The Basics
44 Underrated Real Estate Lead Generation Ideas
The key to lead gen success is finding the right mix of strategies that work for your personality, budget, and skills.
Jodie Cordell33 Open House Ideas That Will Actually Get You Leads
If you use the right tools, focus on making people feel truly welcome, and learn some simple scripts and strategies, open houses can still be a fantastic way for new and even experienced agents to generate leads.
The 7 Best Free Real Estate CRMs for 2024
If you're not ready to pay for a CRM quite yet, we've picked the best free real estate CRM platforms to help you establish a consistent client communication plan.
The Complete Guide for Effective Listing Presentations (+Template)
Getting all the way to the listing appointment and not signing a new client is like dropping a birthday cake after the candles have been lit.
Agent Spotlight
all in Agent Spotlight →How to Grow Your Real Estate Business: 11 Tips + 1 to Avoid
One of the most challenging aspects of growing a team or brokerage is scaling lead generation quickly enough to keep junior agents happy and busy.
14 Real Estate Testimonial Examples to Inspire Your Referral Marketing
When people are hunting for the best real estate agent to work with, they’re looking for examples that show you are trusted by others. That's why testimonials from your past clients can work wonders for your business.
15 Must-follow Real Estate Instagram Accounts (+ 5 Growth Hacks)
All of the agents on this list have found unique and entertaining ways to promote their real estate business without being too sales-y. Check them out if you need some inspiration for your own Instagram account or just a good laugh.
Buyer Agent 101
all in Buyer Agent 101 →How to Become a Successful Military Relocation Professional (MRP)
Helping service members find and sell their homes is a challenging, lucrative, and personally rewarding niche.
How to Build a Real Estate Team in 7 Steps + Mistakes to Avoid
According to a recent National Association of Realtors survey, more than 26% of Realtors in the United States belong to teams. Real estate teams are a fantastic way to share the costs of marketing, broaden your expertise, and mitigate the risks that are a part of a volatile industry like real estate.
17 First-Time Home Buyer Tips: A Real Estate Agent’s Guide
Are your first-time homebuyers slowly unraveling in the current market? They're not alone. Everyone talking about residential real estate is saying the same thing: We’ve never seen anything like this.
How to Write a Real Estate Agent Bio + 15 Examples & Templates
A real estate agent bio is a crucial part of your marketing strategy and branding. Use our templates, bio generator, and buzzwords to spice up yours today!
Career Path
all in Career Path →The Best Hard Money Lenders of 2024 (Interest Rates, Fees & More)
Choosing the best hard money lender for your investment project can be tricky. We did the research that will guide you to the best financing options for your particular needs.
13 Jobs You Can Get With a Real Estate License
Did you know that a real estate license opens the door to a number of different careers?
The 25 Best Books for Real Estate Agents in 2024
These 28 real estate books will help you gain valuable insights, expand your knowledge, and transform your mindset and career in 2022.
Best Real Estate Company to Work For in 2024
There are many factors to consider when it comes to affiliating with a brokerage. We evaluated dozens of real estate companies based on the criteria that matter most to agents and selected our top six. Plus, learn why you might want to consider a local boutique instead.
CRMs
all in CRMs →Follow Up Boss Review: Pricing, Features, Pros & Cons (2024)
Is Follow Up Boss right for you? It's been my CRM of choice for my own real estate business since 2019. Find out why (and whether or not it has what you need to succeed).
The 15 Best Apps for Real Estate Agents (2024)
With so many apps on the market today, figuring out which ones deserve space on your phone or iPad isn’t easy. That’s why we put together this list of the most innovative mobile tools that are helping Realtors stay organized, market their brands, and close more deals.
IXACT Contact Review: Pricing, Features, Pros & Cons (2024)
If you’re looking for a CRM and IDX website package or just want to stay in the loop, grab a cup of coffee and let’s kick the tires a bit to see if IXACT Contact is the product solution you need.
Elevate CRM Review: Pricing, Features, Pros & Cons (2024)
Elevate is a real estate customer relationship management (CRM) and marketing platform designed as an ecosystem through which realtors can coordinate, customize, and streamline their marketing.
Designations
all in Designations →What Is the Accredited Buyer’s Representative (ABR®) Designation?
The ABR designation is a way to set yourself apart from your competition and win more clients.
The SRES Designation: Is It Worth It for Residential Agents?
After 28 years in real estate, I still love niche marketing. And the SRES designation claims to prepare you for the niche of one of the fastest growing demographics in the U.S.: senior citizens. The question is, is it worth it?
9 Real Estate Designations That Will Actually Make You Money
These 8 real estate designations will position you as a subject matter expert, help you develop your professional network, and are the mostly likely ones to boost your income.
