19 Strategies to Get More Real Estate Buyer Leads (2024 Updated!)

Professional,Real,Estate,Agent,Shows,Bright,New,Apartment,To,AYou have to set yourself apart as a real estate agent is essential, especially when you are just starting out. This means you’re going to have to find creative ways to get more buyer leads.

Here’s the thing, if you want to be a top producing agent, or climb the ladder in the real estate industry, you’ve got to put strategies in place to help you generate tons of new leads from the best real estate lead generation companies. Luckily for you, we have curated a list of tips that will lead to a healthy database of new leads.

After reaching out to some of the industry’s high rollers, we’ve listed 19 sure strategies that’ll get you more real estate leads. We hope you enjoy this inside scoop.

1. Take Advantage of Demographic and Geographic Farming

Real estate farming is a lead generation strategy that’s known to bring in high quality leads in your target area. If done correctly, you can capture at least 30% of all sales within your scope setting you up for a lifetime of reliable income.

nick good headshot

Resources – Some resources to boost your RE farming technique are:

 a) Choose a farm area wisely– It is important to choose the area carefully if you’re a new agent otherwise you will face problems when balancing your budget and goals. Start with a neighborhood close to you and with a small target audience. Then research the area, other agents, and properties. Don’t forget to build strong connections with people..

 b) Try to catch new homeowners first– Make links with new homeowners as fast as you can. Know their requirements, strategies and get their contact information. This way you will not only increase your knowledge but it also helps you to introduce yourself and later promote your services efficiently.

Marketing materials– Using modern technology for marketing is effective for RE farming:

 a) Email– Share your farming materials using direct email. It will attract leads and save time.

Postcards, market reports, newsletters, etc. are popular things to send via email to your target people. You can also send them on a monthly basis with your website link, phone number, and of course an effective call to action.

 b) Social media & website– Facebook business pages, Twitter, or LinkedIn are also easy to get information and to promote your brand.

Again, a well-set-up, user-friendly website is a modern way to connect with people. You can then specialize in a small number of neighborhoods day by day. (from Nick Good, Licensed Texas agent)

 

2. Throw a Housewarming Party and Work the Room

Friends,Having,Small,Party,At,Home,,Intimate,Warm,Social,GatheringAfter closing a deal with a buyer, a brilliant thing to do is to throw them a housewarming party.

Home envy is so real, and many of the buyer’s friends will be jealous of their friends new pad. That’s why this is such a great idea.

The party gives you direct access to the buyer’s friends and family, which translates directly into new leads because they’re actively seeing what you bring to the table.

First, mention to your client that you would like to sponsor a housewarming party for them. No one refuses a good housewarming party. After they agree, you provide the supplies while they bring the guest list, and during the party, you engage with everyone.

One way to engage with the people there is to have fun games that everyone can be a part of, and while everyone is high off of the excitement, you introduce yourself and get them to write down their contact details for you, and voila! You have exponentially increased your database.

All of that work you put in will go to waste if you aren’t actively following up with the friends and family you just met. Make sure you set reminders, or have a reliable CRM that will insure you don’t lose these leads. Check out our list of the best real estate CRMs.

ryan poppe

Generating buyer leads is one of the hardest things to do. While social media campaigns are typically effective, getting out in the community and talking to people face-to-face is easy to do, and can be really rewarding.

Ryan really feels like you make a better connection and become more top-of-mind when you talk to someone in person. Things like:

 

  • Hosting educational seminars
  • Sponsoring community events
  • Throwing really cool housewarming parties

In addition, it’s very important to keep in consistent contact with the people you already know, what we call the ‘sphere-of-influence’.

Now, this is not about sending them mailers and other sales-y communiqués, but rather shooting off a quick text asking how they’re doing, how’s the family, what’s new with their interests or hobbies.

It all comes down to being genuine, authentic, and showing honest interest in them and in your community. Honesty and authenticity will always be the best way to meet people and ingrain yourself in the community. (from Ryan Poppe, Licensed Broker in Colorado)

 

3. Nurture Your Renter Clients 

Happy,And,Excited,Young,Couple,Look,Around,In,Wonder,AtMost agents are disappointed when they hear the words “I’m only looking to rent”. Face it not all of your clients will be looking to buy houses right away. That’s just how it goes.

