Real estate networking is an effective way to find new clients and stay in touch with people you already know. It may seem scary at first, but it’s really very simple. Build relationships, look for opportunities to help people, and show your value in every conversation with those you meet. With enough conversations (and keeping in touch, of course), you’ll see your business grow.
In this article, we’ll share 10 places to meet new clients, plus in-person and online networking strategies, helpful conversation starters, and the secrets to successful networking for introverts. Let’s dive in!
10 real estate networking events – Where to meet new clients IRL
Real estate networking is an extremely broad term that encompasses many types of activities — from stopping by your friend’s summer barbecue to attending speed networking events (Think: speed dating for entrepreneurs). While some networking events will put you in front of potential buyers and sellers, other events may be ripe for meeting excellent referral sources. You should treat every event, even social events, as a networking opportunity.
No matter where you network, always look for ways to connect with people, share the unique ways you help your clients, and find a way to stay in touch with your new contacts. Remaining top-of-mind with the people you meet is key, and the magic is in the follow-up. Check out our favorite free and low-cost CRMs for managing your contacts in the links below.
Where do you go to meet new people? Below, here are some of our favorite types of real estate networking events.
1. Business networking groups
Business Networking International (BNI) is a worldwide referral group. You can also check out your local Chamber of Commerce or young professionals groups. These will be more professionally focused. The upside is that everyone there will be looking to have business conversations. The downside is that there will likely be lots of other real estate agents there.
2. SCORE
SCORE is a national volunteer organization that pairs experienced entrepreneurs with new business owners in a mentorship program. Depending on which stage of your real estate career you’re in, you could engage with this group as either a mentor or gain some valuable business guidance from someone more experienced. While it’s not specific to real estate, it is a great place to meet new people in your local area.
3. Social clubs
Think college alumni events, religious organizations, gardening clubs, etc. These are typically less business-focused yet can be excellent ways to meet new people. Having something in common with everyone there makes it easier to strike up conversations with strangers, as well. It gives you a talking point and automatically provides a level of trust.
4. Fitness groups
Think CrossFit, yoga studios, hiking clubs, or intramural sports leagues. Physical activity has a way of bonding people, so networking with people at your preferred fitness group is smart. Bonus: if the group meets regularly, your follow-up is built-in!
5. Home & garden expos
Homeowners looking to fix up their properties, potentially to sell down the road, will typically attend home and garden expos. Attend as a participant, or you may even opto to invest in a booth as a vendor.
6. Wedding expos
Many couples think about buying their first homes during this phase of life. Some couples may even need to sell two condos and buy a large single-family home in the suburbs. Either way, having a vendor booth at a wedding expo is a great way to meet potential buyers and sellers.
7. Investor meetups
Working with investors is an entirely different aspect of real estate compared to working with homeowners, yet it can be a very smart (and lucrative) industry sector to serve. While most homeowners only move once every five to 10 years, some investors purchase multiple properties every year, meaning more transactions for you from the same client.
Meetup.com, Eventbrite, and Facebook are great places to find local investor networking events. Most investor meetings are free to attend and open to all, as many investment deals happen through old-fashioned word of mouth. Keep in mind that some investors may initially be skeptical of real estate agents, so it’s even more essential to lead with value and avoid sounding like a pushy salesperson.
8. Community events
Research local community events to attend or consider having a booth at some of them, if appropriate and allowed. Some examples: Harvest festivals, holiday craft fairs, farmers’ markets, parades, fireworks shows around the 4th of July, and community volunteer days.
Where to find them? Most cities have an events section on their website. Getting involved in local Facebook groups will also be beneficial for finding upcoming events. Better yet, find out about local events first and be the source of info! Community events make excellent content for your monthly newsletter and social media pages.
9. Social media groups
The online space is full of people killing time at work, looking at properties online, and commenting on other people’s posts in Facebook groups. Most towns have at least one Facebook group, if not multiple groups, that you can join. My town of Newton, Massachusetts, has at least eight real estate Facebook groups.
Engage in social media groups as a helpful voice, not a sales-y real estate agent. Add value where you can, and when you’re consistently answering questions and helping out, people will take notice and start to see you as a leader in your community. To build agent-to-agent referral partnerships, you can join agent-centric groups like Real Estate Mastermind or Lab Coat Agents.
10. Real estate conferences
Why would you want to network with other agents? Referrals! Creating solid referral relationships with other real estate agents is an amazing opportunity to earn more money through sending outbound referrals and to close more business by being the go-to agent for inbound referrals in your area. Check out Jeff Glover’s GloverU Summit in January 2025 and InvestHerCon in June 2025.
