The last few years have seen significant fluctuations in how home builders market their new homes and communities. From the rise of user-generated short-form video content to the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI), your tried-and-true home builder marketing plan may start to feel antiquated.
5 Home Builder Marketing Trends for 2025
As planning for 2025 is underway, several home builder marketing trends should be considered when preparing marketing strategies and tactics for the next 12 months and beyond. While some may take you out of your comfort zone, the following five trends will help your home building company stay relevant and competitive in the ever-evolving housing industry.
1. Short-form Video Content for Social Media
According to the National Association of Realtors, social media is the top tech tool for providing quality leads, far outweighing customer relationship management and MLS sites. However, posting a photo and a caption to social media won’t cut it in today’s fast-paced digital landscape. Builders should craft intentional short-form video content that captures the attention of potential buyers. This can be one of the most effective home builder marketing trends when done correctly.
Examples include:
- Quick walk-through tours that show off the entire home
- Time-lapse videos of the home being constructed
- Showcasing the process of a home being customized with a buyer
- Neighborhood tours highlighting the features of the community
2. SEO-optimized Neighborhood Guides
When deciding to relocate, today’s home buyers are adamant about research. From that very first Google search of a city or a neighborhood, it is important that you, as a home builder, are there to guide them through the home buying process. A proactive SEO strategy will help you be the go-to source for answering a buyer’s top-of-mind questions about your city and community.
Consider compiling a selection of niche content on your company’s blog that details the specifics of your area. Remember, no topic is too small — home buyers want to know that your community is right for them. Create an SEO-optimized guide that includes local schools, restaurants, recreational activities, employment opportunities, healthcare facilities, and yearly events, just to name a few. Conduct location-based keyword research to learn more about what aspects of your city are being searched for, and create content that will gain visibility in search engines. Also, consider tapping into Google and Facebook’s hyper-targeted advertising to narrow down your audience based on their location.
3. Interactive AI Tools
Yes, we know the world of AI can seem daunting, but when used intentionally, these tools can provide significant relief to an already busy home builder marketing team. Chatbots on your website and social media accounts can answer a customer’s questions promptly and help provide information about listings after hours or when the sales team is working with other prospective buyers.
Additional AI tools can stage an otherwise empty property in seconds, giving buyers a feel for what the home will look like with furnishings and trimmings. This can benefit visual buyers who need an extra push to envision what life could look like in this home.
4. Virtual and 3D Tours
In today’s world of rampant online shopping, it only makes sense that people would initially shop for a home in a similar way. Before deciding to visit your community’s model home and speak to your sales team, buyers are more than likely on your website exploring floorplans and getting an idea of the inventory you offer.
As augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technologies advance, the capabilities of presenting a realistic online tour of your homes have increased. They are becoming essential parts of a home builder marketing plan. Consider including a VR walkthrough to accompany a home’s floor plan and imagery on the website listing. This interactive tour is ideal for buyers currently living in another part of the country who will be moving to the area and haven’t had a chance to tour the home in person.
5. Showcase Sustainability
Conversations around sustainable living have gained prominence over the last decade and will continue within the housing industry as uber-eco-conscious Gen-Z begins their journey toward homeownership. Consider creating content for social media and your website that highlights eco-friendly elements of the homes you build, including solar panels and energy-saving home technologies and appliances. If you’ve earned a green building certification, let buyers know! Create a sustainable living best practices guide that can help homeowners start on the right foot after moving into their new home.
Home Builder Marketing Made Easy
Home builder marketing is constantly changing. Luckily, New Home Star is a premier home builder marketing agency focused solely on serving builders. Our demand generation agency deploys tailored strategies to drive growth. Through targeted digital campaigns, content creation, and strategy development, we generate leads and guide them through the most effective sales funnel. With a nuanced understanding of the industry, we deliver bespoke solutions, positioning our clients for success.
Learn more about New Home Star’s home builder marketing agency.