Zillow & Matterport: What West Michigan Realtors and Builders Should Know

What’s Happening Between Zillow, Matterport, and 3D Tours: Insights for West Michigan Realtors and Builders

In the real estate landscape, technology is evolving rapidly. Realtors and builders must adapt to stay competitive. Zillow’s relationship with 3D technology is just one example of how digital tools can enhance the home buying and selling experience. Integrating technology into your marketing strategy not only showcases properties better but also appeals to tech-savvy buyers.

In October 2025, Zillow temporarily removed 3D tours from its property listings. The change came after Zillow and CoStar Group (the parent company) did not renew a technical agreement called an API.

This decision by Zillow to remove 3D tours has sparked discussions on the importance of digital content in real estate listings. With the growing trend of virtual tours, many buyers now prefer to explore properties remotely before making a visit. This preference has increased the demand for high-quality visual content that can provide an accurate representation of a property.

The integration of technology can enhance virtual tours, allowing potential buyers to have a more immersive experience of the property.

Understanding the implications of this change is crucial for Realtors and builders using 3D technology.

There has been confirmation that nothing has changed for customers. You still own your tours and can share them anywhere online — including Zillow.

Additionally, the technology allows users to create immersive experiences that can significantly enhance a property listing. For example, agents can use the technology to showcase the unique features of a home, such as intricate architectural details or expansive outdoor spaces, which can be pivotal in persuading potential buyers.

“As a customer, you can continue to share your 3D Spaces anywhere, including Zillow. Neither the licensing terms have changed, ensuring seamless integration with your listings.”

This update only affects how Zillow displays 3D tours on its own site — not the function or ownership of your content.

What It Means for West Michigan Clients

Understanding how this change affects the local market is vital. Many clients in West Michigan rely on digital tools to market their properties effectively. The shift in Zillow’s display policy may prompt clients to reconsider how they present their listings and adapt their strategies accordingly.

At Perspective 3D, we work with hundreds of local builders, real estate professionals, and designers who use 3D technology to document, market, and manage their spaces.

Here’s what this means for you:

Leveraging this technology can provide a competitive edge. By creating virtual tours, clients can allow potential buyers to navigate through their listings at their convenience, making it easier for them to envision living in the space. This can lead to quicker sales and higher satisfaction for both sellers and buyers.

• • Your tours are still active. Matterport links remain live on your website, MLS, and social media.
  • Zillow display is paused. For listings on Zillow, you can add a Zillow 3D Home tour (we can help).
  • You still own your content. Your model, hosting, and sharing rights are fully protected.
  • No change in functionality. Embeds, analytics, and integrations continue working everywhere else.
  • This is a temporary display issue, not a platform change.

This situation serves as a reminder of the evolving nature of real estate marketing. As a Realtor or builder, it is essential to stay updated on changes in technology and marketplace dynamics to effectively adjust your marketing strategies. The integration of 3D technology into your marketing mix is not just beneficial; it’s essential in today’s digitally driven market.

How Perspective 3D Is Supporting Clients

Our team is taking proactive steps to help our West Michigan clients stay visible and compliant:

1. Dual Delivery: For Zillow listings, we can capture both a Matterport tour and a Zillow 3D Home version during the same appointment.
2. SEO Optimization: We ensure your Matterport links are embedded on your website and Google Business Profile — keeping your local visibility strong.
3. Hosting & Backup: Every tour we deliver is archived and portable for future marketing, insurance, or documentation use. Moreover, hosting and backup services for your 3D tours ensure that your digital assets are secure and readily accessible for future marketing efforts. As digital marketing becomes increasingly important, having a reliable system for managing and utilizing these assets is crucial for success.
4. Education: We keep you informed of policy changes that could impact your listings or digital assets.

Why We Still Trust

Matterport continues to lead the world in 3D and digital twin technology — with more than 14 million spaces captured and 50 billion square feet of property data hosted globally.

Utilizing Matterport not only elevates the quality of your listings but also enhances the overall buyer experience. When potential buyers can explore a property in a detailed, immersive way, they are more likely to appreciate its value. This can lead to increased demand and potentially higher sale prices.

Its accuracy, visual quality, and integrations make it the go-to solution for real estate, design, and construction documentation. And with CoStar Group’s resources behind it, Matterport’s platform is only getting stronger.

At Perspective 3D, we remain fully aligned with and continue to recommend it for all local real estate and AEC documentation needs.

As the market continues to evolve, staying aligned with cutting-edge technologies will position real estate professionals for long-term success. The ability to adapt to changes in how listings are presented is key to maintaining relevance in a competitive landscape.

Final Thoughts

Additionally, real estate professionals can benefit from ongoing education and training in utilizing these technologies. Understanding the full potential of 3D virtual tours and digital twins can unlock new opportunities for engagement and sales.

This update may have created confusion, but the bottom line is simple:
It remains the industry standard.

We’ll continue helping West Michigan agents, builders, and property professionals showcase their work with accurate, immersive, and future-proof digital twins.

We encourage Realtors and builders to explore the myriad ways can enhance their property listings and marketing efforts. It is essential to embrace innovation and remain proactive in finding solutions that will benefit your clients and your business alike.

Serving All of West Michigan

Serving various regions within West Michigan, our services are tailored to meet the unique needs of each area. Whether in urban centers like Grand Rapids or more suburban locales, we adapt our offerings to ensure maximum visibility for your listings.

Perspective 3D provides Matterport 3D scanning services across:

• Grand Rapids

• Holland

• Kalamazoo

• Muskegon

• Lansing

• The Lakeshore and Beyond

Related Reading

• Matterport’s Official Response to Zillow Update

• Reuters: CoStar Completes $1.6 Billion Acquisition of Matterport

  For deeper insights and updates on the impacts of Zillow’s decisions, real estate professionals are encouraged to stay informed through trusted news sources and industry publications. Understanding the broader context of these changes can help in strategic planning and decision-making.

• Inman: How the Zillow–CoStar Rivalry Impacts Agents

Contact us today to schedule your next 3D scan: (616) 312-3947

Our commitment to helping clients navigate these changes is unwavering. With customized solutions and dedicated support, we strive to ensure that your properties are presented in the best possible light, leveraging the full capabilities of technology.