Zillow’s Open API
By: Mark Eamer Director, Online Marketing | July 26, 2006
It’s rare that Zillow parts the curtain and shines a light on our product roadmap, but today at the Inman Real Estate Connect Conference in San Francisco, Rich and Lloyd are sharing the news that Zillow has begun to develop an Open API to share data on nearly 67 million homes in America.
We figured there may be questions, so here are a few answers on what this means:
What is an open API?
In business terms, Zillow’s open API will allow a third party Web site to recreate a lot of Zillow’s functionality on their domain. In technical terms, API stands for Application Programming Interface and allows two computer systems to talk with each other in a common language.
What will be in Zillow’s open API?
Our initial specs have us distributing the majority of information that can be found on Zillow.com including Zestimates, Zindex info, charts, comparable sales (including sales date and price), beds/baths and other data.
Why are we doing this?
We believe that real estate is all about the long tail. We estimate there are more than a million individual agent and brokerage Web sites in the U.S., and although a handful of large national sites get the majority of the attention, it’s clear that buyers and sellers engage with real estate professionals on a local level. And it’s also clear that many individual agents may be looking to enhance their own sites with relevant and sticky content.
Although we’d like to work with each of these sites individually, the reality is that an open API is more scalable and allows individual sites to service themselves and easily offer their users Zillow functionality on their own domain.
For examples of some sites already using this functionality, check out Yahoo! Real Estate (or see our recent blog post), and Real Estate Promoter, a company that builds Web sites for real estate agents (see their integration within a test site).
When will the Open API launch?
We are working to have this ready in early fall.
What can I do today?
In this early stage we want to hear from sites who are interested in integrating with our Open API. Please fill out this form or send an email to BD@zillow.com visit the API Network to learn more. and include an outline of how you plan to use Zillow functionality on your Web site and we may include you prior to the launch. Unfortunately we won’t be able to work with everyone yet, but at the very least you will be first to know when the Open API launches.
- Stumble it!
- Categories: Real Estate, Real Estate Industry, Zillow, Zillow API
Comments
45 Comments so far
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BloodhoundBlog on July 26, 2006 4:11 pm
If you cant tell the truth, tell a Big Lie . . .
Zillow.com cannot tell the truth about home values, so it is releasing an Application Programmer Interface to spread its misinformation far and wide.
Who do they hope to enlist with their API? Working Realtors, the people who know best that Zillow.com&…
Baron Briefs™ on July 26, 2006 6:03 pm
Zillow Opens Up at SF Connect
Seen as the big, bad wolf of the real estate industry by some, Zillow just announced theyll be opening their services in the fall in the form of an application programming interface (API). Basically, it means websites like RealtyBaron.com can …
Greg Yardley's Internet Blog on July 27, 2006 9:14 am
Zillow - a terrific, boring business
I’m in San Francisco for the week and have been stopping into Inman News’ ConnectSF conference sporadically. I did make a point of attending Zillow’s main session, “Zillow Gets Educated: 10 Things This Industry Taught Us,” and saw Rich Barton and Lloy…
Nick Pang on July 27, 2006 1:31 pm
AWESOME!
Wished the Mobile version was around when i was shopping for a house…
Looking forward to the Open API
-nick
dreadsword on July 27, 2006 2:07 pm
Will you be including geocoding data (lat/long) in response datasets? Fingers crossed!
Search Engines WEB on July 27, 2006 4:05 pm
Please include a Javascript / Web service version of the api
BloodhoundBlog on July 27, 2006 6:58 pm
Color me stupid, but . . .
I dont get it.
The Future of Real Estate Marketing avers that Trulia.coms release of its map interface is a shudder-inducing disaster for other developers. This on the heels of yesterdays reporting on Zillow.coms rele…
Dave Dugdale on July 28, 2006 9:00 pm
Will you be providing the satellite images as well that are more current and neater than Google’s mapping?
Dave
Hipoteca on July 29, 2006 7:44 pm
Getting an Zillow API on a web site
In business terms, Zillow’s open API will allow a third party Web site to recreate a lot of Zillow’s functionality on their domain. In technical terms, API stands for Application Programming Interface and allows two computer systems to talk with…
Rory Siems on July 30, 2006 11:34 am
I think that the Zillow API can only complement agents efforts online. It serves as another statistic. The way agents demonstrate expertise is to have logical reasoning behind statistics that zillow offers. Right or wrong, offer what you know about an area, and that contrast shows how you are more informed than zillow. This can’t hurt.
matt white on July 31, 2006 4:49 pm
zillow.com is talked about. I would like to integrate the site to increase public education.
Add on August 3, 2006 9:34 pm
Add
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Greg Friedman on August 4, 2006 4:49 pm
Thanks for the interest in the Zillow API Network!
In response to your comments:
1) Lat/Long data is included in the call results
2) Javascript / Webservice developer kits will be made available in the future, but to get things started, we have focused on XML
3) Satellite images from Zillow.com are not included in the API output, but you can use the Lat/Long data to plot on an API map service (Yahoo, Google, etc.)
David on August 7, 2006 8:58 pm
Canthe API provide sq footage and age?
Tim Sullivan on August 23, 2006 6:34 am
Does anyone know where I can download the Zillow Beta API?
Greg Friedman on August 23, 2006 10:24 am
Greg from Zillow here. The API cannot be downloaded, but you can request an invitation to the alpha Zillow API Network by emailing bd@zillow.com with your name, email, website and a brief API integration proposal.
