I’ve created a list of 20 educational and engaging real estate groups (read about my first 10 picks). I’ve broken them up by groups focused on real estate marketing and sales advice, housing market news and trends, business best practices for agents, as well as general networking and Q&A.
Unfortunately, there will be the inevitable spam posts in many of these groups. Why agents post local listings to communities dedicated to conversations about the industry and their careers we’ll never know, but it happens often.
Open real estate social media groups are open to everyone, and private and closed groups on social networks can be joined only by requesting an invite from an administrator or group member.
And remember: Though these online communities are a great place to gain new real estate agent knowledge and connect with like-minded pros nationwide, they’re also an ideal place to identify locals working in your market and with your niche audience.
Business best practices for agents
9. Raise the Bar (Facebook — Public)
Membership: 10,900-plus
Description: Every real estate agent wants to become better at their job; this includes securing new leads, closing more deals and earning more money. The truth is that it’s challenging for agents to do this on their own. Hiring a real estate coach can certainly help, but another place agents would be wise to turn to is a Facebook group such as Raise the Bar. Typical topics of discussion are questions about agent ethics, recommendations for CRMs and other software, and how to react to client conundrums.
10. Tech Support Group for Real Estate Agents (Facebook — Public)
Membership: 12,900-plus
Description: Agents looking for distinct technology-related advice and suggestions from fellow agents can turn to this group. Want to learn about short messaging service (SMS) marketing? In need of a new laptop or tablet? Don’t know where to even start with your real estate website? Head to Tech Support Group for Real Estate Agents, and you’ll get replies from pros in the know.
11. Real Estate Agents in Social Networks — REASN (LinkedIn — Private)
Membership: 6,900-plus
Description: Finding new revenue opportunities is an ongoing process for agents and brokers. What many don’t realize, though, is they have easy access to a premier lead- and client-generation tool: social media. The REASN group is devoted to aiding agents in their quest to master social media for real estate, engaging in relevant conversations, discovering new prospects and moving leads down the pipeline. Specifically, group participants learn about tools that help identify and convert leads through social outlets.
12. Real Estate Technology (Google Plus– Open)
Membership: 3,400-plus
Description: Another tech-based group, but one with a spin: Agents and mortgage professionals converse in this distinct community. Info on closing costs, hot housing and office markets, home construction data, and think pieces on the direction of the industry are just a sample of what users will find in the group.
13. Luxury Real Estate Network (LinkedIn — Open)
Membership: 81,200-plus
Description: The luxury real estate sector is a different animal than the rest of the industry. To get the latest insights on what marketing strategies are working for luxury sales and which markets are booming, high-end agents and brokers can read the posts published to this LinkedIn group. In addition to luxury pros sharing their latest listings, you’ll find shared content related to best inbound marketing practices and how to “wow” those who check out your luxury listings with experiential marketing tactics.
14. Real Estate Success Principles (Facebook — Closed)
Membership: 13,600-plus
Description: “A place to share ideas, strategies, scripts and systems” is how the admins for this popular Facebook group describe the community. In other words, you’ll find both high-level advice regarding how to construct your business and make the most of leads to more intricate tips related to the daily grind of real estate marketing and sales.
15. Realtors on the Internet (Real Estate Networking Group) (LinkedIn — Private)
Membership: 7,100-plus
Description: The entire purpose of online marketing is to secure business in a more streamlined, manageable and measurable way than offline marketing allows. Agents who understand — and embrace — this concept are the perfect fit for the ongoing conversations in this educational group.
16. Real Estate Training and Coaching for Agents (LinkedIn — Private)
Membership: 1,000-plus
Description: No one can do real estate alone, so why not get assistance from those who have been there before and know what it takes to survive (and thrive)? Get your training and coaching fix in this helpful group that features tips on how to create listing presentation scripts, finding the best vendors and getting general support for your business undertakings.
General networking and Q&A groups
17. What Should I Spend My Money On? (Facebook — Public)
Membership: 9,700-plus
Description: The age-old question for real estate pros: What do I absolutely need to spend money on to make my business a success? Heading to this group on Facebook for real estate agents is one optimal avenue for agents and brokers who are unsure of how to allocate ad spending and what technology is investment-worthy. Many savvy agents use this board regularly to pose and answer questions pertaining to advertising methods, smartphone recommendations, open-house check-in apps and practically any other real estate tech-related topics imaginable.
18. National Association of Realtors YPN (Facebook — Closed)
Membership: 11,100-plus
Description: One popular subgroup that’s part of the National Association of Realtors is the Young Professionals Network: a group of NAR members who are 40 years old or younger. If you’re a Realtor who’s interested in joining, you’ll find it’s an invaluable resource. For starters, you can interact with fellow members daily through its Facebook Group, where seemingly any and every subject is on the table — real estate–related or otherwise.
19. Real Estate Agents Helping Agents (Google Plus — Open)
Membership: 9,700-plus
Description: Sensing a theme in some of these groups and their primary intent to help agents? It’s not a novel concept for real estate social network boards, but this is yet another community where you can find the solutions and remedies you’re in need of and alleviate the concerns of other like-minded agents facing similar issues.
20. Real Estate Community (Google Plus– Open)
Membership: 21,600-plus
Description: Regional housing market briefings, home improvement and staging counsel, and problems facing renters and homeowners are hot topics routinely chewed over in the aptly titled Real Estate Community. The occasional real estate humor is indulged here, but so too are weighty topics in the residential and commercial spaces.
Know any other real estate social media groups that are great places for agents to engage with fellow pros and consumers? I’d love to hear some of your suggestions in the comments section below.
Read “20 best social media groups for agents: Part 1.”
Frederick Townes is the co-founder and chief technology officer of Placester, the fastest-growing real estate website provider in the U.S. You can follow him on Twitter (@fredericktownes) and read more of his thoughts at Placester.com/academy.