The online real estate market in 2025 is noisy and more competitive. Just ranking for “homes for sale” or “apartments for rent” won’t cut it if you want to attract high-intent clients and future-proof your business against shifting trends.
In this guide, we’ll dig deep to find out how people make real estate search engine inquiries in 2025. You’ll see the most popular real estate keywords and discover what intent signals to watch for. Use this knowledge to improve your content, paid campaigns, and backlinks for the kinds of searches that lead to real deals.
Real Estate SEO Keyword Research Methodology
To put together this list of the best SEO keywords for real estate link building, we combined data from Google Trends, Ahrefs, Semrush, and Wordstream with hands-on analysis of over 150 real estate websites. These include national portals, local agents, and emerging proptech brands.
This is what the process looked like:
- Analysis of search queries from June 2024 to May 2025
- Focus on keyword intent (not just volume, but who is searching and why)
- Measurement of keyword difficulty, cost-per-click, and trend growth
- Filtering out generic/overused terms and including under-the-radar, actionable phrases
For each table, we suggest how to use keywords on top of what to target.
Search demand for keywords related to real estate
“Real estate” is a consistently popular term on Google search in the USA. To make the most of this high-demand search term, it’s a good idea to maintain an always-on SEO with targeted keywords.
In 2025, the most effective keywords for real estate are:
- Hyperlocal. They are tied to neighborhoods, not just cities. For example, “lofts in Williamsburg Brooklyn” will rank better than “NYC apartments”.
- Intent-driven. Keywords should reveal where users are in the funnel (“schedule a tour,” “move-in incentives”).
- Reflect new buyer priorities. Specify as much as you can: remote work, walkability, eco features, pet policies, etc.
Pro tip: When you do keyword research on Ahrefs, Semrush, or other platforms, you’ll see that seasonal keywords can peak in popularity depending on the period you’re analyzing (like the summer buying season). On top of that, ultra-specific or branded keywords can spike to the top due to viral news, local buzz, or high-intent searches. Always scan for context — these keywords can bring valuable, ready-to-convert traffic, even if they look unusual.
For example, take a look at the top-ranking real estate keywords list from Semrush. Some of them may seem too narrow. That’s not accidental: the keywords are very contextual and likely won’t stay popular for long. However, if you spot and act on these spikes early, you can ride the wave of high-intent traffic that’s ready to engage or convert.
The Top Keywords Related to Real Estate
Based on our research, here are 70+ ideas for top real estate keywords to use in your SEO efforts. The list is divided into categories for your convenience.
General, most searched real estate keywords
| Keywords | Search volume | Top of page bid (low) | Top of page bid (high) | Competition |
| realtors | 3,350,000 | $0.10 | $1.40 | Low |
| homes | 1,830,000 | $0.22 | $2.20 | Low |
| realtorcom | 1,220,000 | $0.10 | $0.61 | Low |
| houses for sale near me | 823,000 | $0.10 | $1.18 | Medium |
| real estate | 673,000 | $0.19 | $2.12 | Low |
| homes for sale near me | 673,000 | $0.09 | $1.31 | Medium |
| houses for sale | 673,000 | $0.13 | $1.38 | Medium |
| homes for sale | 450,000 | $0.12 | $1.62 | High |
| real estate agent | 301,000 | $0.52 | $13.73 | Low |
| zillow homes for sale | 301,000 | $0.06 | $0.69 | Low |
Pro tip: General keywords like the ones above can bring in a lot of traffic, but they come with high competition. Use them as the basis to layer on location, features, or user intent. This will help you turn the traffic into solid leads.
Buyer-focused keywords
Buyers are usually busy comparing multiple options and scheduling property tours. They need trustworthy, clutter-free information like listings and amenity reviews.
| Keywords | Search volume | Top of page bid (low) | Top of page bid (high) | Competition |
| houses for sale near me | 823,000 | $0.10 | $1.18 | Medium |
| homes to buy near me | 823,000 | $0.10 | $1.18 | Medium |
| homes for sale near me | 673,000 | $0.09 | $1.31 | Medium |
| houses for sale | 673,000 | $0.13 | $1.38 | Medium |
| homes for sale | 450,000 | $0.12 | $1.62 | High |
| zillow homes for sale | 301,000 | $0.06 | $0.69 | Low |
| land for sale near me | 201,000 | $0.10 | $0.58 | Medium |
| condos for sale near me | 110,000 | $0.12 | $0.82 | Medium |
| condominiums for sale near me | 110,000 | $0.12 | $0.82 | Medium |
| zillow homes for sale near me | 90,500 | $0.07 | $0.83 | Low |
| houses to buy | 90,500 | $0.17 | $0.65 | High |
| houses for sale near me zillow | 90,500 | $0.07 | $0.83 | Low |
Pro tip: Don’t ignore search queries based on fears and objections of the buyer audiences. Create content that works with their concerns. For instance, talk about “hidden home purchase costs” or “how to avoid bidding wars.” These topics will attract engaged buyers who simply need a bit of reassurance before making a move.
