As the real estate and mortgage sectors consolidate, tech solutions often feel out of reach — especially for individual agents and loan officers. Preston Guyton joins Diego Sanchez for a conversation exploring how ez Home Search is breaking that cycle with simple, scalable tools designed to democratize access and protect consumer trust.
In this conversation, Preston breaks down the myths, the mechanics and the ethics behind building a scalable, agent-first platform and why ez Home Search’s YO growth proves agents are craving a smarter solution. From building a national LO directory to innovating privacy-first lead capture, Preston outlines a roadmap for empowering professionals on both sides of the transaction — and keeping the big portals in check.
Guyton’s background spans real estate, construction, mortgages, and tech — a blend that shaped how ez Home Search came to be.
“I actually got into real estate in 2004. I was in restaurants before that, went to college for computer science, then moved back to Myrtle Beach and started generating online leads,” he said. “At one point I had my real estate license in two states, mortgage license in seven, and I was a general contractor in 22 states.”
ez Home Search began as a tool to generate mortgage leads for a company he was launching that grew into a real estate brokerage, which scaled from zero to 120 agents in two years. “Lead generation and conversion have always been part of what I do,” Guyton said. “But a lot of companies struggle with it, and I wanted to help.”
Leads are the easy part
For Guyton, the problem isn’t generating leads — it’s what happens after. “The biggest misconception is how much work it actually takes. Agents think they can call two or three times and that’s it. But our data shows it takes an average of 27 touches to have a meaningful conversation,” he said.
As most of our readers know, not all leads are equal. “Good times get you good phone numbers, bad times get you bad phone numbers. Ads don’t always generate the same type of lead. That’s why we verify phone numbers and emails before someone can even register on our site,” he said.
One lead, one agent
Guyton has a philosophy about leads that is rooted in data privacy and lead exclusivity. “I don’t believe in selling the same lead to 20 companies,” Guyton said. “That exhausts the agent, and it’s not good for the consumer either. The goal is to generate as many opportunities as you want, but let one team work the lead.”
He added, “When the TCPA changes didn’t pass, I was disappointed. I think that would have helped the consumer a lot.”
Supporting lenders independently
With more and more lenders buying or building real estate platforms, ez Home Search is taking a different approach. “Most companies want everything in one app — they say it’s for everyone, but really the profitability is focused on their in-house teams,” Guyton said. “We want to give loan officers the ability to advertise on ez Home Search independently of a real estate agent.”
He gives a scoop on a new national lender directory launching in the coming weeks. “We generate about 50,000 visits a day and 20,000 registrations a month. The lender directory will give loan officers a Google Business-like profile and let them pair with agents across our site. When that relationship is turned on, that loan officer’s info shows up across all that agent’s pages.”
Looking ahead
“We’re moving into home services — moving, HVAC, landscaping — things that naturally follow the home search process. We already have the fish in the boat,” he said. “We don’t need to cast a wide net.”
“I don’t like sitting still,” Guyton said. “Being here gave me even more ideas. We’re going to keep evolving and building simple tools that make it easier for real estate pros and lenders to do their jobs.”
