Picture this: A real estate agent walks into a house showing — and starts cracking jokes. It’s not a setup for a sitcom, but a growing reality in 2025. Take Breanna Banaciski in Tampa, FL, for example. She’s only been an agent since last year, yet her snarky TikTok home tour videos have made her a minor real estate celebrity.
Her sardonic listing tours, where she roasts everything from baby boomers to housing costs, now regularly draw millions of views on social media. Not bad for a newcomer who simply decided that a little humor might sell a home faster than yet another dreary walkthrough.
😆 Social Media Gets a Sense of Humor (and Millions Tune In)
One veteran agent even turned a game of hide-and-seek into a marketing tool, whispering through listing videos that had viewers hooked – a playful approach that earned her “millions of people interested” in her properties. Across the country, agents are discovering that being funny and relatable on social media can be a game-changer.
It’s a noticeable shift: instead of just posting polished photos with generic captions, more realtors are hopping on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube with skits, spoofs, and candid glimpses of real estate life.
And it’s working. Short-form videos on these platforms have become one of real estate’s key marketing channels, which makes sense when you consider that virtually everyone is on social these days (YouTube is used by 85% of U.S. adults, Facebook by 70%, and half are on Instagram!).
Even Gen Z homebuyers – those in their early 20s – are scouring TikTok for homebuying tips before they ever call an agent. So when an agent’s quirky video pops up, it doesn’t just entertain – it builds familiarity.
Breanna Banaciski actually started out making the usual market updates and “just listed” videos, but, as she admits, “they were kind of bland... They weren’t me, exactly.” One Friday, on a whim, she posted a joke-filled tour of a house and left for a weekend trip.
When she returned, that video had 20,000+ views – far more than anything she’d done before. She’d struck a chord. Viewers left comments like, “If I win the lottery, I’m buying houses from you just to hear you give me the tour,” and “Can you come and roast my listed home?”. In other words, her comedic touch not only amassed views but also engaged people enough that they wanted to work with her.
🤑 Why Laughter Sells (Yes, Even Houses)
Why is this lighter, fun content resonating with clients and prospects? For one, real estate can be stressful, and comedy is a pressure valve. After endless headlines about interest rates and affordability, people are thrilled to find an agent who can acknowledge these woes with a wink and a smile.
A well-placed joke can make clients think, “This agent gets it.” It humanizes you. Buyers and sellers aren’t just looking for a professional; often they want someone they actually like and trust. Sharing a laugh is one of the quickest ways to build that rapport.
Humor on social media also grabs attention in a crowded feed. The average listing video might get a quick scroll-by, but a clever parody or a relatable meme can stop thumbs in their tracks.
Algorithms reward content that people watch and share, so an agent who creates an entertaining video is more likely to pop up on more screens. In 2025’s competitive marketing landscape, that organic reach is like gold.
And let’s not forget shareability – past clients might tag their friends in a funny home tour video, saying “lol, remember when we house-hunted?!” – suddenly, you’re reaching audiences you’d never find with a flyer or MLS post. In essence, humor is the new word-of-mouth, amplified by the internet’s love of a good laugh.
There’s also a generational shift. Younger clients, especially Millennials and Gen Z, value authenticity. They grew up on YouTube vloggers and TikTok creators who feel real.
An agent poking fun at a faux pas in a home (“Check out this retro wallpaper – perfect if you’re missing 1974!”) might actually instill more confidence than an agent who sticks to a canned sales pitch. It shows you’re observant, honest, and not afraid to tell it like it is – all qualities clients appreciate when making huge life decisions.
As long as the humor is in good taste and you clearly know your stuff professionally, being a bit unorthodox can set you apart from the competition in a very good way.
🤣 Tips to Tastefully Joke With Your Audience (and Still Close the Deal)
So, how can you, a busy real estate pro, sprinkle some fun into your marketing without turning your brand into a circus? Here are a few takeaways to consider...
Be Authentic (Find Your Style)
Don’t force jokes that don’t feel like you. Maybe you’re not a stand-up comic – that’s fine! Your “humor” might simply be a warm, self-deprecating story about that time you got locked out at an open house.
The key is to let your personality shine, as genuinely as possible. Audiences can tell when you’re faking it, so lean into whatever makes you you, whether it’s nerdy real estate puns or a quirky hobby that you mention in passing. Authenticity is attractive in any form.
Know Your Boundaries (and Your Audience)
In comedy, as in real estate, location matters. What’s appropriate in a TikTok aimed at first-time buyers might not fly in a Facebook post for luxury clients. Keep your humor friendly and avoid sensitive topics.
- Lightly roasting an out-of-date kitchen = likely okay.
- Insulting a seller’s taste or a particular group of people = not okay.
Remember, the goal is to make people smile, not cringe. Test the waters with mild jokes or playful captions and gauge the response. When in doubt, err on the side of kindness and professionalism – you can be funny without being offensive.
Mix Value with the Giggles
A joke for joke’s sake might get laughs, but a joke with information is even better. For instance, you can do a quick comedic skit about the “types of home buyers” you meet (cue the indecisive couple vs. the over-eager investor), which is entertaining and subtly educates clients that you have experience with all kinds of buyers.
Or film a tongue-in-cheek “DIY home staging gone wrong” reel – and follow it with a few real tips on staging that clients can use. This way, you position yourself as both fun and knowledgeable. That way, you’re not just a class clown; you’re the class clown who actually did the homework and helps others get an A.
Stay Consistent (and Engage)
If you decide to dip a toe into humorous content, make it a regular (but not overwhelming) part of your marketing mix. Maybe it’s “Tuesday Tip with a Twist” where each week you share a quick tip wrapped in a joke.
Consistency helps followers know what to expect and look forward to. And when people start liking or commenting, engage with them!
Respond to comments, laugh along when someone shares their own funny story, and thank people for watching. This interaction builds community. It shows that behind the witty video is a real person who cares – the kind of agent people want to work with.
⤴️ Turning Laughs Into Leads
The rise of humor in real estate marketing isn’t just a gimmick – it reflects a broader trend of agents adapting to an online, personality-driven world. Clients still expect you to be the expert negotiator and market guru, of course. But now they also appreciate if you can double as an entertainer and educator in their social feeds.
The payoff for those who do it right can be huge: your content gets seen by thousands or even millions beyond your usual sphere, your name recognition soars, and people feel like they know you before they’ve even met you. That familiarity can be a powerful lead generator.
Ultimately, real estate has always been a people business. In a time when technology is accelerating and much of the home search has moved online, a good joke can remind folks there’s a human (with a great sense of humor) on the other side of that screen or across the closing table.
So don’t be afraid to have a little fun with your marketing. As the agents above have shown, a dash of laughter might just be the secret ingredient to stand out in a crowded market and brighten someone’s day in the process.
And if all else fails, well, at least you’ll have some great stories for the next office meeting.
Happy selling – and keep ’em smiling!