That means you have to steer them in the right direction. Look at it as an opportunity to help them secure a great property to rent while making sure you check all of their boxes. So, when they’re ready to buy, you’ll be right there waiting for them.

The long game pays off. It typically takes renters two years in a city to decide they want to move up to buyer status, so like we tell the kids, be patient.

AgentAdvice Tip: In that time, add them to a drip campaign and send them targeted ads. You can also send them specific postcards to help move them along. Check out some of this year’s best real estate postcard examples.

 

4. Engage With Potential Clients on Social Media

People often think that social media marketing is about paying for ads, creating a fun meme, and sharing personal details on your social media pages. While that’s part of it, and can generate you leads, there’s a difference between people seeing your posts and getting people to engage with your content.

You need engagement! Which means you need to do more when it comes to Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

There’s a lot of competition out there, so you need to set yourself apart. One way to do this is to actively interact with the people in your community by commenting, sharing, liking, and using hashtags relevant to your area.

Let people know that you’re more than just a page to follow, you’re an active member of the community with things to add to the conversation. Take note – this can be stressful. Just remember that creating a grass-roots connection is essential to bringing in more buyer leads.

The whole goal is to create interaction.

larry chattLook for social media groups in your local area discussing real estate. Normally they can be found by using your local area followed by “Real Estate.” Ask to join the group and begin answering questions.

Use your social media answers as your guide to writing FAQ’s on your website, or use your answers to develop real estate informational pages.

As you grow your website information, use those pages when appropriate to link to your social media answers when potential clients ask questions. That sends buyer leads directly to your website! Instead of answering the question outright, provide a link to the page that answers the question. It takes some time to build up, but it’s so worth it. (from Larry Chatt, Licensed Broker for 15+ years)

 

5. Work with People in Your Circle

When building your customer base, it’s best to start with people you already know. For one, the trust is already there, so there’s less work to build their confidence in you.

So then, how does this translate to business? It is pretty simple – leverage the relationship you already have with them.

For example, if one of your Facebook friends has a child heading off to college, they may soon become empty-nesters. Now is a great time to chime in and send a message asking if they’re looking to downsize. If they have a child that just started a new job and is looking for a new place to live, you should offer your services. If a friend and their partner are looking to finally move in together, you should be there to provide advice and show them homes that meet both of their needs.

For this to work, you have to be observant and ask the right questions. Be sure to remind everyone in your network what you do, so when they’re in a position to call a real estate agent, your name will be the first one that pops into their head.

vicky-noufal-e1594583565973

Leverage Social Media- The right use of social media can take your real estate business to the next level. If you go to Facebook and search for a Facebook group for your local neighborhood, you’re most likely to find one.
Most Homeowners’ Associations (HOAs) possess a dedicated website as well as social media channels. As you can easily find a good number of the members of your targeted community in these places, you can reach a lot of people easily and effectively.

Partner with a local business- Partnering with a local business that already has a good connection with its residents, can give you a quick boost. You can collaborate with,

  • Local restaurant
  • Local fashion house
  • Grocery store
  • Medical office that the local residents visit on a regular basis

By doing this, you can expect to get repeat exposure effortlessly. (from Vicky Noufal, Licensed Broker for 17+ years)

 

6. Meet Your Buyers Where They Are Looking

Ryazan,,Russia,-,March,01,,2018,-,Homepage,Of,ZillowIt’s the 21st century, and more and more people are looking for convenience in their daily lives; this includes looking for homes online.

It’s become almost an addiction for some people who just want to see what is available in their price range. That’s why it’s best to steer into this a little bit. If you think about it, more than 186 homes are viewed per second on Zillow alone.

Additionally, these buyers who go on the internet and find Zillow listings can turn into return buyers and referrals.

