H
ome search portal Flyhomes has introduced a new feature called NeighborVote, which provides a breakdown of recent presidential and congressional voting trends for any given community. This information is sourced from the MIT Election Data & Science Lab and is now displayed on individual home listings.

    Flyhomes' AI-powered search engine aims to stand out in a crowded market by offering unique data that other home search sites don't have. The company's Chief Strategy Officer, Adam Hopson, believes that providing this information can help buyers make informed decisions about their home purchase. "The political leanings of a specific area is certainly relevant to people as they're searching for a home," he said.

    By clicking on a random home listing in Seattle, for example, shoppers will see that nearly 90% of neighbors voted for President Joe Biden in 2020 and 85% of residents voted for U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal in 2022. This data is integrated into the home listing page, along with other information such as local school details and pedestrian-friendliness.

    Flyhomes' decision to include voting trends on its platform has raised concerns about enabling "politically self-sorting," where buyers may choose neighborhoods based on their political leanings. However, Hopson believes that many communities are more balanced than expected, and the data will surprise some searchers.

    The company is also careful to ensure compliance with Fair Housing laws and notes that the voting data is publicly available. As Americans become increasingly polarized, home shoppers may want to know if they'll feel a sense of belonging in their new community. "My hypothesis is that if you're in the minority – even in the slight minority, politically – you may not be as comfortable putting up a yard sign and you may not be as comfortable talking openly about political things," Hopson said.