Cottagecore, customization & quartzite: Zillow's 2026 home features that sell for more
Rhea-AI Summary
Zillow (NYSE: Z) research finds buyers pay premiums for lifestyle-driven amenities and move-in-ready finishes. Features such as a private dock (+5.4%), quartzite countertops (+5.3%), and outdoor kitchens (+4.4%) correlate with higher sale prices. Turnkey homes sell ~2.9% higher while fixer-uppers sell ~14% less. Listings emphasizing customization, high-resolution photos, virtual tours and optimal timing (late May listing ~+1.7%) can help sellers capture these premiums.
Key takeaways: highlight sought features, avoid last-minute renovations, and leverage digital listing tools to maximize price.
Positive
- Dock feature linked to a 5.4% sale price premium
- Quartzite countertops associated with a 5.3% premium
- Outdoor kitchen correlated with a 4.4% boost
- Turnkey homes sell for about 2.9% more
- Listings with strong digital content tend to sell faster and for more
Negative
- Fixer-uppers sell for 14% less than expected
News Market Reaction – Z
On the day this news was published, Z gained 1.09%, reflecting a mild positive market reaction.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
Key Figures
Market Reality Check
Peers on Argus
Z gained 1.98% with its home-features pricing research. Closest peer ZG rose 1.36%, while NBIS fell 2.19%; PINS and BIDU were up 0.16% each and TME slipped 1.19%, suggesting a stock-specific move rather than a broad sector shift.
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 19 | Rent growth update | Neutral | -1.6% | Report on slowing rent growth and high concessions across U.S. rentals. |
| Mar 18 | Listing timing study | Positive | +2.3% | Analysis showing late May listings selling for about 1.7% more nationally. |
| Mar 17 | Product launch | Positive | +6.8% | Launch of Zillow Preview to surface pre‑market listings with partner brokerages. |
| Mar 11 | Rental trend report | Neutral | +1.9% | Data on rising share of unsold homes becoming rentals and market dynamics. |
| Mar 05 | Share repurchase boost | Positive | +1.8% | Board authorization of an additional $1.25B in buybacks, expanding capital return. |
Recent product, strategy, and housing-data releases have generally seen aligned price reactions, with positive platform or capital-return news followed by gains.
Over recent weeks, Zillow has issued several data-heavy and strategic updates. On Mar 5, a new $1.25 billion buyback authorization lifted remaining capacity to about $1.3 billion, with a 1.83% gain. Product expansion via Zillow Preview on Mar 17 coincided with a 6.78% rise. Housing-market analyses on rent growth, ‘accidental landlords,’ and optimal listing timing posted more modest moves. Today’s focus on features that command sale premiums fits this research-driven narrative.
Market Pulse Summary
This announcement emphasizes that lifestyle and turnkey features can add up to 5.4%, or about $19,500, to a typical home’s sale price, and notes that “cottage” and quartzite countertops also command notable premiums. It extends Zillow’s recent stream of housing data and seller strategy insights. Investors may track how such research supports engagement with tools like Zillow Preview and whether product adoption trends echo prior positive news reactions.
AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
Today's buyers are paying a premium for personalized homes that feel like a retreat
- Cottage-inspired lifestyle features, such as docks and outdoor fireplaces, help homes sell for as much as
5.4% more. - Quartzite sells homes for more, compared to any other countertop material, including soapstone or marble.
- Customized, turnkey homes can sell for upward of
3% more than similar homes.
New Zillow® research finds that homes with lifestyle-driven amenities and move-in-ready finishes are selling for as much as
'I'm coming to the cottage'
The modern coastal aesthetic is heating up on-screen — and in real life.
Homes with a dock sell for
"Cottagecore taps into a desire for homes that feel like an escape from everyday life," said Amanda Pendleton, Zillow's home trends expert. "After years of busy schedules and screen time, buyers are drawn to spaces that encourage slowing down, where they can picture sunset dinners by the water or s'mores around the fire. Even if the home isn't actually a vacation property, buyers are willing to pay more for features that make everyday life feel like a getaway."
