Real estate agents are always looking for vetted, high-quality leads — and especially so during 2023 market conditions. One of the most efficient ways to acquire leads is to buy them through lead generation providers. These providers offer a rapid and cost-effective means for real estate agents to gather a list of potential clients and ultimately boost sales.

Below, we evaluated several platforms to find the top eight lead generation providers agents can buy real estate leads from in 2023. Whether you’re looking for exclusive leads or simply aiming to boost your website traffic, this article will help any real estate agent or broker learn how and where to buy real estate leads in 2023.

They don’t just cater to new agents: lead generation companies can also complement traditional lead generation methods — open houses, home buying seminars and referrals, to name a few — thereby helping to build your pipeline of leads.

Market Leader

Who should use it: Solo agents

Just as the name implies, Market Leader has a reputation for being a go-to tool suite for the world of real estate marketing. It dishes out everything from email and SMS marketing to effective lead capture forms and an integrated CRM system. Market Leader also has an ace team of in-house ad experts who help you generate exclusive real estate leads.

Market Leader’s all-in-one system offers a comprehensive solution for real estate lead generation, including website building, CRM and marketing automation. It stands out by guaranteeing a specific monthly volume of exclusive leads, though this amount will vary based on your geographic location. Market Leader’s unique approach focuses on nurturing leads for long-term client relationships, so it’s great for a solo agent who’s just starting to build their email list.

It also comes with an added feature called “Network Boost,” that provides additional exclusive social media leads with automated nurturing. However, Market Leader may not be ideal for larger teams or those looking for more customization. Users seem to praise Market Leader’s CRM and general ease of use, but also have concerns about the quality of their leads and the platform’s six-month minimum contract commitment

Buying Options

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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
    • Six-month contract minimum

    Exclusivity: Yes
    Trial period: No

Logo-Zillow-Premier-Agent-2

Zillow Premier Agent

Who should use it: Brokerages that want to build brand awareness

Zillow Premier Agent is a program offered by Zillow, one of the most popular real estate and rental websites in the U.S. The program aims to provide real estate professionals with exposure on the Zillow platform, offering access to a wide range of features, tools and resources to generate leads and grow their businesses. The program is designed to help agents connect with buyers, improve their brand recognition and convert leads into clients.

Zillow Premier Agent is a powerful tool for real estate professionals looking to boost their online presence — as long as you know how to use it to your advantage. The name of the game here is search traffic and lead generation. Zillow Premier Agent is a prominent and reputable player used by most homebuyers along their journey.  It allows agents, teams, and brokerages to purchase targeted display ads in chosen ZIP codes, putting them among the top agents on Zillow. And unlike generic Facebook or Google ads, these leads are actively seeking an agent.

Beyond lead generation, Zillow Premier Agent offers a suite of tools including a CRM with a mobile app, an IDX website, ROI calculator, and more. It’s an excellent way to increase exposure and steadily grow your lead volume, connecting you with Zillow’s partners like Trulia and RealEstate.com. However, note that costs can vary and leads are shared among agents who share your zip code, making Zillow Premier Agent a better fit for brokerages with a strong marketing budget (and even better follow-up skills) looking to earn some good reviews.

Buying Options

See Details


  • Pricing

    Depends on the ZIP code—around $20–$60 per lead


  • Pros + Cons

    Pros:

    • Ready-to-buy leads — users actively search Zillow for real estate when they are most likely to convert into clients.
    • Lots of tools for agents
    • Prominent reviews can help build trust and credibility among clients.

    Cons:

    • Leads are given to multiple agents in the same zip codes
    • Six months minimum contract

  • Features

    • Automatic lead placement in Zillow’s mobile-friendly CRM
    • Priority status when claiming properties on Zillow
    • IDX website
    • ROI calculator
    • Virtual home tours
    • Team profiles for brokerages

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

Logo-Zbuyer

zBuyer

Who should use it: Agents who want to attract sellers interested in cash offers

A family-owned company, zBuyer focuses on customer satisfaction and offers verified, pre-vetted leads. Using analytics, it identifies potential sellers and prompts them to explore their home’s value on HousingNow.com, where leads must provide information to view listings. These vetted leads are then sent to agents in real time. While not exclusive, zBuyer shares leads with a maximum of six agents per area.

zBuyer stands out as a real estate lead generation service because of its unique approach, targeting potential home sellers interested in cash offers. While these leads are not expensive, nurturing them will be essential for gauging their interest in cash offers or introductory home valuations. Subscribers gain access to zBuyer’s prospecting list — a valuable database of local leads spanning two years — and the lead replacement program alleviates the stress of dealing with ineffective or duplicated leads.

