M
itchell Tebo, a 23-year-old Realtor, is making waves in southern Maine's high-priced real estate market with his unorthodox approach to online marketing. He creates viral videos showcasing properties, often incorporating humor and creativity. For example, he did a backflip off a bridge into the York River while promoting a $1.5 million home. The video cuts to him pulling himself onto a nearby dock, where he says "I just found your dream home." Tebo's goal is to bring hundreds of thousands of eyes to each listing, something few agents are capable of doing.

    Tebo started making videos for free while getting his real estate license in Maine this year. He believes his marketing has helped him find clients and establish himself as a new kind of Realtor who goes beyond traditional methods. "Bringing massive exposure can help sell properties," he said, citing three instances where homes closed days after he posted his videos.

    Tebo's background in real estate is rooted in his family business, which his parents own. He grew up near Worcester, Massachusetts, and moved to York three or four years ago. This year, he got his license and began making cold calls, but soon shifted focus to creating engaging content for social media. His first video was of a condo in York, but it wasn't until he started incorporating himself into the videos that they gained traction.

    Tebo's tactics include posting in local community Facebook groups and maximizing his online presence. He believes his approach is effective, citing a home at Mousam Lake where he did a free video for another agent, which led to him getting hired by another homeowner on the lake. "That's just an example of people seeing the value I can bring to the seller and wanting me to sell their home," he said.

    The southern Maine market is experiencing soaring prices, with York County seeing a 9.75% increase in median sales price from August 2023 to 2024. Interest rates are slowly coming down, but remain high enough to deter some sellers. Tebo believes his tenacity will help him succeed in this challenging climate, and he's willing to take risks to stand out in the industry.