Are Millennials Buying Homes for Their Dogs?

Let’s be honest - sometimes the dog is the real decision-maker! For many Millennials, buying a home isn’t just about bedrooms, kitchens, and location. Their four-legged family members can play a surprisingly big role, too. According to Zillow, 84% of Millennial pet-owning home buyers said their pets influenced their home-buying decisions, with half saying their pets influenced the decision “a lot.”

So, what are these furry homebuyers looking for? A fenced backyard is at the top of the list. Zillow reports that 63% of pet-owning buyers consider a fenced yard an essential home feature. Nearby parks, walking trails, larger lots, and durable flooring can also make a home more appealing to pet owners. And it isn't just about the house - NAR research found that about one in five recent buyers considered their pets when choosing a neighborhood.

Millennials aren't alone in putting their pets on the priority list. With approximately 68 million U.S. households owning a dog, it's no surprise that pets are becoming part of the home-buying conversation. For some buyers, a backyard may mean more than extra outdoor space - it means room for fetch, zoomies, and a happy pup.

So, are Millennials buying homes for their dogs? Maybe not entirely. But the research suggests that dogs are definitely helping choose the house. After all, if you're going to make one of the biggest purchases of your life, shouldn't everyone in the family - including the one with four paws - love it?