Consider joining the Zillow Premier Agent program. It not only puts you in the spotlight along with the homes your prospective clients are viewing, it also gives you other great perks, like featured placement in the Zillow Agent Finder and access to Zillow’s new Live Connections program. So, it is a win-win situation for you.

Some other websites you can access for this purpose are Realtor, Trulia, Foreclosure, Apartments, and FSBO – all .com.

Matthew Richmond headshot - 1 (1)Initially Zillow leads was a go-to for many agents to get a pipeline of buyers, but recently people are turning to two online strategies. The best part is both are free.

First, create and curate a standout Google Business Profile. Buyers, especially those relocating to your area, will always Google your name.
Having a Google Business Profile with great reviews and lots of photos of your best listings, as well as the neighborhoods you work, will legitimize you as an agent with expertise in your market. It will also give potential buyers confidence that working with you is a good move.
Second, use your blog strategically. Instead of writing about generic real estate topics, use Google Keyword Planner, which is free (though there are better paid tools for this if you decide to go deeper), to find out what people are searching for on Google in your market. It can be related to
  • housing
  • best neighborhoods
  • local amenities like restaurants and recreation

the list is infinite.

In the world of SEO (search engine optimization) these topics are called keywords, and when you write about them in your blog, those pages will eventually start to show up in Google search results pages. If done right, buyers will organically find you just by providing answers to the questions they are typing into Google. (from Matthew Richmond, Licensed Michigan Agent)

 

7. Find Your Specialty 

It’s not enough to market yourself as a real estate agent. Get more specific, people like specifics. It builds trust, and they feel like if you are an expert in one particular area then you must be the best.

Have you had success with foreclosures before? That would be a niche you could use to your advantage. Sold a bunch of multi-family homes? Easily a perk for potential clients looking for a home.

If you have a specialty, it also allows you to understand those clients so much more. You’ll get to understand who they are.

For example: if your niche is first time homebuyers, you must understand what makes them tick and what type of houses will mirror their lifestyle. They’ll likely want to be closer to downtown, and have a home they can grow into.

marina headshot

Don’t be all things to all people. Instead, specialize in one specific type of real estate.

For example: you can specialize in and market yourself as the top real estate agent for foreclosures, multi-family homes, commercial properties, vacant land, and so on. This way, if people need an agent in this specific area, you’ll be top-of-mind.

If you don’t have a brand identity, nobody will think of you when they need a real estate agent.

Ideally, you’ll specialize in a field of real estate that’s popular in your area and a lot of people are investing in. Then, you need to focus on building a network.

Organizing a monthly local meetup for real estate investors in your field is a great way to do this. This way, you become known as the super connector in your community for that area of real estate. (from Marina Vaamonde, Licensed Texas agent)

 

8. Get Involved and Leverage the School Districts 

In every community, schools serve as a nexus where people gravitate. That’s why it’s wise to find a way to insert yourself into your local school district.

By becoming a resource, you’ll find yourself front and center to a huge group of potential clients: families with children. Find out if the district needs volunteers for anything, ranging from,

  • school productions
  • chaperones
  • mentorship programs

This type of volunteering is a great way to serve your community and insert yourself into the lives of the locals, so when they need real estate help of any kind, they’ll ask you.

It’s also a great way to have natural conversations with people.

If you’re volunteering with other parents for a few hours, they might mention that their morning was hectic because their teenage daughter took too long getting ready in the only downstairs bathroom. Great time to mention that you’re an agent, and could help them find a bigger house pain-free.

dustin fox headshotSponsor Some Local events- Local events, sports teams, educational and religious institutions constantly seek sponsors.

While sponsoring them would cost you some money, you’ll enjoy a good boost in reputation by doing so. The sponsorship would ultimately benefit you, bringing in more customers to your business.

Keep in mind, you need to ensure that your brand gets the necessary exposure while you sponsor such an event.

