Starting a real estate blog is one of those business ideas that many agents know will be lucrative (we’ve all heard stories about agents writing that one blog post that seems to bring in endless clients) … but actually getting pen to paper, or fingers to keyboard, is a different story. What are you going to write about that’s actually interesting and will show people you know your area?
Establishing yourself as a local expert means you should be blogging about a lot more than just real estate. Though it’s important to show that you know what’s happening in the market, it’s also crucial to not just throw up listing post after listing post in the hopes that someone will eventually care. To create a blog that locals are going to want to visit (whether they’re in the market to buy or sell a house), you’ll need to give them information that they crave … but can’t find easily anywhere else. If you can do that well, you’ll develop the traffic and readership to generate those sweet, sweet blog leads.
We’ve compiled a list of 101 hyper-local blog post ideas, divided by category to make it easy for you to figure out your strengths, weaknesses, and what to tackle first; if you publish two or three of these every week for a year, you’ll be amazed by what it does for your business (and general visibility in the market). And if you sincerely don’t have time to blog, but still love the idea, we have writers available who understand real estate and can help shape these ideas for your market and audience!
Local History and Lore
- Interview someone from the local historical society about how the area was first settled and what tribes occupied it before settlement.
- Discuss the layout of the town or area and why it grew the way it did. Include maps over time, if you can.
- Explain how different industries developed (and waned, possibly) in the region, and what influence that had on population growth and housing.
- Give an overview of the natural features that have shaped the area and how those have changed over time (rivers and coastlines, for example).
- List any local celebrities—including local authors and what they’ve written.
- Offer details about how residents can find out historical information on their own and resources, including historical society contact information, county clerk and recorder offices, tax assessors’ offices, and others.
Area Resources
- Introduce readers to the area’s news outlets, whether that’s papers, blog posts, or podcasts. Share when they were launched, how often they’re updated, and any notable stories or awards.
- List the best social media resources (Facebook groups or Instagram accounts about housing and development, for example) in the area.
- List as many different resources as you can for people just moving to the area to get oriented, from the Chamber of Commerce to the local rec center.
- List the charities operating in your area, the types of donations they take, and how readers can learn more about them.
- What industries are currently thriving in the area? What jobs are available at those companies? Give your readers an overview of what makes your region’s economy turn.
- Describe your best customer service experiences at the top businesses in the neighborhood and what makes them stand out.
- Create a list of the best Airbnb homes available in the area. You can split this into “for couples” and “for families” if you’re spoiled for choice.
Neighborhood Information
- Explain the origins of each neighborhood or area and what makes it special. Use a map to pinpoint the noteworthy features, boundaries, and any homes of note, too!
- Interview city councilpersons about their district and what makes it great.
- Ask your clients why they moved to their neighborhood and why they love it.
- Take your readers on neighborhood walking tours! The best way to do this is on a video, but you could also create a self-guided tour using a map.
Schools
- List all the schools in the area, public and private.
- Interview principals and teachers at schools. Ask them why they love working there and what makes the school special.
- Interview parents and ask what they love about their kids’ schools.
Sports and recreation
- List the parks in your area and what each is best known for (dog-walking, picnics, playgrounds, and so on), with a map.
- List the swimming pools available to residents. Include hours and rates, if applicable.
- Make a list of the best swimming holes, including directions with images.
- Outline the best summer day camps and activities for kids.
- Adults like sports leagues, too! Share where to find kickball, basketball, baseball, wrestling, and other sports leagues available for adults.
- List the best day hikes within different miles of your city—5, 10, 15, and so on.
- Make a list of the best lunchtime walking routes, with maps. Bonus points for locating these near the biggest business districts!
- Where are the best golf courses, what are their rates, and when is the best time to book?
- Create a list of the best health clubs, gyms, yoga studios, and so on, including hours, rates, and the top-rated classes or activities at each.
- List the places to fish in your area (and tackle shops).
- Share the best biking routes in your area, and bike repair shops.
- Where can you find sports equipment? List the top sporting goods stores, new and used.
Entertainment
- Does your town or neighborhood have a noteworthy festival? Create a survival guide to it and explain the history and background.
- Profile any theater companies, their directors and actors, and discuss their previous shows.
- List the local museums in your area, their hours of operation, and any can’t-miss displays.
- Make a list of places to hear live music. You can split this by season and offer readers indoor and outdoor options.
- Where is the best place to take someone on a first date to get to know them? Make a list!
- Assuming things go well on that date, follow up with a list of ideas for where to propose to your partner.
- Where are the best places to unwind after work? Alone or with a small group of coworkers?
- Some people love to dance! Share the dance opportunities for different styles—for example, swing, tango, salsa, ballroom, and so on.
- What are the best day trips within an hour or two drive of your area? Give details on when to go and what to do.
- Make a list of the best public outdoor sculptures in your town or city and then create a map showing readers how to get there.
Retail
- List the best dry cleaners in town.
- What are the best places to buy quality (affordable!) art? From galleries to thrift stores, dish on where to get the goods.
