Real estate marketing has moved to a digital-first buyer journey

The industry that once sold homes through signage, print and open houses now meets its buyer online: searching online is the most common first step, 51% of buyers find the home they purchase on the internet, and a single US portal draws 221 million monthly users. The audience has changed too — first-time buyers are at a record-low 21%, with a record median age of 40. Winning developers, brokerages and portals are not simply moving budget to digital; they are rebuilding the marketing operating model, governing investment across the full journey and holding every partner to measurable value. VA helps real estate leaders orchestrate that ecosystem, optimise the budget and prove ROI.