Real estate

9 Top Real Estate Lead Generation Companies for 2024

Want to close more deals? Then you can’t rely solely on your sphere of influence and networking to meet new clients and build your pipeline. Our team of experienced real estate agents reviewed the top real estate lead generation companies to help you get more real estate leads. These lead gen companies find qualified real estate leads that are actively buying and selling now — using the latest tech, like AI and predictive analytics.

We pinpointed the top real estate lead generation companies for 2024 based on their cost, the lead quality they provide, whether their leads are high- or low-funnel, and whether those leads are exclusive to you. In this article, we review nine exceptional real estate lead generation companies that can supercharge your lead generation efforts and get you to the closing table faster (and more often).

Market Leader

Best for full-service marketing suite + exclusive real estate leads

As its name suggests, Market Leader is known for offering a complete marketing suite with features like email and SMS marketing services, lead capture forms, and a built-in lead management CRM. The company provides in-house advertising experts who send leads exclusively to you, streamlining lead management and marketing efforts.

Market Leader is a strong option for real estate professionals seeking lead generation and marketing solutions. Its full marketing suite and real estate lead exclusivity set it apart, although it would stand out even more if it offered concierge service and a free trial option. Users have praised its efficient CRM capabilities but noted challenges with lead responsiveness in some cases.


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  • Pricing

    • Professional for Agents: $139 per month
    • Professional for Teams: $139 per month plus additional per-user charges
    • Business Suite for Brokers: $139 per month plus additional per-user charges
    • Network Boost: Around 40+ leads for as little as $350 per month

  • Pros + Cons

    Pros:

    • Email and SMS marketing services, built-in lead management CRM, lead capture forms, lead exclusivity, full marketing suite

    Cons:

    • Lead list generation comes with a fee, does not offer a concierge service, limited analytics, no free trial period

  • Features

    • Automated workflow
    • Social media integration
    • Customizable reports
    • Network Boost helps generate leads through social media ad campaigns
    • HouseValues helps you get leads from a desired ZIP code
    • Leads Direct helps run pay-per-click advertising campaigns

    Exclusivity: Yes
    Trial period: No
    Contract requirements: Six-month minimum

SmartZip Logo

SmartZip

Best for seller leads

SmartZip uses predictive analytics to predict likely sellers 6 to 12 months in advance, offering a first-mover advantage in tight inventory markets. The company provides robust marketing and nurturing tools, including a CRM with real estate lead data, home valuation landing pages, direct mail campaigns, a comparative market analysis tool and more.

SmartZip primarily benefits experienced listing agents, yet any agent willing to nurture seller leads can thrive with this platform. To generate real estate leads, SmartZip employs predictive analytics that sifts through consumer data from sources like credit card companies, market data from MLS, and other demographic data. Real estate agents using SmartZip gain immediate access to its CRM populated with this data. This dashboard will show a list of property owners in the agent’s target area based on the client’s likelihood to sell within the next 18 months. Armed with this data, agents can streamline their outreach efforts and focus on sellers who are ready for their services.


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  • Pricing

    Starting at $500 per month, with an average monthly spend of $1,000


  • Pros + Cons

    Pros:

    • Predictive analytics, comprehensive marketing and nurturing tools
    • Design quality of marketing materials

    Cons:

    • Leads are not exclusive and are generally top of the funnel
    • Not recommended for new agents; relatively pricey

  • Features

    • Predictive analytics
    • Smart CRM
    • Direct mail campaigns
    • Home valuation landing pages
    • CMA tool
    • CheckIn app
    • Local trend reports

    Exclusivity: No
    Trial period: No
    Contract requirements: Annual contract is required

Catalyze AI Logo

Catalyze AI

Best for exclusive, inherited-property seller leads

Catalyze AI utilizes

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​​Catalyze AI is our top choice for inherited property or probate leads. Probate leads represent an estimated $69 billion in annual property sales in the U.S. The company uses real-time data to identify inherited properties in your area. It deploys predictive analytics to identify, with a high degree of accuracy, the most highly motivated inheritance leads before they end up in probate court.

While the company doesn’t provide marketing tools, its predictive analytics technology puts you considerably ahead of your competitors. These real estate leads are often eager to sell, making them highly valuable — especially for such an affordable product. However, leads may take time to close, and the service isn’t available in all markets. This company is best suited for experienced listing agents familiar with the probate process.


