On Veterans Day, we’re reminded of the dedication of those who have served – and of the importance of serving them in meaningful ways. Honoring veterans and our military communities goes beyond recognition. At Zillow, this commitment means using our research, advocacy and technology to create a housing landscape that champions fairness and opportunity for everyone, including those who serve.
Housing can represent more than just a place to live; it’s a sense of security, and a feeling of belonging. As we work to make home a reality for everyone, we understand that many veterans and military families face unique challenges in their path to homeownership. Zillow is dedicated to doing what we can to help our nation’s veterans and active military achieve homeownership.
Easing the Financial Burden of Frequent Moves
For military families, frequent moves—often every 2–3 years—are a part of life, bringing distinct financial challenges. Veterans Affairs (VA) loans, backed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, help ease this burden by allowing veterans to purchase a home with no down payment.
The Zillow Home Loans (ZHL) VA loans program offers veterans competitive interest rates, no prepayment penalties or private mortgage insurance requirements, and reduced VA loan fees. In addition, ZHL can also close VA loans as quickly as conventional loans, ensuring veterans can move into their new homes without unnecessary delays.
Simplifying the home search even further, Zillow created a tool that flags VA loan eligibility for condo listings. This feature, designed by a veteran employee during a company Hack Week in 2021, allows veterans to verify eligibility directly on our platform, eliminating the need to switch back and forth between Zillow and the VA website.
Breaking Down Barriers for Veterans
At Zillow, we are deeply committed to advancing policies, practices and products that support fair housing for all, including veterans and active military. With a track record of advocating for equitable housing policies at state and national levels, we work closely with government and housing organizations to protect veterans and low-income families from discrimination.
As of June 2024, 85,000 veteran households are receiving rental payment assistance in the form of Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) vouchers. However, no federal protections exist to prevent landlords from denying housing based on source of income—an issue many veterans face when using rental assistance vouchers in states lacking these protections. Zillow has actively supported source of income protection laws in multiple states, helping ensure veterans can use their benefits without fear of discrimination. To date, 21 states and Washington, D.C., have enacted these protections, and Zillow continues to advocate for more states, including recent efforts in Michigan, to follow suit.
Supporting Housing Security for Veterans
With over 40,000 veterans currently unhoused and another 1.4 million at risk across the U.S., Zillow is dedicated to driving meaningful change. At both the local and national scale, Zillow is actively advocating for down payment assistance (DPA) programs for veterans and other essential workers that, once passed, would help make homeownership more attainable.
Zillow also supports pending federal legislation, including the Return Home to Housing Act, which aims to increase funding for transitional housing services for homeless veterans. We are also advocating for legislation to expand the Veterans Association of Real Estate Professionals’ services, adding sustainable homeownership support, financial literacy, and VA loan education to help more veterans and military members find their way home.
Honoring and Empowering Zillow’s Veterans
As a company, we hold immense gratitude and admiration for our veteran and active-duty military and their families. Zillow proudly participates in the Statement of Support Program, joining thousands of employers advocating for military service. By signing this pledge, we commit to accommodating employees’ military commitments, providing temporary leave, and ensuring continued benefits and seniority during their service.
Our Veterans Employee Resource Group (ERG, with nearly 300 active employee members, is dedicated to creating an impactful and welcoming space where veterans, active service members, and military supporters at Zillow can connect, share experiences, and find a sense of belonging. This year, the Veterans ERG has organized several impactful events for employees, including volunteering at Plymouth Housing to support homeless veterans in Seattle, and a funraising campaign that raised over $6000 for Stop Soldier Suicide during Veteran Suicide Awareness Month. This November, Zillow employees are honoring Veterans Day and their military peers by attending a special event Medal of Honor recipient MSG Earl Plumlee (Ret.), who will share his heroic experiences from Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.
At Zillow, we are proud to stand alongside our veteran community, helping them achieve the dream of homeownership and recognizing the profound impact they have on our mission and our company.