Imagine this: it's the 1920s, and you’re in the market for a new house. You grab your hat and coat, not your smartphone, and make your way downtown—likely by horse-drawn carriage or early automobile. Forget the internet, glossy brochures, or even telephones as we know them. Instead, real estate was a true in-person affair, driven by face-to-face connections, handwritten agreements, and a whole lot of trust.

Real estate 100 years ago was almost unrecognizable compared to the slick, tech-driven world we see today. At the time, the process of buying and selling homes was built on the foundation of local relationships and good old-fashioned legwork.

A World Without Listings (or Google)

Today, with the tap of a button, you can view dozens of homes with virtual tours, detailed listings, and high-resolution photos. Back then? The "listing" was a simple ad in the local newspaper, usually just a couple of lines describing a property for sale. If you were lucky, there might be a tiny black-and-white photograph to accompany the text, but more often, you’d have to use your imagination.

Buyers would scour the classified section of the newspaper or word-of-mouth to find properties. Interested? Time to hop in a carriage or one of those new-fangled Model Ts and go check it out in person. Driving through neighborhoods wasn’t just something done for fun—it was essential if you wanted to see what was for sale.

Real Estate Agents: The Original Networkers

In the 1920s, real estate agents were the ultimate networkers. With no MLS (Multiple Listing Service) to consolidate all available homes in one place, these agents relied heavily on personal connections. They often knew every property for sale in their town—sometimes because they had personally visited each one. A good reputation meant everything, as trust and word-of-mouth recommendations were the best ways to get business.

There was a lot less regulation, too. The concept of licensing agents wasn’t yet standardized, and there were far fewer legal hurdles. That’s right, no online courses, no brokerage tests—many real estate professionals were simply people who had a knack for business, a handshake, and a trustworthy smile.

Showings with a Twist

The home showing process in the 1920s was quite different. Without cell phones or email, setting up a property tour could take days. Buyers and sellers met in person, and if you didn’t show up, well, you just missed out. No follow-up email to remind you!

There was also much more emphasis on the personal relationship between the buyer and seller. Negotiations could happen right on the spot, over a cup of tea in the parlor. Haggling over the price wasn’t done through an endless back-and-forth of emails, but through direct conversation, sealed with a handshake.

Closing the Deal—On Paper

When it came to closing the deal, things were more intimate—and more manual. Legal agreements were drawn up by hand, sometimes right there at the kitchen table of the house being sold. With fewer regulations and less formalized paperwork, closings could happen faster, but they also left more room for error.

Deals were often secured with nothing more than a simple contract and trust between the parties. And instead of a wire transfer, you’d likely be handing over a physical check or a wad of cash!

Real estate 100 years ago may have lacked the technology, speed, and convenience of today, but it had its own kind of charm. Buyers and sellers relied on personal relationships, trust, and intuition to make things happen. While today’s transactions are often conducted through screens and signatures, back then, it was all about showing up—whether in your best hat or your brand-new automobile!