Choosing the Right Domain for Real Estate

Real estate is local. Your domain should reflect that. A Denver agent benefits from having Denver in the domain more than almost any other business type. Local SEO matters because that's how buyers and sellers find agents.

The naming decision depends on your business model. Solo agents typically use personal names. Teams use group brands. Brokerages use company names. Match the domain to what you're actually building.

Location-Based Domains

Including your city or neighborhood directly helps search rankings. DenverLuxuryHomes.com tells Google exactly what searches to surface you for. This works because real estate is inherently geographic.

The tradeoff: location locks you in. If you expand to Boulder, your Denver domain doesn't help. Agents planning to work multiple markets might prefer location-neutral branding.

Personal Brand Domains

Clients hire agents, not companies. JaneSmithRealty.com or HomesbyJane.com put your name front and center. This works because buyers want to know who they'll work with.

Personal domains also match how people search. "Jane Smith realtor Denver" is a common query pattern. Your domain reinforces the connection.

Naming Patterns That Work

[City]Homes.com: Direct local SEO benefit. AustinHomes, SeattleHomes. Competition is high for major cities, so add differentiators.

[Name]Realty.com: Personal brand with professional suffix. SmithRealty, JohnsonRealty. Works for solo agents or family teams.

[Neighborhood]Properties.com: Hyperlocal focus. CapitolHillProperties, LakefrontHomes. Works when you dominate a specific area.

[Descriptive]Homes.com: Category ownership. LuxuryHomesAustin, HistoricHomesBoston. Targets a specific buyer segment.

TLD Recommendations

.com remains standard. Home buyers expect it. Mortgage and title companies recognize it. No explanation needed on business cards.

.realty signals your profession directly. Good availability means you can get short, memorable names. Works well for established agents.

.homes focuses on the product. Slightly more consumer-friendly than .realty. Good for buyer-focused agents.

Mistakes to Avoid

Don't use "realtor" unless you're NAR-certified. It's a trademark. Misuse creates legal liability and forced rebranding.

Don't copy the big portals. BetterZillow.com or NotRedfin.com position you as a knockoff rather than an alternative.

Don't use too many keywords. AustinTexasLuxuryHomesForSale.com looks spammy and doesn't fit on a business card.