Why Google Ads Are a Game-Changer for Real Estate Agents

Jerad Larkin
Sep 25
3 min read

Are Google Ads really better than Facebook or Instagram ads for real estate?

Quick answer: Yes-because Google Ads let you target people who are actively searching for homes, not just scrolling their feed.

The Problem With Meta’s Housing Ad Rules

If you’ve ever tried running ads on Meta (Facebook/Instagram) as a Realtor, you know the frustration.

You’re limited to a 15-mile radius.
You can only pick vague interests like “Zillow” or “Trulia.”
Your audience ends up being huge but not specific-a million people who might not even be serious about buying or selling.

It’s broad. It’s general. And while Meta ads are still valuable, they don’t always put you in front of people who are ready to take action.

Enter Google Ads: Intent-Based Targeting

With Google Ads, you’re not just targeting based on demographics or interests-you’re targeting buyer intent.

Think about it:

A Facebook user might be scrolling memes and ads pop up for houses.
A Google user is literally typing:
- “buy a house in Denver”
- “townhouses for sale near me”
- “best real estate agent in Colorado”

That’s a night-and-day difference. These are buyers and sellers who are actively looking for solutions right now.

Why Google Ads Work So Well for Real Estate

Here are a few reasons Realtors should never skip Google Ads:

Laser-focused targeting – You’re showing up only for people searching with specific keywords tied to buying or selling.
Higher quality leads – Instead of casual browsers, you’re capturing people ready to make moves.
Flexibility in campaigns – From display ads to YouTube video ads to search ads, you can meet buyers and sellers across multiple Google platforms.
Control with customer lists – Just like Meta, you can upload your own database (emails, phone numbers) into Google Ads and run hyper-targeted campaigns.

A Quick Example

Let’s say you have a new listing in Wash Park, Denver.

On Meta: You can run an ad that shows to everyone within 15 miles of Denver who’s “interested in Zillow.” That’s thousands of people-most of whom aren’t even looking in Wash Park.
On Google: You run a campaign for “Wash Park homes for sale” or “Denver 3-bedroom homes.” Now your listing ad is showing up for buyers searching in real time for exactly that.

Which one do you think gets better clicks and inquiries?

The Best Combo: Google + Meta

Here’s my recommendation: Don’t choose one over the other. Use both strategically.

Google Ads = Catch buyers and sellers when they’re searching with intent.
Meta Ads = Stay top-of-mind with retargeting, brand awareness, and community-based marketing.

When you layer these two, you get the best of both worlds: intent + awareness.

Getting Started With Google Ads

If you’ve never run Google Ads before, here are the steps:

Set up your account at ads.google.com.
Choose keywords relevant to your market: “Denver condos for sale,” “Cherry Creek Realtor,” etc.
Decide your budget-start small, even $10–20/day.
Write your ad copy that speaks directly to buyers (“See the latest homes for sale in Denver-updated daily”).
Use customer lists-upload your database to re-engage past clients or SOI.
Track results-monitor clicks, leads, and conversions.

Meta ads may get you broad exposure, but Google Ads get you in front of the right buyers and sellers at the exact moment they’re searching. If you’re serious about growing your real estate business in Denver (or anywhere else), you can’t afford to ignore Google Ads.