Real estate ads have been a treasure trove of creativity this year. And we’re delighted to bring you some of the best ones. From celebrity endorsements to bombastic ideas, from surprising twists to all-time classics, the companies didn’t hold back when it came to marketing. There is passion in the world of real estate and there’s the drive to craft the boldest, the most attention-grabbing, and the most memorable campaigns. So here are the 10 creative real estate ads we loved in 2023.
1. Realtor.com - Lowball Offer
Why: we can’t get enough of the house whisperer videos of Realtor.com. This one is just 15 seconds but it has all the right ingredients to be one of the top short creative real estate ads of 2023. The couple plans to lowball the first offer they see online but there’s a cowboy hat-donning house whisperer who gives advice to not taking advice from people who don’t know what they’re talking about. That’s the kind of real estate ad we’re talking about.
2. Redfin - Try It On
Why: Redfin is great with visuals. Their latest campaign revolves around a place that’s called the “Housing market” and looks like some kind of a surreal shopping mall where real estate companies exist. “Try it on” addresses the customer’s pain of not seeing all the relevant listings when searching for a home to buy. A couple tries to fit a model of the house they are planning to buy in the mirror. And guess what, it doesn’t fit. That’s when the Redfin lady comes to the rescue telling our heroes about the amazing feature on the Redfin website that brings you the best listings.Â
The special mention goes to the closing “wink” moment, a refreshing humor bit that steals the scene and brings a feel-good atmosphere to the whole thing.
3. Realtor.com - So Many Houses
Why: one of the most hilarious and creative real estate ads comes from Realtor.com. It’s weird, it’s funny, and we love it! Two guys are searching for a house to buy online. Then suddenly a man in a cowboy hat with a very low and theatrical voice appears. Instead of calling the police or, at least, screaming in terror, one of the guys proclaims “house whisperer” to which the man answers “yes, I am”. The ad goes on to describe the advantages of the Realtor.com app. But now you will go to sleep with a fear that the house whisperer may show up at your doorway.
4. RE/MAX - Just Ask
Why: there’s no special story here. Just people having real estate questions. And also a super cute dog that looks at you with its innocent blue eyes. Well, where were we? Yes, RE/MAX crafts a good-looking real estate ad that promotes their agents who have the answers to all your real estate questions. And then there’s this cute dog. Does anyone know what breed is that?
5. Savills - Move
Why: this real estate ad took us by surprise. You simply don’t expect to get too emotional when watching campaigns about buying and selling houses. But Savills crafted a tear-inducing one. It’s only 30 seconds, but Boy are they touching.
The doorway is the centerpiece of the story. It is used to mark the growing up of a girl. We observe the girl through her childhood, youth, and adulthood. Finally, she decides to move out of the house (Savills probably helped), and a new family moves in. The last shot is relentless. The girl who freshly moved in paints the doorway marks over. We’re crying.
6. Realestate.com.au -Â realEstimate
Why: just a very well-made real estate ad with an Australian accent. Everything works here. It’s pleasant to watch, not intrusive, and very visually appealing. That’s exactly how you promote your product. The product in question is the realEstmate tool on the Realestate.com.au website that allows you to have an estimated price of your house for free.
7. Century 21 - Here's To Those Who Deliver The Extraordinary
Why: being 51 years on the market is an impressive feat. Being one of the leaders of the real estate industry is even more impressive. Century 21 celebrates this by delivering one of the most beautiful and inspiring and creative real estate ads of recent years. It’s a kind of campaign that gives you goosebumps and you start feeling how the wings are spreading behind your back. Okay, maybe not the wings but the video is really nicely done.
8. Opendoor - Out of Town
Why: now that’s a wow. An unexpected hit comes from Opendoor who crafted one of the most memorable real estate ads in 2023 with their “Out of Town” campaign. It takes place in… space. The woman astronaut is browsing homes while on a mission. Fellow astronauts wonder how can she do it if they have been stuck on the spaceship for months. But the Opendoor is the answer. In other words, real estate ads go galactic and we’re all up for it.Â
9. Opendoor - Migration
Why: the apps win the real estate marketing game in 2023. Realtor.com and Opendoor rule. But it’s Migration video that we officially crown the very best real estate ad of the year. Published in April, it introduces us to a couple of bird-watchers who plan to buy a new home. That’s all great but the old one needs selling and bird migration can take months. No problem, with the Opendoor app you can easily combine these two things and sell remotely. It’s a very cinematic piece of marketing and hilarious too.
