If you work in the real estate industry, you likely work with companies that help you secure property-selling and buying leads. Almost no one has a big enough network to get organic business without some help from a lead generation company.
One of the biggest names to emerge in this industry over the last ten years is FastExpert.
FastExpert is a nationwide agent-matching marketplace launched in 2014. It currently has over 70k licensed agents with detailed profiles that show sales history, years of experience, specialties, and verified client reviews tied to real transactions.
Consumers can browse agents using directory filters or request curated matches. FastExpert earns only when a transaction closes, through a referral fee from the agent’s commission, keeping usage free for consumers and aligning incentives with agent outcomes. This structure differs from traffic-selling directories because rankings are not “pay-to-play” and are instead informed by actual performance data, helping agents compete on results rather than ad budgets.
How it works for agents
Agents join the directory for free and build profiles with measurable metrics (homes sold, recent activity, specialties, languages), which support match quality and trust with prospects evaluating options side by side.
Lead distribution occurs through two paths: consumer self-service browsing (agents contacted directly) and curated introductions from FastExpert’s team. FastExpert collects a referral fee only on closed transactions, making the program effectively “risk-on-close” instead of “risk-on-click” or “risk-on-impression,” a key difference from fixed monthly advertising.
Pricing and fees
FastExpert is free to join — there are no monthly subscriptions, upfront costs, or pay-to-rank options for agents. It is also free for property sellers and buyers to search, compare, and ultimately hire an agent through FastExpert.
The fee is charged to the real estate agent and only once the transaction is completed. That means that agents only pay for real, quality leads from which they earn a commission. This incentivizes the FastExpert team to ensure agent matches benefit the client, because if the client chooses not to work with a FastExpert agent, they don’t get paid.
Although the exact referral percentage isn’t publicly disclosed, the core advantage of this model is clear: agents pay only when they close a deal. This performance-based structure removes the financial risk of paying hundreds or thousands of dollars each month for impressions or leads that may not convert. It also makes it easy to calculate actual acquisition costs — simply compare the referral fee at closing to your gross commission income for a transparent, ROI-driven benchmark.
Benefits for agents
1. Performance-based exposure
FastExpert highlights agents based on verified reviews and closed deals — not paid placements. This rewards genuine performance and lets skilled professionals stand out without buying impressions. Agents cannot pay to be ranked higher in the FastExpert directory, and everyone who has a profile is eligible to show.
2. Zero upfront risk
There are no subscriptions or listing fees. Agents only pay a referral fee after a successful closing, keeping costs aligned with revenue and reducing financial pressure for both new and expanding teams.
3. Higher-intent leads
Most visitors use FastExpert when they’re actively buying or selling, and they can compare rich agent profiles. This creates a steady flow of qualified, conversion-ready clients for agents who respond quickly.
4. Streamlined client matching
The platform combines open directory visibility with curated matches, helping agents reach serious clients faster and compete based on local expertise and results — not advertising budgets.
Drawbacks and challenges
1. High lead competition
Curated matches often mean several agents contact the same consumer at once. This creates a race to respond — a quick, personalized follow-up is essential to secure that first appointment and stay top of mind. Agents who fail to respond quickly or maintain engagement may lose qualified leads to more proactive competitors.
2. Relationship fit still matters
Strong numbers or reviews aren’t always enough. Clients often choose based on chemistry, communication style, and niche expertise. Building trust and clearly showing your unique value remain crucial.
3. Not great for new agents
Because FastExpert bases their recommendations on performance, if you are a new agent in a popular area, it may be hard to get referrals. Agents with strong performance metrics are going to be recommended to clients because of their proven track record.
FastExpert vs Alternatives
1. Zillow Premier Agent
Zillow Premier Agent requires ongoing monthly payments for impressions or leads, with costs ranging from a few hundred to several thousand dollars per ZIP code, depending on competitiveness.
This difference in structure also changes the risk profile. FastExpert shifts financial exposure to the post-closing stage — you pay only when you earn. Zillow, however, requires upfront and ongoing payment for access, regardless of results, so even low-quality or unconverted leads still cost money. This benefits Zillow and not the agent.
When it comes to lead dynamics, Zillow offers high visibility and high traffic, but conversion success depends heavily on near-instant responses (often within five minutes) and constant follow-up to stay ahead of competing agents.
FastExpert, by contrast, emphasizes qualified, performance-vetted matches, connecting motivated consumers with top-rated local agents.
Advantage FastExpert: no upfront spend, zero wasted budget on unconverted leads, and a performance-based model that rewards quality over quantity.
2. HomeLight
Another referral-based platform with a “pay-after-closing” model is Homelight. The difference with this platform is fees are much higher and the process is more opaque. Also, since HomeLight agent referrals are only one of the many things they offer, not as much attention is paid to this part of the business.
Advantage FastExpert: clearer structure, simpler onboarding, and a more transparent referral experience.
3. Realtor.com
Primarily pay-per-lead or impression-based, meaning agents pay for opportunities, not results.
Advantage FastExpert: you only pay for actual success — not just contact data or ad exposure.
ROI: Who wins with FastExpert?
Agents with tight speed-to-lead SLAs, scripted qualification, and CRM automation tend to win disproportionately because they convert introductions into appointments faster than competitors in the multi-agent outreach context.
Newer agents with limited budgets can start getting exposure and as their profile grows, their likelihood of getting more referrals does as well. In the meantime they are improving profile credibility and future match quality without the drag of monthly ad fees.
Playbook to maximize ROI
- Winning in referral-based systems starts with speed. Have an ISA or on-call rotation in place to respond within minutes. A quick reply that includes a clear next step and a calendar link can secure the appointment before the client receives too many calls and stops responding.
- Build trust right away by leading with proof: mention recent local sales, strong list-to-sale ratios, and neighborhood insights that align with FastExpert’s data-driven audience.
- Qualify efficiently but thoughtfully — ask light financial-readiness questions and offer value-based introductions to lenders, balancing speed with respect for where each buyer is in their process.
- For leads that aren’t ready to move yet, keep the relationship alive through automated check-ins and market updates.
Want to try FastExpert?
There is really no reason not to. If you want a lower-risk, outcome-aligned channel where fees are paid from closed revenue rather than upfront budgets, FastExpert’s referral-on-close model is a strong fit.
Create your FastExpert profile, optimize it with recent sales data, specializations, and customer reviews, and enable immediate response workflows to be highly competitive in the space.
What this means for you: If you’re looking to build up a client base outside of the word-of-mouth from previous clients, FastExpert is a great place to start. Agents with robust sales history and client reviews can expect to jump in near the top of a city or zip code page, increasing the possibility of agents reaching out directly. Overall, FastExpert is a great place to get more client leads.
