Redfin displays up to 5 childcare options on 250,000 home listings

Redfin launched a new tool that connects home shoppers with local childcare providers. The platform now displays data from Winnie, a national online childcare marketplace, directly on property listings.

The integration pulls information from more than 250,000 licensed early care and education programs across the country. This data is available on every for-sale property listing on both the desktop and mobile versions of the Redfin website. Isabelle Novak, a spokesperson for Redfin, stated that the feature became available on the iOS and Android applications at the end of September.

Daryl Fairweather, chief economist at Redfin, explained that housing and childcare represent two of the largest expenses for families. He noted that searching for a home often coincides with having a child. Fairweather said it is helpful to know childcare options before committing to a mortgage.

When viewing a listing, buyers will see a "Preschool & daycare" option next to the existing K-12 school ratings from GreatSchools. This section lists up to five nearby providers, including licensed center-based, home-based, and school-based programs. The display shows the ages each program serves and its distance from the home. Clicking a provider name opens a pop-up with details such as hours of operation, address, and any published parent reviews.

Sara Mauskopf, CEO and co-founder of Winnie, said the partnership aims to make childcare a primary factor in home decisions rather than an afterthought. She recalled her own experience moving with three children, where the couple had to scramble at the last minute to secure care. Mauskopf emphasized that this tool helps families in both rural and urban areas determine if they have enough options within a manageable distance.

The feature only shows providers within a 10-mile radius of the property address. If no programs exist within that distance, a message will appear indicating that no providers were found. Mauskopf noted that some affordable areas lack nearby licensed programs, a situation often described as childcare deserts. She added that about a quarter of the 250,000 provider pages on Winnie have been claimed by the operators, who can update details like available slots.

Mauskopf observed that many providers still require tours before sharing tuition rates. However, she said there is a growing trend of listing prices publicly, partly because families are using AI to compare costs. She hopes this shift continues so that the Redfin integration can eventually include complete cost information for buyers.