Zillow has finally embraced its true identity: a fantasy app for people who will never actually own a home. The company’s newest feature, “Online Squatter,” is designed specifically for users who spend hours browsing $10 million mansions from their mom’s basement.
Instead of the traditional “Contact Agent” button, users will now see a new option labeled “Move.” This feature allows users to virtually place their furniture inside homes they cannot afford. Now, anyone can spend their evenings arranging IKEA furniture across $50,000 reclaimed oak floors or placing Dollar Tree appliances on imported Italian marble countertops.
The experience doesn’t stop there. Users can even “maintain” their dream home by virtually dusting chandeliers, adjusting lighting, and straightening furniture in rooms larger than their entire house.
To keep things realistic, Zillow’s new AI system monitors users’ financial situations in real time. If a user spends more than five minutes viewing a property outside their budget, a notification will appear reminding them they currently have $22, an overdraft warning, and a Subway gift card.
Zillow says the feature is meant to “help users visualize their future.” For most, however, it serves as a temporary escape from their current living situation, which may include a cluttered bedroom, fast food wrappers, and the lingering realization that homeownership is, at best, a distant dream.