IRL real estate networking strategies
- Dress comfortably yet professionally, in keeping with your own personal style and brand
- Maintain eye contact and show active listening using head nods, smiles, and affirmative language
- Keep the conversation focused on the person you’re talking to
- Ask open-ended questions
- Always ask for someone’s business card or contact information, and only hand out your card if someone asks for it
Online real estate networking strategies
When you’re attending a networking event, you’ll want to be sure you’re presenting yourself in the best light possible. For virtual events, that means:
- Keep your camera on
- Ensure your background is appropriate
- Use the chat function to connect with individuals or comment to the entire group
- Remember to save the chat (if using Zoom) towards the end of the meeting
- If you’re the one hosting the event, require attendees to register in advance – this will allow you to know your headcount ahead of time and capture their contact information
PRO TIP
Networking is a long game. It’s all about building relationships.
Expert networking tips for every event & occasion
Come with a plan. What’s your goal in attending the event? Who are you looking to meet? In some cases, you may be able to research ahead of time and find out who else will be in attendance.
Provide value. Once you’ve engaged in conversation, make it all about the other person. How can you help them? Who do they want to be introduced to?
Build the relationship. You likely won’t click with every person you meet, but you should reach out to the ones with whom you do have a good connection and invite them to coffee or lunch.
Follow up, follow up, follow up. Write notes on your phone after each conversation to remember what you talked about. When you get back to your office, add those notes to your CRM and send each person a handwritten note, text or email message. A simple “nice to meet you” messages makes a lasting impression.
We love the Real Geeks’ affordable CRM and website platform. For as low as $299 per month, you can track all your new leads and get a great-looking website with MLS feed, plus marketing tools like a home valuation page, AI chatbot, Facebook ad creation tool, and more.
Three conversation starters to find business now
If you dread the idea of cold calling, I want to share three easy ways to spark conversations with your existing network to find new clients. These are also cozy, helpful little touch points that help you stay connected and top-of-mind. I suggest you reach out to everyone in your sphere by targeting five to 10 people each day. Here’s what to say or ask:
1. Tell them you’re grateful for them. Don’t even talk about real estate.
Script: “I’m grateful you’re in my life. I’m thankful for you. How are you?”
2. Ask if they know any newlyweds. New couples are often looking to buy a home together or consolidate two condos into one shared home.
Script: “Are you going to any weddings this year? It would be amazing if you could connect me with someone in your life who is getting married this year.”
3. Ask if they need a handyman, plumber or other type of vendor. Make sure to promote vendors you know, love and trust! You can help your sphere with this one and your vendors will hopefully reciprocate by sending you a referral, in turn.
Script: “What are your needs in terms of vendors/handymen/plumbers/house repairs? I can recommend an electrician.”
Check out my YouTube video below for more details about these conversation starters.
Secrets of real estate networking for introverts
This section is for those agents who, like myself, are more introverted. For us, networking may not come as naturally as it does to our extroverted colleagues. That’s ok! Introverts can still successfully network to find clients. Here are a few ways to do so.
- Set a manageable goal. Determine how many connections you plan to make. Three? Five? Just one, perhaps? Once you hit that number, give yourself permission to leave, knowing you accomplished your goal.
- Give yourself a timeframe. Plan to stay for one hour or two hours. Once your time is up, you’re free to leave. This mental game is a very helpful tool if you’re struggling just to walk in the door.
- Plan your energy for the day. If the event is in the morning, know you may be drained afterward. Maybe a nap will be necessary. If it’s an evening event, reserve enough energy throughout the day to survive the event and make it worthwhile.
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Networking for your real estate business can be intimidating at first. The idea of it makes many agents cringe. As a real estate coach and founder of Move Over Extroverts, I’ve helped many clients overcome their fears.
I believe that real estate networking doesn’t have to be scary. At its core, it’s simply meeting new people, connecting with some of them, and building relationships with those who are aligned with you and your business goals. With enough practice, you can become a master networker and build these networking strategies and habits into your daily routine.
🕸️ Happy networking! 🕸️
About Ashley Harwood
Ashley Harwood began her real estate career in 2013 and built a six-figure business as a solo agent before launching Move Over Extroverts in 2018. She developed training materials, classes, and coaching programs for her fellow introverts. Beginning in 2020, Ashley served as Director of Agent Growth for three Keller Williams offices in the Boston metro area. She’s now the Lead Listing agent for the Fleet Homes team in Massachusetts and a regular contributor to Vetted by HousingWire. She created The Quiet Success curriculum and has taught thousands of real estate agents nationwide. She has also been a guest speaker at top industry events and has been named a leading real estate coach by prominent industry publications.
