Past To Present - The Evolution of the Real Estate Industry

The Industry Has Changed.

The Real Estate Hustle

Real estate is far from a 9-5 job, but thankfully, the hustle is not as grueling as it used to be… in some ways. This is a big deal, especially in growing real estate markets like Phoenix, Arizona. Advances in tech, better regulations, and industry standardizations have created new opportunities for property managers, realtors, and other real estate professionals to enjoy a better work-life balance.

From home “Inspections,” to Instagram, marketing real estate used to be far more punchy. Without digital doo-dads and cellphones selling a home was so local it consisted of agents standing in front of the houses they were selling and waiving. Sometimes competing agents selling separate homes across the street from one another got a bit hot under the collar to the point that fists flew. Still, this was half as devastating when you compare them to today’s keyboard warriors.

Sears Used to Sell Mail Order Homes

Believe it or not, there was once a time when you could order your dream home from a Sears catalog. From 1908 to 1942, Sears sold pre-manufactured home kits, and these were far from your standard prefab home.

There were over 400 designs to choose from, from dainty cottages to grand homes with intricate details. The kits were delivered by train and included pre-cut lumber, nails, and all other materials, such as doorknobs, and windows, that would be required for “any man of reasonable strength” (their words, not ours) to build a functional and durable home.

Where to find them today:
Ohio, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, Washington, D.C
Although there are no Sears homes in Phoenix Arizona, because Phoenix’s development didn’t align with the Sears housing boom, many of these homes are still standing today and their historical charm makes them highly attractive to real estate investors, home buyers, and tenants who cherish vintage architecture. Sears homes can be identified by stamped lumber (marked for easy assembly) in the basement, attic, or crawlspace.

Sears Used to Sell Mail Order Homes

Changing How We Market

The Hollywoodland sign was constructed in 1923 as a temporary advertisement for a Hollywood Hills housing development. Although it started as a bold advertising stunt, the sign became a great teacher in the powers of real estate marketing and location branding.

More than just boosting property values, the sign’s influence attracted businesses, tourists, and new residents. It transformed Hollywood into a thriving real estate market, especially for real estate investors and developers. The Hollywood sign taught the real estate industry that keeping an open mind for marketing strategies beyond traditional print ads and word-of-mouth can be a real game changer.