Seller-focused keywords
Sellers are a simple cohort: they just want the process to be smooth and stress-free. Help them get a good price for their property, sell quickly, and not get buried in paperwork.
| Keywords | Search volume | Top of page bid (low) | Top of page bid (high) | Competition |
| houses for sale near me | 823 | $0.10 | $1.18 | Medium |
| homes to buy near me | 823 | $0.10 | $1.18 | Medium |
| homes for sale near me | 673 | $0.09 | $1.31 | Medium |
| houses for sale | 673 | $0.13 | $1.38 | Medium |
| homes for sale | 450 | $0.12 | $1.62 | High |
| zillow homes for sale | 301 | $0.06 | $0.69 | Low |
| land for sale near me | 201 | $0.10 | $0.58 | Medium |
| condos for sale near me | 110 | $0.12 | $0.82 | Medium |
| condominiums for sale near me | 110 | $0.12 | $0.82 | Medium |
| zillow homes for sale near me | 90,5 | $0.07 | $0.83 | Low |
| houses to buy | 90,5 | $0.17 | $0.65 | High |
| houses for sale near me zillow | 90,5 | $0.07 | $0.83 | Low |
Pro tip: Don’t ignore search queries based on fears and objections of the buyer audiences. Create content that works with their concerns. For instance, talk about “hidden home purchase costs” or “how to avoid bidding wars.” These topics will attract engaged buyers who simply need a bit of reassurance before making a move.
Seller-focused keywords
Sellers are a simple cohort: they just want the process to be smooth and stress-free. Help them get a good price for their property, sell quickly, and not get buried in paperwork.
| Keywords | Search volume | Top of page bid (low) | Top of page bid (high) | Competition |
| houses for sale near me | 823 | $0.10 | $1.18 | Medium |
| zillow homes for sale | 301 | $0.06 | $0.69 | Low |
| houses for sale zillow homes for sale | 301 | $0.06 | $0.69 | Low |
| land for sale | 201 | $0.14 | $0.60 | Medium |
| sale house | 74 | $0.20 | $2.03 | Medium |
| redfin home sales | 74 | $0.12 | $0.89 | Medium |
| new homes for sale new jersey | 49,5 | $0.25 | $0.67 | Medium |
| hud homes for sale | 40,5 | $0.48 | $2.13 | Medium |
| hud houses for sale | 40,5 | $0.48 | $2.13 | Medium |
| home sale | 40,5 | $0.19 | $1.00 | Medium |
| whole sale real estate | 40,5 | $1.82 | $5.96 | Medium |
| sell my house fast | 33,1 | $0.22 | $62.04 | Medium |
Pro tip: Monitor the language of recent seller reviews and property listing descriptions in your local area. Sellers often use unique terms to describe challenges (“stuck with an inherited house,” “need to relocate fast for a job,” “want to avoid home repairs”). Turn these real phrases into long-tail seller keywords and ad copy. This way, you catch motivated sellers exactly when they’re searching for solutions to their specific problems.
Renter-focused keywords
It’s probably the most versatile category of searchers. They have a very wide range of needs. Some are moving for a job and want flexibility, others are hunting for the perfect pet-friendly building or a deal with utilities included. Many renters are also younger and mobile-first.
| Keywords | Search volume | Top of page bid (low) | Top of page bid (high) | Competition |
| housing houses for rent | 673 | $0.19 | $1.10 | Medium |
| rentals home near me | 673 | $0.17 | $1.31 | Medium |
| rental estate | 673 | $0.19 | $2.12 | Low |
| rental estate agents | 301 | $0.52 | $13.73 | Low |
| rental zillow | 301 | $0.43 | $6.94 | Medium |
| zillow home rentals | 246 | $0.19 | $0.95 | Low |
| zillow rent apartment | 90,5 | $0.38 | $6.82 | Low |
| zillow rental manager | 74 | $1.03 | $8.53 | Low |
| rental property managers | 74 | $0.61 | $8.16 | Low |
| housing rentals | 60,5 | $0.21 | $1.82 | Medium |
| rental properties near me | 49,5 | $0.28 | $1.38 | Medium |
| property on rent near me | 49,5 | $0.28 | $1.38 | Medium |
Pro tip: Renters often use informal, conversational searches that bigger platforms miss. Monitor social media and local rental forums for trending tenant “wishlist” phrases (like “quiet building,” “cat-friendly,” or “all utilities included”). Add these specific amenities and concerns into your keywords and copy.