Establish Partnership with a Local Business- By developing partnerships with a local business you can enjoy quick exposure. Consider developing relations with a business and request them to showcase your company’s cards or list information at their bulletin board or desk. (from Dustin Fox, Licensed Virginia Agent)

 

9. Make Use of Videos

While having blog posts and advertisements is beneficial, videos, when done very well, can be a more engaging and informative mode of communication. People’s attention span on the internet is getting shorter and shorter, and you should take advantage of this.

One of the ways to do that is to have blocked days dedicated to answering questions over video. Successful agents also shoot videos where they list the tips and tricks buyers could find handy. This video could be done on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, or even Tiktok.

Pro Tip: Keep the videos short, engaging, and enjoyable. Try to summarize everything in a few minutes, so people don’t tune out.

If video editing is too hard, you can hire a professional on Fiverr that can do it at a cheap price. Be as consistent as possible because consistency builds trust and can increase your reach.

Keep in mind, as you engage with posts, make sure you do not engage with a wrong post that badly affects your business.

tyler corneu headshotClients want facts, current market data, and education. Having a monthly market report video that goes out to your clients usually has a high ROI.

The important part about market reports is staying consistent and not missing a monthly report.

Answer questions that you are frequently asked, and also talk about the buyers you’ve been working with. You’d be surprised at how many DMs agents get from people wanting to work with them after posting a video, or how many followers you’ll gain on the day of the post. If you do it right, it can definitely help you find more leads. (from Tyler Cornu, Licensed agent for 5+ years)

 

10. Be A Know-It-All About Your Community

This strategy doesn’t imply that you should be an arrogant bully that believes they have all of the answers. Instead, this means that you should have a toolbelt of relevant information about your community.

Know as much as you can, about as much as you can. Fore example, you should know,

  • all of the best pizza joints
  • names of elected officials
  • the most popular parks and hotspots

This is powerful because when people are looking for a home, they are also searching for social amenities, safe neighborhoods, and a close proximity to certain things of interest.

Since you are a real estate agent, they’ll have questions about all of this. So, it would not give off a professional vibe if a prospective buyer asked you questions, and you could not give adequate information in return.

Also, please do not be shy because you can take your knowledge and put it to good use by posting about your community on your social media pages.

stephanThe obvious tips would be:

  • Be seen in the community and be known.
  • Make sure you are known by those people who live there.
  • Don’t be afraid to spend as much time in the area as you can to become a fixture in the community.

Another tip is to use social media to show your love for the area.

By sharing beautiful photos, local events, and being positive about what’s happening in the area, you can show your following that you love the community and are prepared to show it.

Social media is a great place to show off your knowledge and love for a specific area. (from Stephan Baldwin, Licensed Georgia Agent)

 

11. Use Your Website as A Way To Reach Your Local Community

A great way to do this is by starting a website that serves as a community website to reach people in your community.

You can do this by:

  • Approaching small and upcoming businesses in your community.
  • Getting them to share about their business on your website.
  • Posting about upcoming events and happenings.

The website would help build a relationship with your community, and can become a place that people go to get information.

For instance, if there is a newly opened antique store in your community, you could interview them for your website. It’s important to note that this works best for real estate agents that are more community-focused, as it helps build up trust.

 

12. Use Lead Generation Companies

Communication,Technology,Business,And,Lead,Generation,ConceptA lot of the tips we’ve listed here are pretty intensive and require time to show results. But, if you use a full-service lead generation company like BoldLeads, Market Leader, Zurple, Offers, or REDX, they can help speed up this lead generation process.

Here’s what you need to know. These companies will help you create an ad on a social network, and when people click on it, it will redirect them to another page that will ask them for their email addresses and contact info for a list of houses in the area of their choice.

This is good because, when they do this, they get the list of homes they need, and you get a lead sent directly to you. Easy peasy.

Caveat – you’ll need to nurture these leads pretty extensively. Luckily, it can be done easily through the same platform.

 

13. Use A Real Estate Postcard Provider

There’s something about the feel of actual paper in your hand that the digital world can never replace, and this is why postcards are still effective to this day. It’s just a fact, using real estate direct mail marketing helps generate real estate buyer leads.

