34 Examples of Effective & Creative Real Estate Ads (2024)

Making your real estate ads stand out is imperative to capture leads, convert clients, and build your business. The secret of successful real estate ad campaigns is to consistently get your name and brand in front of as many eyes as possible. That way, you’ll be top of mind when prospective clients are ready to buy or sell. There are many ways to make your real estate advertisem*nt stand out, like using stunning images, catchy headlines, and designs targeting your intended audience.

We found dozens of examples of engaging real estate ads from agents in all different mediums to inspire your advertising strategy.

Social Media Real Estate Ads

Social media platforms are saturated but offer massive outreach and can be a budget-conscious option for generating leads. Use visually stunning images and succinct and intriguing copy to capture your targeted audience so people don’t scroll past the post. Many people visit social media sites in their free time to entertain and catch up with the latest world news. Capitalize on this by presenting ads that inform, educate, and entertain based on your chosen platform. For example, Instagram is all about visuals, whereas Facebook is great for listings and visually appealing content about your brand.

Cost to advertise: Depends on the social media network; requires a minimum ad budget of $1 to $8 per action
Time investment: Ad creation can be time-consuming, especially in addition to consistent posting on your feeds at least three times per week.
Lead quality: Medium to high
Return on investment: High

Social Media Ad Examples

High-quality videos take time and can be expensive, but Facebook and Instagram algorithms favor them. Having a game plan is important. We’ve compiled five social media post ideas for Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and other platforms to help you get ideas for your next viral post and understand why those posts effectively generate leads.

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This X (formerly Twitter) post is attractive to the eye and targets sellers to reach out about the sales process. Also, it’s seasonal and useful during Halloween for further engagement.

Seasonal ad for Halloween (Source: Rose Cervantes)

This real estate ad displays stunning images of the home’s features to attract buyers. It provides some information but leaves enough mystery about the house to encourage potential buyers to reach out. This ad does double-duty. It can be posted on social media, but it also is great for print media.

Open house ad for online or a flyer (Source: Design Trends)

This realtor ad is a creative way to provide essential knowledge to investor clients, like how to become a successful real estate agent and which states have the strongest and weakest housing markets. Plus, it demonstrates that you can showcase your real estate agent skills and introduce yourself to potential leads through video. Post this on your favorite social media channels.

Creative use of video for attracting coaching clients (Source: Tat Londono Real Estate Coach)

Using real estate memes for social media like the one below is a fun way to showcase your listing, personality, and brand in a way that will capture an audience’s attention. It also helps your page visitors feel comfortable with you.

Funny real estate post to highlight brand (Source: Nikki Chavez)

The tagline in this post is geared toward buyers looking for a home using a simple but appealing image. It evokes emotion but uses inspiration and joy to bring the point home, followed by a call to action (CTA).

Example of real estate quote (Source: Jo-Ann McFearin)

Colorful email campaigns (Source: Constant Contact)

If you want a complete brand presence across Google Ads and social media platforms, consider using Constant Contact. Known for its email marketing, it has every product you need to be found online, grow your audience, and engage with valuable traffic. Its plans and pricing start at $9.99 monthly, and the company offers a 60-day free trial.

Visit Constant Contact

If you’re stuck on funny ideas, here are the Top 21 Real Estate Memes and 32 Best Real Estate Jokes to create laughter, generate leads, and grow your real estate business and social media followers.

Internet Platform Realtor Ads

To attract real estate leads, you can advertise on high-traffic sites like your local multiple listing service (MLS), Zillow, Realtor.com, and Trulia, and by posting listings on a bulletin platform like Craigslist. Use Google, Microsoft ads, Yelp, and your website to establish your expertise.

These online platforms help build your business because of their hyper-local presence. Also, claiming your Google Business profile helps position you as a local expert, and it allows you to use targeted keywords (like “top producing agent”) and claim the territories where you provide services.

Cost to advertise: Dependent on the platform and scope of work, the price ranges from free to hundreds of dollars per month
Time investment: Ads for realtors are frequently templated, making them easier to create, but still require you to spend time keeping listings up to date
Lead quality: Low to medium
Return on investment: Medium

Internet Platform Examples

Prospective homebuyers and renters initiate their online search for real estate professionals and properties based on various criteria. Engaging ads for real estate can draw these individuals to your listings. Ensuring that your ads stand out in the crowded online landscape is crucial. Here are successful real estate ad examples and what makes them stand out:

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This agent uses visually stunning images to draw you in and then speaks about the benefits and details of working with their firm. They also use high-quality listing photos and compelling property descriptions so visitors stay and browse. Read our How to Advertising on Zillow in 10 Steps article to learn how to capture those leads by creating a Zillow Premier Agent (ZPA) account and utilizing the ZPA advertising feature.