Buying Options

See Details


  • Pricing

    Minimum monthly spend of $400; buyer leads around $12, seller leads range from $13 to $17 (varies by zipcode)


  • Pros + Cons

    Pros:

    • Verified leads
    • No contracts
    • Reasonably priced
    • Excellent customer service

    Cons:

    • Leads may be limited in some areas
    • Non-exclusive leads

  • Features

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

    Exclusivity: No
    Trial period: No (but no contract)
    Contract requirements: Flexible, no minimum

Logo-Catalyze-AI

Catalyze AI

Who should use it: Data lovers looking for inherited property leads

Catalyze AI is an innovative platform designed to assist real estate agents in identifying and targeting their highest-converting leads effectively through data. It leverages predictive analytics, big data aggregation and real-time insights to offer agents a competitive edge in lead quality and accuracy.

Catalyze AI offers a solution to conventional real estate marketing’s uncertainty by using predictive analytics. What’s better than data to help you identify high-probability homes for more intelligent lead targeting, resulting in cost savings and increased conversion rates? The platform provides exclusive leads, although its availability may be limited in some markets. Its ability to predict property sales with 40% precision and offer localized leads within a 50-mile radius makes it a compelling choice for agents looking to optimize their lead generation efforts.

Buying Options

See Details


  • 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:

    • Predictive analytics with a reported 40% prediction precision for inherited property sales
    • All leads provided are within a 50-mile radius of the agent, ensuring local relevance
    • Exclusive leads are uploaded on a monthly basis, reducing competition for prospects

    Cons:

    • Limited to inherited property leads
    • Data sets may not be fully available in all markets
    • As a newer platform, it may have some minor issues or kinks that need to be addressed

  • Features

    • Utilizes historical data, behavior analytics, event-driven data and real-time insights to provide predictive analysis
    • Predicts high-probability homes for efficient lead targeting
    • Access to 400 million data points

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

Logo-Zurple-2

Zurple

Who should use it: Real estate agents looking for automated email nurturing and conversion support

Zurple is a lead generation tool designed to help you nurture and convert real estate leads, with a focus on personalized follow-up and behavioral analytics. It offers multiple home search websites and proprietary nurture campaigns called Conversations.

Have you ever wanted an assistant to help you keep track of your email workflow and leads? Zurple is that assistant you’ve been looking for. It is a real estate lead generation and nurturing software with a focus on personalized communication and behavioral analytics. While its expensive setup fee and contract terms may not be ideal for all agents, Zurple’s emphasis on lead quality, lead prioritization and automated nurturing campaigns make it suitable for real estate professionals aiming to streamline the efficacy of their email marketing efforts. Customer reviews highlight the platform’s unique engagement and analytics features, which facilitate more effective lead nurturing and conversions. However, limited customer support and the absence of SMS marketing capabilities may not meet the needs of larger teams or agents looking for extensive customization options.

Buying Options

See Details


  • Pricing

    Set up fee of $799 + starting price of $309 per month ($299 + $10 for each MLS), with additional fees for multiple users (150/month for 5 users; $150/month to add a lender; $150 to import 5,000+ leads), as well as optional add-ons for extra lead support.


  • Pros + Cons

    Pros:

    • Advanced “Conversations” tool for personalized and targeted email follow-ups.
    • Automated email campaigns that read as natural and organic.
    • Hot Behaviors feature to notify you when leads are ready for follow-up.
    • Detailed reports on follow-up metrics.

    Cons:

    • Steep setup fee and required six- to 12-month contract
    • No SMS marketing capabilities or task workflows within the CRM
    • Customer support is limited to email

  • Features

    • Targeted communication
    • Automatic alerts and task reminders
    • Personalized targeted email follow-ups
    • Lead behavior analytics and lead notifications

    Exclusivity: Yes, based on ZIP code targeting
    Trial period: No

Logo-Redx

REDX

Who should use it: Individual agents who use phone scripts and cold prospecting

REDX is a prospecting and lead management tool designed to provide real estate agents with pre-verified leads from various sources, such as FSBOs, FRBOs, pre-foreclosures and expired listings. It simplifies lead generation and allows agents to contact prospects directly through an integrated phone dialer. REDX also offers script templates galore! They can be used for different lead types and content marketing resources like blogs, live support, phone script templates and podcasts to help agents grow through a variety of channels.

If you like getting on the phone, REDX may be the real estate lead generation option for you. The platform is a lead generation and prospecting tool tailored for individual real estate agents who prefer phone-based outreach. It offers a range of subscription plans and add-ons, pre-verified leads, and resources to help agents improve their prospecting efforts. While it lacks team collaboration features, it can be a valuable tool for scaling an agent’s business.

Buying Options

See Details


  • Pricing

    RedX offers three subscription plans with monthly and annual pricing options:

    • The Basic Plan costs $89.99 per user/month (or $76.49 per user/month annually).
    • The Essential Plan is priced at $129.99 per user/month (or $110.50 per user/month annually).
    • The Ultimate Plan costs $229.99 per user/month (or $195.50 per user/month annually).

