Key takeaways
- Affiliate marketing is a powerful income stream for real estate professionals, not just bloggers, helping agents, investors, and property managers monetize the tools they already recommend.
- Top real estate affiliate programs offer trusted products across property management, investing, and marketing, with many offering recurring commissions and generous cookie durations.
- Choosing the right program depends on your niche, audience, and platform, whether you’re targeting landlords with TurboTenant or investors with DealCheck or Mashvisor.
- Creating helpful, authentic content is key to success. Focus on product reviews, tutorials, or real-world use cases to drive high-converting referrals.
Affiliate marketing is a growing opportunity for real estate professionals, too. Whether you’re an agent, investor, property manager, or content creator, you likely already recommend tools, platforms, and services to your network. Why not get paid for it?
Real estate affiliate programs allow you to earn commissions by referring others to industry tools you trust, from property management software and investor calculators to marketing platforms and smart home solutions. These programs offer a low-risk, high-reward way to monetize your knowledge and expand your income streams.
In this guide, we’ll highlight the top real estate affiliate and partner programs worth promoting, explain how they work, and share tips to help you get the most out of your referrals. Whether you’re just getting started or looking to add new programs to your affiliate portfolio, this list is packed with high-quality, conversion-friendly options.
Navigate this post:
- What is a real estate affiliate program?
- 11 best real estate affiliate programs (ranked)
- How to choose the right real estate affiliate program
- Tips to maximize your affiliate income
- Real estate affiliate programs FAQs
What is a real estate affiliate program?
A real estate affiliate program is a way to earn money by referring people to products or services related to the real estate industry. When someone uses your unique affiliate link or lead form to sign up, purchase, or request more information from a company, you earn a commission, usually after a successful sale or conversion.
It’s one of the simplest ways for agents, property managers, investors, and even content creators to monetize their audience or network without selling a service themselves. For example, you might recommend a property management tool you love, or share a link to a trusted access control system. When your referral results in a paying customer, you get paid without needing to close the deal yourself.
There are two broad types of real estate affiliate programs:
- B2C (Business-to-Consumer). These programs focus on consumer products, like online real estate investing platforms or education tools. You’ll often see them promoted by bloggers, YouTubers, or influencers.
- B2B (Business-to-Business). These programs are aimed at professionals referring other businesses, like a property manager recommending a new access system or a consultant introducing a software tool to a client. B2B referrals often pay more because the deals tend to be larger.
Regardless of the type, affiliate programs rely on tracking software to attribute sales or leads to the right affiliate. Most programs provide a portal where you can generate custom links or submit leads directly, so you can track your earnings and performance over time.
In short, if you work in real estate and already recommend tools, services, or platforms to clients or peers, affiliate marketing lets you earn money for doing what you’re probably already doing. It’s a win-win.
Watch how ButterflyMX works:
11 best real estate affiliate programs (ranked)
Whether you’re a real estate agent with a strong client base, a property manager who advises on building tech, or an investor with a growing online following, there’s an affiliate program designed to turn your recommendations into revenue.
The programs below are ranked based on factors like commission structure, trust in the brand, ease of joining, and how well they align with different types of real estate professionals.
And topping the list is one built specifically for the people who work in the industry every day:
- ButterflyMX Affiliate Program
- Buildium Real Estate
- DealCheck.io
- Land Century
- LeadsBridge
- Carrot
- BiggerPockets
- Showcase IDX
- Mashvisor
- New Silver
- TurboTenant
1. ButterflyMX Affiliate Program
ButterflyMX is a trusted leader in smart access control, installed in over 20,000 multifamily and commercial properties. What sets its affiliate program apart is that it’s built specifically for people in real estate, not just content creators or affiliate marketers.
Whether you’re a property manager, real estate advisor, or someone with an audience in the building tech space, the ButterflyMX Affiliate Program lets you turn your expertise and recommendations into earnings, without needing to sell or install anything yourself.
You can refer building owners or operators using a custom link or submit leads directly through their affiliate portal. The program blends the best of referral and affiliate models, giving you the flexibility to promote online or make personal referrals. Once your referral becomes a customer, ButterflyMX takes it from there, handling everything from product education to closing the deal.
Why it stands out:
- Built for real estate pros. In addition to catering to bloggers and influencers.
- Hands-off process. Just refer the lead, and their sales team handles the rest.
- Simple referral tools. Easy-to-use portal and trackable links.
- Trusted brand. Used in tens of thousands of buildings nationwide.
