
• Home-buying search terms
• Housing market insights
• Real estate search trends
• Home-buying tips
• Online real estate tools
• Housing market 2025
• Real estate statistics
• Home-buying trends

Recent data reveals that online home-buying search terms have reached a 2-year high, signaling a renewed interest in the housing market. According to Zillow, the demand for virtual home tours has skyrocketed. Similarly, Realtor.com reports a significant uptick in searches for affordable housing options. Insights from Redfin highlight how remote work has influenced buyer preferences. The National Association of Realtors emphasizes the role of first-time buyers in this trend. Meanwhile, Trulia showcases the growing popularity of suburban areas. Mortgage News Daily attributes this surge to lower interest rates. Bankrate provides tools to calculate mortgage affordability, while Investopedia offers tips for navigating the competitive market. For a global perspective, World Property Journal explores international real estate trends. Lastly, Forbes delves into the impact of economic factors on home-buying behavior.