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  • Pricing

    Starts at $360 per month for 30 leads ($12 per lead for homes under $1 million; $15 for higher-value homes)


  • Pros + Cons

    Pros:

    • Intuitive dashboard, affordable, monthly sales training calls with scripts for better conversions

    Cons:

    • Limited to inherited properties, no extra marketing bells and whistles are included

  • Features

    • ​​Predictive analytics technology (finds leads before standard competitors)
    • User dashboard to monitor new leads
    • Radius-based leads within 50 miles from you

    Exclusivity: Yes, exclusive listing leads get pushed to your platform.
    Trial period: No, but select discounts may be available (must inquire)
    Contract requirements: Can cancel at any time

Zillow Premier Agent Logo

Zillow Premier Agent

Best for buyer leads based on location

As a major player in the real estate industry, Zillow is hard to overlook. The company has the resources to invest heavily in SEO, UX, and UI, and as a result, Zillow dominates Google search results. Its easy-to-use interface makes it a top choice for consumers searching for properties. That’s good news for agents and brokers looking to attract real estate leads.

Zillow Premier Agent (ZPA) is Zillow’s paid advertising program that connects agents to buyer leads. Zillow Premier Agent offers enhanced visibility to its members on Zillow’s platforms, giving ZPA agents priority placement in property listings, plus exclusive access to real estate leads. The platform’s high traffic volume, effectiveness and straightforward CRM make it a top choice for lead generation.

Agents do pay for these leads, with Zillow’s “Zillow Flex” now taking a percentage of commissions from referred leads. While Zillow offers significant exposure and reach, some industry insiders argue the company prioritizes “Flex” over “Premier Agent” partners. Nonetheless, if you want to cast a large net, Zillow Premier Agent can help you reach more real estate leads in your area.


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  • Pricing

    Depends on the ZIP code — around $20 to $60 per lead. Unfortunately, Zillow isn’t very transparent about the cost of leads through their Zillow Premier Agent program. It depends in large measure on your market.


  • Pros + Cons

    Pros:

    • Personalized agent profile, exclusive placements on your listings, streamlined CRM

    Cons:

    • Lacks robust lead follow-up tools, leads aren’t necessarily qualified or exclusive, variable costs based on your location

  • Features

    • Automatic lead placement in Zillow’s CRM
    • Priority status when claiming properties on Zillow
    • Ease of automating follow-ups for lead conversion

    Exclusivity: No
    Trial period: No
    Contract requirements: Vary

Ylopo logo

Ylopo

Best for AI-powered lead generation & conversion

Ylopo uses dynamic home search, home valuation and AI-powered video ads to drive real estate leads to landing pages on a custom-branded IDX website. Once leads are generated, they are qualified, converted and nurtured using Ylopo’s proprietary AI text and AI voice assistants.

Trained on over 50 million conversations on the company’s platform, Ylopo’s AI assistants boost response rates that can rival human agents — with the added benefit of being available to respond to inquiries 24 hours a day, seven days a week. While it remains to be seen whether consumers will eventually sour on AI marketing, we think its adoption in the industry is inevitable. As an early adopter and current industry leader in AI, Ylopo’s AI lead generation solutions are ideal for tech-savvy agents, teams, and brokerages who want to be on the cutting edge of lead generation technology.


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  • Pricing

    Starts at $395 per month + ad spend.


  • Pros + Cons

    Pros:

    • Industry-leading AI text and voice assistants engage leads, IDX websites suitable for lead generation and branding, seamless integrations with popular CRMs

    Cons:

    • Consumer response to AI text and voice assistants might shift, limited customization options for IDX websites, no CRM included

  • Features

    • AI-powered text and voice assistants
    • IDX lead generation websites
    • Sophisticated demographic ad targeting
    • Seller leads generated from buyer ads (buy/sell leads)
    • Mission control dashboard to monitor + adjust ads

    Exclusivity: Yes
    Trial period: No
    Contract requirements: Six-month minimum

Real Geeks logo

RealGeeks

Best affordable, all-in-one lead generation solution + website design

Real Geeks offers a robust solution for real estate lead generation, CRM, IDX website design and all-around marketing suitable for single agents, teams and brokerages. In addition to their IDX website and CRM lead generation platform, Real Geeks offers advanced feature upgrades like an AI chatbot to help engage real estate leads and a downloadable property search app for your clients with a 4.7 rating in the Apple App Store.

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  • Pricing

    Starts at $299 per month cultivation, designed to help agents scale their businesses effectively, SEO happy hours to help customers improve real estate lead generation


  • Pros + Cons

    Pros:

    • Comprehensive toolkit including lead generation websites, CRM, marketing and lead nurturing tools

    Cons:

    • Limited customization options for websites, additional fees for certain features, no free trial

  • Features

    • IDX real estate websites
    • Real Leads campaign manager and lead generator
    • Home valuation tool
    • Market reports
    • CRM with lead activity tracking, SMS lead autoresponders and 3rd-party integrations.

    Exclusivity: No
    Trial period: None specified
    Contract requirements: None specified

Zbuyer logo

zBuyer

Best for customer service

zBuyer offers a suite of tech-forward features, such as email and SMS marketing, a mastermind group, and marketing assistance, in addition to its real estate lead generation services. What sets it apart is its commitment to transparency and exceptional customer service. Nevertheless, online reviews suggest zBuyer could further enhance its service by providing exclusive real estate leads to users seeking top-quality prospects.