You can target rental communities the most because, as we stated earlier, renters will become buyers in the future. You just have to catch them early and create a lasting impression.

Dino DinennaDirect mail companies like ProspectPlus, Overnight Prints, VistaPrint, UPrinting, and PsPrint provide you with materials like postcards, brochures, and flyers. They also give customizable templates that you can edit to fit your tastes and mirror your brand, and then you are good to go.

This high-quality marketing strategy will help you to reach the targeted homeowners in a specific neighborhood. You need to make a plan to deliver consistent value in the right farm area.

Automated communication and personal follow-up are important for a long-term relationship with your client in the communities you are serving.

To execute all these activities, you require a solid plan and some useful resources like real estate farming postcards and flyers which can convey messages and authority to your neighborhood area. (from Dino DiNenna, Licensed South Carolina Agent)

 

14. Always Follow Up 

Follow,Up,Review,Inspection,Examination,Evaluation,Audit,ConceptFollowing up is a must if you want to generate good quality lead.

After you’ve gotten the contact, or after someone has shown interest, you have to make sure you keep that interest by following up with them.

It’s normal for people to get cold feet after showing interest, so make sure you’re there for a little hand holding. I know, this can be tasking, but lucky for you, some apps can help you choose the best people to follow up with by using millions of data points and a trusted algorithm.

Apps like BoomTown, SmartZip, and kvCORE help ease the stress of following up. At the same time, even with these apps, you should not ignore the human interaction. Make conversations, form bonds, and figure out who they are and what they want.

It’s vital that you see them as human beings first and foremost, and not just prospective clients.

 

15. Have a Successful Blog

This is similar to what we said earlier about being educated about the community, and posting videos on social media. You want to be accessible, and to seem knowledgeable about what’s going on around your area.

Clients will always reach out to an agent that is active in their community. An easy way to show that is by having a standout blog that’s frequently uploaded with new information about the local market.

bill gassett headshotOne of the best ways bar none to generate buyer leads is to have a successful real estate blog. If you’re trying to attract first-time homebuyers there are a few ways of going about that.

One is to write about helpful topics surrounding the purchase of a first home. Most people want to work with someone who is educated and has excellent guidance to share.

A blog can be a great foundation for doing so coupled with social media channels to further disseminate your advice.

Besides writing about specific buyer-related topics, another excellent method is to have detailed community pages.

Most home buyers will research areas they are interested in relocating to. Having a highly optimized community page can put you in front of those buyers when they head to Google for information on the cities or towns that hold their interest. (from Bill Gassett, Licensed Massachusetts Agent)

 

15. Host Open Houses

Open houses are a great way to increase buyer leads.

First off, you already know they are looking for a home. They also likely won’t show up for an open house if they aren’t interested in the area you’re showing in. This is great because it helps you narrow down what they are looking for.

Scott-Berens-Sales-DirectorOne way to increase the number of buyer leads is to be very active on social media (everything comes back to social media).

Post lots of pictures and updates about your listings, open houses, and recent sales. This gets your name and face out there, and it also lets potential buyers know that you’re an active and successful agent.

Hosting epic open houses is also a great way to meet potential buyers and get them interested in your listings.

Always have plenty of information available about the house, and also try to be very personable with potential buyers. These two strategies have been vital in helping agents get more buyer leads.

The best advice for agents looking to increase their buyer leads is to be creative and try different things until you find what works best for you. There is no one right way to do it, so experiment until you find a strategy that works well. (from Scott Berens, Licensed California Agent)

 

16. Hand Out Swag

Things like pens, cups, koozies, potholders, or dish towels are not only useful items, but they will also be picked up often. It’s crucial to make the open house experience a memorable one, so they think of you and your brand whenever they use the gift.

Be sure to have your name and phone number in an easy to read place so that they can get in touch with you without having to search.

ryan-braswell-broker-local-realtyTake branded sunglasses, keychains, bags, etc. everywhere you go and give them out in bulk, at events, parties, or networking places. The power of (social) reciprocity typically means that you will have the opportunity to have a quick conversation with this lead.

