15 Eye-Catching IDX Powered WordPress Designs
When building a new real estate blog, you’ll have to decide on which theme to use (unless of course you’re hiring someone to design a custom site for you).
Although there are tons of free themes out there to choose from, it’s often best to invest in a premium theme. They have better code, they’re constantly updated, and often times, they’re easier to work with.
Most premium themes work right “out of the box,” but it’s also nice to know that you can customize a theme to your heart’s content to build a custom looking real estate website.
Below, are several examples of great looking IDX powered WordPress designs using the Thesis, Headway and Genesis Frameworks.
If you’re designing a real estate website of your own, hopefully you’ll pull some good ideas on design, color schemes, lay-out and more from the examples below.
Thesis Framework:
The first 5 designs are powered by the Thesis Framework.
Now, I’ve never personally used the Thesis Framework myself, but based on other Agent’s feedback, you’ll have to have some knowledge of CSS to customize it beyond the standard look and feel “out of the box.” Otherwise, it’s a very robust framework and highly recommended.
Cost of the Thesis Framework:
- Personal Option = $87
- Developer’s Option = $164
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Framework: Thesis.
IDX: Spacial Match.
Nice header design and the lay-out makes it easy to access content on the rest of the site. The featured slider displays the latest articles, and the Agent’s contact information is easily accessible to the right of the slider.
You can easily access the home search page via the site’s navigation menu or click on the “Search for Homes” badge just below the primary navigation buttons.
Nicely done.
2. Lofts.com/blog.
Framework: Thesis.
IDX: None.
Simple thesis mod with a nicely done header. Here, I like the “Featured Loft” section on the right. Only, it doesn’t link to the actual loft that’s being featured. Still, that would be a great place to showcase current and recently sold listings.
3. GoodlifeTeam.com.
Framework: Thesis.
IDX: 1ParkPlace.
Great branding and use of white space. Contact number is easily displayed on the upper right-hand side of the site at all times so if I need to reach an agent, I know what number to dial.
I like the quick-search off to the right. If I want to search for homes quickly and easily, I know where to look and what to do.
And lastly, I like the use of real estate icons to power the navigation menu.
4. lasvegas-realestate-communities-homesforsale.com.
Framework: Thesis.
IDX: Diverse Solutions.
Nice use of the “featured article” section to hi-light the latest post before the rest of the content on the site. From there, further down the page, you can clearly see the Call To Actions driving you to the home search sections of the site. Well done.
5. DebbieJames.com.
Framework: Thesis.
IDX: Tiger Leads.
Nice logo, great design. Here, I like that Debbie puts a face to the name with her photo and short bio to the right of the site header where you can click on the link to easily access the rest of her bio.
Off to the right of the header is her contact number should you need to reach her quickly. At first, I couldn’t see the “Property Search” Call To Action off to the right but you have links to the home search page in the navigation which is quick and easy to access.
Over all, great color scheme and simple navigation which makes it easy to find what I’m looking for. Very well done.
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Headway Framework:
The following 5 designs are powered by the Headway Theme Framework for WordPress. You can literally take Headway “out of the box” and build a custom theme without having much (or any) knowledge of CSS using it’s various drag-and-drop features. Although that sounds like a good thing, if you’re not a designer, it’s easy to get carried away and over-do it.
Cost of the Headway Framework:
- Base = $68
- Standard = $174 (includes 3 Headway Child Theme templates)
- All-Access = $378 (includes access to all Headways Child Theme templates, exclusive developer webinars, and early beta access for new updates)
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Framework: Headway.
IDX: Tiger Leads.
I really like the Call To Action banner that reads “Click Here To Find Your Dream Home” that’s hooked above the blog post content on each post. It’s a quick and easy way to direct readers to your IDX map search.
In addition, her contact info is prominently displayed to the right, just above the community landing pages. Well done!
Framework: Headway. (Customized by Team Hardison)
IDX: IDX Broker.
Great design that makes excellent use of client testimonials via the slider on the home page, makes it easy to search via the search form, and still promotes featured listings right below.
Excellent design from top to bottom.
8. GainsevilleRealEstateTalk.com.
Framework: Headway. (Customized by 210 Consulting)
IDX: IDX Broker.
I really like the background pattern on this one. And again, great use of imagery on the home page and excellent use of the featured content sections right below it to prominently display the site’s primary Calls To Action.
9. urbanseattlerealestate.com
Framework: Headway. (Customized by Team Hardison)
IDX: Diverse Solutions.
What I really like about this site is the very simple navigation menu. 5 pages and that’s it. Most other sites make a mess of their navigation (sad, but true).
Then, the 3 primary Call To Actions are:
- Click here to search for homes,
- Learn more about Seattle,
- Or click here to access the blog.
Simple.
And if I need to contact an agent, his contact information is right there, right in front of me on the home page.
Framework: Headway. (Customized by Team Hardison)
IDX: Diverse Solutions.
Note: I removed the header from my preview image so that I could better hi-light the rest of the site. Though, the header itself has a great design and navigation menu.
What I like here is the quick search is quickly and readily available via the sidebar on the right, but also, a mobile home search is promoted via the image to the left. So if you want to search for homes on the go, no problem!
I also love the lay-out of each of the community pages. Rather than displaying a carousel, they’re each hi-lighted in a two column format with a bullet list of the make-up of the community. Great way to display and promote your various coverage areas!
