Winnie data helps Redfin buyers locate preschool and daycare options

Redfin now displays nearby childcare options on every for-sale property listing on its website and mobile app. The feature integrates data from Winnie, a national online marketplace for early care and education. It became available on iOS and Android devices at the end of September.

The new tool sits alongside the existing GreatSchools K-12 ratings that Redfin has used for over a decade. When a user scrolls through a property page, they see two distinct options. One is labeled K-12. The other is labeled Preschool & daycare.

Selecting the Preschool & daycare option reveals up to five nearby providers. These include licensed center-based, home-based, and school-based programs. The list shows the ages each program serves and the distance from the home. Users can click a program name to view a pop-up with more details. This includes the provider’s website, hours of operation, address, and any published parent reviews.

For deeper information, buyers can click through to the provider’s profile on the Winnie website. That profile may list available slots and tuition rates. Winnie builds these profiles using public state licensing databases. Providers can then update their pages with additional information.

Sara Mauskopf, CEO and co-founder of Winnie, said about a quarter of the 250,000 provider pages have been claimed by operators. Active providers on the platform frequently update the number and type of open spaces. Mauskopf noted that availability can change day-to-day.

Daryl Fairweather, chief economist at Redfin, said the feature addresses a common need for families. Many buyers are moving to start or grow their families. Housing and childcare are often the two largest expenses for these households. Fairweather stated that knowing childcare options before committing to a mortgage helps with affordability calculations.

Isabelle Novak, a spokesperson for Redfin, said the integration will only show providers within a 10-mile radius of the property address. If no programs are found within that distance, a message will appear noting that no programs were located nearby.

Mauskopf described childcare as a necessity rather than a nice-to-have for young families. She recalled her own experience moving with three children. Her family focused on home prices initially. After moving, they scrambled to secure care at the last minute. They even considered whether one parent might need to step away from work.

The feature is useful for both rural and metropolitan areas. Families need to know if care is within walking distance or requires a drive. Some areas, often called childcare deserts, have few or no licensed programs nearby. These locations may be affordable to live in but lack access to care.

Mauskopf noted that many programs still require a tour before sharing prices. She said this practice is unlike any other market. She has recently seen a shift where providers are starting to post tuition information publicly. This change is likely driven by families using AI tools to ask about rates. Mauskopf hopes this shift will continue and soon be reflected in the Redfin integration.