Investor and commercial-focused keywords
This group is all business: think ROI and market trends. They’re searching for emerging markets, undervalued properties, and creative investment angles.
| Keywords | Search volume | Top of page bid (low) | Top of page bid (high) | Competition |
| real estate investment | 135 | $0.40 | $5.98 | Low |
| reit | 74 | $1.08 | $6.00 | Medium |
| reits | 74 | $1.08 | $6.00 | Medium |
| real estate investment corporation | 74 | $1.08 | $6.00 | Medium |
| real estate income trust | 74 | $1.08 | $6.00 | Medium |
| investment property | 60,5 | $0.33 | $3.29 | Low |
| reit real estate investment trust | 40,5 | $0.34 | $1.21 | Medium |
| real investment trust | 40,5 | $0.34 | $1.21 | Medium |
| buying property | 27,1 | $0.15 | $0.61 | Low |
| angels investors | 27,1 | $2.11 | $11.04 | Medium |
| reit investing | 22,2 | $0.47 | $5.60 | High |
| property investment company | 22,2 | $0.24 | $0.66 | Low |
Pro tip: Track zoning law updates, tax incentives, and new development projects in your target markets. Weave those terms into your investor-focused keywords and landing pages.
Emerging Keyword Trends
Some SEO real estate keywords are exploding in demand thanks to wider market and societal shifts. These include the rise of crypto payments, changes in the cost of living, and other factors.
| Keyword | YoY growth | Volume | CPC | Trend reason | Unique angle |
| buy house with crypto [country] | 1,4 | 2,8 | 3.90 | Crypto adoption | Create guides, PR stories |
| fractional property ownership | 1,2 | 3,9 | 2.60 | Investment access | Use for investor landing pages |
| co-living spaces for professionals | 0,87 | 6,1 | 2.15 | Urbanization | Link to remote work content |
| rent guarantee program [city] | 0,74 | 2,5 | 1.75 | Tenant security | Partner w/ fintechs, blogs |
| smart home apartments [city] | 0,93 | 4,4 | 2.75 | Tech adoption | Partner with IoT brands |
| zero-deposit rentals [city] | 1,1 | 2,3 | 1.60 | Cost of living | Educational content, ads |
| accessible housing [city] | 0,83 | 1,8 | 1.95 | Aging/disabled | Authority-building, outreach |
| energy-efficient homes for sale [city] | 0,89 | 3,2 | 2.40 | Climate focus | Use in influencer marketing |
Pro tip: If you want to spot emerging trends before they’re obvious in the data, watch what the industry and your audiences are talking about. When you see a pattern, create new content ASAP. You’ll be able to monetize it while competitors are catching up.
High-Converting Long-Tail Keywords
Although you might think concise keywords are more on-point, long tails have some solid but less obvious benefits:
- People searching long-tail phrases usually have a specific goal in mind. They’re deeper in the decision process, so it’s easier to convert them.
- Long-tail keywords are more specific. It means less competition and gives you a better chance to rank highly. Even if your site is new or you’re targeting a niche area, you’ll perform better with long tails.
- Thanks to AI and tools like Siri, people are using voice assistants and speaking in full questions. Covering long-tail keywords helps you capture more of these searches.
- They’re great for highly targeted content and PPC. Each long-tail phrase can inspire a dedicated landing page, blog post, or ad campaign
| Keyword | Volume | Conv. rate | CPC | Unique content/offer idea |
| best gated communities with schools in [suburb] | 1,7 | 14.1% | 3.10 | Family-focused video tours |
| sell my house fast for cash in [city] | 2,1 | 15.9% | 4.40 | “We buy houses” retargeting |
| apartments with 2 bathrooms under $1500 [city] | 1,9 | 13.2% | 1.85 | Custom search, map integration |
| real estate agent specializing in relocation [city] | 1,3 | 12.7% | 2.95 | Highlight reviews, case studies |
| find rent-to-own homes near me | 2,4 | 16.2% | 3.60 | Funnel to lead magnet |
| modern lofts with coworking space [city] | 900 | 12.1% | 2.60 | 3D tours, remote work content |
| 55+ communities with activities in [state] | 1,3 | 14.8% | 2.20 | Events calendar, video content |
| how to avoid bidding wars when buying in [city] | 1,1 | 13.6% | 03.05 | Downloadable guide, webinar |
Trending Real Estate SEO Topics
If you want to get even smarter with your real estate SEO initiatives, it’s a good time to look at the big picture. Keywords are effective, but it’s the topics behind them that can make a real change now. Google’s new Muvera algorithm puts much more emphasis on comprehensive topic coverage rather than matching single search phrases.
