Real Estate On Reels: Using Short-form videos to showcase homes
#dayinmylife #dailycommute these simple hashtags can help bring more eyes to your listings.
In today’s real estate world, it’s not enough to simply list a home. Buyers want to know the story of the neighborhood, what it feels like to live there, what the community offers, and why it’s worth investing in.
And where do they go to find that information? Increasingly, the answer is short-form video. Platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts have become powerful search engines for real estate. Each town has its own unique charm and this trend is a golden opportunity for agents to stand out.
Why Neighborhood Content Wins
Neighborhood content connects buyers and sellers on a deeper level. It goes beyond facts and figures and gives people an emotional sense of what life looks like in a town.
Hyperlocal Appeal: Whether it’s the historic streets of Salem, MA or the coastal beauty of Portsmouth, NH, buyers want to experience the vibe before they even step foot in a property.
Relocation Factor: Many buyers are moving in from other states. A video tour of the community helps them imagine life there.
Seasonal Storytelling: Four seasons = four times the content. Snowy sidewalks, fall foliage, summer festivals, and spring markets all tell a different story about a place.
5 Short-Form Video Ideas You Can Start With
Not sure where to begin? The best videos are simple, authentic, and show what it’s really like to live in a neighborhood. Here are five ideas that work especially well.
1.Day-in-the-Life Tours or Town Tours
Walk through downtown, stop at a coffee shop, capture a park, then end at a featured listing. Highlight the amazing activities they can do if they live in the area.
Example: “Touristy things to do in [Town]”
@austinrealtors Walkable in the Woodlands? Sign me up 💯 #thewoodlands #houstonapartments #apartmenttour #hugheslanding #htx ♬ Lofi - Domknowz
2. Best of [anything] in [town/state]
Highlight schools, activities, facilities, etc. that would be of interest to families. This video of “Best Public High Schools in Utah” gathered 147,000 views on TikTok. Although all of that aren’t exactly buyers, you’re establishing yourself as a go-to real estate person if any buyer has a question.
@homeswithgrantevans Best Public High Schools in Utah! What is your favorite high school? #utahrealestate #utah ♬ original sound - Grant Evans
3. [x] Things You Need To Know About Living In [ State/Town]
Laying out the pros and cons of living in an area shows your knowledge about the place and gives you more credibility. This video titled “5 Things You Need To Know About Living In Oregon” got over 277,000 views on TikTok.
@msemilywin 5 Things you need to know about living in Oregon 🌲 📲DM me if you are planning to move to Oregon or would like to know more! #PortlandLiving #RealEstateOregon #PacificNorthwestRealEstate #OregonHomes #pdxhomes #fyp ♬ original sound - msemilywin
4. Seasonal Spotlights
Capture fall leaves in Vermont, summer beaches in Cape Cod, or cozy winter interiors in New Hampshire. Seasonal videos perform exceptionally well. This TikTok video titled “Colorado Fall Bucket List” has over 237,000 views.
@realestateriley_denver If you are looking for INCREDIBLE food, amazing wine, and an amazing view of fall colors….look no further! Highly recommend checking out Aspen Peak Cellars! We randomly found this place when lead peeping, and i will absolutely be back!! #realtorindenver #coloradolife #baileyco #aspenpeakcellars #buyingahouseindenver #fallincolorado #coloradorealtor ♬ fall - natural_wellness1
Keep It Seasonal — Even When It’s Not
Capture what makes each season special — fall foliage, summer farmers markets, or a snowy street lined with lights.
Showcase how cozy the home becomes during winter, how the trees change in color in fall, and how vibrant the neighborhood becomes in spring. This is a smart way to the season as the theme of your content. If you have fresh listings that have videos featuring all the seasons, all the better!
Shooting during the winter? No problem. We can make it Summer all year-round with our Virtual Summer photo enhancement service.
5. Local Hotspot Features
Quick highlights of restaurants, gyms, farmers markets, or hidden gems.
Example: “Best Lobster Roll in Portland, ME (and why locals love it).”
@heysaraherickson Here it is! Follow me for all things Fargo ;) 1. Red River Market The market kicks off July 12 and goes every Saturday through October (except for that Sunday Market on July 20). It’s downtown, tons of local food, live music, cool little vendors — honestly one of my favorite things to do in the summer. They’ve also got free ride programs and SNAP Double Bucks if that helps. 2. Red River Valley Fair The fair’s happening July 5–14 over in West Fargo. Rides, concerts, all the fried food — you know the deal. The concert lineup actually looks pretty solid this year with a mix of country and rock shows. 3. Fargo Air Show (Correction Not in 2025, but keep an eye out!) at Hector. It only happens every couple of years, so if you’ve never been — it’s worth checking out. Fighter jets, stunt planes, the whole thing. 4. Island Park Pool The new pool is finally open after being shut down for, like, ever. It’s got slides, lap lanes, a kids’ area — way nicer than it used to be. 5.RedHawks Games If you’re just looking for something chill, RedHawks baseball games are always fun. Easy to get tickets, good atmosphere, and you can’t beat a summer night at the ballpark. They do fireworks on Friday home games! 6.Bonanzaville Total classic if you’ve got kids or family visiting. It’s basically a little pioneer town with old buildings, museums, and all the Fargo history stuff. I always have fun taking my kids there! Should I create a guide to summer in Fargo!? #movingtofargo #fargomoorhead #northdakota #minnesotarealtor #livinginfargo #fargo #fargorealestate #fargo #whattodoinnorthdakota ♬ There She Goes - CYRIL & MOONLGHT & The La's
Video Content: Endless Possibilities
If you’re already paying for premium video content for your listings like aerial photography or drone videos, you can build content with endless possibilities. The trick is to repurpose content so it works across platforms without doubling your workload.
Here’s a simple workflow:
Pick a neighborhood → Choose a town, village, or neighborhood you want to feature.
Write the Blog → Cover schools, commute times, lifestyle, and housing trends.
Cut and reuse videos → Pull 3–5 short clips from your videos: main street, local events, seasonal features.
Embed the videos in your plog → This not only boosts SEO but keeps visitors on your site longer.
Repurpose for Social → Each video can become a Reel, TikTok, or Shorts post with the blog as the “anchor” resource.
Turn one video into endless opportunities! 🎥➡️ From listings and email campaigns to guides, blogs, and social media reels — repurposing your video content helps you reach more buyers and sellers with less effort.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Every new strategy has pitfalls, and short-form video is no exception. The good news is that with a little awareness, you can sidestep them.
Overproducing: People want authentic, not scripted perfection.
Focusing only on houses: Show lifestyle — schools, parks, food, culture.
Ignoring geotags/hashtags: Critical for being found in local searches.
Forgetting to repurpose: Every blog should generate multiple pieces of micro-content.
Why Consistency Builds Trust
It’s not just about creating a video here and there — it’s about showing up consistently. Over time, consistency is what transforms you into a recognizable figure in your community.
When you post regularly:
You become recognizable. Buyers and sellers see you online and start to associate your name with the area.
You establish local authority. People begin to see you as the agent who knows the neighborhood inside and out.
You create trust before the first meeting. By the time a client reaches out, they already feel like they know you.
The more you post, the more you become the go-to voice for your community — and in real estate, trust is everything.
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Final Thoughts
Real estate is about more than square footage — it’s about community and connection. By combining neighborhood spotlights with short-form video, you’ll meet buyers where they’re searching, give sellers confidence in your marketing, and build a stronger local brand.
If you’re ready to start, begin with your own backyard. Showcase your street, your favorite café, or your local park. The key is to show the authentic lifestyle that makes people fall in love with a place — long before they fall in love with a house.