I get to talk to a lot of realtors about video, but every once in a while, someone pops up in my feed who makes me stop scrolling. For me, that’s been Austin Klar. I have been admiring him from afar because his viral videos are everywhere – YouTube, Instagram, TikTok – and he’s not just posting, he’s growing his real estate business.
Austin gets 2/3 of his lead gen from social.
And growing a community of non-homebuyers while he’s at it! So when they are ready to buy, he’s on their mind.
Honestly, I think of him as the digital mayor of San Francisco, even though Daniel Lurie has a stronghold on that title, haha.
When I sat down with Austin, I wanted to know: how does someone go from zero clients for 17 months to closing $31M in deals in year two—mostly from social media?
A Rough Start
Austin left behind a high-paying law career in 2022 to become a realtor. Timing could not have been worse. The market shifted, clients disappeared, and for a year and a half, he made $0.
But instead of doing traditional cold outreach like knocking doors or cold-calling, he decided to build authority online. His thinking was simple:
“If my old colleagues don’t trust me yet with a $2M+ transaction, strangers will—if they see me as the person who knows San Francisco best.”
What most people don’t know is that only 9% of agents create listing videos, and that’s just MLS listing videos. Even fewer are posting videos on social media, which is a huge oportunity to market the realtor, not just the house.
Based on rarity alone, that is a big reason why Austin stands out. He is one of the few realtors in the Bay Area who prolifically posts on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok with exciting, entertaining, and educational videos.
Betting on Video
Austin poured his energy into creating videos about San Francisco—neighborhood guides, restaurant openings, lifestyle tips, myth-busting the national news about the city’s “downfall.”
It wasn’t quick. It took months of daily posting before anyone reached out. But he played the long game. And it worked:
Instagram: 41K followers, ~23K views per video
TikTok: 16K followers, ~12K views per video
YouTube: 20K subscribers, averaging ~1,300 views per video
Today, two-thirds of his business comes from social media.
Why His Content Hits Different
Here’s what I noticed about Austin’s approach:
He doesn’t just post listings. He posts lifestyle.
His videos are researched, scripted, and full of useful info (but feel effortless).
He makes consistency look easy—filming 7–20 short videos in a block so he always has drafts ready to post.
And unlike most agents, he’s not afraid to show up as himself on camera. That confidence didn’t happen overnight, but after a thousand videos, he’s proof that reps matter.
From Viewers to Clients
The conversion funnel for Austin is shockingly simple:
Someone watches his videos for months.
They DM or email him.
They hop on a Zoom call.
Deal closed.
By the time clients reach out, they’ve already “worked” with him virtually. He rarely competes for business because people feel like they already know, like, and trust him.
My Takeaway for Agents
Austin’s story isn’t just about one agent—it’s a case study in what’s possible if you commit to video. His advice to new agents?
“Start. Your first videos will suck, and that’s fine. Keep going. It took me 17 months to close my first deal from YouTube. You need patience and consistency—but it will pay off.”
If you’re on the fence about video, let Austin’s trajectory be the push. From $0 to $31M+ in two years—all because he showed up online.
Check out SolarHour’s courses + coaching at www.solarhourfilms.com and start building your own video system today.