Homebuyers' Pet Needs

A new survey by Realtor.com found that 80 percent of homebuyer respondents own pets, and 87 percent take their pets needs into account when purchasing a home.

Additionally, 75 percent of pet-owning homebuyers who closed on a home this year say they will not buy their dream house if it doesn't meet the needs of their pets. Danielle Hale, chief economist for Realtor.com explains, “Dogs are man's best friend. If a home doesn’t meet the needs of their pets, those needs are non-negotiable for a lot of buyers.” Dog owners have the biggest share of all pet-owning homebuyers, 64 percent, and 90 percent of buyers with dogs say their pets' needs were “important” or “very important” in their home search.

For two years, Kelly Heskett searched real estate listings for a home big enough for her noisy, rambunctious family. She found an ideal one last month in nearby Norristown, Pa.: a three-bedroom, 2.5-bath, single-family house on a quiet street with a big backyard. She and her husband now have plenty of room for their six dogs, three of which were rescued. Heskett even picked her real estate agent for her pet-friendly attitude—she had worked with several volunteers at a local animal shelter.

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