Introduction to Zillow
Zillow, founded in 2006 and headquartered in Seattle, Washington, is the leading real estate marketplace in the United States, serving millions of users monthly. The platform offers tools for buying, selling, renting, and financing homes, with features like the Zestimate®, an industry-leading home valuation tool, and access to Zillow Premier Agents. Zillow’s ecosystem, including Zillow Rentals, Trulia, and HotPads, attracts over 200 million monthly visitors, making it a go-to resource for home seekers and property managers. Its mission is to streamline real estate transactions, providing data-driven insights and seamless user experiences through its website and mobile app.
Zillow Rentals Overview
Zillow Rentals is a core component of Zillow’s platform, designed to connect renters with landlords and property managers across the U.S. It lists millions of rental properties, from single-family homes to multifamily complexes, across Zillow, Trulia, and HotPads, which collectively form the most visited rentals network in the U.S. As of June 2025, Zillow reports a typical U.S. apartment rent of $1,858, up 30% since April 2020, reflecting rising demand and limited housing supply. Renters can use filters to search by price, location, pet policies, and amenities, and save searches for real-time updates. The platform also offers a Rent Affordability Calculator and Renter Profiles to streamline the application process.
Zillow Rental Manager Features
Zillow Rental Manager is a free, user-friendly tool for landlords and property managers to manage rental properties efficiently. Key features include:
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Listing Syndication: Create and publish listings across Zillow, Trulia, and HotPads, reaching over 34 million monthly visitors.
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Tenant Screening: Access credit checks, background checks, and eviction history, though some users note the screening tools are basic compared to competitors like DoorLoop.
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Online Leases: Build or upload digital leases for electronic signing, simplifying the leasing process.
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Rent Collection: Collect rent, utilities, and move-in fees online for free, with rent reporting to credit bureaus available.
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Listing Management: Edit listings, update photos, and track performance with market insights and pricing recommendations.
The mobile app supports these features but has mixed reviews, with users citing issues like buggy notifications and inconsistent messaging. For multifamily properties (25+ units), Zillow offers paid advertising solutions with integrations for software like AppFolio and ResMan, enhancing scalability for larger portfolios.
Zillow Stock Performance
As shown in the finance card above, Zillow Group’s zillow stock (ticker: Z) closed at $70.22 on June 24, 2025, with a daily range of $68.43 to $71.19 and a market cap of $16.33 billion. Over the past year, the stock rose from $46.39 in June 2024 to a high of $89.39, reflecting a 51% increase, though it remains below its 2020 peak of $143.19. The stock’s volatility is evident in its 1-month performance, fluctuating between $67.00 and $71.54. Zillow’s growth is driven by its dominant market position, but recent posts on X highlight concerns, including an antitrust lawsuit filed by Compass alleging Zillow bans private listings, potentially impacting competition. Investors should monitor legal developments and market trends, as Zillow’s stock lacks a P/E ratio or dividend yield, indicating a focus on growth over profitability.
Zillow in New Jersey (Zillow NJ)
Zillow NJ provides comprehensive rental and for-sale listings tailored to New Jersey’s diverse housing market. As of June 2025, Zillow lists 9,266 rental properties in New Jersey, ranging from $1,650 for a 1-bedroom apartment in Bayonne to $4,680 for a luxury unit in Jersey City. Popular areas include Newark, Jersey City, and Paterson, with filters for pet-friendly, furnished, or luxury rentals. For example, a 3-bedroom townhouse in Jersey City is listed at $3,500/month, while a 2-bedroom condo in Hamburg rents for $2,300. Zillow’s New Jersey listings benefit from the platform’s syndication across Trulia and HotPads, ensuring broad exposure. Users can leverage the Rent vs. Buy Calculator to compare costs, especially in high-demand areas like Manhattan, where renters need $135,000 annually to afford the average $2,950 rent.
Zillow Rental Manager User Experience
User feedback on Zillow Rental Manager is mixed, as noted in reviews from DoorLoop and Google Play. Positive aspects include ease of listing creation and syndication, with one user stating, “Zillow makes it easy to post a rental listing and manage tenant applications.” However, criticisms include slow customer support, extra fees for premium listings, and app issues like unreliable notifications and verification problems. For instance, users report that new messages are hard to spot unless conversations are opened, and the app may demand repeated text verifications. Despite these drawbacks, Zillow Rental Manager remains a top choice for small-scale landlords due to its free listing option and integration with Zillow’s vast audience.
Challenges and Limitations
Zillow faces challenges that impact its rental and management tools. Rising U.S. rents, up 30% to $1,858 since 2020, strain affordability, requiring incomes of $80,000 nationally and $100,000+ in cities like New York and Boston. Users report frustration with unresponsive property managers, with one stating, “I messaged 10 listings this week and only visited two.” The app’s search filters sometimes fail, showing pet-free listings despite pet-friendly preferences. Additionally, the Fairness in Apartment Rental Expenses Act in New York, effective 2025, led to a temporary drop in listings, though Zillow attributes this to normal fluctuations. For Rental Manager, basic screening tools and limited maintenance tracking options may push larger property managers toward competitors like Avail or TenantCloud.
Competitive Landscape
Zillow competes with platforms like Apartments.com, Rent.com, and Redfin Rentals. Its strength lies in its massive audience (1.6 billion visits from July 2022 to June 2023) and free listing option for small landlords. However, competitors like DoorLoop offer more robust maintenance tracking, and Avail provides free syndication with advanced features. Zillow’s paid multifamily solutions cater to larger portfolios, but integration limitations and premium fees deter some users. Recent integrations with Redfin and The Rent. Network, effective Q3 2025, aim to enhance listing reach, though some X users speculate this could raise pricing concerns.
Tips for Using Zillow and Rental Manager
To maximize Zillow’s offerings:
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For Renters: Use filters for price, pets, and amenities, and save searches for instant alerts. Check listings on Trulia and HotPads for additional options.
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For Landlords: Optimize listings with high-quality photos and detailed descriptions. Use the Price My Rental Tool for competitive pricing.
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For Investors: Monitor Zillow’s stock via platforms like TCGplayer for real-time data and track legal developments, such as the Compass lawsuit.
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For NJ Users: Focus on high-demand areas like Jersey City and use the Rent Affordability Calculator to assess costs.
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App Users: Check spam folders for notifications and contact appstorehelp@zillow.com for persistent issues.
Conclusion
Zillow remains a powerhouse in real estate, offering robust tools for renters, landlords, and investors. Zillow Rentals connects users to millions of listings, while Zillow Rental Manager simplifies property management with free listing syndication, tenant screening, and rent collection. Despite challenges like rising rents, app bugs, and legal scrutiny, Zillow’s vast reach and data-driven tools, like the Zestimate and Rent Affordability Calculator, make it indispensable. In New Jersey, Zillow NJ provides tailored listings for diverse needs, from budget apartments to luxury townhouses. The stock’s 51% growth over the past year reflects Zillow’s market strength, though investors should stay vigilant about lawsuits and competition. Visit www.zillow.com for the latest listings and tools.