Property listing on Zillow (Source: Zillow)

The real estate agent depicted uses a professional headshot, background information and his philosophy, click-to-call contact information, and a link to his website. These details make it easy for people to reach out with a few clicks.

Screenshot of a real estate agent ad profile header (Source: Realtor.com)

Although this Google ad doesn’t display any images, it is still a highly effective internet ad for lead generation. It leverages keywords and (in the top example) the brokerage’s 5-star Google My Business profile ratings to generate real estate leads from Google in a specific area.

Google paid advertising sample (Source: Easy Agent Pro)

You can advertise listings on non-real-estate-specific platforms, but you can also focus more on advertising yourself and your real estate services. This example shows the team’s information with a professional picture, biography, clickable links to sales, client testimonials, and guides to entice clients to reach out about the team’s services.

Sample real estate website (Source: Placester)

Print Real Estate Ads

Print ads for real estate have declined due to the cost-effectiveness of online advertising, but they still offer benefits. For instance, they can feature QR codes linking to your online presence or listings, extending your real estate narrative. Print ads also provide a tangible, memorable item that reinforces your brand and engages clients.

Cost to advertise: Vary from local to national reach, ranging from $50 per ad to thousands.
Time investment: Ad design can be time-consuming, but will not require consistent posting as with online platforms.
Lead quality: Leads are likely to be high quality
Return on investment: Medium due to the higher cost of print

Print Ad Examples

The death of real estate print advertising has been exaggerated. They appear most commonly in magazines and newspapers and can be as interactive, engaging, or compelling as their digital counterparts. Here are a few excellent print ads to consider for a high return on investment (ROI) and to help grow your brand.

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This free real estate flyer template from Zillow Premier Agent (ZPA) can be printed as a direct mail real estate ad, but most often is given to clients at an initial meeting or open house. It can also be put in a pamphlet box attached to your for sale signs. Flyers can advertise a specific listing(s) or highlight your real estate business.

Example of a real estate flyer
(Source: Zillow Premier Agent)

Although Douglas Elliman is a well-known real estate brand, it must still demonstrate its marketing expertise, which this ad does well through color choice and compelling images. A full-page ad in a magazine is pricey, but it stands out, showcasing your professionalism.

Screenshot of an ideal print real estate ad (Source: Mr. Grey Design)

Developing an engaging brochure is a savvy real estate advertising tactic because it can promote your services in multiple situations. Although real estate brochures are used as direct mail, they are often distributed during open houses, networking events, in-office visits, and initial client meetings to emphasize your real estate brand and impress your clients.

Sample of an engaging real estate brochure (Source: Graphics Family)

Publishing a local real estate newspaper with helpful knowledge and expertise is a successful way to generate leads in your community. This ad can be mailed or placed in a newspaper or newsletter as an insert.

Local real estate newspaper sample (Source: issuu)

The New York Times has a real estate section, a prevalent read in NYC. Although it is expensive to have a full-page or multi-page ad, it is a fantastic way to feature your services to thousands of people and position your business as a large, well-funded brand.

Screenshot of a full-page real estate newsletter
(Source: FDocuments)

Directory of freelancers for print ads (Source: Fiverr)

To guarantee your print ad jumps off the page, enlist the help of the freelancers at Fiverr for a one-of-a-kind advertisem*nt. Fiverr lets you preview work from multiple freelancers to decide who will fit your style and assist with ad creation for your real estate business. Prices vary based on expertise and experience but start as low as $5, so you can determine which freelancer to work with based on your ad ideas and budget.

Visit Fiverr

Out-of-Home (OOH) Real Estate Ads

OOH advertising for real estate may seem costly, but its high impression-to-cost ratio yields a strong ROI and drives lead generation. These types of ads, placed on buses, billboards, and benches, reach diverse audiences. Unlike online noise, OOH ads are attention-grabbing and cannot be clicked away from, directing leads to digital resources. They excel by targeting captive audiences in traffic or daily commutes, establishing lasting brand awareness and reputation compared to one-time ad approaches.

