SXSW 2025 is where culture meets innovation — and Zillow is at the forefront. We showcased our tech, the people behind it and our bold efforts to make real estate more accessible. Here’s how we brought our people-first, innovation-driven mindset to the stage.
1. AI is personalizing the real estate experience
At Zillow, we’re turning artificial intelligence into applied intelligence — building tools that help real people make life’s biggest decisions with confidence.
Zillow’s Senior Director of AI & Engineering Ondrej Linda joined a panel of leaders from Meta and Culture in a discussion titled “Personalization x AI” to explore how AI-driven personalization is reshaping real estate. Zillow’s AI-powered tools — such as personalized home recommendations and natural language search — help buyers and renters find the right home faster.
Ondrej also discussed the importance of ethical AI in real estate. “AI has the power to make home shopping more accessible and efficient, but it’s crucial that we build these tools responsibly, with fairness, transparency and accuracy at the core.” Therefore, we test, review and improve our training data and models to ensure that they empower everyone and we empower our consumers to understand and decide whether and how their data is used to shape their experience on our platform.
At Zillow, that’s why innovation starts with intention.
2. Tackling housing affordability with tech
Affordability is one of the biggest challenges for home buyers today. Rising costs and barriers to homeownership have left many aspiring buyers struggling to purchase a home. While tech alone can’t solve housing affordability — when used right, it can remove friction, offer clarity and unlock new possibilities. During SXSW, many experts came together to explore how technology can play a pivotal role in making housing more accessible.
Zillow Senior Economist Orphe Divounguy joined thought leaders from all over the housing industry at the Axios Expert Voices Roundtable to discuss tech-driven solutions for affordability. Zillow is leveraging tech and data-driven tools like the down payment assistance tool, BuyAbility and rent payment reporting to help buyers and renters overcome financial hurdles. These tools are designed to provide greater transparency and support, helping to make homeownership a reality for more people.
Affordability is a growing crisis, but technology is a powerful equalizer. By giving buyers and renters the right tools and information, companies like Zillow are helping to bridge the gap between affordability and accessibility.
3. The future of work: How tech is reshaping innovation
The way we work is evolving, and companies that embrace strategic, tech-driven workplace models are innovating faster and driving better business outcomes. Zillow’s Cloud HQ model is a strategic approach designed to fuel innovation, accelerate execution and attract top talent nationwide.
At the Inc. Founders House, Zillow SVP Cynthia Taylor shared how our remote-first mindset fuels our ability to move faster, hire smarter and create a work culture where people can do their best work from wherever they thrive. Cloud HQ is continuously evolving, with intentional in-person gatherings like zRetreats ensuring that teams align, brainstorm and move big ideas forward when it matters most.
But workplace innovation isn’t just about where people work — it’s about how companies build strong, engaged communities. At the Creator and Cultivator Future Summit, Natalie Hausia-Haugen, Zillow’s senior director of Engagement & Belonging, took the stage to explore what it takes to build truly connected, people-first workplaces. She emphasized that by aligning every decision with what truly matters, Zillow strengthens trust, drives loyalty and keeps people — customers, employees and partners — at the center of everything we do.
Beyond the panel, Zillow’s Talent Brand & Attraction (TBA) team made a major impact as a sponsor, turning our recruiting booth into a must-visit destination. Attendees connected with Zillow’s team to explore exciting career opportunities while job seekers took advantage of having free professional headshots taken — helping them put their best foot forward.
4. Climate and cryptocurrency’s role in real estate
As climate change and emerging tech reshape how we think about real estate, Zillow is tracking the trends and helping people make informed, future-ready choices. Chief Economist Skylar Olsen shared the stage at SXSW to talk about two of the biggest disruptors: climate risk and cryptocurrency.
In the “Building and Protecting Homes in a Changing Climate” panel, Skylar pointed out that Zillow now includes climate risk data, powered by First Street, on for-sale property listings. Zillow is giving consumers access to critical environmental information — such as flood, wildfire and extreme heat risks — helping them make more informed decisions. “Our technology empowers buyers to better understand how climate risks affect their homes and the market overall,” Skylar explained. This reflects Zillow’s commitment to using innovation to address some of the most pressing challenges in housing, giving buyers the information they need to make more informed and empowered decisions, with climate risk as one of the factors to consider.
Later, Skylar joined the Fast Company Grill panel at SXSW to explore cryptocurrency’s potential to disrupt traditional home buying and financing, from fractional ownership to smarter contracts. While it’s still early days, we’re keeping a close eye on how innovation can open new doors — literally.
Zillow is leading the future of real estate innovation
SXSW 2025 was buzzing with the ideas shaping tomorrow and Zillow was right in the mix. From AI breakthroughs and housing affordability to the evolution of flexible work, this year’s conference proved one thing: the future is being built right now. And Zillow is helping lead the way, using technology to create smarter, more accessible housing solutions for both consumers and professionals.