A method of marketing real estate including creating a plurality of community websites each of which includes real estate content and community content for a particular geographic area (166), and designating a real estate agent (104) who specializes in marketing real estate within that geographic area. Each such community website is accessible via the internet at an internet address which preferably includes the name of the geographic area served by the community website. A directory website (100) has a searchable database of all of the community websites. The right to post real estate content on the community websites is licensed or franchised to real estate professionals. The owner of the directory website maintains central control over all other aspects of the community websites. The method further involves collecting demographic information about the geographic area served by each community website, creating a demographic profile for each community website, and allowing advertisers to purchase targeted advertising space on community websites in which the demographic profile of the website meets criteria desired by the advertiser. Alternatively, the advertisers can purchase targeted advertising space directed to a particular geographic area.