Let’s be honest. Most real estate pros running Google Ads are lighting money on fire. 

They boost a few keywords, run a campaign for two weeks, and then swear Google Ads “doesn’t work for real estate.”

It can work. In fact, it can be a lead machine…if you know how to use it right. The problem isn’t the platform. The problem is most campaigns are built without a strategy. Just vibes.

So here’s how to actually drive leads (and leases) with Google Ads in 2025.

1. Start With Intent, Not Keywords

Everyone wants to rank for “apartments in Brooklyn” or “buy a house in Austin.” Great. So does every major listing site with a $10M ad budget.

You won’t win that fight. But you can win the long-tail battle.

Instead of chasing broad terms, go after what people are really searching for when they’re ready to act:

• “no fee new construction rentals Greenpoint”

• “condos with low down payment NYC”

• “1BR near subway open house this weekend”

These are high-intent searches. And high-intent = high-converting.

We build campaigns that think like a buyer, not a broker.

2. Landing Pages Matter. A Lot.

Your ad is just the beginning. Where that click goes? That’s where deals are won or lost.

If your Google Ads link to a generic homepage or a 3-paragraph MLS listing with a blurry photo, no one’s converting.

You need a focused, fast, mobile-friendly landing page that:

• Speaks directly to the ad’s promise

• Loads in under 2 seconds

• Has a clear, simple CTA (Schedule a tour. Download a brochure. Get in touch.)

Treat it like an e-comm page. Your listing is the product. Your CTA is the buy button.

3. Use Retargeting or Be Forgotten

People don’t convert the first time. That’s not a Google Ads issue. That’s a human behavior issue.

Retargeting is your insurance policy.

If someone clicked your ad, looked at a unit, and bailed—you need to follow up with:

• A new ad reminding them of what they saw

• A testimonial from someone who just moved in

• A deadline (“Final 5 units remaining”)

This is where a lot of agents and developers drop the ball. You paid for that click. Don’t waste it.

4. Track Everything or Don’t Bother

Clicks are meaningless without context. You need to track:

• What ad brought the lead

• What landing page they hit

• What action they took

• What it cost you to get that lead

Google Ads gives you the tools, but most real estate campaigns don’t use them.

At Snaplistings, we build everything to be measurable. If it’s not performing, we fix it. If it is, we scale it. That’s how we run lease-ups at speed.

5. Cut What’s Not Working Fast

Too many people “set it and forget it.” Big mistake.

Google Ads is not a slow cooker. You need to watch your campaigns, kill underperformers, and double down on winners. Weekly. Sometimes daily.

This is where most campaigns bleed money. Not from big mistakes, but from letting little leaks run for weeks.

Be ruthless. Google won’t spend your money wisely if you don’t tell it how.

Final Thought: Google Ads Work—If You Work Them

The platform’s powerful. The problem is the setup.

If you're not running targeted, intent-driven campaigns with strong landing pages and crystal-clear tracking, you're not doing Google Ads. You're just donating to the algorithm.

We build Google Ad campaigns that drive real results for buildings, brokers, and brands. If you want to stop wasting budget and start getting actual leads, let’s talk.