What should you look for when buying a home with a pet? TL;DR - a safe, fenced yard, easy-to-clean flooring, a neighborhood that fits your animal’s needs, and a layout that matches your pet’s age and energy. The longer answer is worth a few minutes, because most buyers don’t think about any of it until they’re already under contract.
Did you know? There are now more U.S. households with pets than with children, according to the National Association of Realtors, and 66% of households either own a pet or plan to get one. For most buyers, the pet is family, and family has to live in the home too. So before you fall in love with a floor plan, run every home you tour against the checklist below.
Start with the yard, then listen to the neighborhood
A fenced yard is the single most-wanted feature among pet-owning buyers, according to NAR research, and it’s easy to see why. A secure yard means your dog gets to be a dog without a leash, a long walk, or a worried glance at the street.
But a fence is only half the story. The other half is noise. A yard that backs up to a busy road can create anxiety and territory-guarding habits your pet didn’t have before, and you might not notice the problem until you’ve already moved in. The fix is simple and free: walk the lot at different times of day, including morning and evening traffic, before you decide. Stand in the backyard. Listen. Your future self (and your pup) will thank you.
Think about temperature, in both directions
Summer pavement gets hot enough to burn paws, and gravel isn’t much better. A yard with real grass makes a daily difference in the warmer months, and a home within reach of a dog park or an unpaved walking trail gives your pet somewhere safe to move without scorching their feet.
Cold weather deserves the same attention if you’re shopping somewhere with real winters. Watch for where ice melt products would sit near walkways, since many of them irritate paws, and make sure there’s a warm, sheltered entry point for when temperatures drop overnight. A home that’s comfortable for your pet in July and January is a home that works year-round.
Match the home to your pet’s age and breed
A home that’s perfect for a young, high-energy dog can be the wrong call for a senior pet, and vice versa. An older dog does better in a single-level layout with no stairs to navigate. A big, athletic pup needs a real yard and a neighborhood built for exercise. Smaller dogs and cats come with their own considerations, like keeping an eye out for coyotes or other wildlife depending on the area.
Try this before you start touring: write down your pet’s top three physical needs, then hold every home up to that list the same way you’d hold it up to your own must-haves. A no-stairs requirement is just as real as a two-car-garage requirement when it’s the thing that keeps your family comfortable.
The in-home features that make daily life easier
Beyond the yard, a handful of features quietly make a home easier to live in with a pet. After a fenced yard, NAR research ranks a home that’s large enough for the household and pet, and the right flooring, as the next most important features for pet owners.
Bring this short list to your showings:
- A mud room or dedicated entry to catch muddy paws before they hit the living room
- A doggie door, or an exterior wall where one could be added later
- Tile, laminate, or vinyl flooring, which resists scratches and wipes clean far more easily than carpet
- A sensible spot for the litter box or feeding station that isn’t the middle of a room
None of these is a dealbreaker on its own. But running a home against the list before you get attached can save you a real renovation conversation down the road.
Don’t overlook the neighborhood
Roughly one in five recent buyers considered their pet when choosing a neighborhood, and 18% said being convenient to a vet or to outdoor space for their pet was very important, according to NAR. Those are signals worth taking seriously. Before you commit to an area, check how close the nearest vet and emergency animal hospital are, look for safe walking routes and off-leash options, and read the fine print on any HOA or community animal policies, which can carry rules and added fees. NAR puts the typical annual pet fee for owned homes around $300, so it’s a real line item to factor into your budget.
A great real estate agent who knows the area can point you toward the pet-friendly pockets and flag the policies worth a closer look before you tour.
Your pet-friendly home checklist
Run every home you tour against this:
- Fenced or fenceable yard, with low road noise at different times of day
- Grass or soft ground, plus shade for hot months and a warm entry for cold ones
- A layout that fits your pet’s age and mobility
- Easy-clean flooring like tile, laminate, or vinyl
- A mud room or dedicated entry, and a spot for food and litter
- A neighborhood that’s close to a vet, has safe walking options, and has animal policies you can live with
Know your numbers before you start touring
Here’s the move that makes all of this easier: get pre-qualified before you fall for a specific home. When you know exactly what you’re shopping with, you can move fast and with confidence the moment the right pet-friendly home shows up, whether it’s your First Home or your Next Home. A little insight into how the mortgage process works makes that first call easier, and a Castle & Cooke Mortgage loan officer can get you pre-qualified this week, so the only thing left to do is find the place where your whole family, four legs included, feels at home.
Find a Castle & Cooke Mortgage loan officer and let’s get you ready to shop.
Frequently asked questions
Does having a pet affect my mortgage or what home I can buy?
No. Pets don’t factor into mortgage qualification. What they can affect is your monthly budget, since some communities and HOAs charge annual pet fees (NAR puts the typical fee for owned homes around $300 a year). Build that into your numbers when you get pre-qualified.
What’s the most important feature in a pet-friendly home?
A fenced yard is the single most-wanted feature among pet-owning buyers, according to NAR, followed by a home that’s large enough for the household and pet, and easy-clean flooring.
What flooring is best for pets?
Tile, laminate, and vinyl are the most pet-friendly options. They resist scratches and clean up far more easily than carpet, which tends to trap odor and hold stains.
Do I have to remove my pet during showings when I sell?
It’s strongly recommended. About 80% of agents advise removing pets from the home during showings so buyers can focus on the property, according to NAR.
Does having a pet hurt my home’s resale value?
Generally no, as long as there’s no visible damage. Close to 80% of buyers say signs of a pet wouldn’t stop them from making an offer, and about two in ten say a pet-friendly home would make them want to offer more, according to NAR.
How do I find a pet-friendly neighborhood?
Check proximity to a vet and emergency animal care, look for safe walking routes and off-leash options, and review any HOA or community animal policies before you commit. About one in five recent buyers weighed their pet when choosing where to live.
Sources: National Association of Realtors, “Animal House: Pets in the Home Buying and Selling Process” (2020); National Association of Realtors, “Survey: Pets Drive Homebuying, Renovation Decisions” (2024).