Coworking Spaces: The Referral Pipeline Hiding in Your Local WeWork

The remote work revolution didn't end — it matured. And with that maturity came a massive, largely untapped referral channel for real estate agents: coworking spaces.

According to Statista, the number of coworking spaces in the U.S. surpassed 7,000 in 2025, with membership growing 15% year over year. That's tens of thousands of professionals who chose where they live based on lifestyle, not commute distance. And when lifestyle priorities shift — a new relationship, a growing family, a desire for more space — they move.

The agents getting those deals aren't waiting for a Zillow lead. They're already in the building.

Why Coworking Members Are Ideal Referral Sources

Remote workers and freelancers share three traits that make them uniquely valuable to agents:

**They're mobile by design.** Without an office tethering them to a zip code, coworking members relocate more frequently than traditional office workers. A 2025 Upwork survey found that 39% of remote workers moved or planned to move within 18 months — nearly double the rate of in-office employees.

**They're networked.** Coworking spaces are built on community. Members share recommendations constantly — from accountants to coffee shops to, yes, real estate agents. A single positive experience can ripple through an entire shared workspace in days.

**They have income.** This isn't a cold list of renters who might someday buy. Coworking members skew toward knowledge workers, tech professionals, and entrepreneurs — demographics with above-average household incomes and strong purchasing power.

The Embed Strategy

The most effective approach isn't dropping off business cards at the front desk. It's becoming part of the community.

**Get a membership.** Even a part-time hot desk membership gives you legitimate access to the space, its events, and its Slack channels. At $200-400 per month, it's cheaper than most lead generation tools — and the leads are warmer.

**Offer value first.** Host a "Lunch & Learn" on local market trends, first-time buyer programs, or investment property basics. Coworking spaces are hungry for programming, and you become the resident real estate expert without a hard sell.

**Build relationships with community managers.** These are the connectors. They know who just signed a lease, who's outgrowing their apartment, and who mentioned buying a house last Tuesday. A community manager who trusts you becomes your highest-converting referral source.

**Join the digital channels.** Most coworking spaces run Slack workspaces, Discord servers, or Facebook groups. Be helpful there. Answer housing questions. Share neighborhood guides. When someone posts "anyone know a good agent?" you're already a familiar name.

Turning Community Into Pipeline

The key is systematic follow-through. Here's what top agents in this niche are doing:

**Track your coworking contacts separately.** Tag them in your CRM with the space name and any relevant details — their work situation, housing timeline, neighborhood preferences. When a contact mentions they're thinking about buying "sometime next year," set a six-month follow-up.

**Create space-specific content.** Write a neighborhood guide tailored to the coworking space's location. What are the best walkable apartments nearby? Which neighborhoods have the fastest internet? Where are the quiet cafés for overflow work days? This content gets shared organically within the community.

**Cross-pollinate between spaces.** If you're embedded in multiple coworking locations, you become the bridge. A member at Space A is selling their condo? A member at Space B just told you they're looking. That's a double-ended referral from a channel most agents don't even know exists.

The Numbers That Matter

Agents working coworking referral strategies report some compelling metrics. Members of [Reaferral](https://reaferral.com) who tag coworking-sourced contacts in their profiles see a 28% higher response rate on referral outreach compared to cold database contacts.

The reason is simple: shared community creates built-in trust. You're not a stranger with a license. You're the person they sat next to at the communal table last Thursday.

Getting Started This Week

Pick one coworking space within your target market area. Visit for a day pass. Talk to the community manager about hosting an event. Join their online community. Within 30 days, you'll have a warm network of potential clients and referral sources that no amount of paid advertising could replicate.

The agents who win in 2026 aren't just networking with other agents. They're embedding themselves in the communities where their future clients already spend their days.

Your next referral might be sitting at the desk across from you — if you bother to show up.