Precision Prospecting in 2026: How Top Agents Identify Sellers Before the Market Does

What if you knew which homes were most likely to sell next?

Imagine being able to spot the five homes in your market most likely to list before the owners ever call another agent. Not because you heard a rumor or followed a hunch, but because the data is already pointing you there.

That’s exactly what smarter agents are doing with Realist, powered by Cotality. And the best part? For many REsides agents, Realist is already built into the MLS you use every day.

Instead of chasing cold leads or dumping money into broad marketing campaigns, Realist lets you focus on homeowners who are statistically more likely to sell—and gives you the tools to approach them with relevance and confidence.

If growing your listing inventory is part of your 2026 plan, this is how top agents are doing it with precision.

Start with Sell Score: find sellers before they raise their hand

Every agent wants motivated sellers. The challenge is figuring out who’s actually ready.

Realist’s Sell Score solves that problem. It analyzes public records and predictive data to estimate how likely a homeowner is to list in the near future. Homes marked with a “very high” Sell Score are up to five times more likely to be listed within the next six months.

That changes how you prospect.

Instead of spreading your effort across an entire neighborhood, you can zero in on specific properties where timing is already working in your favor. No guesswork. No chasing maybes. Just better odds.

Whether you’re farming a subdivision or building a custom prospect list, Sell Score helps you focus your energy where it’s most likely to pay off.

Add context with ownership and occupancy filters

Sell Score is powerful on its own, but Realist becomes even more effective when you layer in additional filters.

Ownership Time is a simple example with big impact. Homeowners who’ve lived in a property for 20 years or more are often approaching a natural transition point—downsizing, relocating, or simplifying. In many markets, this group represents a steady source of future listings.

Owner-Occupied Status is another smart filter. It allows you to separate primary homeowners from absentee owners and renters. Each group tells a different story:

• Absentee owners may be ready to sell an investment property.

• Renters may be future buyers who need guidance.

• Long-term owner-occupants may be sitting on significant equity.

  
  

These aren’t random names on a list. They’re defined segments you can speak to with

purpose, backed by data you trust.

Turn data into conversations with Premium Reports

Identifying the right prospects is only half the job. The next step is giving them a reason to engage with you.

That’s where Realist Premium Reports come in.

These reports let you deliver real insight—not generic marketing—to homeowners. Think of them as a clear, easy-to-read briefing on someone’s property and neighborhood, built from MLS and public-record data.

A few standout options for seller outreach:

• Comparables ReportShows recent neighborhood sales using both MLS and off-market data. It’s an effective way to demonstrate pricing knowledge before you ever schedule a listing appointment.

• Premium Neighborhood Reports

  • Real Estate version: Highlights median values, market activity, and trends to help owners decide if now makes sense to sell.

  • Trends & Forecasts version: Adds forward-looking insights using demographic, economic, and housing indicators.

    
    

These reports don’t feel like sales pieces. They feel useful. And that’s what makes them effective.

Why this beats traditional farming

Traditional farming isn’t wrong—it’s just outdated when it stands alone.

Postcards with recipes or calendars don’t carry much weight anymore. “Just Sold” cards help with name recognition, but rarely win a listing on their own. Homeowners today can find basic information online in seconds. What they can’t easily find is interpretation.

When you show up with data-driven insight specific to their home, you’re no longer just another agent. You’re a resource.

That’s why pairing Realist with RealMailers can be so effective. You can:

• Select up to 1,000 targeted properties

• Filter by Sell Score, ownership length, or occupancy

• Send customized postcards that reference real market activity and the reports you offer

  
  

In many areas, RealMailers includes a free six-month trial, followed by low-cost pricing. It’s a practical way to reach the right homeowners without building a campaign from scratch. If you don’t see it in your system, your MLS can help enable it.

The best time to start is before everyone else does

Top agents don’t wait for spring to think about listings. They plan early, build momentum, and let the pipeline fill ahead of peak season.

With Realist, you can start now by:

1. Using Sell Score, Ownership Time, and Owner-Occupied filters to find high-probability sellers

2. Offering a Premium Report as a reason to start the conversation

3. Reaching out with purpose—by mail or email—without relying on expensive online leads

   
   

This approach replaces broad farming with focused outreach and gives you a real advantage when inventory is tight.

Use Premium Reports to spark your next listing

If you’re already using Realist, you’re closer than you think. If you haven’t explored Sell Score or Premium Reports yet, now’s the time.

While other agents rely on recycled CMAs and generic flyers, you have access to deeper property intelligence—insight that homeowners can’t easily pull on their own. That kind of information changes the tone of the conversation. It turns a cold lead into a thoughtful exchange and gets sellers asking, “Is now the right time for me?”

Take a look at what these reports actually look like by downloading the free Realist Property Intelligence Toolkit. Once you see how they work, it’s easy to understand why data-driven prospecting is becoming the new standard.

Find Realist training videos and pintables here.