Zillow’s CEO Jeremy Wacksman is betting big on remote work—and it’s paying off. Since taking the helm in August 2024, Wacksman has turned the real estate giant’s hiring strategy into a remote-first model called CloudHQ. The result? Employees now work from every state, not just the handful of offices the company once relied on. “We see huge benefits in recruiting,” Wacksman said on the Fortune Leadership Next podcast in 2025. “Before, we had people in only a few places. Now, talent is everywhere.” That’s a sharp contrast to the back-to-office push sweeping corporate America, where many leaders insist workers return to desks even as remote roles prove harder to fill in high-cost cities. Zillow’s gamble isn’t just about access—it’s about speed. Remote hiring lets the company move faster on job postings, shrinking the time it takes to bring someone on board. In a market where top candidates vanish in days, that’s a competitive edge. Wacksman didn’t invent remote work, but he’s one of the few CEOs making it the default—not the exception. The model also cuts costs. No need to relocate hires to pricey hubs like Seattle or New York, and salaries can adjust to local markets. That’s a win for the company’s bottom line and for employees who keep more of their paycheck. But remote work isn’t just a numbers game. It’s reshaping how teams collaborate. Zillow’s tools—like shared docs, async updates, and video standups—are built for a workforce that never meets in person. The company argues this setup attracts self-starters who thrive without micromanagement. Critics, though, still question whether remote roles hurt company culture long-term. Wacksman’s answer? “We’re not sacrificing culture. We’re redefining it.” The shift isn’t unique to Zillow, but it’s rare in real estate, an industry often tied to physical locations. Rivals like Redfin and Realtor.com still rely on regional offices. So far, Zillow’s bet looks smart. Job listings on the site now pull from a deeper talent pool, and the company says it’s filling roles faster than before. That’s especially useful in tech-heavy departments like data science or engineering, where competition for skills is fierce. What’s next? Wacksman’s planning to double down, expanding remote roles in customer support and marketing. The goal isn’t just to hire more people—it’s to hire the right people, no matter where they live. The broader question is whether other companies will follow. If Zillow’s model keeps delivering, it might force rivals to reconsider their own policies. For now, at least, the real estate giant’s remote-first experiment is working. And in a job market where flexibility is king, that’s a powerful advantage.

What You Need to Know

  • Source: Fortune
  • Published: May 17, 2026 at 11:57 UTC
  • Category: Business
  • Topics: #fortune · #business · #economy · #zillow · #there · #jeremy-wacksman

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Curated by GlobalBR News · May 17, 2026

🇧🇷 Resumo em Português

O Brasil, que há anos debate a flexibilização do trabalho remoto como forma de atrair talentos e reduzir custos, pode aprender com o exemplo da Zillow, gigante imobiliária americana que fechou contratações em todos os 50 estados dos EUA após adotar políticas de contratação totalmente remotas.

A estratégia da Zillow não apenas acelerou o preenchimento de vagas — muitas vezes com salários mais competitivos do que os praticados em mercados locais — como também reduziu despesas operacionais, como aluguéis e estrutura física. No Brasil, onde a desigualdade regional de renda e oportunidades ainda é um desafio, esse modelo poderia ser replicado por empresas de tecnologia e serviços, permitindo que profissionais de estados menos desenvolvidos, como o Nordeste, concorram a cargos antes restritos a São Paulo ou Rio de Janeiro.

Se a tendência se consolidar globalmente, o próximo passo será observar como outras grandes corporações aderem ao home office permanente, redefinindo não só o mercado de trabalho, mas também as políticas públicas de incentivo ao emprego e à formação profissional.

🇪🇸 Resumen en Español

El gigante inmobiliario Zillow ha revolucionado su estrategia de contratación al apostar por el modelo remote-only, atrayendo talento desde los 50 estados de EE.UU. con mayor eficiencia y ahorro.

Esta apuesta refleja una tendencia global en la que las empresas priorizan el teletrabajo para acceder a perfiles especializados sin limitaciones geográficas, reduciendo costes operativos y acelerando la incorporación de empleados. Para los hispanohablantes, este cambio subraya la necesidad de adaptarse a un mercado laboral cada vez más digital, donde la flexibilidad y las competencias en entornos virtuales marcan la diferencia. Además, abre oportunidades para profesionales de habla hispana en multinacionales, aunque también exige dominar herramientas tecnológicas y gestionar la conciliación entre vida laboral y personal.