Building a website has never been easier, no matter your profession. Creating a real estate site is no exception - there are tons of website builders you can use.
Many real estate website builders will meet your need as it requires very little technical know-how, and through drag-and-drop design dashboards you can customize to your site the best way possible.
Here's a look at 8 best real estate website options to take your real estate game to the next level.
Why Do Realtors Need a Website?
Like any other profession, realtors need a website that represents their business in the best possible way. In today's market, your site is likely the first impression you make on clients.
Your real estate website needs to be modern, professional, and useful to generate leads. It also needs to provide information that potential buyers are looking for—your listings and an MLS search tool should make it easy for them to contact you.
Above all, all of these key features need to flow flawlessly so that you don't miss out on your target audience.
Here are a few reasons why a real estate website is necessary:
Establish an online presence
Nowadays, not having a real estate website can hinder your real estate business. According to the National Association of Realtors, 100% of home buyers use the Internet to search for their homes. Therefore, being on the search engine results page is vital, and for that, you require your own website.
Showcase property listings
Real estate websites are a great way to highlight property listings to potential buyers. The web design should be responsive and contain high-quality images/videos of the various properties.
By including property listings on your real estate website, a home buyer can get a really good idea about the property, and if interested, contact the agent. A great source of website traffic.
Increase lead generation
Lead generation is significant for a real estate business. Real estate websites provide a pathway for conversion no matter which part of the sales cycle a user is in.
8 Best Website Builders for Realtors in 2024
The number of options for building websites can be a bit overwhelming. If there's one thing you should realize, every choice has its pluses and minuses. Not all real estate website builder interfaces offer the same features.
So start your search by inventorying what you want from your real estate website creator. Then, with this list of "must haves" in hand, compare your options carefully.
1. Pixpa
The Pixpa website builder is great for creative professionals, such as photographers and artists, who want to create online portfolio websites.
Adding pages to your website is a breeze with Pixpa's drag-and-drop page builder. As a result, many professionals now use Pixpa to build their websites, and it's perfect for real estate agents.
Pixpa offers over 150+ pixel-perfect, modern and responsive templates to fit every style and requirement. Pixpa's real estate website templates are some of the most beautiful and professional you will come across, and they are fully customizable to meet your needs.
Features
For small businesses, Pixpa offers everything you need in one place. What sets them apart, however, is their gorgeous templates that are modern, responsive, and can be fully customized.
Pros
- Stunning websites for realtors available
- Complete customizability over design and layout, with no restrictions on branding
- Easy-to-use design tools that don't sacrifice capability for ease-of-use
- Excellent customer support and help available 24/7 via email and chat
Cons
- IDX is supported through integrations and embed tools only
Pricing
Pixpa offers monthly pricing, with big discounts for paying for one or two years. For example, when you pay for two years, the Basic Package starts at $3.60 per month, while the Professional is only $10.80 per month.
The Bottom Line
Pixpa is an affordable alternative to real estate industry sites that cost ten times as much. You can easily set up a visually appealing site with all the functions you need while getting a modern and professional website made quickly.
2. Squarespace
Squarespace is a popular builder for business websites, offering some great features when used for building real estate websites.
Features
It's a powerful platform offering competitive pricing and higher-end service than some bargain builders. In addition, Squarespace regularly scores higher for help and support than some of the other site builders.
Squarespace offers 100 free templates to choose from, five of which the company has identified as perfect for real estate professionals.
Pros
- Ability to customize designs and layouts is more limited than that of other website builders
- Lots of choices of business elements and integrations, like Mailchimp for lead capture
Cons
- Templates are not IDX ready, but it's easy to add this functionality
- Not as intuitive as some other options
- Lots of SEO guides available, but the site offers little support on how to use them; in other words, you may need to get professional help with SEO
Pricing
For non-e-commerce platforms, Squarespace has two pricing plans: Personal and Business. The Business Plan is the most appropriate for small real estate offices. The cost is as low as $23 per month if you pay annually. As with other site builders, you only need to upgrade to an e-commerce option if you sell products directly from the site.
The Bottom Line
Squarespace is an industry leader, and you will likely be satisfied with its options, even if they are a bit limited for real estate agents.
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3. Wix
Wix is consistently rated as one of the easiest-to-use website builders. Of special interest to real estate professionals, Wix includes a set of templates perfect for real estate websites.