10. JLL - See A Brighter Way
Why: JLL takes quite a poetic approach with their “See a brighter way” campaign. It’s a beautiful ad that uses the movement of light as a spectacular background to the narrator’s plea that things should be done in a better way. It’s inspiring and it’s nice to look at. That’s everything we ask from a good real estate ad.Â
This is our previous list of 10 creative real estate ads in 2022
Creative real estate ads exist. The stakes are high in this industry, if you sell you sell big. That’s why nailing real estate creative ads is such an important thing to do if you’re in this business. Impress clients with a stunning visual, promote your company through well-communicated video, and evoke emotions with scripted cinematic pieces.Â
We’ve created this list to highlight the best real estate campaigns in 2022. Why do such lists work? Because they give you food for thought, inspiration, and marketing know-how. Analyzing the works of the best gives you a chance to become better at your own advertising game. That’s what we want as a digital signage company. We want our clients to be successful in marketing. And we’ve always got you when it comes to sharing the coolest examples of current advertising trends.Â
1. All Together - RE/MAX
Goosebumps at the end of a real estate commercial? RE/MAX in their latest tearjerking campaign “All together” shows why it’s one of the leaders of the worldwide real estate agency market. The ad looks like a short film and is guaranteed to influence you on a deeper level. It’s about family, it’s about being together, it’s about real human emotions. It’s great.Â
2. Night Prep - Corcoran
It’s refreshing to see a real estate agency adding a pinch of humor to the mix. Night prep is one of the most creative real estate ads in 2022 and shows the real meaning of being home. There’s nothing glamorous about it but that’s the whole point. The gentle French tune in the background is also a cool choice of music.Â
3. Move Fearlessly: An Agent's Job - Century 21
As a real estate mega firm as it is, Century 21 has quite a humbling focus on things it chooses to promote with ads. In the case of their latest “Move Fearlessly” campaign they put an emphasis not so much on the “what” but rather on the “who”. Putting a limelight to the agents is a nice move and the execution of the ad itself is solid too. 30 seconds of pleasant real estate creative ads perfection.Â
4. Dream - Coldwell Banker
Sometimes for a great real estate ad it’s enough to be beautifully done. In the case of Coldwell Banker’s Dream campaign, that’s how you do it in style. The visuals are stunning, the narrative is well-built, the promotional part about the website in the end provides a relevant culmination to the video. That’s an eye candy of a campaign that exudes good vibes and inspires to actually start browsing through the real estate propositions.
5. Dearest Ryan - Serhant
If you’re not yet familiar with a New York’s real estate newcomer Serhant, you should definitely take a look at this company’s approach to things. Basically, they are changing the whole meaning of being a real estate agency in the 21st century by combining the classical approaches with very on-point usage of social media marketing and personal branding of their charismatic founder and YouTuber Ryan Serhant. This short film is, in fact, a creative take on a typical apartment tour video format. But how cool is this execution? That’s how it’s done in 2022 for sure.Â
6. A Legacy of Real Estate Experience - Sotheby's International Realty
If you’re looking for a more classic approach to real estate advertising, this entry by an industry behemoth Sotheby’s International Realty fits the bill. It’s clean, it uses amazing footage and it sends all the right messages.
7. A Savills Love Story - Savills
It’s never bad to go absolutely bonkers with your real estate ad. This London-based Savills agency advertisement is one of the most heartwarming, weird, eccentric, and well-done videos we’ve seen in a long time. How do you like the plot that goes “a woman is approached by a house on a railway station in the rural UK that makes her an offer she can’t refuse”? It’s genius, it’s simple and it’s one of the best real estate ads out there.
8. Search for your Big Boi house - Realtor.com
Let’s be frank, celebrities rarely grace the real estate commercials. Sometimes they do, though. Take this brilliant ad from the Realtor.com platform. It features (you guessed it) a famous rapper Big Boi that simply can’t stop saying his name inside the house. And it is a formula for a nice ad.Â
9. Cacti Family - Realtor.com
Another entry from Realtor.com once again proves that they are one of the most creative companies the real estate market has at the moment. Seriously, their videos are hilarious and the one with Cacti Family is awesomely made. You will not be able to unsee those human faces on the cacti.
10. Redfin Knows What You Like - Redfin
This ad is a masterful lesson in how the proper marketing video is done. It depicts the problem that the customers are facing in a funny way (the housing market mess), it presents you with an effective solution (Redfin) and it utilizes everyday humor to tie the scenes together and make it relatable (the wife-husband cute quarreling). Watch and learn, guys.Â
Our Previous List of 10 Creative Real Estate Ads 2018
Real estate has always been a market with great advertising opportunities – companies often get highly creative to win over the hearts and wallets of the customers.