Cost to advertise: Depending on size, duration, medium, and location, e.g., out-of-home ads bulletin billboards can cost anywhere from $750 to $2,000 monthly and up to $14,000 in large cities
Time investment: Low time commitment after an ad is created
Lead quality: Medium to high
Return on investment: High, especially for brand recognition

OOH Examples

OOH advertising has changed dramatically in recent years as technology has advanced, and consumer awareness has grown. It is gaining traction daily as more companies invest in this sector. We’ve provided some examples and reasons below why OOH advertising is a great and practical way to generate leads in real estate.

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This StreetEasy real estate ad works because it is eye-catching and funny, especially for those living in metropolitan areas. It is relatable and makes a viewer think about their housing options. These can be posted in various places around town, like coffee shops, bulletin boards, and poles, but check with local ordinances to ensure you’re not violating any laws.

Eye-catching real estate OOH ad (Source: Commarts)

This billboard has a clear headline that targets buyers but also places the agent front and center. Where her image extends beyond the billboard, it helps to capture the attention of passersby. Make sure your bulletin board ads are in heavily trafficked areas.

Example of an excellent real estate billboard (Source: Azalea Outdoor)

While this out-of-home ad is simple, it is noticeable to anyone who drives, walks by, or sits on this bench. People can’t help but stop and look before they sit down. The bench is affixed to the ground, making it a permanent fixture.

Sample ad on a bench (Source: IGN Boards)

These catchy realtor ads are very visual to anyone they pass. Unlike stationary ads like billboards or benches, it has the advantage of mobility, exposing it to a broader audience. Driving around a city, a bus with your brand wrapped around it is sure to capture attention.

Automobile realtor ads (Source: Pinterest)

Direct Mail Marketing

Direct mail marketing in real estate, using postcards, flyers, and more, remains an effective lead generation strategy. It distinguishes you from competitors, captures prolonged attention, and has a greater emotional impact than digital formats. While it may cost more than digital ads, it’s still budget-friendly for agents. Furthermore, it allows precise audience targeting based on demographics and niche clientele, enabling efficient lead generation in specific farm areas where your expertise shines.

Cost to advertise: Depends on your design, mailing lists, marketing copy, printing, volume, and distribution; ranges between 30 cents to $10 per piece of mail
Time investment: Time to design and execute mailing strategy, but can be fast-tracked with online tools
Lead quality: Medium to high
Return on investment: Medium

Direct Mail Marketing Real Estate Ad Examples

Studying other people’s successful direct mail strategies before creating your direct mail campaign to attract and convert leads is essential. If you are searching for ideas and inspiration for your direct mail campaign, explore our curated successful direct mail examples and explanations below to guide and boost your marketing strategy, direct mail design, and copywriting.

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This mailable real estate flyer displays a home in the area with stunning photos to entice buyers to the listing and sellers who can see a sample of your marketing materials. Choose a farm area or buy a street list from a direct mail service.

Example of a mailable real estate flyer (Source: Granger Group)

This real estate ad targets sellers and gives them social proof of successful sales in the area. Mail these just sold postcards to people in your database and the neighborhood where the property is located.

Real estate postcard sample (Source: Card Design Templates)

This postcard generates buyer leads by targeting renters. It is a pain point for most renters that their money is not going toward home equity, encouraging them to consider buying. To save time scouting out renters, targeting apartment complexes in your market area is a simpler way to get these to tenants.

Perfect mailable real estate postcard to capture leads
(Source: ReaMark)

A calendar is a valuable household item, so by sending out branded calendars that display your information, clients can recall your brand. These gifts are also great for prospective clients, friends, and family.

Sample of a real estate personalized calendar (Source: Real Estate Calendars)

This clever direct mail real estate agent postcard targets potential sellers. Still, the added feature of a recipe causes clients to keep the card primarily to use the recipe while keeping your contact information. Leverage this strategy by sending regular postcards with different recipes to your contacts.

Creative direct mail postcard with the recipe (Source: Pinterest)

Direct mail marketing options (Source: ProspectsPLUS!)

For assistance in creating engaging direct print marketing ads, seek the help of professionals. ProspectsPLUS! will work with you to design and distribute ads to prospective clients. You can launch full campaigns that rotate various branded designs to your target audience and schedule them to be sent periodically throughout the year for maximum exposure.