The API does not currently provide sq. footage and age, but stay tuned. We aim to provide this functionality shortly.
Barrett Niehus on August 24, 2006 11:14 pm
This new API access is goint to be a great tool for every agent and site that wants to offer something special in their real estate portfolio. Thank you for doing this.
BN
4MySales.com
kaye on September 3, 2006 1:20 pm
I haven’t beable to get any home values for about a week. I can get the zillow link, but when I put an address in it says “we’re sorry. We encountered a problem with this search. Try again.” I haven’t had any trouble before.
Please advise.
Anonymous on September 7, 2006 5:35 am
I’ve been getting the same message as Kaye for quite some time now.
Amit D. Chaudhary's Blog on September 14, 2006 9:40 pm
Presenting: Google Gadget for Zillow ZIndex graph
While exploring the web 2.0 phenomenon that my friends at MSN (Windows Live) and Amazon talk about and exploring the housing market to decide whether to buy a house, I came up with an idea. Thanks to the Zillow API and the Google Gadgets API, it was po…
CamelotLane on October 27, 2006 5:14 am
At http://www.camelotlane.com we have integrated the API and it’s working great. Our site is essentially free home listings and other cool functionality.
Web 2.0 real estate marketing on October 29, 2006 11:19 am
Is the real estate world ready for web 2.0 socail media?
Whether you consider the term Web 2.0 marketing hype or not, you cannot overlook the whole new world of opportunities for real estate industry professionals and service providers these technologies seemed to have opened. Whatever name you give it, …
Trisha Parks on January 30, 2007 1:55 am
Zillow Open API is good news to programmers and esp to corporation with special needs..
Chris Nelson on January 30, 2007 9:53 pm
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Strafverteidiger München on April 19, 2007 2:13 pm
I’ve been getting the same message as Kaye. what should i do?
REORSEFUPLE on July 30, 2007 11:54 pm
http://www.zillowblog.com - great site !
I like your site - http://www.zillowblog.com .
Thank for your work for us!
Thank you, I will add it to my bookmarks
Best Regards
Ismail
amandeep khurana on July 31, 2007 7:38 am
1. the home maps to the wrong location on zillow (in fact a completely different community)
2. the information listed is for the house at THAT location (not our house, including size, sale price and comps)
can someone from zillow email me about correcting this information?
AltaGid on August 20, 2007 2:45 pm
Hello! Help solve the problem.
Very often try to enter the site, but says that the password is not correct.
Regrettably use of remembering. Give like to be?
Thank you!
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Rajiv on December 3, 2007 4:16 am
Does anyone know where I can download the Zillow Beta API? I want to integrate GetZestimate API in one of my site. From where I can download API
Drew Meyers on December 3, 2007 10:43 am
Rajiv-
There is no download necessary — everything you need to get up and running is here.
Rajiv on December 3, 2007 10:16 pm
I have my own database. I am adding properties in my site for which I don’t have any zpid[Zillow property id]. I registered on Zillow .com and now I have Zillow Web Services ID (ZWSID). I want Home Valuation for property existing in my database from Zillow .I also want the CMA(Comparative Market Analysis) to be implemented for the property that is currently existing in my database. When I don’t have any zpid for my property then how can I do the same?
Drew Meyers on December 4, 2007 4:01 pm
Ranjiv-
You can search by address if you don’t have the zpid. Please note that all data you pull from the zillow api has to be available via a publicly accessible website for free. It is against the terms of use to populate your own database with Zestimates pulled via the API — all data must be shown only when consumers looking at your website ask for it.
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Paul on February 5, 2008 1:08 pm
Zillow is complete crap. The valuations in my
neighborhood are so far off it’s laughable. The smallest house with the smallest lot on our block has the highest valuation. Oh, and
it’s a cinder block house. Are the people who run zillow on crack??
Paul on February 5, 2008 1:09 pm
Zillow is a waste. The valuations in my
neighborhood are so far off it’s laughable. The smallest house with the smallest lot on our block has the highest valuation. Oh, and
it’s a cinder block house. Are the people who run zillow on crack??
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Clark Smith on June 10, 2008 11:13 am
I have found most of the clients from the Internet discovered my site years ago, It is definitly a long term process
Find Houses For Rent on June 11, 2008 6:03 am
Zillow has come a long way with its valuation model. As more and more data comes online, as well has homeowners, there ability to properly value homes will greatly improve. Give the site time people, there is a lot if miss information in county records and such. Houses for Sale
Auto on July 2, 2008 10:38 am
Great article! Zillow is going to soon become more popular than Realtor.com
Orange County Water Damage on July 2, 2008 10:40 am
I have found that some integrated API real estate sites load slow.
Dual Diagnosis Treatment on July 3, 2008 9:46 am
To Your Comment…
“Zillow is a waste. The valuations in my
neighborhood are so far off it’s laughable. The smallest house with the smallest lot on our block has the highest valuation. Oh, and
it’s a cinder block house. Are the people who run zillow on crack??”
Hahaha it’s not like they have an appraiser come out to your property… Don’t use Zillow than…
Orange County Water Damage on July 3, 2008 9:47 am
hahah so funny!
Drew Meyers on July 3, 2008 10:00 am
You’re correct that Zillow does not provide appraisals. Zestimates are a starting point, not the final word on home values.
You’re not giving us much to go on in the way of specifics — if you have a specific address you are inquiring about, we’ll be happy to look into it.