As the end product is very visual, marketers have a set of unlimited opportunities to present their properties in the best way possible. 2018 has seen some of the coolest and most original campaigns in the real estate world, here are our 10 favorite and creative real estate ads.
Douglas Elliman – Show and Tell
Inspired by the "Questions" YouTube series of Vogue, Show and Tell follows the same concept but very cleverly applies it to the real estate industry. If Vogue follows celebrities around asking questions about themselves, Douglas Elliman uses the format to showcase their agents and properties in a visual, non-intrusive and lively manner.
A brilliant idea and an amazing execution that works as both real estate Facebook ads and a YouTube video.
Corcoran – Be Home campaign
One of the most vivid players on US real estate market Corcoran chose a simple message behind their latest campaign. It is centered around the phrase "Be home" which radiates good vibes and makes you feel the coziness instantly.
There are several videos that follow this concept showing the clearest and the most uncomplicated ways of broadcasting the warm notion of "homely feeling" to the viewers. Definitely a campaign to learn from. Â
Sotheby’s International Realty – LIVE series
Sometimes you have to give the client all the talking to convey and amplify your brand's message. That’s exactly what Sotheby's International Realty did in their LIVE YouTube series. The real estate powerhouse produced a set of shorts featuring real people and real houses.
We believe in the power of honest marketing and this campaign hits all the right notes being one of the most truly catchy creative real estate ads.
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices – #Goodtoask campaign
Storytelling is essential for a successful marketing campaign. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices mastered the craft of making a trustworthy story in their creative real estate ads, a story that resonates and touches the hearts and minds of the viewers.
For their latest #goodtoask campaign they opted for an interesting format: a client answers the questions from a real estate agent. Combine that with a dramatic narrative and a great soundtrack, and you have one of the most emotionally powerful and best creative real estate ads of 2018.
The Boutique Real Estate Group listings
Listings are at the core of the real estate advertising. Sometimes, though, the quantity doesn't equal quality. This Orange County-based real estate firm crafts visually spectacular videos and shows the right way of doing listing videos doing creative real estate ads that work. Their shorts are filled with gorgeous scenery, flawless camera work, great storytelling, and crazy rhythm.
Tim Smith Group – Teach Me How To Duffy
How many real estate firms that became a part of pop culture you know? Well, here’s one that made a sensation on YouTube in October 2018. "Teach me how to Duffy" video by Tim Smith Group from Orange County, California is a perfect example of how you can use trends to showcase your company, your culture and ultimately become a cultural happening in your own right.
The video features Mr. Swag and Smoove da General of Cali Swag District that hailed the original "Teach Me How To Dougie" back in 2010 as well as a trio of influencers that add a modern flair to a hit. Did we mention that Tim Smith himself makes a cameo rapping about the property? Pure YouTube gold.
Dream Town Realty – Be You campaign
We absolutely loved how Chicago's Dream Town Royalty used OOH this year promoting their amazing Be You contest. The concept behind the idea celebrates the personality and creativity of Chicagoans by asking them to share their best moments on the specially created website with a chance to win $10,000.
It was a great move to unite with clients in driving the company's vision – one of the best campaigns of 2018. Â
Realtor.com – You Want Privacy commercial
One of the biggest real estate listing websites, Realtor.com is no stranger to award-winning advertising campaigns. This year's You Want Privacy commercial that rolled on TV and subsequently landed on YouTube, cemented the creative “marketing demigods” status of this company.
Lasting a modest 30 seconds, the clip is a state-of-art ad that instantly captures attention and delivers a killer punchline. Basically, all that we've asked from the talented advertising in 2018. Definitely one of those creative real estate ads that sell.
Foxtons – Get Foxtons On It campaign
https://marcommnews.com/foxtons-and-mc-saatchi-launch-brands-first-ever-major-ad-campaign-get-foxtons-on-it/
Heralded by the celebrated M&C Saatchi agency, this London campaign is bold, minimalistic and strong in its message delivery. It ran across all the major advertising mediums like outdoors, London transit system as well as social media and was able to showcase the essence of Foxtons as a straight-talking real estate problem solver that cares about its customers and gets things done. Â Â
Halstead Property  – How Real Estate Gets Real magazine campaign
A luxury real estate business status gives a company a few more responsibilities to a client. Some underuse this situation, some, like Halstead, maximize it. We loved their brand-new Pool NYC-orchestrated magazine campaign that put clients first and put the vast expertise of this real estate firm in focus.