Pets Influence the Choice to Move

More homeowners have become pet owners since the pandemic, and homeowners are showing a willingness to move for their pet. In fact, 43% of pet owners say they’d be willing to move to accommodate their pet, according to the National Association of REALTORS®. What’s more, 68% of pet owners surveyed by realtor.com® say they would pass on the perfect home if it didn’t meet their pet’s needs.

“Often rentals have high pet fees, or may restrict the number of pets allowed in a unit,” Jessica Lautz, vice president of demographics and behavioral insights at NAR, writes on the association’s blog. “Purchasing becomes a choice for some buyers that may be driven with their pet in mind.”

Unmarried couples, single women, and millennials have shown the most willingness to move for their pets, according to NAR’s data.

A bar chart showing the rate in which pets influenced the neighborhood that buyers in each generation picked to purchase a home.

Some home buyers are even shopping for homes with their pets in tow. They are seeking their pets’ feedback as they tour homes for sale. Twenty percent of 1,000 U.S. adults surveyed by Ally Home in April said they bring their pets to look at homes. Women were more likely to bring their pets with them on a house hunt than men.

In a separate survey this year conducted by Homes.com, one in five of about 1,600 homeowners surveyed say they have rejected a home for pet-related reasons.

Many buyers with pets say they’re looking for more space. They desire a secure fence, hardwood floors, plenty of yard space, a mudroom, and proximity to parks and play areas, the Homes.com survey found.

Source: “Fur-ever Homes: Pets Are a Motivator to Purchase,” National Association of REALTORS® Economists’ Outlook blog (Oct. 29, 2021)