Visit ProspectsPLUS!

To get more ideas and inspiration for your postcard realtor advertisem*nt, here are our and what makes them effective in attracting, nurturing, and converting real estate leads into clients.

Direct Digital Marketing

Digital communication, specifically drip email campaigns and text message marketing, is a cost-effective method for reaching potential clients and maintaining a brand presence among contacts. These platforms offer convenience and the ability to nurture leads over time. Short, personalized texts are particularly effective for real estate campaigns. Both email and text marketing enable precise audience targeting and provide engagement opportunities through website links and listing promotions.

Cost to advertise: Free for one-to-one or email and text marketing plans, or a few dollars per month and up when using paid online platforms
Time investment: Using an online platform can save time with templates; individual email can be more time-consuming.
Lead quality: Low to medium
Return on investment: Medium

Direct Digital Marketing Examples

Many businesses have creatively nailed their real estate direct digital campaigns. This effectiveness includes providing clear headlines for direct emails, a monthly newsletter, and sending holiday emails with recipes or tips. Let’s look at some eye-catching examples of real estate direct digital marketing campaigns and why they are an effective marketing strategy for generating and converting leads.

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This simple email has a clear headline that poses a question for buyers and, in the copy, gives a solution that showcases their real estate expertise and featured listings. Send these out to your email list to showcase your listings.

Sample real estate direct email (Source: LYFE Marketing)

This real estate text advertisem*nt targets buyers who are ready to convert through advertising an open house via text message marketing. It’s an excellent option to keep your contacts informed about new listings. Send these to your prospective buyers.

Example of a real estate text ad (Source: Ascend Lead Sites)

Using newsletter templates and tools to send a monthly newsletter is a great way to keep clients interested in your product and provide them with knowledge about the real estate market. These real estate newsletters can showcase listings, information about agents and teams, and market data with details.

Real estate monthly newsletter example (Source: Yeugenia Kazantseva)

Holiday emails are helpful for reaching out and connecting with your clients to reinforce your brand and humanize your relationship. These are great because they’re not “salesy.” They let your email list know you’re thinking of them. Also, post them on your social media.

Real estate holiday email sample (Source: Pinterest)

In addition to simple holiday greetings, emailing tips (such as recipes, neighborhood events, or holiday hosting tips) will invite viewers to read and appreciate your value. These types of real estate ads can be sent for holidays and different seasons.

Holiday greeting with Christmas recipe (Source: Pinterest)

Colorful marketing campaigns (Source: Market Leader)

Emailing and texting contacts individually from your accounts can be time-consuming and challenging to organize. Employ the services of a customer relationship management (CRM) tool, like Market Leader, instead. Market Leader combines effective, easy-to-use communication, marketing, advertising, and website creation tools in one robust platform. The platform enables you to streamline communication with email, text alerts, and automated drip campaigns for lead generation.

Visit Market Leader

Branded Promotional Item Advertising

Real estate agents use promotional items, such as shirts, hats, and cups, as marketing tools for prospects and former clients. These customized tokens act as walking endorsem*nts when used by others, creating brand buzz and capturing referrals for your business. People often inquire about these items, expanding your reach and leveraging word-of-mouth marketing.

Cost to advertise: Depending on the items purchased, the cost can range from a few cents to thousands each, and less when purchased in bulk
Time investment: Once the item is designed and complete, no additional time is involved; plus, successful items can be re-ordered with no extra design time
Lead quality: Medium to high
Return on investment: High

Branded Promotional Item Advertising Examples

At job fairs and events, you’ve probably seen real estate branded promotional products like T-shirts, water bottles, and pens. Here are some examples of amazingly creative promotional marketing using branded items.

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There’s a reason why the bank always ties their pens to the table—people are prone to pick them up and take them home inadvertently. You are getting your services and brand to a large audience by putting your contact information and logo on a pen. These can be handed out at open houses, listing appointments, networking events, and to buyers as they sign on the dotted line!

Real estate branded promotional pen ad (Source: BestPrintBuy)

Americans check their phones 144 times daily. They can see your logo on a cell phone wallet or business card sleeve and remember your real estate business each time they check. These make nice gifts because people can put their credit cards and driver’s licenses in their pocket so they have less to carry.

