Real estate obsession is real, and the coronavirus global pandemic made it even worse for people who find satisfaction in browsing photos of properties online. In the U.S, Zillow is one of the main sources of the so-called "real estate porn."
Saturday Night Live even made a fake commercial depicting how 30-something millennials seek pleasure by browsing real estate listings. The 2-minute parody commercial immediately went viral on social media because it was so relatable, especially to the younger generations who got stuck at home during the pandemic.
It turns out that real estate listing websites like Zillow, Trulia, and Redfin became a huge hit during the pandemic. According to New York-based psychiatrist Lea Lis, ladies and men in their 30s can't go out on a date during the lockdown; do they find a way to "fill the gap" by browsing real estate porn.
"They are wanting to escape from cities to a simpler, more green life. This has become more appealing for many, creating the mass exodus that cities like New York and Boston have experienced," Lis told HuffPost.
Although these millennials are not necessarily planning to purchase a new home, mental health experts break down the psychology behind the satisfaction in browsing online real estate listing.
It provides escapist fantasy
With the pandemic's stress and anxiety, the online real estate listings served as an escape route from the overwhelming reality. It's like a real-time visualization of our daydreams and fantasy of moving and "living the life" in a different location.
"Zillow is one very popular way to do that," licensed marriage and family therapist Kati Morton said.
"You easily move from state to state, area to area, and imagine what it would be like to live in that home, critique the flooring or dated cabinets in the kitchen, and for a few minutes, you can forget about the stress we are going through, the job loss, political issues or whatever upset you may be feeling," the author of "Are U Ok? A Guide to Caring for Your Mental Health added.
It breaks the repetitive routine
Browsing home listing sites breaks the monotonous routine of working from home, cooking meals, and cleaning the house.
"If you're in a healthy state of mind, it can help you take your mind off the routine that you've established for yourself," New York-based psychotherapist Kathryn Smerling said.
But Smerling warned the habit could also lead to jealousy, and if that happens, millennials should stay away and break the fantasy home listings provide.
It produces happy hormones
Chicago-based clinical psychologist Bethany Cook explained that browsing property listings can release happy hormones, which boost one's mood.
"When a property or idea you like pops on your screen, your brain responds in the same way it would if you had found a gold nugget on the sidewalk," Cook told HuffPost.
On the contrary, the release of happy hormones could also be bad for one's mental health as it could lead to a "dopamine burst of joy, followed by the crash."