Unfortunately, the site builder also has some limitations you must be aware of before diving in. If you want your site to talk to the MLS, you'll need to do some coding or hire someone to do it for you. Even still, many users report that such custom integrations are buggy on the platform.
Features
With over 800 template options and drag-and-drop ease of creation, Wix is one of the most popular website builders on the planet. There's a lot to like with Wix if you're looking for a simple business listing website. It's easy to use, the templates are attractive, and there's an extensive marketplace of add-on apps to increase the functionality of your site.
Pros
- Includes 16 real estate-specific templates
- All templates are available with the free plan
- Wix's App Market allows you to add functionality like forms and events
- Very easy to use, drag and drop interface
- Includes the Wix SEO Wiz that provides personalized recommendations
Cons
- Wix does not natively support IDX integrations for real estate agents; however, there is a workaround using Velo by Wix (requires coding)
- App Market upgrades will cost extra
Pricing
With Wix, the free plan has limited functionality. You'll have to evaluate which functions are must-have items for your business. Most real estate agents will benefit from the Unlimited plan, which includes 10 GB of storage, unlimited bandwidth, video, and your custom domain name. The price of the Unlimited plan starts at $22 per month.
The Bottom Line
Wix is a great website builder, but the limited support of IDX integrations is a problem for realtors.
4. Softr
Softr is the go-to platform for real estate agents seeking an easy way to create custom portals and tools without the need for coding. Trusted by over 400,000 teams, Softr streamlines workflows for everyone from small business owners to Fortune 500 operations leaders.
Key Features:
The platform provides customizable access levels, powerful search and filtering, and task creation tailored to projects for efficient teamwork. It includes separate directories for teams and clients, seamless integration with services like Zapier, Stripe, and Mailchimp, and implements conditional visibility rules for data security. With secure payment processing and downloadable invoices, it ensures smooth financial transactions, all wrapped in a responsive design for seamless user experience across devices.
Pros:
- Feature-rich templates for easy customization of client portals, employee intranets, and sales CRM platforms.
Secure data with AWS-powered server-side authentication - Custom conditional form builder sending responses to platforms like Airtable via Zapier or Make.
- Secure payments supporting both recurring and one-time transactions with options for codes or coupons at checkout.
- Real-time data sync with native integration with Airtable, Google Sheets, HubSpot, MySQL.
Cons:
- While Softr offers customization options, there may be limitations for highly specific or complex designs.
Pricing:
- Free
- Basic: $49/month
- Professional: $139/month
- Business: $269/month
- Enterprise: Custom
Free trial: 1 month
Bottom line:
Softr's no-code capabilities prove to be a game-changer for businesses that have limited resources for dedicated staff and funds geared specifically towards building internal tools.
5. Placester
Unlike other website builders, Placester specializes in building websites for real estate professionals. But, as is the case in many other industry niches, that level of customization comes with some downsides, one of which is pricing.
Features
It's hard to find more options for a real estate agent than Placester. The best thing, however, is the company's DIFM plan. With this service, Placester will create a website for your company and handle all the setup. It's like having an expert real estate web designer on staff.
Pros
- Custom solutions for any sized real estate agency
- Lead tools and IDX integrations are always included
- Custom-built solutions through the Placester DIFM plan
- DIY option includes templates for pages, IDX integrations, blogs, and much more
- Discounts for NAR members
Cons
- More expensive than general-purpose web builders
- DIY builder is not as easy to use as some commercial builders
- Lacks the same backing and investment as big companies like Pixpa or Squarespace, so expect the designs to be dated and performance to be slower
Pricing
Pricing for Placester is discounted for NAR (National Association of Realtors) members. DIY plans start from $79 per month or from $99 for non-members. Placester will build the site for you starting at $119 per month. All subscriptions are billed annually for the best rates.
The Bottom Line
If you'd like professional help building your site, Placester is a great option. However, if you want the DIY option, you can find better templates with similar functionality elsewhere.
6. Propertybase
Propertybase is much more than a website builder. It's an entire agent support system. Tools and products beyond basic websites include CRM, marketing, lead management, workspace, and analytics.
Features
Propertybase's website builder features "Zillow-like" property search features, fully branded websites, and specialized tools to capture more leads and show up in local SEO results. In addition, their simple website builder uses drag-and-drop design tools, offering customizability.
Pros
- Industry-specific IDX tool
- Great integration with Propertybase's other products, like CRM and leads management tools
- Premium website design services available
- Emphasis on SEO results
Cons
- More expensive than generic options
- Best suited for large agencies and real estate businesses
Pricing
Propertybase offers a custom solution for each client. As a result, pricing is not generally available on the website. If you request a demo, you will connect with their sales team to create a product package that precisely meets your needs.
