Pets are at the heart of many families and, increasingly, a factor in determining where those families live. In a recent online Texas REALTORS® poll, 83% of members said pets had influenced their buyers’ home-purchasing decisions. And an NAR report showed that 18% of members had clients who moved solely because of their pets. Real estate agents who are ready to serve a client’s whole family—including the members with fur, feathers, or fins—may find that being pet-friendly is good for business.

More American households have pets than have children, and pet owners overwhelmingly (82%) say that their pets are like their own children. From empty-nesters whose kids have left home to young couples delaying or foregoing having children, an ever-growing number of people think of themselves less as pet owners and more as pet parents. Millennials—the generation with the most pets—are especially vocal about their “fur babies,” with 80% saying they talk to other people about their pets as if they were children, according to a 2024 Harris Poll report. Millennials and Gen Z spend more money on their pets than older generations do and are more likely to go into debt for pet-related expenses. They also see pet parenting as a legitimate social role, with 62% of Millennials saying that parenting a pet should get as much recognition in society as parenting a child.

“Pets are not just companions—they are family, and their needs often shape the homebuying process in significant ways,” says Kristina Land, agent at Coldwell Banker Island Escapes, in Corpus Christi. Land’s own experience as a proud pet-parent to three dogs—Awesome, Rousey, and Riddick—has helped her connect with clients who put their pets first. “I’ve had buyers walk away from homes that didn’t meet their pets’ needs, whether it was a lack of a secure yard or insufficient outdoor space for play,” she says. “These priorities are front and center for pet owners who want their homes to be a haven for their furry family members.”

In the doghouse? Yes, please

Pets are a top concern for prospective homebuyers, according to a realtor.com survey, in which 91% of pet owners said that pets would factor into their decision, and 82% said their pets’ needs were just as important as their own, if not more so. Most pet owners (72%) would even pass on buying a property that was otherwise their dream home if it wasn’t right for their pets.

The younger the homebuyer, the more likely they are to report putting their pets’ interests first. More Millennials would be interested in a yard than a newly renovated kitchen, and more of them would choose to live in a pet-friendly city than live close to their friends, according to one survey. Another survey found that members of Gen Z chose pets over people, with a majority saying they would pick a pet-friendly home over a child-friendly one and 22% saying they would want to move out of their current home if it stopped working for their pet, while only 12% would move if the home didn’t work for their partner.

So what’s your role, knowing how important pets are to people? When working with buyers, you may want to ask about pets early on, so you can tailor their home searches to take pet priorities into account. Land says many of her clients value “fenced yards, pet-friendly flooring, and homes close to parks or beaches where their pets can enjoy outdoor adventures.” She has had clients choose homes specifically for pet-focused features like shaded yards or built-in pet doors. “For pet owners, it’s about more than square footage—it’s about creating a safe and comfortable environment for every member of their family, pets included,” Land says.

Show off at showings, if your home is the pick of the litter

When listing a home, you may want to keep in mind that attitudes toward pets have shifted. Removing all signs of pets might not be as desirable as it once was, especially if clients have added features that would appeal to other pet parents. One recent poll found that 79% of potential buyers would not be deterred from making an offer if they saw signs of pets, and 16% would actually be more likely to make an offer. As long as everything is clean and undamaged, it might be more productive to suggest staging pet-focused areas in the home, so buyers could imagine their own pets enjoying them.

“When marketing a home,” Land says, “I always highlight its pet-friendly features because I know how valuable they are to buyers.” At her own home, having a spacious yard has made all the difference for her dogs. “So I make a point to show how a home’s outdoor space can accommodate the same kind of joy and activity for other families and their pets,” she says. “I also include information about nearby pet-friendly amenities like trails, parks, and pet-focused businesses to help buyers see the bigger picture.”

Betty Saenz, agent with Ranch Roads – Windham Rose Realty, in Austin, markets herself as a pet-friendly REALTOR®. Whether her clients are looking for an area that allows large animals, a neighborhood with restaurants that let you bring your dog along, or a home layout that is optimized for aging pets, Saenz takes pride in being a great resource by keeping up with local pet-related information and trends. One change she has noticed in recent years is the rise of “barkitecture”—remodeling projects that add pet-specific features. “What’s popular nowadays are pet washing stands,” she says. “Usually, they’re in the mud room. And I’ve seen some quite fancy mud room areas for pets at higher end homes that not only had a washing stand but even a set-up almost like a vet’s office.” When Saenz remodeled her own bathroom, she added a built-in water dish for her dogs, Sophie and Schatzie, and designed a dog-washing area in the large walk-in shower.

Saenz, who grew up on a ranch, doesn’t mind getting her hands dirty to help clients with pets. She has transported chickens, corralled dogs, babysat ducks, supervised goats during a closing, and scooped litterboxes before showings. She loves animals and enjoys the challenge of helping clients navigate a real estate process that is sometimes complicated by pets. Rules about the type and number of pets allowed vary widely depending on a home’s location and any deed restrictions. She recommends that agents learn all they can about local requirements and point clients to other professionals when appropriate. “I have a property under contract right now for a lady who has dressage horses,” Saenz says, and while some restrictions on the acreage she was considering looked like they were expired, it was outside of Saenz’s field of expertise to advise on that. “Thankfully, she hired an attorney on my asking her to, and he did confirm that they were expired,” she says.

A cautionary tail

About five years ago, Saenz helped clients sell one property and buy a larger one to accommodate their many pets. She came away with more than just a commission, though. The clients worked with a shelter and were fostering a Yorkie mix dog and her puppies. After closing, when Saenz picked up her staging items, the clients asked if she wanted to see the puppies. She did. Did she want to hold a puppy? She did. Did she want to adopt a puppy? “Now I have my Sophie,” Saenz laughs. “So, I had to make new guidelines for my pet people: I show you houses and properties, but don’t show me any pets that need a new home, because I’m a sucker.”