Every listing on Zillow shows up as a green bubble. Except the ones with open houses — those turn purple. Here is why that matters more than you think.

The Purple Bubble Strategy: Why Zillow Clicks Matter — March 2025

Most agents do not think about how their listings show up on Zillow. They upload photos, write a description, and hope someone clicks. But if you know how Zillow works, you can make your listing stand out without spending a dollar on advertising.

Here is the trick: when you schedule an open house in MLS, the bubble on Zillow turns purple. Every other listing stays green. And people click the purple one first.

That is not a theory. That is how the platform works. And it is one of the reasons we push our agents to hold open houses — not just to meet buyers, but to get more eyes on the listing.

Why the Purple Bubble Gets Clicked

When someone searches for homes on Zillow, they see a map full of green bubbles. One or two purple bubbles stand out immediately. Purple signals something is happening — an event, an opportunity, a reason to act now instead of later.

That psychological trigger is worth more than a paid ad in some cases. Because the person clicking is already in buying mode. They are already looking at homes. They are already thinking about making a move. And when they see purple, they think, "I should check that one out this weekend."

You did not have to convince them to look. The platform did it for you.

How to Make It Happen

The listing agent has to add the open house to MLS by Wednesday at the latest. If it goes in too late, Zillow does not pick it up in time, and the bubble stays green. If the agent forgets to add it, you lose the advantage.

This is one of the things we check internally before every open house. Is it in MLS? Is it on Zillow? Did the bubble turn purple? If not, we fix it. Because that one small detail can be the difference between three visitors and fifteen.

It Works for Listings That Need a Boost

If a house has been sitting for a while, an open house can reset the clock in buyers' minds. Fresh photos help. A price adjustment helps. But an open house — especially one that shows up purple on Zillow — makes the listing feel new again.

People assume that if there is an open house, the seller is motivated. They assume there is activity. They assume it is worth checking out. That assumption gets them in the door. And once they are in the door, your job is to turn them into a lead.

Combine It With the Other Strategies

The purple bubble works best when you combine it with the other tactics we teach:

Post the open house on Facebook, Instagram, Nextdoor, and Craigslist.
Door knock the block and let neighbors know there will be activity.
Send an email to your database with the address and time.
Call FSBOs in the area and invite them to stop by.
Hand out active listings packets so visitors leave with your contact info.

When you do all of that, the purple bubble is just one piece. But it is a piece that costs nothing and works every time.

Why This Matters for Sellers

If you are listing a property, you want maximum exposure. You want buyers to see it online, drive by it in person, and talk about it with their agent. An open house does all three — especially when it is advertised correctly.

At Foraker Realty, we do not list and hope. We create a plan for every property, and that plan includes getting the listing in front of as many buyers as possible. The purple bubble is part of that plan.

Why This Matters for Agents

If you are holding the open house, the purple bubble brings more traffic. More traffic means more sign-ins. More sign-ins mean more follow-up opportunities. More follow-up opportunities mean more buyer appointments.

It is a small detail that compounds. And the agents who pay attention to small details are the ones who close seven transactions a year instead of two.

FAQ

Does the purple bubble show up on other platforms besides Zillow?
It depends on the platform, but Zillow is the one most buyers use. Realtor.com and other sites pull from MLS, so they may show the open house in search results even if the bubble does not change color.

What if the listing agent does not want to add the open house to MLS?
Ask them why. If they are worried about traffic or disruption, offer to handle everything — signs, setup, follow-up. If they still say no, pick a different listing. You want to work with agents who understand marketing.

How long does the purple bubble stay up?
It shows for the week leading up to the open house. After the event, it goes back to green. If you want it to stay purple, schedule another open house the following weekend.