Is the CRS Designation Worth It? + CRS Member of the Year Interview
If you have been interested in earning your certified residential specialist (CRS) designation, now may be the best time to do it.
Featured Listings
all in Featured Listings →45 Bad Real Estate Photos Agents Actually Posted (+ How to Fix Them)
There’s just something about the combination of real estate agent + homeowner + camera that leads to artistic disasters. Check out this epic collection as well as six expert tips on staging and photography so your images never end up on our list.
Sears Catalog Homes: Overview, History & Present Day
Sears, Roebuck and Company, more commonly known as Sears, wasn’t just a retail giant. From 1908 to 1942, Sears dipped its toes into the housing business by selling innovative catalog homes.
What Is a Pocket Listing? Definition, Pros & Cons for 2024
A pocket listing is a real estate industry term for a property that a broker has been given the exclusive right to sell by virtue of a signed listing agreement.
16 Weird Real Estate Listings You Won’t Believe
As a real estate agent, have you ever sold a weird house?
First-Time Homebuyers
all in First-Time Homebuyers →136 Real Estate Terms & Definitions Your Clients Expect You to Know
Your clients expect you to be their interpreter. This comprehensive list of real estate definitions will help you ensure you’re communicating with clients effectively.
Do Buyer’s Agents Have All the Fun?
The mission for buyer's agents is deceptively simple: find the perfect property for buyers and guide them through the homebuying process. It’s pretty great, actually—kind of like being a real estate superhero.
Launch Your Business
all in Launch Your Business →13 Tips for Creative Real Estate Headshots (+ Examples)
In the world of digital marketing, your headshot is often the first time prospects, leads, and clients will see your face. This means a professional, polished photo that represents who you are and what you stand for is a must have.
Real Estate Agent Salary: How Much Do Agents Really Make?
Capturing hard numbers on what the average agent earns is like trying to nail Jell-O to a wall. But here at The Close, we developed a salary database tool that gives unique insight into real estate agent salaries in each state—and we bet the results will surprise you.
How to Educate Unrealistic Buyers & Convert More Leads (Quickly)
If you learn how to educate unrealistic buyers the right way, you just might get an evangelist for life. Here are 11 tips that will help you do just that.
9 Common Mistakes New Broker-Owners Make (+ How to Avoid Them)
Establishing a solid foundation for your brokerage is not just a recommendation—it's the key to long-term sustainability. By understanding these nine essential aspects, you can position yourself as a trusted broker and ensure the growth and viability of your new business.
Motivation
all in Motivation →The 12 Best Real Estate Coaches for 2024
A real estate coach is crucial for success in the industry, providing guidance, expertise, support, and motivation for agents and brokers to achieve their professional goals.
The 15 Must-read Best Real Estate Blogs for 2024
Whether you are looking for content to share on social media, want to learn how to become a better agent, or just want to gawk at eight-figure mansions, you’ll find the right blog for you on this list.
How to Become a Successful Real Estate Agent: 12 Simple Strategies
If you look at popular culture and shows like Selling Sunset, you might think that becoming a successful real estate agent is easy for just about anyone interested in modern houses and chic blazers.
64 Real Estate Quotes to Motivate You
We want to uncover that next great real estate quote to light a fire in your soul and point you in the direction of real estate brilliance. So check out these fantastic real estate quotes we’ve rounded up to spark your genius.
Realtor Safety
all in Realtor Safety →7 Real Estate Scams & Ways Agents Can Protect Their Clients
There’s no shortage of scammers and fraudsters trying to take advantage of you and your clients. Here's what to watch out for and some ways for everyone in the real estate community to stay safe.
Realtor Safety Month: Resources for Agents & Teams
Although most client appointments are safe, sadly, in 2023, 75,000 Realtors reported being victims of a crime.
Shock Study: More Than 50% of Realtors Carry Weapons on Showings
We talked to Realtors who carried weapons during showings to find out their stories.
Stats + Trends
all in Stats + Trends →Predictive Analytics in Real Estate: Best Practices & Software for Agents
Imagine predicting exactly who will sell their property in the next 12 months. It used to take a mind reader to get that kind of inside intel, but now you just need some big data and the right artificial intelligence company to interpret it. Here are a few worth checking out.
19 Real Estate Charts: Breaking Down the 2024 Housing Market
These 17 insightful real estate charts can help you understand the housing market and truly shine as the local expert when you confidently address your clients’ concerns.
The Ultimate Guide to Real Estate Data Analytics
If you want to thrive in this challenging market, you have to adapt your property marketing plans. And the best way to stay agile right now is to incorporate data analytics into your short- and long-term strategies. Here's how.
Top 5 Green Building Trends for Real Estate
In 2024 green building won’t be just for granola munching hippies or off-grid survivalists.