Prices start at $349 per month for Propertybase GO, which includes a website and the Propertybase GO CRM solution.
The Bottom Line
The cost is much higher than simple web builders, but you'll likely come out with an all-inclusive solution for your firm's technology needs, with a responsive real estate website, CRM, and sales funnels included.
7. Weebly
Weebly is a drag-and-drop generic website builder, much like Wix. But Weebly is more limited and has fewer template options. Plus, it offers fewer customization options.
As a result, Weebly is a useful tool for an individual agent looking to make a simple business listing page without all of the bells and whistles.
Features
Weebly's strongest feature is its ease of use--Weebly is built for beginners. It's a general-purpose website builder, so don't expect native templates to be aimed at real estate purposes. But with a little tinkering and some third-party integration apps, Weebly can be used to make a decent and well-functioning website.
Pros
- Includes basic SEO and lead capture tools
- Templates are simple but beautiful and professional
- Beginner friendly -- super easy to use drag and drop builder
- Custom HTML, CSS, and Java tools for more flexibility
- Video and audio supported, including video backgrounds
Cons
- IDX is not natively supported, but you can add a third-party script using the embed function (one company that offers this is Add On IDX, for example)
- Not much customization is available to the templates
- You may not be able to download all site data if you want to migrate away from Weebly in the future
Pricing
Weebly offers packages from free to $26 per month, billed annually. However, free sites are not customizable, and there is no option for a custom domain.
As a result, it is recommended that you go for at least the Professional Plan at $12 per month, which will get you your domain name and site customization.
The Bottom Line
Weebly is a good choice if you need a basic builder with IDX functionality, but you might have to source some third-party add-ons to get it going.
8. Intagent
Intagent is a real estate industry-leading technology provider that competes with Propertybase and Placester. In addition to websites, they also offer mobile solutions, CRM and lead generation, social media marketing services, and virtual assistants.
Features
Intagent combines many great features into one easy-to-set-up package. The best thing about Intagent is that it's all available in one place. Not only are all of the templates designed for real estate professionals, but they all include every tool you might need, from lead capture and CRM to IDX options and SEO tools.
Pros
- Tons of beautiful templates to pick from
- Mobile friendly designs
- Loaded with real estate-specific features like IDX integrations, CRM lead management, forms, and social media tools
Cons
Higher price point than general-purpose website builders
Pricing
Intagent charges $49 per month for basic websites. If you want help building the site, they charge a design fee of $795.
The Bottom Line
If you are looking for an all-in-one solution when it comes to building a real estate website, Intagent is worth a close look. Of course, the price is higher than others, but the time savings may make it worthwhile.
9. WordPress (.org)
WordPress is the most widely used website building platform, but it works completely differently from the above mentioned site builders.
WordPress is an open-source software package that allows you to build websites of any kind. However, to add anything beyond basic pages and blog posts, you'll need to find and purchase add-on templates and software upgrades.
We should note that WordPress.com is completely different. The .com site is a drag-and-drop web builder similar to Weebly or Wix but has limited capabilities. It's best left to small sites that do not require many extra features.
Features
The open-source nature of the WordPress ecosystem is its super power--it is possible to do literally anything with the site. But--and it's a really big "but,"--all of the separate software providers mean that every site is unique. Some add-ons and templates are well-supported and have great customer service. Others do not. The result is often a difficult-to-parse mess of choices and a mind-numbing amount of trial and error to make anything work the way you want.
Pros
- Complete and total customizability
- Many free tools are available for everything, but the best ones are paid
- Good for large businesses that have the time and personnel to support the web building process
- Good choice if you plan to expand your site greatly in the future, or you need custom features you can't find in any other builder
- Top SEO results--WordPress is the favored platform by SEO professionals
- Fewer limits on video, photo, or bandwidth than commercial website builders have
Cons
- Very difficult to use
- Buggy
- Requires finding your own hosting provider and domain name purchase
- You must shop for each upgrade, template, or integration separately
- Most effectively used by WordPress professionals
Pricing
The WordPress framework is free and is usually included when you purchase webspace from a hosting provider. However, every upgrade you make will likely come from an independent company that charges for its services.
So, to work with WordPress, you will need to pay for at least the following services. Some maybe free, but generally, the best ones are paid. For each of these items, there are hundreds of options to choose from.
