We can glean interesting insights from our Google search habits. Our internet queries reflect our interests and preferences. They offer a peek into what we can expect (or hope for) in terms of style, price, location and features in our home. To better understand our shifting interests during the pandemic, researchers at Point2Homes.com pulled search term data from Google Keyword Planner. This is what they discovered. What are we seeking during the pandemic? Researchers at Point2 observed the following in the past three years: Homebuyers sought affordability among pandemic markets rife with construction delays, skyrocketing supply prices and labor shortages. A few of the most popular search terms were “affordable homes for sale,” which increased by 108% compared to pre-pandemic searches; “first-time homebuyer” and “tiny home for sale” came in as second and third most searched terms.  “Buying a second home” also showed significant interest, with searches jumping 53% in 2020 compared to 2019.Renters searched for financial aid to ease economic uncertainty and hardship. “Rent relief,” which received only about 90 searches per month in 2019, spiked to 9,900 per month in 2020 and 49,500 in 2021.Current homeowners explored ways to make the most of their equity and current interest rates. The search for “mortgage refinancing” increased by 124% in 2020 compared to 2019.Remote employees searched for ways to make their home more conducive to work. The key phrase “home office design” remained popular in 2020 and 2021. What were we interested in buying during the pandemic? While “affordable homes for sale” and “tiny homes for sale” saw improved popularity, homes on the other end of the spectrum demonstrated an uptick as well. Queries for “luxury homes” and “penthouse for sale” both increased by about 50% between 2019 and 2020. In 2020, searches from...

Research funded by Google sheds light on how seniors search for housing for themselves and their aging parents. The results are helping senior housing experts improve marketing strategies and concentrate their efforts on what truly matters to America’s aging population. In October 2014, Google issued a survey to 2,000 Baby Boomers between the ages of 50-58 and 59-68. Those who participated in the survey are among the 75 percent of seniors who use search engines to learn more about senior housing. Survey respondents provided insights on how they used search engines to find dwellings and care providers, as well as features that they seek out when filtering through their options. Google recently released results from the survey at the What’s Next Boomer Business Summit in Chicago: When searching for housing for themselves, respondents used keywords such as “independent living,” and “55+ active communities.” They sought housing with features that promoted an engaging and social lifestyle such as group events, excursions, pet accommodations and complimentary transportation. Younger Boomers are increasingly tech savvy. They desire self-care tools that allow them to manage their own health and wellbeing electronically; 25 percent of respondents regularly use EHRs to manage their health. They tended to search for wearable devices that can help them monitor their vital signs and fitness activities. While self-care is important, it does not overshadow Boomers’ interest in quality personnel onsite. One-third of respondents expect to work with a care manager through the senior housing community who can help them manage their health and wellness options. When searching for housing on behalf of their parents, respondents searched using terms like “skilled nursing,” or “assisted living communities.” Communities that offered specialized care, a low staff-to-resident ratio, and proximity to emergency care facilities ranked high on their lists....