    Additionally, users can opt for a la carte options (individual tools and add-ons)


  • Pros + Cons

    Pros:

    • User-friendly interface
    • Script templates for phone calls and content marketing needs
    • Pre-verified leads,
    • Comprehensive lead management tools

    Cons:

    • Some add-on tools are not included in subscription plans (additional purchases required)
    • Not interoperable with other CMS systems
    • Tools reportedly lack team features

  • Features

    RedX offers pre-verified leads from different categories, blog resources, live support, phone script templates, podcasts, a power dialer and its signature Vortex lead management tool

    Exclusivity: No, but it does pre-verify leads
    Trial period: None specified

Our methodology: How we chose the best places to buy real estate leads in 2023

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

To determine which real estate lead generation companies are best for industry professionals, HousingWire 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.

We crawled the web so you don’t have to, analyzing a wide sampling of reviews across social media, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and online discussion forums.

SEE ALSO: The ultimate guide to real estate lead generation ideas for  2023

Frequently asked questions


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

    Paid leads may offer quantity, but their quality can definitely vary. Decide whether you prefer a smaller number of high-quality 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.


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

    Real estate agents source their leads from various channels in 2023. One effective method is through lead generation providers that come with additional marketing tools, such as Market Leader, REDX, Zillow Premier Agent, zBuyer, Catalyze AI and Zurple. These platforms offer a wide range of services to help real estate professionals better understand how to generate leads. These providers use a combination of strategies, including pre-verified leads, prospecting tools and marketing platforms to connect agents with potential buyers and sellers.


  • 3. How to generate real estate leads in 2023?

    To generate real estate leads in 2023, real estate agents and brokers have several options. They can utilize lead generation providers mentioned above (Market Leader, REDX, Zillow Premier Agent, zBuyer, Catalyze AI and Zurple) and take advantage of their additional marketing services such as email automation, lead capture forms, phone-based outreach, personalized follow-up and predictive analytics to attract and nurture leads. Additionally, agents can always fall back on more traditional lead generation methods like open houses, home buying seminars, referrals and online marketing to supplement their lead generation efforts. Choose the option that best fits with your personality. Be sure you choose marketing tactics you feel you can do consistently every day, as it takes a bit of momentum to build your pipeline of leads and close regular sales.


  • 4. Where do real estate agents make the most money 2023?

    In 2023, real estate agents can potentially earn substantial income in various ways, but the specific location and market conditions play a significant role. Using platforms like Zillow Premier Agent can help agents increase their online presence and connect with leads actively searching for real estate services. High-demand markets with favorable conditions may offer more lucrative opportunities. However, the potential for high earnings also depends on an agent’s ability to effectively convert leads into clients and provide quality service. If you have a knack for consistently closing sales in lower-cost-of-living areas, you may find it is easier than generating revenue in high-end or luxe markets where eligible buyers are harder to come by.


  • 5. Is it worth it to buy real estate leads?

    The decision to buy real estate leads depends on individual preferences and business goals. Paid leads can offer quantity, but their quality can vary. Some agents may prefer a smaller number of high-quality leads, while others may opt for a larger volume with potentially more “cold” prospects. No matter which option you choose, diversifying lead generation methods is always a smart idea. Combining paid leads with organic approaches like referrals, networking and an active online presence until you find your “sweet spot” that works well for your brand. Each of the lead generation providers mentioned in the article has its advantages and challenges, and the benefit of buying real estate leads will alway depend on an agent’s specific strategy.

The full picture: Where to buy real estate leads in 2023

In 2023, with low inventory and homeowners hanging on to their low interest rates from recent years, you need a source for high-quality leads. Relying on a real estate lead generation service can be a crucial resource for your success for the rest of this year and in 2024.

Market Leader, a comprehensive real estate lead generation system, is suitable for solo agents, offering features like email and SMS marketing, lead capture forms and an integrated CRM to manage your leads. It focuses on nurturing leads for long-term client relationships.

For those who like the comfort of a household name, Zillow Premier Agent provides major brand recognition and exposure on the Zillow platform, while also offering tools and resources to connect with buyers and convert leads. On the other hand, zBuyer specializes in attracting potential home sellers interested in cash offers, and Catalyze AI uses predictive analytics to help agents identify high-probability inherited property leads.

And for personalized email follow-up and task reminders, Zurple is your best friend with insights into lead behavior analytics, making it suitable for agents looking to streamline email marketing efforts. Meanwhile, REDX is an option for individual agents who prefer phone-based outreach and offers subscription plans, script templates and pre-verified leads.

No matter where you decide to buy leads from, when considering real estate lead generation, it’s essential to weigh the pros and cons of paid leads, always consider diversifying your lead generation methods, and don’t overlook organic methods like referrals and traditional networking. Take this downtime to meet new potential clients and build relationships, too.

SEE ALSO: Top 9 real estate lead generation companies of 2023



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