A 2022 survey by the National Association of Realtors® reported that 96% of home buyers used online tools in the home search process. This should tell you one thing: If you’re selling a house in 2023, you don’t just need to be on the internet. You need to be on the right real estate sites.
So, what exactly are those websites? I’m so glad you asked because I’ve got a list of favorites below.
Table of Contents:
What are real estate sites?
Real estate websites are online platforms that home buyers and sellers use to search and list their properties. Real estate agents are typically responsible for listing a home on one of these sites as a way to market the home to potential buyers. A real estate listing should include professional, high-resolution photos of the house, along with property details and the home’s price.
Best Real Estate Sites in 2024
Ready to list your client’s home? These are the best real estate sites to be on if you want to get the most eyes on your listing and increase your chances of making the sale.
1. Zillow
Whether you’re buying, selling, or browsing, Zillow has something for you.
As soon as you land on the site, you can quickly get started with your search thanks to the prominent search bar that asks you to enter an address, neighborhood, city, or zip code. There’s also clear navigation in the top menu with options for every type of visitor, whether you’re looking to buy, sell, or find an agent.
If you have your location services on, Zillow curates trending homes in your area, which makes it even easier to start your search as a buyer.
Zillow has more great features for buyers that help make the search easier and more curated, like these description tags. For these tags, Zillow identifies and displays key features or terms found in the full listing description so you can quickly decide if you want to learn more about the house or not.
If you’re listing a home on Zillow, the real estate site has everything you need as a seller or agent, too. You’ll receive access to a sales proceeds calculator, your home’s “zestimated” value, a local news feed, and tools to help you price your home accurately.
Best for: Buyers, renters, sellers, finding agents, finding mortgage lenders.
2. Realtor.com
Realtor.com is a real estate site that’s geared more toward real estate agents. The site makes its target audience evident as soon as you land on the Realtor.com homepage with a headline that reads, “The #1 site real estate professionals trust.”
There’s also another message on the homepage that emphasizes the headline, reading, “More professionals list with Realtor.com than anywhere else.”
What does this messaging communicate to buyers and sellers? Well, as a buyer or seller, this site may be more likely to persuade you that because it’s used and trusted by real estate professionals, you can trust that it’s credible. Not to mention, Realtor.com is licensed by the National Association of REALTORS®, so you can trust the content you find here.
Best for: Buyers, sellers, renters, finding agents, finding mortgage lenders.
3. Redfin
Redfin uses its real estate site to position its business in the luxury home market. Whether you’re seeking to buy or sell, Redfin markets its agents as local experts on luxury and high-end homes. The visuals on the site communicate that position, too, with featured photos of luxurious homes with scenic views.
Another standout element on Redfin’s website is the callout of its mobile app. Considering 60% of home buyers conduct their search on a mobile device, it’s a good idea to meet them where they are with an app.
Best for: Buyers, sellers, finding agents.
4. Trulia
Trulia’s real estate site is clearly geared towards the buyer’s market. With a headline that reads, “Discover a place you’ll love to live” on top of a header image of a wholesome neighborhood photo (a family and a person walking their dog complete the scene), it’s clear that Trulia is a source for buyers. The navigation menu also clearly lists buyer-centric options: Buy, Rent, Mortgage.
Best for: Buyers, renters, finding mortgage lenders.
5. MLS
MLS.com is a free Multiple Listing Service search for real estate MLS listings from licensed Realtors® and other real estate professionals that are members of their local MLS. List homes for sale, new homes, resale homes, new construction, acreage, lots, land, commercial property, and investment property here.
The site is straightforward and no-frills — perfect for getting the job done, which is what real estate professionals use this for. The MLS is also the number one site for sellers to list their home, with 86% of sellers listing here.
Best for: Realtors, investors, real estate professionals.
6. Century 21
Century 21’s site leads with a headline that says, “Find a home to suit your lifestyle.” As a visitor, especially if I’m a homebuyer, that would immediately provide a sense of ease and trust that I’m going to find the right home for me.
Underneath the headline is a search bar you can use to find homes or agents, which can be useful if there’s a specific person you’re interested in working with.
The real estate site also curates its content towards the visitor based on your location. There’s a section on the homepage that displays relevant data for the area you’re searching in, including the number of homes for sale, the number of new listings, and the number of available real estate agents.
Best for: Buyers, sellers, finding an agent.
7. RE/MAX
Another real estate site for both buyers and sellers to use is RE/MAX. With franchises and agents available in all 50 states, you’re sure to find one that specializes in your city and specific needs.
