Staring at your phone wondering what to post next? We’ve got you. Below you’ll find 50 real estate Instagram post ideas—organized to grow a local audience, build trust, and convert views into appointments—plus the hooks, formats, and CTAs that stop the scroll. We’ll also share a posting cadence, a sample two-week content calendar, and a few “cheat codes” to scale content without burning out. Quick win before we start: update your bio to sell. State the market you serve, your niche, a crisp value prop, and a direct call to action (e.g., “DM ‘LIST’ for our 2025 Seller Guide”).
- Reels (short-form video): Best discoverability via Explore; fantastic for quick tours, tips, and neighborhood vibes. In the first three seconds, pair motion (walk-in, green-screen swipe) with a curiosity opener and bold on-screen text.
- Carousels: Up to 10 slides make them perfect for step-by-steps, checklists, and “saveable” guides. Lead with a bold promise on slide 1, deliver value on slides 2–8, and close with a clear CTA.
- Stories: Daily touchpoints for behind-the-scenes, polls, quizzes, and Q&As. Use keyword CTAs like “DM ‘MAP’ for our neighborhood guide” and pin winners to Highlights.
- Feed posts (grid): Your portfolio. Feature top-tier visuals and evergreen brand assets you want prospects to see first when they visit your profile.
- Instagram Live: Real-time AMAs, open house walkthroughs, and market briefings. Lives trigger notifications and deepen connection; save replays to your grid and Highlights.
- Highlights: Treat them like your site menu: New Here, Listings, Testimonials, Buyer Guide, Seller Guide, Neighborhoods, FAQs, Market Updates.
Pro tip: Hooks beat perfection. We favor crisp, specific value with a simple CTA on nearly every post. And we follow the 80/20 rule: 80% of content features us on camera; 20% are credibility posts (just listed/sold, reviews).
Posting mix and cadence that actually works
- Weekly cadence: 5 Reels (2 lifestyle, 2 education, 1 tour), 3 Carousels (checklists, myth-busting, timelines), Stories daily (6–10 frames), and one short Live.
- Content mix: Balance education, community, lifestyle, and listings. Keep pure “Just Listed/Sold” to ~10–15% of posts.
- Repurpose smart: Reels → TikTok/YouTube Shorts, Stories → Highlights, Carousels → blog PDFs. Expand or collapse content across formats.
50 real estate Instagram post ideas (with format, hook, and CTA)
Grow a local audience (top of funnel)
- 5 free things to do this weekend in [City] — Reel. Hook: “Don’t pay for fun in [City] this weekend.” CTA: “Comment WEEKEND for the map.” Why it works: Saveable local value drives shares.
- Best brunch spots in [Neighborhood] — Reel/Carousel. Hook: “Locals swear by #3.” CTA: “Tag a brunch buddy.” Why it works: Lifestyle sells neighborhoods.
- Coffee crawl: 3 cafes, 1 morning — Reel. Hook: Enter frame with a cup. CTA: “Save this for your next work-from-cafe day.” Why it works: Personality + routine = connection.
- Date night ideas under $50 — Carousel. Hook: Bold text on slide 1. CTA: “Share with your person.” Why it works: Budget-friendly lists get shared.
- Top 3 family-friendly parks/playgrounds — Reel. Hook: “Parents, this one has shade and bathrooms.” CTA: “Comment PARK for directions.” Why it works: Solves real local problems.
- Pet-friendly places (patios/trails) — Carousel. Hook: Dog cameo. CTA: “Tag a dog parent.” Why it works: Pets = engagement magnets.
- Most Instagrammable murals in [City] — Reel. Hook: Quick-cut wall art. CTA: “Save for your next photo walk.” Why it works: Visual eye-candy fuels Discover.
- Seasonal bucket list (spring/fall/holiday) — Carousel. Hook: “15 can’t-miss [Season] events.” CTA: “DM BUCKET for the printable.” Why it works: Swipeable, saveable content.
- Community spotlight: local small business owner — Reel interview. Hook: “The story behind [Biz] in 30 seconds.” CTA: “Follow them and tell them we sent you.” Why it works: Earns tags and goodwill.