Why does this matter?
- Muvera looks for depth and breadth. Google now ranks websites higher when they show expertise by covering all angles of a subject.
- Covering related subtopics signals trust and a better user experience.
- Topical clusters help you “own” whole segments of the search results, instead of competing for every single keyword.
Here are some of the top-trending real estate topics online:
| Topic | Search volume | Example subtopics/SERP results |
| zillow | 20,400,000 | Zillow: Real Estate, Apartments, Mortgages Zillow Group Zillow Real Estate & Rentals 4+ |
| real estate agent | 74 | Real Estate Brokers and Sales Agents Find Real Estate Agents and Brokers in Your Area Real Estate Agent Search |
| real estate attorney | 27,1 | Real Estate | Law Firm Real estate attorney: What they do and if you … Real Estate Attorneys in Harrisburg, PA |
| real estate investment | 12,1 | Marcus & Millichap: Real Estate Investment Fundrise 5 Simple Ways to Invest in Real Estate |
| real estate license nyc | 3,6 | New York Real Estate License NYREI: Real Estate Classes NY New York Real Estate License Classes Online |
| real estate business | 2,9 | Real Estate: Definition, Types, How to Invest Real Estate Business Institute |
| real estate australia | 1,9 | view.com.au Search for Real Estate, Property & Homes Domain.com.au |
| real estate brokerages | 1,9 | Redfin Find Real Estate Agents and Brokers in Your Area |
| real estate license new jersey | 1,9 | Real Estate School NJ Online Realtor Classes Real Estate School NJDOBI | New Jersey Real Estate Commission |
| real estate professionals | 480 | Real Estate Brokers and Sales Agents Find Real Estate Agents and Brokers in Your Area Real Estate Professionals, Inc. REALTORS |
| listing services | 170 | MLS.com Bright MLS: Home We Make MLS Easy |
| real estate clifton nj | 30 | Nicholas Real Estate Clifton, NJ Homes for Sale & Real Estate Clifton, NJ 2025 Housing Market |
Pro tip: If you’re not sure how to take advantage of topics, think about where your main strength lies. Pick a theme you’re an expert in and your ideal client cares about. Then cover it from every angle and link it all together.
How Serpzilla Can Help You Rank for Real Estate Words
To make the most of the right keywords, topics, and content, you can use Serpzilla. This is a powerful SEO platform that helps you grow rankings, build authority, and drive high-quality traffic by making link building and keyword management easier (and way more effective) than doing it solo.
Serpzilla gives you the tools and data to outrank competitors and reach the right audiences thanks to:
- Strong local authority. You can easily secure backlinks from local news, city blogs, and property review sites for hyperlocal relevance.
- Smart topic matching. Serpzilla’s AI-powered Smart Topic tool analyzes the semantic proximity between your target URL and potential referring domain pages. It covers both keywords and larger topic-focused areas. This means that your link will be placed within organically meaningful content that Google recognizes as credible.
- Automating safe, quality link building. Filter links by DA, location, traffic, and topic to avoid spam and improve your brand’s trust.
- Keyword filters. You can easily discover the best link-building opportunities in the real estate niche and take advantage of them to outperform competitors.
Check out the live demo of Serpzilla and see how it can set the pace for your winning SEO strategy in real estate.
Final Word
If there’s one thing you can count on in real estate SEO, it’s change. The most successful agencies and agents in 2025 will be the ones who stay agile with new trends and listen closely to what buyers, sellers, renters, and investors are searching for right now.
As Google keeps rolling out new, demanding algorithms, expect even more focus on expertise, trust, and covering full topics on top of isolated keywords. Those who adapt early will win the best rankings and the warmest leads. Start building topic clusters, update your long-tail keywords, and double down on local intent.
And if you want a partner in your SEO efforts, tools like Serpzilla can help you find new opportunities and keep your strategy one step ahead. The earlier you start, the further ahead you’ll be by year’s end.
