Most Real Estate Newsletters Feel Like A Chore To Read.
There. We said it.
They’re filled with generic “Just Listed” links, stale market updates, and maybe—if someone on the team is feeling bold—a Canva graphic with a quote about how “home is where the heart is.”
Yawn.
But here’s the good news: it’s not that people hate getting newsletters…
They just hate getting the wrong kind of newsletter.
If you’re only sending real estate listings, you’re missing the entire point of email marketing. You’re asking for business before you’ve earned attention.
Why Most Real Estate Letters Don’t Work
You’re not losing subscribers because you send too much.
You’re losing them because you send the same thing over and over again—and they stopped caring.
“But I don’t want to annoy people!”
Wrong mindset.
People expect valuable content. They don’t expect to be bored to death by a one-line market update and six dry links to listings they didn’t ask for.
If you want people to open your emails, you need to earn their attention like a Netflix show:
- Keep it fresh
- Keep it interesting
- Keep them wanting more
The “Switch It Up” Content Philosophy
We treat our newsletter like a local lifestyle magazine with real estate energy in the background.
Instead of selling, we entertain, educate, and connect.
Our weekly mix includes:
| Content Type | Why It Works |
| Local Restaurant Reviews | Gives them something to try this weekend |
| Home Improvement Tips | Delivers real value (and builds trust) |
| Community Events | Shows you’re plugged in locally |
| Personal Stories | Builds emotional connection—they feel like they know you |
| Real Estate Insights | Still reminds them what you do—but softly |
| Small Biz Spotlights | Builds goodwill and shows you support the community |
| Seasonal Recipes | People love food content—seriously |
This mix keeps things interesting—and makes your newsletter feel like a gift, not a pitch.
Weekly Structure: Our Proven Content Mix
Want to model a newsletter format that actually works? Here’s the basic breakdown:
Subject Line
Short, punchy, curiosity-driven.
Example: “Sacramento’s best tacos + why your kitchen paint job sucks”
Intro Story (150–200 words)
Start with a personal anecdote, weird thought, or funny moment. Human-first, always.
Main Feature
One of these, rotated weekly:
- Restaurant review
- Community event roundup
- Home hack/how-to
- Real estate FAQ
Secondary Feature
Another short piece, usually:
- A client win story
- A seasonal recipe
- A “small biz of the week” spotlight
CTA
Soft real estate reminder:
“Looking for a kitchen like the one in today’s tip? I’ll help you find it. Hit reply.”
Real Examples That Got Results
Let’s break down a few real email pieces that got insane engagement:
Subject: “I almost bought my dad a mug that said Grill Sergeant…”
Opening line:
It was either that or a T-shirt with a cartoon steak flexing its muscles.
Both felt like giving up on life.
What followed:
- A funny rant about Father’s Day shopping
- A curated list of local OC events and brunches
- A “5-minute home fix” tip
- A short paragraph about market inventory changes
Results:
- 46.2% open rate
- 31 replies
- 3 showing requests
Subject: “How a can of paint saved my sanity”
Opening line:
I was one splatter away from losing it.
I repainted my kitchen walls with the kind of energy you reserve for breakups or new beginnings.
What followed:
- DIY kitchen makeover tips
- A roundup of local paint pros
- A short real estate tip: “How to prep your home for listing without losing your mind”
Results:
- 42% open rate
- 27 replies
- 1 seller consult booked that week
What to Avoid (Mistakes Most Agents Make)
Let’s call out what not to do:
- Making every subject line about real estate
- Using the same template every week
- Sending only listings
- Sounding like a robot
- Forgetting the “you” in your writing (don’t talk at them)
This isn’t corporate comms. This is human-to-human.
Write like you’re texting a smart friend who’s got good taste and lives nearby.
Automation Tips: Work Smart, Not Hard
Worried this will take too long? It won’t if you do it right.
Here’s how to systemize your newsletter without losing soul:
| Tool | Use |
| ConvertKit | Easy visual automations and email broadcasts |
| Notion | Plan newsletter content calendars |
| ChatGPT | Drafts your first version (you add the sauce) |
| Canva | asy graphic headers or icons |
| Google Alerts | Local news/event inspiration |
Batch content once a month. Add personal notes weekly. Done.
Newsletter Strategy FAQs
Final Thoughts: Real Estate Is the Hook, Not the Show
Here’s the real truth most coaches won’t say:
People don’t care about your market stats. They care about their life.
Your job is to become part of their life—before they ever need an agent.
And you do that by showing up with content that feels like a conversation, not a pitch.
- Send more than you think you should
- Make 90% of it not about real estate
- Make it so good they’d pay for it
- Be funny, be real, be local
- And yes, always remind them you’re the agent they trust when the time comes
Ready to level up your emails?
Then, Join My Newsletter for helpful content, where we give you plug-and-play content weekly, plus scripts, tools, and automation that make it actually doable.
Get my fee guide on how to write a Real Estate Newsletter here!