- Historic landmark mini-tour — Reel. Hook: “You’ve driven past this 100 times…” CTA: “Comment HISTORY for more.” Why it works: Local pride sparks comments.
- Neighborhood vibe tour (walk-and-talk) — Reel. Hook: “This is why [Neighborhood] is hot.” CTA: “DM VIBE for the full guide.” Why it works: Helps buyers self-select.
- Free kids’ activities this month — Carousel. Hook: “Parents, thank us later.” CTA: “Save + share with your group chat.” Why it works: Highly shareable utility.
- Farmers market crawl — Reel. Hook: “Hidden gems at [Market] this Saturday.” CTA: “Comment MARKET for the vendor list.” Why it works: Timely, local, saveable.
- Best happy hours with a view — Carousel. Hook: “$6 tacos + this sunset.” CTA: “Tag your HH crew.” Why it works: Lifestyle = local reach.
- Trails and hikes by difficulty — Carousel. Hook: “Beginner to advanced: 5 trails.” CTA: “Save for the weekend.” Why it works: Broad interest + save triggers.
- Local event recap (you attended) — Reel. Hook: “Missed [Event]? Here’s the vibe.” CTA: “Follow for weekly recaps.” Why it works: You become a trusted local feed.
- School zone overview (resource-first) — Carousel. Hook: “Start your research here.” CTA: “DM SCHOOLS for links.” Why it works: Neutral info = high trust. Avoid opinions; share official resources.
- Transit or commute tips — Carousel. Hook: “When the express trains actually save time.” CTA: “Save for your move.” Why it works: Practical relocation value.
- Cost of living vs [Feeder City] — Carousel. Hook: “What $4,000/mo gets you in [City] vs [Feeder].” CTA: “Comment CALC for our budget planner.” Why it works: Anchors expectations.
- Instagrammable day in [Neighborhood] (route) — Reel. Hook: “Start here, end here.” CTA: “Comment MAP for the Google route.” Why it works: Itineraries drive saves.
Build trust and authority (middle of funnel)
- A day in our life as [City] Realtors — Reel/Stories. Hook: “2 showings, 1 inspection, 1 workout—let’s go.” CTA: “Follow for the real day-to-day.” Why it works: People hire people they like.
- What we did to sell this home — Reel. Hook: “The 5 plays that got this sold.” CTA: “DM PLAN for our prep checklist.” Why it works: Specific social proof.
- Staging or make-ready time-lapse — Reel. Hook: “From chaos to closing-ready in 6 hours.” CTA: “Save for your move.” Why it works: Process > promises.
- Before/after transformation — Carousel. Hook: “Swipe to see $18k well spent.” CTA: “Comment BEFORE for vendor list.” Why it works: ROI stories convert sellers.
- Client case study — Carousel. Hook: “They had to sell to buy. Here’s how we timed it.” CTA: “DM TIMELINE for steps.” Why it works: Teaches and reassures.
- Inspection behind-the-scenes — Reel. Hook: “3 issues that aren’t deal killers.” CTA: “Save for inspection day.” Why it works: Reduces anxiety.
- Appraisal explained — Carousel. Hook: “No, the appraiser doesn’t…” CTA: “Comment APPRAISAL for prep tips.” Why it works: Jargon busters build confidence.
- Offer strategy breakdown — Carousel. Hook: “How we won with terms, not price.” CTA: “DM WIN for our offer playbook.” Why it works: Concrete tactics = authority.
- Tools of the trade (what’s in our bag) — Reel. Hook: “Why we carry a laser measure and outlet tester.” CTA: “Save this.” Why it works: Competence on display.
- Vendor spotlight (lender/inspector/contractor) — Reel interview. Hook: “Ask the lender: 2-1 buydowns in plain English.” CTA: “Comment RATE for scenarios.” Why it works: Borrowed expertise.
- Market update (green screen) — Reel. Hook: “Inventory in [City] is up 27% since 2019.” CTA: “Comment ARTICLE for the full report.” Why it works: Timely data captures attention.
