My Favorite Follows: 10 Real Estate Influencers That Have My Attention
- Rick Ruberg
- Jun 24
- 5 min read
Updated: Jul 2
Social media for real estate professionals has evolved from a place to post new listings into a platform for genuine insight, thought leadership, and personality.
The real estate influencers who truly stand out don’t just promote themselves; they offer fresh viewpoints, push boundaries, and play a key role in redefining the industry landscape.
These ten have earned a permanent spot on my feed by consistently delivering insights that challenge conventional wisdom, predict market shifts, and bring a level of personality that feels refreshingly human. Some live on X, some run the top real estate Instagram accounts, and a couple are TikTokers.
My picks for who's worth following in 2026, and why they matter...
1. Tom Ferry | The Systems Thinker
Ferry has revolutionized how real estate professionals think about business operations, and he's been ahead of the curve on predicting which tech tools would actually stick in the industry. As the numero uno ranked real estate coach for more than a decade running, he's built the largest social media following in the business and turned coaching into a category of its own.
Why I love this follow: His framework for measuring and optimizing conversion rates at every stage of the sales funnel has become standard practice for high-performing teams.
2. Moses Kagan | The Patient Operator
Co-founder of Adaptive Realty in Los Angeles, Moses built from zero to roughly $200M of owned real estate with investors and manages another ~$400M for third-party owners. He's also one of the most respected voices on Real Estate Twitter and the founder behind ReConvene and Reseed Partners.
Why I love this follow: He thinks in decades, not quarters. His writing on unlevered yield and long-term holds is some of the most honest, contrarian content in the space.
Follow him: X @moseskagan
3. StripMallGuy | The Deal Storyteller
One of the biggest commercial real estate voices on X, StripMallGuy (Trent) breaks down strip mall, retail, and net-lease deals in plain English, usually with a healthy dose of humor.
Why I love this follow: He makes commercial real estate feel accessible. His deal breakdowns turn complex retail transactions into stories anyone can follow, whether you own a center or have never bought one.
Follow him: X @realEstateTrent
4. Chris Ramsey | The Cash-Flow Builder
A tech founder turned operator, Chris has carved out an unsexy but high-demand niche: contractor garages, self storage, and small-bay industrial across 2M+ square feet. His core thesis is using business cash flow and creative financing to fund real estate.
Why I love this follow: He shows the exact playbook for funding real estate with operating cash flow, and he's proof that the most boring asset classes are often the most profitable.
Follow him: X @ChrisRamsey60 · Instagram @therealchrisramsey
5. Sean Sweeney | The Community Developer
A Minneapolis-based developer who's been a general partner on a string of multifamily and mixed-use projects since launching his own firm. Sean is one of the most consistent advocates for walkable, human-scale urbanism on the platform.
Why I love this follow: His feed is a running argument for walkable, community-first development, and he backs it up with the projects he actually puts in the ground.
Follow him: X @seandsweeney
6. Tony Hoong | The Straight-Talking CPA
A licensed CPA with Big Four experience, Tony makes proactive tax planning feel approachable for business owners and real estate investors. His whole message is simple: most tools help you file, but planning is what actually saves you money.
Why I love this follow: He's sincere and genuinely tax-forward. No hype, no fear-mongering, just clear strategies for keeping more of what you earn.
Follow him: TikTok @thecpadude · Instagram @thecpadude_
7. Barrett Linburg | The Opportunity Zone Specialist
Co-founder of Dallas-based Savoy Equity Partners, Barrett runs a vertically integrated Texas multifamily platform and has become a go-to voice on tax-advantaged investing: Opportunity Zones, PFCs, and historic tax credits. He's even contributed practitioner perspective to Treasury working groups on OZ rules.
Why I love this follow: Nobody breaks down Opportunity Zones and tax-advantaged structures more clearly. His threads read like a free graduate course in real estate tax strategy.
Follow him: X @DallasAptGP
8. Mark O'Brien | The Builder-Broker
A New York City luxury developer and broker operating since 1999 under the banner "Buy, Build, Sell, Advise." Mark is known for ground-up construction and historic brownstone restorations, and he shares the kind of behind-the-scenes build content that's genuinely hard to find.
Why I love this follow: He pulls back the curtain on high-end NYC development and brownstone restoration. The before-and-after build content is rare, and it's a masterclass in adding value through construction.
Follow him: Instagram @themarkobrienteam · TikTok @themarkobrienteam
9. Breanna Banaciski | The Scroll-Stopper
A Tampa Realtor with Realty One Group Advantage and a half-million-plus followers, Breanna describes herself as "a comedian disguised as a Realtor." Her property tours are part listing showcase, part comedy bit.
Why I love this follow: She's flat-out hilarious. Her tours are some of the funniest content in real estate, and that comedy is exactly why the listings actually get seen. Personality is a distribution strategy, and she's mastered it.
Follow her: Instagram @tampa_bre · TikTok @tampa_bre
10. Ana Karina Klein | The Investor's Tax Coach
A real estate-focused CPA serving investors nationally, Ana built The Tax Boss around teaching people to use the rules already written into the tax code to minimize what they owe and build wealth. She also produces bilingual content in English and Spanish.
Why I love this follow: She translates dense tax code into plain-language strategy for investors, and her bilingual content opens that knowledge up to an audience most tax pros completely ignore.
Follow her: Instagram @taxbossana · X @taxbossana
What Makes These Voices Matter
These thought leaders share a few characteristics that set them apart from the typical real estate influencer:
Forward-thinking analysis. They don't just report what's happening; they explain what it means for the future and how professionals should prepare.
Actionable insights. Their content delivers specific strategies and frameworks you can implement immediately, not just motivational platitudes.
Industry impact. Their ideas shape how other professionals think about and approach their business, creating ripple effects across the industry.
Authentic expertise. Their insights come from real experience and deep industry knowledge, not just social media savvy.
Following the Right Real Estate Influencers
In today's world, of small screens and big information, it's crucial for real estate professionals to connect with the right voices. This helps them cut through the clutter and hone in on strategies that truly make a difference.
Whether it's through engaging posts from top real estate Instagram accounts, insightful content from real estate YouTubers, or detailed deal breakdowns on X, these influencers provide a valuable guide for creating sustainable, ethical, and profitable businesses that genuinely serve clients while navigating a constantly changing market.
What the industry really needs are more voices that emphasize substance over flash, strategy over showmanship, and long-term vision over quick fixes. These ten individuals exemplify the best of what real estate thought leadership has to offer.
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