A fun quip or business card included or on the branded items with “follow me on Instagram @_ryanbraswell” always helps increase the conversion.

Most of these buyer leads are not ready to buy now, but they will remember you when they are ready.

When you nurture the lead over time you can get a buyer, all the buyer’s friends, and even grab referral listings through their recommendations. (from Ryan Braswell, Licensed New York Broker)

 

17. Discounted Listings

charles headshotTo increase buyer leads try listing a house at a 75% discount to bring in more buyers and sign them all up.

Also try working with a few local investors who market for properties. Anyone who calls looking to sell a house that isn’t investment grade, go and take the meeting instead of the investor.

Then you can give the investor a referral fee.

Investors also list their inventor of houses on their website with no address. If a person wants more info about the house there is a click to call prompt that you can connect to you. (from Charles Weinraub, Licensed New York Agent)

 

18. Partner with Divorce Lawyers 

marc de diego headshotMost couples that end up getting a divorce end up selling their homes as part of the process. Once the family home is sold off, the couples embark on finding new houses.

This can be a great opportunity for you to step in and offer your services as a real estate agent.

Start by compiling a list of divorce lawyers in your area and sending them information about your services.

You could even go a step further and offer to give presentations on the home buying process to divorcing couples. (from Marc De Diego Ferrer, Licensed Agent for 13+ years)

 

19. Contact Local Universities

peter lucas headshotThere are a number of college kids who are looking for their first place to call home, and many parents are searching for a good investment property.

Why not put together a package deal?

Help them with all things real estate and moving. It will take a lot off of their plate if you can provide a list of the best long distance movers, provide college-friendly properties for them to look at close to campus, etc.

Approach the housing department of your local university or college and let them know you’d be interested in working with them as a preferred real estate agent.

In exchange, offer to give presentations on behalf of the school to prospective students and their families, provide tours of properties that would be suitable for students, or even help out with finding off-campus housing. (from Peter Lucas, Licensed Agent for 18+ years)

Things to Avoid When Generating Leads

1. Do Not Muck Up Your MarketingBusinesswoman,Hand,Working,With,Laptop,Computer,,Tablet,And,Smart,Phone

Know that your clients are different, so, the marketing strategy that works for A may not work for B. Also, do not change your campaign too often because most of the strategies listed above require time and consistency.

2. Do Not Throw Your Leads Away Too Soon

Understand that just because one contact method doesn’t work does not mean that you should stop trying entirely. Even though you need to be resilient in communicating, make sure that you don’t bombard your potential lead with too many ads or emails.

3. Do Not Try to Track Leads Without Technology

If you get a lot of contacts, arranging and processing them without the right tools can be a mess and even worse…stressful. Make sure you don’t treat all of your leads the same. Specific applications will help you arrange your leads into strata of choice, income, area, etc., and help you nurture them.

4. Do Not Forget Your Clients When They Close

When your buyer closes, know that the sales that went through for you today will serve as a referral for you tomorrow, so treat them all as a potential lead. Also, they might be looking for another property in the future.

5. Do Not Get Impatient

Radio silence from a lead is normal, and conversation takes time; do not just focus on the people who seem ready. Focus on those who do not seem prepared at the moment as well.

Summary

The strategies above are proven to work, so make sure you’re as consistent as possible. To summarize everything above about the best lead gen for realtors:

  • Make sure you employ the use of technology
  • Do not be scared to use multiple communication strategies
  • Use professionals when in new territory, e.g., social media navigation
  • Be knowledgeable about your business
  • Understand your niche and demographic well
  • Your business is your brand, so make sure you carry it well

About the Author

Jim Gray got licensed in 2013 and sold 57 houses in his first year. Over the next 6 1/2 years he went on to sell 437 homes with a small team. He went on to manage the lead generation department of the 13th largest expansion team at Keller Williams and designed lead generation and conversion systems for 60 agents in 7 locations in 4 states that drove 600 home sales in a 2 year period. Jim currently does real estate team development and coaching for some of the largest real estate teams in the country.

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Last Updated: 12/29/2023