- Weekly Live Q&A: ‘Ask us anything [City] real estate’ — Live. Hook: “Buying in 2025? Bring your questions.” CTA: “Turn on reminders.” Why it works: Real-time trust.
- Story quizzes/polls — Stories. Hook: “Guess this list price” / “Which kitchen? A or B.” CTA: “Vote—answers at 6 pm.” Why it works: Easy interaction boosts ranking.
- Open house prep BTS — Stories/Reel. Hook: “What really goes into an open house.” CTA: “DM TOUR for VIP early access.” Why it works: Transparency = credibility.
- Meet the team (or you, solo) — Carousel. Hook: “Faces behind the scenes.” CTA: “Ask us anything.” Why it works: Humanizes your brand.
- Local law/tax changes (plain English) — Carousel. Hook: “Property tax cap update in 60 seconds.” CTA: “Save + share.” Why it works: Practical relevance; include a disclaimer to consult a pro.
- Design explainer: lighting/stone/appliances — Carousel. Hook: “Quartzite vs quartz—why it matters.” CTA: “Comment DESIGN for sources.” Why it works: Authority via taste and knowledge.
- Real estate meme that actually lands — Single image/Reel. Hook: Local humor. CTA: “Tag the friend who needs this.” Why it works: Lightweight reach booster.
- Holiday/seasonal (make it local) — Carousel. Hook: “Where to see the best lights in [City].” CTA: “Save for December.” Why it works: Timely and shareable.
- Community/volunteer day — Reel. Hook: “We closed the laptops and packed 200 meals.” CTA: “Here’s how to help.” Why it works: Values-based branding.
Convert views into conversations (bottom of funnel)
- What $X gets you in [Area] — Reel. Hook: “$450k in [Suburb]: let’s look.” CTA: “DM LIST for details.” Why it works: Price anchors = irresistible.
- Affordability hook tour — Reel. Hook: “If your household makes $4,500/mo, this is doable 30 mins from downtown.” CTA: “DM PAYMENT for scenarios.” Why it works: Specificity drives DMs. Add financing disclaimers.
- Most vs least expensive homes this week — Green-screen Reel. Hook: “From $289k to $9.8M—both active today.” CTA: “Comment MLS for links.” Why it works: High-curiosity contrast.
- Coming soon teaser (check compliance) — Reel. Hook: “This kitchen… tour drops Friday.” CTA: “DM VIP for early access.” Why it works: Anticipation builds demand.
- Open house invite with RSVP — Reel/Story. Hook: “Free coffee, great house, Saturday 12–3.” CTA: “DM OPEN to RSVP.” Why it works: Clear offer + urgency.
- Price drop alert — Carousel. Hook: “New price on a top school street.” CTA: “DM DROP for the sheet.” Why it works: Reframes value; revives attention.
- Relocation series: Moving from [Feeder City] to [Your City] — Carousel. Hook: “What shocks Californians about Austin (and what doesn’t).” CTA: “Comment MOVE for our relocation guide.” Why it works: Targets active searchers.
- Best suburbs for [lifestyle] (walkability/schools/commutes) — Carousel. Hook: “No-car living: 3 real options.” CTA: “DM MAP for commute times.” Why it works: Lifestyle fit beats features.
- Rent vs buy in [City] (break-even) — Carousel. Hook: “At $2,400/mo rent, buying often pencils at year 3.” CTA: “Comment CALC for our spreadsheet.” Why it works: Numbers disarm objections. Include disclaimers.
- Buy-and-sell-same-time timeline — Carousel. Hook: “The exact order to avoid double moves.” CTA: “DM TIMELINE for the checklist.” Why it works: Clarity reduces friction.
Execution playbook: hooks, CTAs, hashtags, and geo
- Hooks: “What most buyers don’t realize…,” “3 things we’d never skip…,” “In [City], this one feature adds $$$…” Pair motion + on-screen text + curiosity.
