If you’re searching for a new home in Virginia, you’ve probably realized how quickly good properties get snapped up. From Richmond townhomes to Arlington condos and Virginia Beach waterfront properties, the best homes don’t stay on the market long.
That’s why Zillow alerts are a must-have tool. They notify you the moment a property matching your criteria hits the market — meaning you’ll know about it before many other buyers do.
This guide walks you step by step through setting up Zillow alerts and uses Virginia-based examples so you can see exactly how it works.
1. Create Your Zillow Account
To set up alerts, you need a Zillow account. It’s quick and free.
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Go to Zillow.com or download the Zillow app.
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Click “Sign In” in the upper right corner.
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Select “New Account” and enter your email address and password.
Example in Virginia:
If you’re searching for a 4-bedroom house in Fairfax and want to be the first to see new listings, use an email you check every day — that’s where Zillow will send your alerts.
2. Search for Your Target Area
Now that you’re signed in, it’s time to tell Zillow where you want to live.
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Use the search bar to type in a Virginia city, county, or ZIP code.
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Hit search and you’ll see all current listings in that area.
Virginia example:
If you type in “Richmond, VA”, Zillow will show everything in the city. But if you want a broader search, you could type “Henrico County” to see homes just outside Richmond.
3. Apply Filters to Narrow Your Results
Zillow’s filters help you fine-tune exactly what you want.
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Price Range – Set your budget (example: $400,000 to $600,000).
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Bedrooms & Bathrooms – Decide how many you need.
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Home Type – Choose houses, condos, or townhomes.
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More Filters – Square footage, lot size, year built, and more.
Virginia example:
Maybe you’re looking for a 3-bedroom colonial in Alexandria under $750,000. Setting those filters means you’ll only see homes that fit your needs — not million-dollar listings that are way out of range.
4. Save Your Search
Once you’ve set up your filters and search area, look for the “Save Search” button.
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Click it, and Zillow will let you name the search (optional but helpful).
Virginia example:
You could save one search called “Arlington – 2 Bed Condos under 500k” and another called “Virginia Beach – Waterfront Homes.” That way you’ll get alerts for both but keep them separate.
5. Choose How Often You Want Alerts
After you save your search, Zillow asks how often to send alerts.
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Instant – You’ll know the moment a matching property is listed.
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Daily – A single email per day with all the new listings.
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Never – Saves the search but doesn’t send alerts (good if you want to check manually).
Virginia example:
If you’re actively looking for a single-family home in Norfolk, go with Instant alerts — you’ll see homes as soon as they list. If you’re just browsing for a possible move to Roanoke next year, daily alerts might be enough.
6. Manage or Edit Your Alerts Anytime
Your needs might change — Zillow makes it easy to adjust.
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Click your profile icon and select Saved Searches.
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From there, you can:
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Edit filters
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Pause alerts
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Delete searches
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Virginia example:
Maybe you started looking for a condo in Reston but later decided you want a townhouse in Falls Church instead. Instead of starting over, just edit your existing saved search.
7. Use the Zillow App for Faster Notifications
The Zillow app can give you a serious edge in Virginia’s competitive housing market.
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Download the Zillow app to your iPhone or Android.
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Turn on push notifications for saved searches.
This means you’ll get an alert on your phone the second a property lists — even before you check your email.
Virginia example:
Imagine you want to rent in Charlottesville near the University of Virginia. With instant push notifications, you’ll see a new rental listing the moment it goes live, giving you a better shot at contacting the landlord first.
Why Zillow Alerts Matter in Virginia
Virginia’s market moves quickly — especially in places like Northern Virginia, where demand is high. Zillow alerts help you:
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Stay ahead of the competition. You’ll see new homes before many buyers.
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Save time. Instead of refreshing Zillow all day, the listings come straight to you.
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Stay organized. Multiple alerts mean you can track different cities or property types at once.
Example:
A buyer looking for a historic property in Williamsburg and also an investment condo in Arlington can create two separate alerts. That way, they stay organized without mixing different property goals.
Final Thoughts
Setting up Zillow alerts for Virginia is one of the smartest moves you can make in your home search. Whether you’re hoping to buy a beachfront property in Virginia Beach, a starter home in Richmond, or a condo in Alexandria, Zillow alerts make sure you won’t miss the perfect listing.
It takes only a few minutes to create alerts — but it could be the difference between finding your dream home or missing out. In a competitive market like Virginia, that speed and organization matter more than ever.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can I set up Zillow alerts for rentals in Virginia, or only for homes for sale?
Yes! Zillow alerts work for both. You can filter for “For Sale” or “For Rent” when creating your search, and you’ll only receive alerts for the type of property you want.
2. How do I stop Zillow alerts if I don’t need them anymore?
Simply go to your Saved Searches in your Zillow account, select the search you want to stop, and click Delete or Turn Off Alerts.
3. Can I set up more than one Zillow alert for different Virginia cities?
Absolutely. You can have multiple alerts running at once — for example, one for condos in Arlington and another for single-family homes in Virginia Beach.
4. Are Zillow alerts instant in Virginia, or is there a delay?
If you choose Instant alerts, you’ll usually get notified within minutes of a property listing going live. It’s one of the fastest ways to see new homes in Virginia’s competitive market.
5. Do Zillow alerts cover rural Virginia areas too?
Yes, Zillow covers the entire state — from big cities like Richmond and Alexandria to smaller towns and rural areas. You can even set alerts for a single county if you want.
