From Blogging for Fun to Closing 50 Homes a Year: How Erin Torres Built a Real Estate Brand Through Local Content
From Blogger to 50 Homes a Year
A Vermont-based real estate agent who turned her love for community and storytelling into a thriving real estate business closing 40 to 50 homes a year.
What started as a simple blog about exploring local gems has grown into a powerful lead-generation engine that attracts clients organically no cold calls, no door knocking, just authentic local content.
From Hobby to Career: The Birth of “Travel Like a Local Vermont”
Before becoming a licensed realtor, Erin started a passion project called Travel Like a Local Vermont a blog and Instagram page highlighting local spots, hidden gems, and experiences across the Green Mountain State.
“I loved exploring my community,” Erin says. “I wanted to showcase the beauty of Vermont from coffee shops and hikes to small-town events.”
What she didn’t expect was that her local storytelling would become the foundation of her future real estate success. When she got her real estate license in 2017, the brand she had already built helped her stand out as a trusted local expert.
Building Trust Through Authenticity
Instead of chasing leads, Erin focused on what felt natural creating value through consistent, local content.
“I’m not the kind of person who loves cold calling or door knocking,” she explains. “I wanted a lead generation strategy that felt genuine and fun.”
By consistently sharing what she loved about Vermont, she built a following of over 83,000 people on Instagram. Her content not only connected her with locals but also with people looking to relocate to Vermont all of whom already felt like they knew and trusted her.
Turning Content into Clients
Today, about 80% of Erin’s business comes directly from Instagram. The rest comes from referrals many sparked by her online presence.
“I don’t do a lot of paid ads or cold outreach,” she says. “My business grows because people come to me through content.”
She’s also strategic about reusing her content: reels become blog posts, which turn into newsletters. This keeps her audience engaged while providing value across multiple platforms.
The Power of Consistency
If there’s one message Erin wants other agents to remember, it’s this: consistency is everything.
“My business didn’t take off until I mastered consistency,” she shares. “It’s about showing up every day even when you’re busy and building systems that make it easy to stay consistent.”
Every Sunday, Erin plans her weekly content. Every morning, she posts by 7:30 AM making her lead generation routine a non-negotiable habit.
Lessons for Other Agents
Erin’s journey is a perfect reminder that success in real estate doesn’t have to come from cold calls or expensive ads. It comes from authenticity, consistency, and community connection.
Her advice for other agents:
Find a lead generation strategy that feels true to who you are
Build your brand around what you genuinely enjoy
Stay consistent, even when it feels repetitive
Focus on value — not just visibility