Quartzite steals the spotlight
In the kitchen, quartzite is the new star of the show. Homes that mention quartzite countertops sell for
This material feels elevated yet durable, which may explain its growing appeal. Buyers want kitchens that look beautiful in photos but can also handle real life.
Personal touches net higher prices
Once considered risky, personalization is now a selling point. Listings that highlight custom features sell for
Highly personal, purpose-built spaces are resonating, too. For example, a gourmet kitchen designed for the home chef adds a
No fixer-uppers, please
Today's buyers are also making one thing clear: They don't want a project. Turnkey homes sell for
"When affordability is tight, the last thing buyers want is another expensive project waiting for them," said Zillow Senior Economist Kara Ng. "Homes that are already updated and thoughtfully designed can command higher prices because buyers can roll those costs into their mortgage, rather than paying for expensive improvements after closing."
Takeaways for sellers
If your home already has one of these sought-after features, make sure it shines in the listing description. But there's no need to rush into renovations just before putting a home on the market. Sellers can often boost their sale price in simpler ways:
- List at the right moment. Timing can make a meaningful difference. Zillow's latest Best Time to List analysis shows that homes listed in late May sell for about
1.7% more, roughly$6,000 - Get strategic. Zillow Preview is a way to publicly introduce a home to buyers before it officially goes active on the market. It allows sellers and agents to use real-time buyer responses, such as shares, saves and tour requests, to refine the selling strategy before a listing goes live.
- Focus on digital first impressions. Today's buyers often fall in love online. Zillow research indicates that listings with high-resolution photography, virtual tours and interactive floor plans, which are all included in Zillow Showcase℠ listings, tend to sell faster and for more money.
About the research
Zillow analyzed more than 2 million homes listed for sale in 2025, looking for more than 600 common phrases used in listing descriptions. To understand how these phrases might affect a home's sale price, we first estimated what each home was likely to sell for based on factors like its location, size, type of home, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, and when it was listed.
Next, we compared that estimate to the home's actual sale price. This helped us measure whether certain listing features or phrases were linked to a higher sale price than expected.
When we say a home "sold for more than expected," we mean it sold for more than similar homes with comparable characteristics. In this context, a "premium" simply means that a particular feature or phrase is associated with a higher sale price compared to similar homes without it, not that the home sold for more than its Zestimate or asking price.
About Zillow Group
Zillow Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: Z and ZG) is reimagining real estate to make home a reality for more and more people.
As the most visited real estate app and website in
Zillow's ecosystem spans the entire home journey — from dreaming and shopping to renting, buying, selling and financing.
Zillow Group's affiliates, subsidiaries and brands include Zillow®, Zillow Premier Agent®, Zillow Home Loans®, Zillow Rentals®, Zillow® New Construction, Trulia®, StreetEasy®, Out East®, HotPads®, Follow Up Boss®, ShowingTime®, dotloop® and Zillow® Closing.
All marks herein are owned by MFTB Holdco, Inc., a Zillow affiliate. Zillow Home Loans, LLC is an Equal Housing Lender, NMLS #10287 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org). © 2026 MFTB Holdco, Inc., a Zillow affiliate.
View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cottagecore-customization--quartzite-zillows-2026-home-features-that-sell-for-more-302722915.html
SOURCE Zillow Group, Inc.
FAQ
Which home features increase sale price the most according to Zillow (Z) research?
How much more do turnkey homes sell for, per Zillow's March 24, 2026 findings for Z?
What is the price impact of fixer-uppers in Zillow's March 24, 2026 analysis for Z?
Do custom features and bespoke finishes raise sale prices, and by how much for Zillow (Z)?
How much can outdoor amenities like kitchens and fireplaces boost sale prices per Zillow's Z report?
What listing strategies does Zillow recommend to capture higher sale prices for sellers (Z)?
