Finding a home with an assumable mortgage is one of the best real estate hacks available today. It allows you to take over the seller’s existing mortgage—along with their locked-in, ultra-low interest rate from years prior.

​Because Zillow does not have a dedicated, one-click button for "Assumable Mortgages," finding them requires a quick search workaround using their keyword feature.

​Here is exactly how to do it step-by-step, followed by a copy-and-paste description you can use to remind yourself or share with your agent.

​How to Find Assumable Mortgages on Zillow

1
Set Your Location
Step 1
Go to Zillow.com and type in your desired city, neighborhood, or ZIP code. Hit enter to bring up the local map.
2
Open Advanced Filters
Step 2
Click on the "More" or "Filters" dropdown menu at the top right of the screen.
3
Scroll to Keywords
Step 3
Scroll all the way to the bottom of the filter menu until you see the Keywords box.
4
Use the Truncated Search Hack
Step 4
Type "ASSUM" (without the "E") into the box. Zillow’s system matches exact phrases, so typing "assum" ensures you catch listings that use "assumable," "assumption," or "assume" in the description.
5
Run Separate Searches for Loan Types
Step 5
Because most assumable loans are government-backed (FHA, VA, or USDA), clear your keyword box and run a second search using terms like "VA loan" or "FHA". Agents often list the loan type rather than the word "assumable."

The Strategy Description

​Copy, paste, and save this note to guide your search strategy:

​Objective: Locate homes for sale where the buyer can take over the seller's existing, low-interest rate via a loan assumption.

​Zillow Search Execution:

  1. ​Target the preferred geographic market.
  2. ​Use the Keywords filter field at the bottom of Zillow's search filters.
  3. ​Input ASSUM to capture "assumable," "assumption," and "assume" from the agent's remarks.
  4. ​Cross-reference with keywords like VA loan and FHA since standard conventional loans are rarely eligible.

​Critical Factor to Watch (The Equity Gap): When assuming a loan, you are only taking over the remaining balance of the seller's mortgage. If the home is worth $450,000 and the assumable loan balance is $300,000, you must be prepared to cover the $150,000 equity gap using either cash out-of-pocket, a second mortgage,

or a HELOC.

​Pro Tip for Browsing

​When you run this search, look closely at the Property Details or Agent Remarks section on the Zillow listing. Agents will usually boast about the exact interest rate in all caps (e.g., "ASSUMABLE VA LOAN AT 2.75%!"). If you find a home you love but the description is vague, have your real estate agent call the listing agent directly to verify if the underlying loan is an FHA or VA loan.