The homepage is pretty simple and straightforward, with little navigation options to choose from straight away. The main header image features a group of people who appear to be celebrating over dinner, and a search bar is overlaid on top.
An interesting feature on the RE/MAX website is a section that curates popular searches for your area. The categories include everything from new listings to open houses to price reductions. Including a curated way for the visitor to find what they’re looking for makes the experience much more convenient and can help people make the most out of their time on your real estate site.
Best for: Buyers, sellers, finding an agent.
8. Coldwell Banker
An interesting element on Coldwell Banker’s real estate site is the pop-up bar toward the bottom of the homepage. The CTA is to connect with an agent, and clicking on it directs you to the “Find an Agent” page. This is an effective way to find your agent and get started with the buying or selling process even faster.
Best for: Buyers, sellers, finding an agent.
9. HomeFinder
HomeFinder is a listing tool that’s inclusive of both the buying and renting (and rent-to-own) markets. Visitors can quickly find listings for sale or rent — there’s even an option to find foreclosures — in their desired area by using the search bar and applying any filters to help narrow down the search.
If you scroll down past the header and search bar, you’ll find helpful content about how the real estate site works and FAQs about how to find houses either for sale or rent.
Best for: Buyers, sellers, and renters.
10. Craigslist
Oh yes, it’s possible to sell or at least advertise your home on Craigslist. With an average of 250 million visits every month as of 2022, it’s easy to see why so many people choose Craigslist as a real estate hub.
Simply create a new post, click “housing offered,” and optimize your ad with a killer headline, great photos, and descriptive copy. Obviously, you’ll want to beware of scammers and unwanted investors — but if you favor an avant-garde approach to life, listing your house on Craigslist might give you a thrill.
Best for: Adventurous buyers, sellers, and renters.
11. FacebookMarketplace
Similar to Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace is another option for buying or selling. Many real estate agents share their home listings directly in Facebook Marketplace to meet buyers where they’re already hanging out.
If you’re interested in this approach, you can simply list the home’s images, property details, and pricing just as you would anything else you’re selling on Marketplace.
Best for: Buyers, sellers, and renters.
12. Homes.com
Homes.com is an agent-friendly real estate site, emphasizing the relationship between buyers and agents. Agents know how important client relationships are to your long-term success — 39% of sellers used the same agent to purchase a home, according to a 2022 survey by the National Association of Realtors®.
One interesting feature of Homes.com is its agent profiles. The site helps boost agents’ online brands and increase visibility by allowing you to create a free agent profile. The profiles are optimized for search, boosted in marketing campaigns, and showcase your expertise and client reviews.
Best for: Agents, buyers, and sellers.
13. PropertyRecord.com
This one’s for you, sellers. Current property value, land value, number of bathrooms, and government property records are just a few of the details you’ll learn from this information aggregator. It might not be fancy, but it uses an advanced algorithm and real reviews to give you a high-quality report on any home you’d like to sell.
Best for: Sellers.
14. Movato
Movato is another real estate site that’s useful for buyers, sellers, and their agents. It’s clear as soon as you land on the homepage that the site caters to every role. You can quickly and easily navigate through the different tabs to find what you’re looking for, whether that’s to buy a home, sell a home, or get a home estimate.
Another interesting feature on Movato’s real estate site is how easy it is to get matched with an agent. The real estate survey from NAR found that 80% of sellers contacted only one agent before finding the right agent to work with, proving how important it is to prove you’re the right one right away.
Best for: Buyers, sellers, and connecting with agents.
14. Tomo
Tomo wants to make it easier for you to sell or buy a home. They are consistently striving to improve their customer experience.They position themselves as a buyer-centric real estate portal. They can be a good resource for attracting potential buyers. Tomo connects you with pre-approved buyers actively searching for homes.
Their search engine helps buyers find properties that match their needs and budget, increasing the chance of a match with your listing.They offer free consultations with home search advisors who can guide you through the selling process.
Best for: Buyers, sellers, and connecting with loan officers.
Leveraging the Internet for Real Estate
If you don’t want to rely solely on these listing websites, you can also create your own real estate site using a free CMS or free website builder. This can be beneficial if you have a unique listing that needs a dedicated site to communicate every detail and can be distributed far and wide.
Selling or buying a home is one of the biggest financial decisions homeowners will ever make. As a real estate agent, clients trust you to help them find the perfect listing, market their home in the best light, and secure a deal that everyone feels good about. And to do all of that successfully, you need to use the right real estate sites to conduct business.
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