- Web hosting, about $3 to $20 per month
- Domain name, about $10 to $15 per year
- Professional template or hire a web designer, cost depends on business needs
- IDX integrations, from free to $100 per year
- SEO optimization, from free to $120 per year
- Lead capture, mailing lists, contact forms, from free to over $100 per month
The Bottom Line
WordPress is great for folks needing complete flexibility but is best left to professional web designers.
What to Look for in the Best Website Builders for Real Estate Agents
Real estate agents need a web-building tool with the following qualities.
- Easy to use
- IDX integrations for MLS listings
- Attractive and professional templates
- Lead capture and CRM options
- SEO-friendly design and tools
Easy-to-Use Interface
Your website is an enormous part of your business, and keeping it up-to-date is vital. Much of it can be automated, but you'll still want to make changes, post blog updates, and keep the content fresh.
To do that, you need to pick something easy to use. Unfortunately, in the world of website builders, ease of use isn't always a priority. Some of these programs are most useful for professionals. If you're trying to do the work yourself, you need something easier to use.
IDX Integrations
The most important thing your site will do is provide visitors with the ability to browse MLS listings...both your own and everyone else's. The ability to do this requires an IDX (Internet Data Exchange) integration. This tool works on your website to connect to the MLS.
Once the integration is running, it will pull the data from the MLS. That means you can update listings in one place. Keep your MLS listing updated, and then make sure your website connection settings display as you want them to.
For example, you can set up a filter to show a page of your listings, or enable website visitors to make custom search queries.
Attractive Templates
These days, your webpage is the face of your business. You need it to be beautiful, organized, professional, and welcoming. A lot of this comes down to excellent design, both from the graphics and the user interface perspectives.
Starting with beautifully designed and customizable templates makes building and keeping your site updated all the easier. The less you have to do to improve the templates, the further ahead you'll be.
Lead Capture, Schedule a Showing, and Contact Forms
Any type of marketing depends on a sales funnel. The first step of the funnel is capturing leads, which is the most important part of your website. To accomplish this, your site needs to be built to encourage visitors to interact with it and tell you that they're interested.
A lot goes into this, but the goal is establishing a relationship with your clients. That takes more work than simply getting their email address or encouraging them to call you.
Ideally, you'll have a customized email marketing solution set up and integrated through your website. You'll also have integrations to get them to follow you on social media. You may even use a CRM software to store customer data and track customer interactions.
While nearly all website builders include tools that give you a basic contact form, only a few have the specialized tools that real estate agents want.
Many agents use integrations that include a scheduling option right on the listing webpage, so visitors can click "schedule a showing" right there. This makes it easier for clients to commit to seeing you in person instead of filling out forms or picking up the phone.
SEO Friendly Design
Your webpage needs to be built from the ground up with SEO (search engine optimization) in mind. See, not just having a website is not enough. Your website's visibility in search engines matters a lot in this competitive market.
Some SEO is how you word and organize things, but some comes from the design and backend functionality. To that end, the website builder must have the required SEO tools to ensure your real estate website won't be limited.
Final Thoughts: Best Real Estate Website Builder
No matter what your needs are, you should be able to find a real estate website builder that meets your needs.
From the beautiful and affordable templates available on Pixpa to the hands-off design services and help available from Placester or Intagent, there's something out there for everyone.
In the end it's all about choosing the website buider which can help you design a real estate website easily and offer you with the right integrations which will bring in the right leads and conversions.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do realtors build a website?
Realtors can use one of the many drag-and-drop website builders available. These websites allow you to create a custom website that is as simple or complex as you need it to be.
Which website builder is good for selling?
Real estate agents need their websites to support IDX integrations. This tool lets your site communicate with the MLS, which helps you capture leads and make sales.
How much should I spend on a real estate website?
The amount of money you spend on your website is tied to how complex you need it. It's possible to build sites for free, but these are usually simple and not customized. Expect to spend at least $10 to $20 per month for a properly branded professional website. If you pay a designer, the cost may be much higher.
Is WordPress good for realtors?
WordPress offers enormous functionality and options, but it is notoriously hard to use. Website builders, like Pixpa, Wix, or Squarespace, are better options for most professionals because they are much easier to use.
Are real estate website builders beginner-friendly?
Yes! The concept of a website builder is built to allow users to create websites easily without requiring coding knowledge. So, yes, website builders are beginner friendly.