- CTAs (make the next step obvious): “Save this,” “Share with someone house-hunting,” “DM ‘MAP’ for our neighborhood guide,” “Comment your Zip for custom comps.” We often trigger DMs with a keyword like “AUSTIN” and auto-reply with a guide to start the conversation.
- Hashtags and tags: Use 5–7 niche/local tags (#YourCityRealEstate #FirstTimeBuyerTips #SouthAustin). Always geotag neighborhoods and tag featured businesses or clients (with permission).
- Captions for search: Write human-first but include keywords like “real estate Instagram ideas,” “Reels ideas for Realtors,” and “local market update [City]” to help discovery.
- Accessibility & quality: Add subtitles, readable text, and descriptive alt text; ensure good lighting and audio; keep your grid cohesive with consistent edits.
Two-week sample content calendar
- Mon: Carousel — First-time buyer roadmap (turn into lead magnet)
- Tue: Reel — Cinematic mini-tour (30–45s, 3 signature features)
- Wed: Stories — Poll: “Which kitchen?” + Q&A box
- Thu: Reel — Neighborhood spotlight (walk-and-talk)
- Fri: Feed — Local business feature
- Sat: Reel — “How much $$$ buys you in [City]”
- Sun: Story — Free weekend list; save to Highlights
- Mon: Carousel — Staging tips (fast, low-cost updates)
- Tue: Reel — Mortgage mini-class (fixed vs ARM, buydowns)
- Wed: Live — Open house walkthrough; save replay
- Thu: Carousel — Saveable moving checklist (lead-in to DM keyword)
- Fri: Feed — Referral thank-you wall (with permission)
- Sat: Reel — Myths debunked (“You need 20% down”)
- Sun: Story — Listing prep BTS; pin to Highlights
Profile setup that converts
- Bio that sells: Market + niche + unique value + CTA link (calendar, relocation guide, or “DM ‘LIST’ for our Seller Guide”).
- Highlights: New Here, Listings, Testimonials, Buyer/Seller Guides, Neighborhoods, FAQs. Treat Highlights like your site nav.
- Pinned posts: Your best neighborhood guide, a client testimonial Reel, and a “Start here” intro.
Scale your content without living on Instagram
- Batching: Film 4–6 Reels in one session; schedule weekly. Use repeatable series (Home of the Week, Price Check Tuesday).
- AI prompts to speed up carousels: Ask an assistant to draft 5 buyer FAQs, 5 seller myths, and 5 relocation queries for your city—each with a headline and CTA. Then generate a 7-slide carousel outline (headlines, bullets, alt text, and a conversion CTA on slide 7).
- Design in bulk: Use Canva’s Bulk Create or Gamma to produce 10–50 branded graphics at once; keep text mobile-friendly.
- Automate DMs: Tools like ManyChat can send a guide automatically when someone comments a keyword (“ARTICLE,” “MAP”). Follow up with thoughtful questions to move conversations into your CRM.
- Repurpose across platforms: Turn Reels into TikToks and YouTube Shorts; expand carousels into blog posts/PDF guides; collapse long posts into Stories.
- Daily engagement: 15 minutes/day to reply to DMs, comment on local accounts, and nurture leads.
Compliance, consent, and tone
- Permissions: Get written consent for client photos/testimonials. Tag with care.
- Fair housing: Describe properties and locations, not people or protected classes.
- Finance/tax: Add disclaimers and refer to licensed pros; avoid quoting rates unless approved and current.
- Be kind: Keep “caption this” and DIY posts educational, not shaming.
Measure what matters
- Top signals: Saves, shares, profile visits, DM starts. These outrank likes for the algorithm and align with lead generation.
- Iterate: Double-down on formats and topics that drive DMs and inquiries; refresh weak posts with stronger hooks and clearer CTAs.
Final take
Use these 50 real estate Instagram post ideas as a rotating content library. Keep it local, lean into Reels, make carousels saveable, and add a simple CTA to almost every post. If you consistently publish even 10 of these ideas, you’ll see more views, more DMs, and more “We already feel like we know you” appointments. Connection beats perfection—hit record and let the conversations (and closings) follow.