Winning Listings in Low Inventory Market: 2025 Strategies

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• The Current Listing Landscape Challenge
• Data-Driven Listing Acquisition Strategies
• Scaling Your Listing Acquisition Strategy for Teams
• Taking Action: Your Next Steps

Imagine this: You’re reviewing your pipeline for the third time this week. The numbers are clear—listing inventory is down, and buyer clients are growing frustrated. You’ve called your sphere, sent market updates, and even hosted an open house just to spark more activity.

But in today’s low-inventory market, the old playbook isn’t enough.

If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Across the country, agents are adjusting to a market where listings are harder to find and sellers seem to be waiting on the sidelines.

The good news? With the right strategies—and the right systems—you can consistently uncover listings and stay ahead of the competition.

According to REDX data, despite lower inventory, 2025 is projected to show an increase in 2025

The Current Listing Landscape Challenge

The real estate market of 2025 bears little resemblance to markets of the past. With housing inventory at just 3.5 months of supply nationally (well below the 5-6 months considered balanced), competition for listings remains fierce in many markets.

Bankrate housing market predictions, while inventory has improved compared to recent years, we’re still seeing historically low levels of available homes in many regions. This persistent inventory shortage has created unprecedented competition for listings.

Traditional prospecting methods fall short in today’s environment for three key reasons:

• Single-channel approaches don’t reach reluctant sellers who need multiple touchpoints before considering a move
• Generic messaging fails to address specific seller hesitations about entering the current market
• Manual follow-up systems can’t maintain the consistency needed to stay top-of-mind in extended decision cycles

In today’s market, sellers need more trust, more relevant information, and a clearer path forward. To win listings, your prospecting must evolve from random calls to a predictable, scalable system.

Data-Driven Listing Acquisition Strategies

In a low-inventory market, success starts with working smarter—not harder. The right data gives you the edge to find motivated sellers before your competition even knows they’re thinking about moving.

According to The Close, 81% of sellers hire the first agent they meet, and NAR data shows that 65% choose an agent they already know or were referred to.

This means early, meaningful connections matter more than ever.

Here’s how REDX helps you get there:

1. Target high-probability sellers using predictive analytics

REDX provides multiple high list-rate lead sources that far outperform traditional SOI (which typically has only a 3-5% turnover rate):

High list-rate lead sources should include:

• Expired Listings (43% list rate): Connect with sellers who still want to move but need a better agent
• FSBOs (38% list rate): Reach sellers already committed to selling but trying to avoid agent commissions
• Pre-foreclosures (15% list rate): Help homeowners facing financial challenges explore their options
• FRBOs (8% list rate): Connect with rental property owners who may be ready to sell
• GeoLeads: Farm entire neighborhoods with customized filters to identify likely sellers

Learn more about REDX’s lead products here.

2. Implement a motivation-based approach

Not all sellers think alike. Tailoring your conversations based on seller motivation builds trust faster and improves conversion rates.

Key seller profiles:

• Equity Sellers: Focus on net proceeds and investment opportunities
• Life Transition Sellers: Emphasize the timing and convenience factors
• Relocating Sellers: Highlight your network of agents in destination markets
• Pre-foreclosure Situations: Offer solutions and expertise in challenging situations

3. Create a property-specific value proposition

Generic market updates don’t move the needle anymore. Instead, develop personalized value propositions that speak directly to a homeowner’s specific situation.

When approaching potential sellers in today’s market, leading with “Are you thinking of selling?” rarely works. Instead, bringing specific information about their property type and how similar homes have performed in recent sales immediately establishes value and sets you apart from other agents.

By focusing on data points that matter to individual homeowners—rather than broadcasting generic market statistics—you position yourself as a resource rather than just another agent looking for listings.

If you need help figuring out what to say to a lead on the phone, consider checking out one of our PLUS leads, which comes with homeowner insights, market insights, and market data for your leads.

Multi-Channel Implementation Framework

Working smarter with data is powerful. But turning leads into listings takes more than a list—it requires a consistent, structured marketing system.

In 2025, the most successful agents don’t rely on just one prospecting method. They create an omnipresent brand across multiple channels, ensuring they’re the agent sellers remember when they’re ready to move.

Here’s how to turn insights into action:

Step 1: Build a synchronized outreach calendar

Create a 90-day contact strategy for each potential seller that includes:

• Personalized direct mail pieces highlighting neighborhood-specific sales
• Targeted social media ads displaying your local expertise (check out REDX’s Ad Builder to simplify this process)
• Strategic phone outreach timed to follow other touchpoints
• Value-driven email sequences addressing specific seller concerns (learn more about effective email marketing for real estate)

The key is ensuring each channel reinforces and builds upon the messages delivered through other channels.

Step 2: Develop channel-specific messaging that works together

While your core value proposition remains consistent, each channel should play a specific role:

• Direct mail: Showcase tangible results with case studies of recent sales
• Social media: Build familiarity and demonstrate market knowledge (get started with these 29 social media post ideas for real estate agents)
• Phone outreach: Build a personal connection and uncover specific needs
• Email: Provide valuable insights and maintain consistent contact

Step 3: Create a follow-up system that converts over time

In a low inventory market, the conversion timeline extends significantly. Your follow-up system must be built to nurture relationships over months:

• Implement a CRM with automated but personalized follow-up sequences
• Create a “value vault” of market insights you can share regularly. REDX GeoLeads PLUS are a great place to get these for any market.
• Develop a system for tracking interactions across all channels
• Establish trigger points that alert you to increased seller interest

When you coordinate these elements, you create a system that not only reaches potential sellers wherever they are but also demonstrates a level of professionalism that sets you apart from agents still relying on a single approach.

Real results from a multi-channel approach:

A coordinated targeting strategy focused on just 150 homes can secure multiple listing appointments in markets where few homes have recently sold. By implementing these techniques consistently, agents are finding success even in areas with extremely limited inventory.

Scaling Your Listing Acquisition Strategy for Teams

For team leaders, implementing these strategies at scale requires both the right systems and accountability measures:

Build a lead distribution system that maximizes conversion

• Assign leads based on agent strengths and expertise
• Create clear accountability for follow-up across all channels
• Track performance metrics for continuous improvement

Standardize your multi-channel approach

• Develop templated marketing assets that maintain brand consistency
• Create playbooks for each lead type that all team members can follow
• Implement regular training to ensure effective execution (check out 7 Strategies to Stand Out in a Low Inventory Market for team-specific tactics)

Leverage REDX’s team features for greater efficiency

• Distribute leads to team members
• Track follow-up activity across your entire team
• Consistently keep team members in the know with training materials 

By systematizing your listing acquisition strategy across your team, you can significantly increase your listing inventory even in markets with historically low inventory levels.

Taking Action: Your Next Steps

Today’s low inventory market demands a more sophisticated approach to winning listings. According to ResiClub Analytics, while inventory has been rising (with active listings up 27.6% between February 2024 and February 2025), most states are still below pre-pandemic 2019 inventory levels by approximately 23.1%. By combining REDX’s high list-rate leads with a multi-channel marketing strategy, you can consistently secure listings that other agents miss.

Remember that today’s successful agents aren’t just working harder—they’re leveraging data and technology to work smarter. Here’s how to get started:

1. Identify which high list-rate lead source aligns best with your business goals
2. Develop your multi-channel marketing approach for that lead type
3. Implement systems to ensure consistent follow-up across all channels
4. Track your results and optimize your approach

Ready to increase your listing inventory even in today’s challenging market? Discover how REDX provides the high-quality lead data and integrated marketing platform you need to implement these strategies successfully in your business.

Explore REDX Lead Products