- Strong conversion support. Sales, marketing, and install teams ensure high close rates.
2. Buildium Real Estate
Buildium is a full-featured property management platform designed for residential portfolios, HOAs, and student housing. Their affiliate program offers a 25% commission on each monthly subscription, making it a great option for consultants or educators who advise landlords or property managers.
Why promote it:
- End-to-end tools for accounting, leasing, maintenance, and communication
- Trusted by 17,000+ property managers
- Seamless onboarding and tech support
- Ideal for referring property owners managing 50-5,000 units
3. DealCheck.io
DealCheck is one of the most widely used property analysis platforms, helping real estate investors evaluate rental properties, flips, BRRRR deals, and multifamily buildings. Their affiliate program pays a 30% recurring commission, and affiliates earn bonus payouts every 10 paid signups.
Why promote it:
- Built-in ROI, cap rate, and cash flow calculators
- Side-by-side deal comparison and rehab analysis
- Exportable reports for lenders and partners
- Popular with beginner and intermediate investors using desktop and mobile
4. Land Century
LandCentury is an online marketplace that specializes in off-grid land, wholesale properties, and seller-financed listings. Through its FlexOffers program, affiliates earn $5 per qualified lead with a 30-day cookie window.
Why promote it:
- Large inventory of low-cost land parcels and investment properties
- Buyer financing options make it accessible to first-time investors
- Especially popular with YouTubers, land investing blogs, and off-grid influencers
- Low-barrier affiliate entry with simple payout structure
5. LeadsBridge
LeadsBridge connects lead generation platforms like Facebook Lead Ads with CRMs, real estate software, and email tools. Their affiliate program offers 30% commissions on annual Pro plans and a generous 90-day cookie duration.
Why promote it:
- Trusted by Keller Williams, RE/MAX, and other major brands
- Works with Zillow, BoomTown, Follow Up Boss, kvCORE, and more
- Solves a critical pain point for real estate marketers: syncing leads in real time
- Great fit for marketing agencies and automation consultants
6. Carrot
Carrot builds high-converting websites for real estate investors and agents, optimized for SEO and lead generation.
Their affiliate program offers 20-30% recurring commissions, with lifetime payouts on active subscriptions and milestone bonuses for top performers.
Why promote it:
- Professionally designed templates built to rank and convert
- Focus on motivated seller and cash buyer leads
- Integrated lead capture, SEO tools, and CRM features
- Perfect for real estate investors, wholesalers, and content creators teaching lead gen
7. BiggerPockets
BiggerPockets is the largest online community for real estate investing, offering tools, education, and a Pro membership tier. Their affiliate program pays $75 per Pro membership, plus $40 per real estate lead and $40 per lender lead, all tracked through a 90-day cookie window.
Why promote it:
- Massive built-in credibility and brand recognition
- Affiliate access to sell memberships, courses, and partner services
- Deep library of resources for new and experienced investors
- Trusted by over 2 million members worldwide
8. Showcase IDX
Showcase IDX is a WordPress plugin that helps real estate agents display MLS listings and capture leads. Affiliates earn 10% recurring commissions for the first year of each referral, plus 15% override commissions on sub-affiliates.
Why promote it:
- Fully featured IDX search for real estate websites
- Lead capture with CRM integrations and map search
- White-label solution ideal for developers and marketing agencies
- Supports agents looking to build their own high-converting websites
9. Mashvisor
Mashvisor helps real estate investors analyze rental property opportunities using Airbnb and traditional income data.
Their affiliate program offers a 20% commission on the first payment made by a referred user, with a 30-day cookie window.
Why promote it:
- Investment property analytics based on cap rate, cash flow, and occupancy
- Airbnb-specific insights for short-term rental buyers
- Interactive map search and ROI calculator
- Ideal for creators, coaches, or analysts in the investing niche
10. New Silver
New Silver is a fintech lender offering hard money loans to real estate investors for fix-and-flip and rental projects. They offer an affiliate program, though specific commission details are not listed publicly.
Why promote it:
- Fast loan pre-qualification with transparent terms
- Offers DSCR loans, fix-and-flip, and ground-up construction financing
- Integrates with platforms like FlipScout for property sourcing
- Useful for content creators or coaches teaching real estate finance
11. TurboTenant
TurboTenant is a free property management tool for landlords, offering marketing, screening, and lease signing tools. While the affiliate program is promoted on their website, commission rates and cookie durations aren’t publicly disclosed.
Why promote it:
- Free for landlords to use, with optional paid upgrades
- Syndicates rental listings to major platforms (Zillow, Realtor.com, etc.)