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  • Pricing

    Starts at $400 per month; can vary by zip code


  • Pros + Cons

    Pros:

    • Leads are sent directly to your CRM, social media integration, and real-time leads are provided

    Cons:

    • Fee-for-lead list generation model (relatively more expensive options), leads are shared with up to 6 agents, cash offer seller leads can be challenging to convert

  • Features

    • Industry mastermind group
    • Customizable lead packages
    • Lead replacement policy
    • Connected to HousingNow.com

    Exclusivity: No
    Trial period: None specified
    Contract requirements: Flexible contract

Our methodology: How we chose the top real estate lead generation companies for agents for 2024

HousingWire is the destination for industry leaders and decision-makers to stay informed and stay ahead of what’s going on in the U.S. housing industry.

We bring decades of combined experience in the real estate industry as agents, brokers and marketers to find the best real estate tools for every type of agent, broker and team. We also crawled the web so you don’t have to, analyzing a sample of reviews across social media, the Better Business Bureau (BBB), and online discussion forums.

To determine which real estate lead generation companies are best for industry professionals, we’ve analyzed dozens of products and platforms, weighing the pros and cons of each alongside both quantitative and qualitative data like price, special features, ease of use, return on investment, client support and customer reviews.

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Real estate lead generation companies: FAQs


  • 1. Are lead generation companies worth it in real estate?

    Yes, lead generation will truly be the lifeblood of your business’s success. It may seem challenging to generate real estate leads at first, but once you build up a current of strong, qualified leads, you’ll see how much less effort will be necessary to sustain sales.

    Many real estate professionals turn to lead generation companies like the ones listed above to streamline the process and access more potential clients. While some agents have achieved significant success with these services, whether they are worth it (or not) depends on your individual circumstances. Assess your budget, target market and specific goals before investing in any service. Also, determine which aspects of marketing you are least comfortable attempting on your own and start outsourcing there.


  • 2. Where do real estate agents get most of their leads?

    Real estate agents acquire leads from multiple sources. While real estate lead generation companies are one option, agents also obtain leads through traditional avenues like referrals, open houses, community events and their personal networks. Real estate professionals use online platforms, such as social media and websites, to attract potential clients outside of their immediate local area. The choice of lead generation methods may vary, but it’s always a great idea to diversify your lead channels for the most well-rounded approach.


  • 3. How do I find the best lead generation company for real estate?

    Our team of real estate experts recommends choosing a real estate lead generation company that custom-tailors its services to you. There’s no sense in paying for leads outside of your zip codes or from demographics that aren’t going to be interested in the properties in which you specialize.

    The quality of leads you’ll get from a lead generation company will vary widely based on the advertising strategies the company uses, how (or if) they vet leads, and if their leads are exclusive to you. While no lead generation company can guarantee their leads will transact quickly, the best companies can target leads in your specific niche, vet them, and send them only to you.

    Choose companies that offer transparent pricing and clearly defined lead sourcing methods, avoiding hidden fees or unclear processes. If possible, opt for a trial period to assess the company’s performance before making a long-term commitment.


  • 4. Should I pay for leads in real estate?

    Yes. Like any lead generation strategy, paid leads are an investment in your business. Just keep in mind that it might take a few weeks or months to see a return. It’s still a long game.Your ROI from paid leads will depend on the nurturing strategies you use and how well you can implement them today, next week and six months from now. Automated conversion and nurturing tools can help, but the most successful agents build relationships with leads. This is why simple check-in phone calls are so powerful.

    Paid leads may offer quantity, but their quality can definitely vary. Decide whether you prefer a smaller number of high-quality, active leads or a larger volume with potentially more “cold” prospects. It’s also wise to diversify your lead generation methods. While paid leads can be a part of your strategy, don’t overlook organic methods like referrals, networking and your overall online presence

The full picture: Top real estate lead generation companies for 2024

The lead generation landscape is more dynamic than ever, with a range of top companies offering lead gen services tailored for agents, teams and brokerages. Whether you opt for an all-in-one lead generation platform like Real Geeks, a major marketplace like Zillow Premier Agent, or specialized solutions like Catalyze AI, the key is to align your choice with your skill level, budget and target market.

If you’re a brand new agent, an all-in-one system that generates buyer leads and includes marketing tools to convert them, like Market Leader or Real Geeks will have the best ROI. Agents with four to 10 years of experience should opt for more advanced (and more expensive) systems that leverage predictive analytics to deliver seller leads that are highly likely to sell. Smartzip and Offrs are our top picks in this category. Finally, teams and brokerages will benefit most from high-priced platforms like Ylopo that can target hyper-local leads and convert and nurture them for the long haul with sophisticated AI tools.

We’ve thoroughly researched the top real estate lead generation companies and weighed the pros and cons to help you make an informed decision to support your business.

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