Welcome to the resale side of real estate. It's a lot of fun. As to paying for leads, there's only one response -

RUN, FORREST, RUN 

When I first started I paid Zillow for leads for 2 years. The first year I received alot of leads and closed 5 homes from prospects they sent my way. The second year I received considerably fewer leads. None closed. I decided to blog for leads after that and have not looked back.

Save your money.   Very few if any leads from Zillow, Realtor com, or anybody else will materialize into Closings.

Agents will do anything once or twice to see where it goes & what it does. Return on investment haunts all business models continuously. I dont pay but will reward

The smart agents do NOT buy leads as it seldom pays off.  Also when you buy a lead your money gets you one lead now and done.   Use that same money to market yourself and you get clienets for years in the future.

I actually think there are quite a few agents in my market paying for leads on Zillow et al. Most of us have tried it at some point or another with varying degrees of success. I haven't paid in a very long time. Blogging is a much better (and cheaper) way to go.

No & no.

No, NO, NO NO !!!!

I have said no enough?

Not the smart ones.  We generate our own leads.

You pay for them in a way. Your marketing costs will generate leads. Don't buy leads from others.

Very few AR agents spend the time or money on these, most work hard at generating their own superior leads.

I have NEVER paid for leads in 25 years... Yes, it works, but if you work, you don't need to pay for leads...  Work differently than the other agents in your market and you'll NEVER have to pay for leads... 

A Revolution in Real Estate Sales

Hello Joanne,

Personally, I wouldn't pay for leads as the "ROI" just doesn't seem to make sense. Try to generate leads organically (e.g. Seo); however, should you want to pay for leads try SEM, Re-Targeting, Google Ads & or Facebook/Twitter boost.

I would recommend staying away from any lead source that makes you pay - there are some people I know who seem to do well with paid leads, but they are in the minority. 

I totally agree with Mimi Foster!

Suckers do...but great that you asked before you spent!!!

Your business should be built on relationships that refer; advocates. 

Build your database, market to it and build those relationships. 

The agent that builds a business on leads is building a business on the sand in the summer instead of the rock to stand the test of time.

You are always welcome to contact me for ideas and any assistance, I've mentored many here locally. And what Mimi Foster said 

Blog for leads. Set up your website to match your audience and niche market. Make sure you have your story. Make sure you connect with your avatar. 

Then do your own lead gen with paid ads. But you control the ad spend, you create your ads. 

All traffic comes from only 4 sources: organic ( SEO), paid, shared and earned. You want to be in all 4 areas in order to get the most qualified traffic. 

Hi Joanne, when I first started, I fell into the lead trap with one company which also offers a CMA. Luckily, it was a trial period and I cancelled thereafter. Since then, I have never paid for leads but I will gladly pay a referral fee!

Joanne Webb 

Only from your own source. A handyman, painter, a loan person preferably a realtor who has screened the candidate.

I joined AR for the reason of finding out Z, Trulia etc are worth the trouble as people claim they get $1M+ listings from them.  Through AR over several surveys the conclusion is TODAY it ain't worth the fees paid.  I think 10 years ago it was easier. Keep in mind the same online leads are also sold to other agents. So how many houses that casual brower can buy? Nada. He is just casually interested.

We have never paid for leads, so I do not know the results Joanne Webb. 

Have seen many agents pay for leads, and see very little in return for their dollars.    

Joanne,

I do not pay for leads, but I know some agent who do and they claim it is worth it for them. I would recommend sending email to your spear of influence. 0.00 cost

Joanne Webb, welcome aboard! Many of us have some kind of resource for leads that we pay for but that shouldn't be the only way to find clients.  That is one avenue and the cost of the lead, 25% or so, is actually cheap if the resource brings you a highly qualified, motivated buyer or seller.  Most of us would take that all day long.  Pay per click or internet raw leads is not very good in my opinion.  I spent thousands of dollars to find this out the hard way.

Welcome and when the paid lead companies come around, RUN FOR THE HILLS!  RUN FOR YOUR LIFE!

Most of those services sell unqualified (meaning crap) leads to multiple agents at once.   Do you really want a lead "Baba Booey" at 800.555.1212 with an email of "Dont@email.me"

I have never seen a study analyzing whether most agents pay for leads.

Oh please for all you find to be holy, don't do it! Save your money and focus on another method of obtaining leads

I know you're not going to listen and do it anyway since it seems like a quick way to gain business, but it's not

I am not a fan of spending money that fast till I have money.

No

Paying for leads is a great way to run out of money. Network!!!

NO NO NO when it comes to paying for leads. Generate your own through your blog and then you share 0 of them as what happens when you pay for them

Can't help. Do not now or ever paid for leads!

I've never paid for leads....learn to market and your phone will ring.... consistently....

Never.

We get our leads from networking, marketing, and keeping in touch with our sphere.

There are many ways of separating money from agents.  I don't know the percentage of agents who pay for leads and there may be mixed results.  It's not something I choose to do.  If you stay around AR you will hear many stories and most of them are not in favor of buying leads.  

I don't think there are all that many that pay for leads.  Most have been burned.  Though, I am just guessing.

I have purchased thousands of leads. You are better to generate your own.

Some do.  We don't purchase leads - but there are other expenses involved in prospecting and marketing...

If you are a new agent, I'd suggest to look around, reach out to those that you know, maybe work as a  buyer agent for a bit or in a team to get some experience. 

Only the poor and desparate ones do.

Joanne Webb - if you are open, I'd suggest working by referrals. I love Buffini & Company - you can call me should you want more information (and perhaps a free month of coaching!)

Now, that works for me - and the fact is, 74% of real estate transactions are referrals!

(And yes, I have paid for leads with no good results. Maybe, I am not cut out for that.)

NO! Don't do it - the results are not worth the expense

Many pay for leads at one time or another and some have really good results. My advice is to closely monitor your success and not to be afraid to change if you are not getting results.

I will not pay for leads. I will pay for referrals, though. I love referrals. 

I don't.  But I've been around since back in the day when  we learned how to prospect.

Mimi Foster already said it...Run, Forrest, Run!

Never pay for leads...

Paid leads can result in a commission, but it takes persistence and tenacity to make this work. Realize that those people registering on a website have probably also registered on many others. They will work with the first agent they hear from who is reponsive to them.

Tried once; got some leads that were not very good.

I signed up for House Hunt for a while.  Most of us have tried paying for leads at some point.  I think the ones who are successful keep very, very quiet.