The Local Pack Is the New Curb Appeal, Why Google’s 3-Pack Ranking Matters More Than Ever

If you’ve ever typed “realtor near me” and noticed that box of three businesses at the top of the results, that’s the Local Pack.

It has become the new front lawn for real estate professionals. It’s where potential clients decide, in a split second, whether you look like someone worth calling. One tap. One click. One opportunity to be chosen.

And here’s something many agents overlook: nearly half of local searches, 42%, end with someone clicking inside that 3-Pack. If you’re not there, you’re essentially invisible to the people who are most ready to act.

This isn’t about luck or being favored by the algorithm. It’s about showing Google the signals it’s already looking for. That’s where strategy comes in. When you build the right local SEO foundation, your visibility stops being random and starts becoming reliable.

At Ashford South, we’ve seen this play out again and again. When we clean up inconsistent citations, tune up a Google Business Profile with the right keywords, dial in service descriptions, and add geotagged photos, something shifts. Your profile stops feeling like a placeholder and starts functioning like a polished storefront. Add in a steady flow of strong reviews and visual trust cues, and you begin to attract attention the same way a beautifully staged home draws buyers in.

And the impact isn’t theoretical. More than half of Google Business Profile views, 56%, lead people straight to a website. Nearly a quarter turn into direct phone calls. These aren’t random clicks; they’re people with intent. People who want to work with someone they trust. Google just happens to be the place they form that trust.

Think of the Local Pack the way you think of desirable real estate: prime location changes everything. When your competitors occupy those top spots, they’re effectively owning your digital neighborhood. They get the visibility, the calls, the conversations, all before anyone even scrolls to find you. The good news? Those spots are earned, not inherited. You just need a strategy and the consistency to follow through.

The reality is simple: you can’t get hired if you’re not seen. Your Google Business Profile has become one of the most important front doors to your business, and you want people to walk through it with confidence.