CASE

From $700 to $3,500 Ad Budget: How to Scale Real Estate Ads 5x Without Sacrificing Lead Quality

Project type:
Real Estate Developer
Location:
Ukraine
Status:
Active Collaboration
Period:
2024–2026

01. Description

About the client

Horizon Estates Developers is a reliable and experienced developer, renowned for high-quality construction and a personalized approach to every client.

The client approached us to launch targeted advertising on Meta. The key objective was to precisely hit the target audience and execute a full-scale launch within a tight 2-week deadline—a challenge we successfully met.

At the start of our collaboration, the client’s side involved 3 sales managers, utilizing their own CRM system and IP telephony. We initiated the campaigns with a monthly budget of $700, targeting Kyiv + 40 km.

02. Results

12-Month

  • Monthly budget increased to $3,500

  • Expanded targeting to the entire Kyiv region

  • 20 houses sold for a total of ~$1,400,000

  • 2,141 leads generated

  • Average Cost Per Lead (CPL): $7.87

34 ad campaigns tested

with 11 successfully scaled

03. Realization

Geography & Audience

  • Initial Geo:
    Kyiv + 40 km radius

  • Post-Scaling:
    Entire Kyiv Region

  • Core Audience:
    Families 25+, men and women, individuals considering a private house over an apartment.

  • Targeting:
    Interests (House, Townhouse, Cottage) + Broad audience.

 

Campaign Type

  • Platform: Meta (Facebook + Instagram)

  • Format: Lead Ads (Instant Forms) This approach minimized friction in the user journey, making the lead submission process as simple as possible.

04. Hypotheses

Rational

The 2025 suburban real estate market is shaped not only by economic factors but also by new buyer behaviors following the full-scale war. Our strategy was built on testing three key motivation groups:

Messages focused on financial feasibility and practicality:

  • Home autonomy

  • Option to install alternative energy sources

  • Private land plots

  • Apartment alternative

  • Flexible installment plans & partial payment options

  • Discounts for 100% upfront payment

  • Special promotional offers

  • Renovated houses & “turnkey” options (furnished)

Emotional

Visualizing the dream lifestyle for families:

  • Living close to nature (pine forests, fresh air)

  • Peace and quiet away from city noise

  • Social proof: reviews from existing homeowners

  • Cozy vibes: fireplaces and relaxation zones

  • Private outdoor space

  • Safe environments for children

 

Safety & War Context

Since 2022, safety has become a paramount factor. This group of hypotheses showed the highest efficiency:

  • On-site shelters

  • Autonomous systems

  • Generator-ready infrastructure

  • Power stations (EcoFlow/Bluetti)

  • Alternative heating systems

05. Annual Performance

2025

  • Total Spend: $16,853

  • Leads: 2,141

  • Average CPL: $7.87

  • Clicks: 34,555

  • Impressions: 2,920,749

  • CPM: $5.77 | CTR: 1.18%

  • Conversion Rate (Form Submission): 6.2%

  • Qualified Leads: 551 | Cost Per Qualified Lead: $30.58

06. Scaling

12 months

Within 12 months, the budget grew from $700 to $3,500/month. Key scaling steps included:

  1. Expanding geography to the entire region.

  2. Continuous A/B testing of new offers.

  3. Launching fresh campaign structures. We stuck with Lead Ads as they provided a consistently low cost per inquiry.

Total Tested:

👉 34 ad campaigns

👉 11 successfully scaled

The campaign type remained consistent — we stuck with Lead Ads, which maintained a stable and low cost per inquiry.

07. Creatives

Formats

We utilized diverse formats to keep the frequency healthy:

  • Talking head videos (UGC style)

  • Voiceover videos

  • Drone FPV fly-throughs

  • House tours

  • Static banners & interior shots

  • High-quality renders and “live” photos

🔝 Top Performers:

  • Talking head videos

  • Affordable installment plans

  • Shelter-focused creatives

  • Autonomy and “ready-to-move-in” status

Top Performing Creatives

🎬 Talking head video: Offer – “Get a designer renovation as a gift”

Talking head video: Ready houses starting from $760/sqm

🏠 Static “Live” photo: Focus on the on-site shelter

🎬 Talking head video: “Ready to move in” (The “Slippers-ready” house)

08. Conclusion

Cottage community advertising can consistently generate affordable leads even without a complex website or pixel—provided there is a deep understanding of audience motivations and regular offer testing.

Key Success Factors:

  1. Laser focus on the family segment.

  2. Showcasing real, completed construction.

  3. Emphasis on autonomy and safety.

  4. Constant offer rotation.

LIKE THE CASE?​

We have an offer for you – a 30-minute marketing strategy session with a marketing expert from the Adart agency, where you:

  • Learn how to attract targeted leads to buy real estate.
  • What advertising sources bring sales.
  • What advertising messages are effective.
  • What other non-standard approaches are there in advertising and selling real estate.
Strategic session with a marketing expert
  • How to attract targeted leads to buy real estate?
  • What advertising sources bring sales?
  • Website and quiz analysis
  • What advertising messages are effective?
  • What other non-standard approaches are there in advertising and selling real estate?
Consultation
Leave a request and we will advise you on all your questions
Consultation
Leave a request and we will advise you on all your questions
Strategic session with a marketing expert
  • How to attract targeted leads to buy real estate?
  • What advertising sources bring sales?
  • Website and quiz analysis
  • What advertising messages are effective?
  • What other non-standard approaches are there in advertising and selling real estate?
Audit of developers in the following areas
  • PPC advertising. Google ADS.
  • Targeted advertising. Meta ADS
  • Website and quiz analysis
  • Introduction to CRM. Recommendations for optimizing business processes
  • Audit of analytics and reporting systems
  • Video meeting with experts in different areas of the development company
A full informational presentation about cooperation with the Adart agency
  • Brief information about our experience
  • How we can help your real estate business grow
  • Examples of creatives or project implementation
  • Accurate statistical results you can get
  • Project start workflow
  • Full information about cooperation