Real estate phone wallet and business card (Source: iPromo)

Not only are promotional items like these beverage koozies useful, but they’re often used when people share beverages with others, so this can be an effective conversation starter between friends, family, or colleagues. Give them the same way you would with pens and other promo items.

Real estate economy can coolers (Source: BestPrintBuy)

Branded reusable bags and totes are very popular with many environmentally friendly people. By putting a slogan and logo on a bag, your clients can become walking advertisem*nts for you.

Real estate tote bag promotional item (Source: BestPrintBuy)

You can buy branded T-shirts as a gift for your clients after closing on their homes. When worn, they are functional ads and de facto endorsem*nts for capturing referrals and attention from other potential buyers. Also, wear a shirt like this when you’re out running errands. It is sure to strike up a conversation. You can have your business information printed on the back too.

Real estate T-shirt ad (Source: Amazon)

Customizable gifts from the app (Source: EvaBot)

When considering promo gifts, EvaBot is a creative option to impress your clients. EvaBot’s team will create and send your gift with a customized gift box and handwritten card branded with the logo and message of your choice. With an extensive catalog and automated system for collecting your client’s preferences, you can send a special thank-you or pop-by gift that will generate leads and referrals.

Visit EvaBot

Real Estate Advertisem*nts Statistics

Real estate advertisem*nt statistics offer valuable insights into market trends and consumer behavior. These insights help you make informed decisions about effective marketing strategies for your brand and listings. Here are some real estate advertising statistics to consider.

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) states that 52% of realtors say that social media results in the highest-quality leads versus other sources like multiple listing sites (MLS) and customer relationship management (CRM). These social media sources include Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X (formerly Twitter).
A Global Ad Impressions Study shows that 40% of consumers keep some promotional items for more than 10 years, which has a longer shelf life than any other advertisem*nt.
According to LiquidScreenDesign, 83% of people like to get promotional products with an advertising message. So, if you haven’t invested in promotional items for real estate agent advertising, it’s time to try it.
SMS text messaging does have a higher open rate of 98%, with real estate email only being 17% to 28%, so texting can be a creative advertising opportunity to remind clients about upcoming events and open houses, services you provide, or a simple check-in.
70% of consumers trust email as their preferred method of communication with online brands, which helps increase brand recognition and conversion rates.
One study found that consumers were 48% more likely to interact with a digital ad after being exposed to an out-of-home (OOH) ad.
Direct mail statistics from Murphy Research and PebblePost state that 88% of crucial purchase decisions across retail, financial, and auto categories are made or discussed at home; 82% of those purchases involve home purchases. Lastly, while email has a lifespan of just a few seconds, direct mail’s average lifespan is 17 days.
An eMarketer.com survey found that 82% of Americans trust print ads in newspapers and magazines more than digital ads (only 61% of consumers). Print ads in magazines and newspapers should be as interactive, engaging, and compelling as their digital counterparts.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

To write an effective real estate ad, start with a compelling headline that grabs attention. Provide concise property details, highlighting unique features and benefits. Use high-quality images to showcase the property. Mention the neighborhood’s advantages (close to schools, etc.) and local amenities. Include your contact information and a strong call to action (CTA). Proofread for accuracy and clarity. Tailor your ad to the target audience, whether buyers, sellers, or investors, to maximize its impact.

The basic rule of advertising in real estate is to only promote other agents’ listed properties with their permission. Identify yourself as a real estate agent and include your brokerage firm’s name in all advertising materials, but make sure their information is also easily accessible. Maintain absolute honesty in your advertisem*nts by refraining from exaggerations and misrepresentations about the property to ensure transparency and trust with potential clients.

Yes. With proper execution, Facebook ads work. The Facebook real estate ads that work allow precise audience targeting, making it easier to reach potential buyers or sellers. The platform’s extensive user base and engagement features provide opportunities for ad exposure and interaction. However, the effectiveness depends on ad quality, targeting, and budget. Careful planning and monitoring are essential for successful Facebook real estate advertisem*nts.

Bottom Line

The best real estate advertisem*nt examples consistently use memorable taglines, attention-getting and emotion-evoking images, and creative content. It’s important not to put all your eggs in one basket, so plan to place real estate ads on multiple channels to expose your brand and services to as many potential clients as possible. Although you’ll have to spend money to make some money, advertising for real estate is a quintessential part of building a successful real estate business.