How to Attract First Time Home Buyers: 4 Proven Strategies That Work

A recent conversation with Steve Harney about the importance of home ownership on this week’s #TomFerryShow felt like the perfect moment to share some powerful ideas I’ve been developing.

These strategies are designed to help you attract more first time home buyers and millennial clients, giving you the chance to “get in on the ground floor” and build long-term relationships that last throughout their homeownership journey.

Sound good? There’s more…

Each idea also helps you leverage your buyer clients into future business, creating a ripple effect where your first-time buyer becomes the gateway to many more.

If you’ve been wondering how to attract first time home buyers, let’s dive into these four real estate strategies.

Strategy No. 1: “My First Home” Video Series

One of the best ways to connect with first time home buyers is by sharing relatable, real-life stories of others in their shoes.

Next time you help someone buy their first home, ask if you can document the journey on video…start to finish. Capture everything: the loan process, the online search, touring homes, making offers, closing, and even move-in day.

Call it “My First Home” or create your own brand around it.

Ask your clients questions like:

  • What made you decide to buy?
  • How did you start saving for a down payment?
  • What was the biggest fear you had about buying?
  • How did you find me?

This type of video is not only helpful content for others considering a purchase, it also positions you as someone who knows how to hold the hands of first time buyers and ease them through the entire process.

Strategy No. 2: Use Google Search Trends to Create Targeted Content

When millennials and first time home buyers begin their journey, they don’t search “best real estate agent near me.” Instead, they ask:

  • “How do I buy my first house?”
  • “Can I buy a home with bad credit?”
  • “How much do I need for a down payment?”

Use Google Ads keyword research or YouTube search autocomplete to find these exact questions, and then create short videos that speak directly to them.

This is a great way to attract first-time home buyers through educational content, especially younger buyers who are doing extensive online research before reaching out to an agent.

If you’re new to keyword research, tools like Keyword Tool or YouTube’s search bar can give you all the insight you need to start.

Strategy No. 3: Host a Housewarming Party to Expand Your Reach

Here’s one of my favorite real estate tips for first-time buyers, especially when you’re working with young clients who have large social circles.

If you help a buyer who’s one of the first in their group to purchase a home, throw them a housewarming party. Make it fun, make it memorable, and tell them to invite everyone they know.

You’re not just celebrating a major milestone, you’re positioning yourself as the real estate agent for first-time buyers in that entire friend group.

During the event:

  • Introduce yourself to guests.
  • Congratulate the homeowner publicly.

Let their story spark conversations with others who might now believe homeownership is within reach.

This strategy builds trust, creates referrals, and connects you with other millennial home buyers who may be ready to take the next step soon.

Strategy No. 4: Capture & Share Client Testimonial Videos

Few moments are as powerful as handing the keys to a first-time home buyer. The emotion, excitement, disbelief, and pride is unforgettable.

Capture it.

Film short testimonials asking questions like:

  • What fears did you have going in?
  • How did you choose me as your agent?
  • What surprised you about the process?
  • How would you recommend me to a friend?

These stories are emotional proof that you know how to support and guide first-time home buyers through what might otherwise feel like an overwhelming process.

Once you have the videos, boost them to your target audience on social or through ads. You’ll attract more leads who see themselves in those stories and trust you to do the same for them.

Working with First-Time Home Buyers is a Long-Term Game

Not every agent prioritizes first-time buyer clients… but those who do, and who leverage strategies like these, can build a referral machine that lasts for years.

By providing value, creating content, and building authentic connections, you’ll earn the trust of millennial buyers and other new homeowners…and become their go-to resource for life.