With rising prices, low inventory, and high mortgage rates, more people are turning to Zillow therapy: make-believe real-estate hunts in the Philadelphia region that transport them into a fantasy of a better future, writes Elizabeth Bernstein for The Wall Street Journal.

Ellisha Caplan is a 47-year-old consultant in Delaware who has been searching various real-estate websites for homes in and around Philadelphia in her price range. She also researches restaurants around the homes and whether there are nearby bike trails.

“It’s calming, like a massage for my brain,” said Caplan. “I get to let my mind run awhile and just go with the flow.”

She is one of the growing number of people using Zillow and similar sites for therapeutic reasons. They focus on a specific place where they want to live, look at homes they believe they can afford, and cruise Google Maps and local websites for amenities in the area.

“The fantasy is sustaining,” said Giulia Poerio, a University of Sussex lecturer. “Even if you can’t get what you need right now, you can Zillow it and get a little bit of energy or hope to keep you going.”

Read more about people turning to Zillow therapy in The Wall Street Journal.

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