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Genesis Framework + AgentPress:
The following 5 designs are powered by the Genesis Framework for WordPress and utilizes the AgentPress Child Theme for real estate. This theme’s designed with today’s real estate agent in mind.
Built to hi-light homes for sale and accentuate your various Calls To Action, this is a great theme for those looking to build a real estate blog. It works right “out of the box” but is also highly customizable for those that want to kick it up a notch.
Cost of the Genesis Framework + AgentPress:
- Theme + Genesis Framework = $99.95
- Just the AgentPress Child Theme = $44.95
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11. sellnhouses.com.
Framework: AgentPress.
IDX: IDX Broker.
Here, Robin uses your standard AgentPress lay-out per the demo site. I like her use of the widget section to the right of the slider to display a quick and simple contact form.
You can still quickly and easily search for homes using the site navigation or by clicking on any one of her featured listings on the home page.
12. livinginmillburn-shorthills.com.
Framework: AgentPress. (Customized by Agent Evolution)
IDX: Diverse Solutions.
This custom AgentPress site still utilizes the standard AgentPress lay-out per the demo site. The search form to the right of the slider however is customized to pull listings from the Diverse Solutions primary mapping IDX search rather than dsIDXpress.
Very well done!
13. RemotheRealtor.com.
Framework: AgentPress. (Customized by Agent Evolution)
IDX: Diverse Solutions.
Another nice custom AgentPress design that makes great use of the default AgentPress lay-out per the theme demo to display the site’s primary Calls To Action.
Just below the “Find Out What Your Home is Worth” banner on the home page, you’ll see three featured sections that hi-light client testimonials, a featured property and additional resources.
I’d like to see more agents prominently displaying client testimonials on their websites!
Framework: AgentPress. (Customized by Agent Evolution)
IDX: Diverse Solutions.
If you’re into video, no problem. This site’s using the standard blog lay-out and is using the “Featured – Top Section” to display their latest video.
15. kurtzer.com.
Framework: AgentPress. (Customized by Agent Evolution)
IDX: Diverse Solutions.
Nice simple blog lay-out and color scheme. Here, I like the site’s use of both Diverse Solutions products in conjunction with one another. You can quickly and easily access listings via the dsIDXpress quick search to the right, or via the “Quick Links” widget also on the right.
For those that like to see listings on a map interface, they can just as easily access listing data using the featured map widget on the “Featured – Top” section of the site.
Nicely done.
Which one do you like best?
Do you have a particular favorite from the site examples listed here? Any ideas for your next site design?
Have you used any of the WordPress theme frameworks listed here? What do you like (or not like) about them?
Greg Fischer
Posted at 07:50h, 27 MarchRicardo – incredible post. I can’t imagine how much time you spent on it. Thanks for doing this. Your Portland Home Team has a great site, very clean. I like how they include an “about you” feature on the home page, cool idea. I also like Living in Milburn-Short Hills for the great use of white space and again, clean design. Very easy to read and navigate and they have a lot of great content.
I’ve been on Agentpress for a few months as I’ve been building out my site and it’s very easy to use and customize. It’s almost a no-brainer for a self-build especially with the use of an IDX that has wordpress plugins, it works well out-of-the-box with only a little bit of labor. The support forums are great resources for both Agentpress and Diverse Solutions, which i currently use for IDX. The two things that will hold agents back from making awesome sites are the ability to produce great content, and limits in design capability and/or a budget for it.
Great post and several examples I had not seen previously. Thanks!
Ricardo Bueno
Posted at 09:18h, 27 MarchHey Greg,
Thanks! And yep, you can accomplish quite a bit yourself if you’re willing to invest the time and energy to do so. Most people don’t want to though, and they’ll either hire someone to do it for them (which is totally fine), or they just won’t be successful with it all.
Thanks for mentioning the Support Forums too. We try and stay on top of those here at Diverse Solutions and I know that StudioPress has a team that’s always responsive and there to answer any problems questions people might have. Ultimately, at the end of the day, we’re happy to see Agents doing all the right things to execute and build their business online.
Anyway, thanks for the feedback man, much appreciated. And thanks for being a Diverse Solutions customer!
Rich Jacobson
Posted at 15:06h, 27 MarchExcellent article, Ricardo! Definitely one of the primary road bumps in setting up your own WP site is trying to navigate the endless sea of themes. This is one of the better posts that I’ve seen that gives good, practical insights into what works…thanks, man!
Sharon Paxson
Posted at 21:08h, 28 MarchRicardo – this is a great post and very informative with the different themes and use of IDX. I personally am a fan of thesis, but it is great to see all these other themes also. Thanks for taking the time and for giving examples!
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Posted at 21:13h, 28 MarchNice research Ricardo! I love my ChildPress theme and have built it with more than one IDX (and yes, DS rocks!) just to compare. Now, I don’t want to get rid of any of them! The ChildPress theme is very user-friendly so, it’s a nice one to build upon.
Irina Netchaev
Posted at 21:29h, 28 MarchHey Ribeezie, I didn’t get (customized by Irina Netchaev) box… 🙁 Good or bad, my customization. LOL
Propertystr
Posted at 04:16h, 30 Marchvery helpful
information ,thank you
Missy Caulk
Posted at 05:32h, 04 AprilThanks for using some sites that use Tiger Leads. I’ve tried to be talked out of it….but since it accounts for 60% of my closings each year have no intent to do it. It was nice to see how other agents are integrating it into their sites.