3 Myths You Probably Believe About Farming (That Are Costing You Listings)

Real estate is full of well-meaning advice — and just as many myths.

Especially when it comes to geographic farming.

If you’ve been in the industry for a while, you’ve probably heard a lot of opinions on farming:
“It doesn’t work anymore.”
“You need to dominate a neighborhood to even have a chance.”
“It’s all about sending postcards.”

Sound familiar?

Here’s the truth:
Many of the ideas floating around about farming are outdated, inaccurate, or just plain wrong. And they’re likely holding you back from tapping into one of the most powerful, scalable lead generation strategies available today.

Let’s bust a few of the most common farming myths I hear from agents every week.

Myth #1: “I Can’t Compete Against the Competition”

This is probably the #1 thing that stops agents from launching a farm.

They look at a neighborhood and say:

“There’s already someone farming here. I don’t stand a chance.”

But here’s the truth:
95% of areas aren’t actually farmed well — or at all.

Just because an agent is doing a handful of deals in a neighborhood doesn’t mean they have true market share, or that they’re building community relationships. And even if there is a dominant agent… so what?

You don’t need to copy them. You need to differentiate.

Farming isn’t about outspending your competition — it’s about out-positioning them and showing up in ways they don’t.

If you want help picking the perfect area (even with competition), check out my 30 Day Launch Program — it’s built to help you choose your ideal farm, step by step.

Myth #2: “Farming Is Just Mailing Postcards”

This one’s been around forever.

A lot of agents still think farming is just about blasting out postcards and hoping for the best.

Sure, postcards can be part of your strategy — but modern farming goes way beyond the mailbox.

If you’ve followed me for any length of time, you’ve probably heard me talk about C.P.R.:

Community. Positioning. Relationships.

That’s the real backbone of farming today.

It’s about becoming the ambassador in your area. Showing up. Giving value. Connecting in person and online. Creating content people actually want. Building trust that compounds.

Postcards can support that — but they’re not the core.

Myth #3: “Farming Costs Too Much”

This one’s half true.

Yes — farming can cost a lot if you’re not strategic.
But it doesn’t have to.

You don’t need a huge budget to farm effectively.
What you do need is a budget of time, energy, creativity, and a little consistency.

There are plenty of high-impact strategies that cost nothing but effort:

• Partnering with local businesses

• Hosting community events

• Running local Facebook groups

• Creating video content

• Offering resources or reports

If you’re short on funds, focus on what you do have — your hustle.
Because farming always costs something. But it doesn’t always cost cash.

Final Thoughts: Don’t Let These Myths Hold You Back

These are just three of the many farming myths floating around our industry — but they’re some of the most damaging.

If any of these beliefs have been holding you back from launching (or relaunching) your farm, it’s time to let them go.

Farming still works — when you do it right.
And that starts by getting the facts straight.

– Ryan "The Myth Buster" Smith
Founder of Launch Your Farm & Local Expert Academy

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