- On that note, share the best antique stores or flea markets.
- Where do you go to buy gifts for your loved ones? Whether you’re shopping for a romantic partner, a bestie, your mom or dad, or a sibling, list the top gift shops in town.
- What are the best toy stores in town, for which age groups? Standout or top toys, according to the staff?
Services
- List the best dentists in town.
- And the best dry cleaners.
- You probably know a few title attorneys; make a list, and include how long they’ve been in business.
- List home inspectors in the area and share major inspection issues that you’ve seen uncovered.
- Beauty salons are critical for hair … everywhere. List the best places for cuts, dyes, regular blow-outs, and waxing.
- Pets need services, too! List the top veterinarians in town. Bonus points if you can list several resources for relatively unusual animals (horses, for example).
- Buyers and sellers alike will want to learn about the best storage facilities and their rates and fees.
- Share what you know about the best interior designers in the area, including photos of their work if you can.
- Who paints houses, inside and out? Make a list and show some of their work on the blog.
- Movers are one area where you don’t want to skimp. List the most reputable moving companies in your area, including how far in advance they are typically booked if you can get that information.
Dining
- First, an easy one: list the best restaurants (if there are lots, break this down by cuisine type—Italian, Mexican, classic diners, and so on.)
- List the best places to grab a traditional breakfast.
- On the flip side, share where you take your friends and loved ones for a fancy brunch.
- List the local coffee shops in town. People know where to find the chains, so don’t bother with those. Share what you know about the atmosphere and any signature drinks on the menu.
- What are the best happy hours in town, for both food and drink? Make sure you’re getting recommendations from people you trust, or testing them out yourself!
- Everyone wants to know where to find the best ice cream in town. List where to go get ice cream; if you’re making a ranked list, make sure you’ve actually tried all the ice cream spots and can vouch for your rankings.
- Similarly, people take pizza seriously, but they want to know what’s good. Share the best pizza places in town, including any specialty pies. Dividing this by price point can cut down on arguments that you don’t know what you’re talking about or are trying to compare street pizza with gourmet stone-fired versions.
- The list of best burgers should also be treated with caution, but it’s a good one. You can divide this by price point, too.
- Interview the owners and chefs at the best restaurants. Ask them about what ingredients they get most excited about using.
Development and growth
- Spend some time at the permitting office in your town and look at any notices for new developments. Be the first to explain what’s breaking ground where!
- Regularly attend city council meetings and keep tabs on any issues surrounding development or growth. Post about them.
- Ask city councilpersons what new growth they’re most excited about.
- Discuss how transportation expansion has affected business and residential growth in different parts of the city or neighborhood.
- Join the Chamber of Commerce and keep tabs on any new businesses. Profile them on your blog.
Homes and homeownership
- Share popular renovations that you’re seeing in homes and their return on investment.
- Create renovation before-and-after posts (especially if you can nail down costs; this is fascinating for people).
- Share seasonal home maintenance tips that are specific to your climate.
- Describe common seasonal problems that homes in the area experience and how to solve or prevent them.
- Offer local curb appeal and landscaping tips, including which plants will thrive and which require a lot of work.
- Discuss home design trends and how they typically stand the test of time. Are there any that are perennially popular in your area?
And finally … real estate!
- List the most expensive homes that were recently sold, with photos.
- Make a list of notable homes (and any famous people who have lived there, with timelines).
- Curate lists for the best phone apps for home search, rental, or selling a house in your area. Be specific and don’t fudge! People will be able to tell whether you actually tried them or not.
- Make recurring lists of specific types of homes currently for sale (condos, historic homes, waterfront, and so on).
- Then, get super-specific with your most popular lists: Best luxury condos, best fixer-upper historic homes, best waterfront homes under a certain price point, homes with the best views.
- Make a list of the oldest homes in the area, including when they were built and whether any local historical figures or celebrities owned them.
- List the open houses coming up the next weekend or week.
- What types and styles of homes are common in your area? How can people identify them, and what are some notable examples? Use photos!
- Look at national trends and explain whether they are (or aren’t) at play in your area.
- Describe home staging trends and explain how readers can stage a house themselves.
- Write about how to rent out your home (or part of it) on Airbnb.
- Share the negotiation tips that work in your area, for both buyers and sellers.
- Write a list of common mistakes that sellers make in your area.
- Follow it up with mistakes that buyers make in your area.
- Write a list of tips for buying a house successfully—especially if your offers keep getting rejected!
- Write a list of tips for selling a house fast in your area and what matters to buyers.
- Create an introduction to real estate investing and how to get started.
- Discuss local legal real estate issues that emerge (definitely interview a lawyer for this one).
- List common local HOA covenants and what they mean.
About you
- Why do you love the area? What makes it special to you?
- How did you get into real estate?
- What are some of your favorite stories about helping buyers move into their dream home?
- Share the biggest lessons you’ve learned in real estate, or in life.
- Take your readers through a day in your life. Don’t just share about real estate; talk about where you get your coffee or take your dog for a walk.