- Includes online rental applications, credit/background checks, and rent collection
- Well-suited for influencers and consultants targeting DIY landlords
How to choose the right real estate affiliate program
With so many options available, the best real estate affiliate program for you depends on your audience, your platform, and your goals.
Here’s how to narrow it down:
- Match the program to your niche. Are you speaking to investors, landlords, agents, or property managers? Choose programs that solve real problems for your specific audience. For example, DealCheck is great for investment analysis, while TurboTenant works well for DIY landlords.
- Understand the commission structure. Some programs offer one-time flat-rate payouts, while others pay recurring commissions over time. Recurring models (like Carrot or Showcase IDX) can lead to long-term income if your referrals stick around.
- Look at the cookie duration. The longer the cookie window, the better your chance of earning credit for a referral. Programs with 30- to 90-day cookies give you more time for conversions, especially if your audience isn’t buying immediately.
- Evaluate the product’s conversion potential. Consider how trusted and well-known the brand is, how easy it is to sign up, and whether there’s a free trial or low-barrier entry. Tools like BiggerPockets and Buildium are more likely to convert because of their name recognition and strong value propositions.
- Check the resources offered to affiliates. The best programs give you more than just a link, they include marketing materials, performance dashboards, email templates, and sometimes even partner support. This can make promoting the product a lot easier.
Tips to maximize your affiliate income
Once you’ve picked the right programs, focus on how you promote them. The most successful affiliates don’t just paste links, they add value.
- Recommend tools you actually use. Your audience can spot a cash grab from a mile away. Stick to promoting platforms you believe in and can speak about authentically, whether through blog content, YouTube videos, or one-on-one conversations.
- Create educational content around the product. Write how-to guides, review blog posts, or film walkthroughs showing how the tool works. For example, a “How I analyze flips with DealCheck” post can naturally feature your affiliate link and build trust at the same time.
- Use affiliate links in multiple formats. Don’t just rely on one blog post, promote across channels. Add your links to your email newsletter, link in bio tools, YouTube descriptions, LinkedIn posts, or lead magnet downloads. The more exposure, the better your results.
- Include calls-to-action in high-traffic content. If you have a blog post on “Top Property Management Tips,” include a CTA for TurboTenant or Buildium. Look at your analytics and place your best links where your readers already spend time.
- Track performance and double down on what works. Use the affiliate dashboard to monitor clicks and conversions. If one piece of content performs well, consider turning it into a video, repurposing it into an email series, or running ads to amplify it.
- Do your own research. There are thousands of resources available online for you to use in tandem with the tools that you’re already familiar with. Lean on the ones that work for you to maximize your payout.
Real estate affiliate programs FAQs
What is a real estate affiliate program?
A real estate affiliate program allows you to earn money by promoting products or services used in the real estate industry, like software, investing tools, or marketplaces. When someone signs up or makes a purchase through your unique referral link, you earn a commission.
Do I need a website to join an affiliate program?
No. While having a website helps, many programs allow you to share links through social media, email, YouTube, or even private referrals. As long as you can bring in qualified leads, you can be a successful affiliate.
What’s the difference between a referral program and an affiliate program?
Referral programs and affiliate programs are both designed to gain customers through word-of-mouth marketing. Referral programs leverage existing customers to spread the word about a business, rewarding them when someone they refer becomes a customer. Affiliate programs engage individuals or organizations, known as affiliates, to promote a company’s offerings, usually online, in exchange for a commission when their efforts lead to a sale or lead.
The ButterflyMX Affiliate Program is unique because it’s a mix of both a traditional referral and an affiliate program. You can earn rewards by referring clients directly, like a referral program, or by promoting ButterflyMX online to generate new leads and deals, like an affiliate. This hybrid approach gives you more flexibility in how you participate and more opportunities to earn.
Can real estate agents become affiliates?
Yes, real estate agents are often ideal affiliates because they already work with buyers, sellers, landlords, and investors. Recommending tools they trust feels natural and authentic.
How do affiliate programs track referrals?
Most programs use special tracking links with cookies that last for a set period (usually 30–90 days). Some also offer direct lead submission forms or dashboards where you can enter contact info if you’re referring someone one-on-one.
How much can I earn through real estate affiliate programs?
Commissions vary by program. Some offer flat rates (like $50 per sale), while others provide recurring payouts based on subscriptions. If you consistently refer high-quality leads, affiliate programs can generate hundreds or even thousands of dollars per month in passive income.
