What Are These Nighttime Drones Really Up To? 7 Real Estate Theories That Make Sense (Sort Of)

Recently, mysterious drones have been spotted zipping through the skies above New Jersey and beyond, causing plenty of confusion and even a bit of fear.

People have been coming up with theories ranging from “secret government surveillance” to “alien reconnaissance missions.” Unfortunately, they’re all just that—theories.

While it seems like anything is possible, everyone could use a little reassurance and some hope that there’s an explanation that doesn’t cause concern…

Like, maybe it’s just real estate agents!

So, let’s give our imaginations a moment to calm down, put those conspiracy theories to rest, and explore 7 real estate-related possibilities behind these mysterious drones:

1) It’s an agent trying to max out the number of listing photos…

Some agents love to show off their listings with as many photos as possible, and now that many MLS systems and listing sites allow up to 100 images, perhaps some agents are just trying to find new and unique shots to take. Sunsets, moonlit skies, cloudy skies, streetlight shadows, a 400-foot aerial shot, a 30,000-foot view—you name it! If it takes a drone flying at 2 a.m. to capture the perfect angle, so be it.

2) It’s a buyer trying to find a house before it even gets listed…

There just aren’t enough houses on the market to satisfy the demand, and buyers are looking for any advantage they can to avoid a bidding war. Maybe they’re being flown by a tech-savvy buyer who’s using drones to tail listing agents en route to listing appointments so they can get a leg up on the competition and put in an offer before the ink is even dry on the listing agreement!

3) It’s an agent trying to recover open house balloons…

In the past, “open house” balloons floating away into the sky wasn’t a big deal. But a lot of people frown on it now, because they pollute the environment and can harm wildlife. So it could be an agent trying to avoid bad press or a fine by using drones to find and retrieve some balloons with their branding on them.

4) It’s how those Zestimate numbers hover over a house…

You know how Zestimates just seem to hover over homes on the website? Well, maybe they aren’t just numbers on a screen and it’s the drones that are projecting the values like a hologram over a house when someone is looking it up online.

5) It’s an HOA trying to find ways to fine people…

HOA’s are always looking for new ways to enforce their rules! Did you forget to mow your lawn? Did you install an unapproved basketball hoop? Are those flowers hanging on your porch an approved color? The drones are the perfect tool for catching violations without having to patrol the community on foot, or rely on a nosy neighbor to report the offender.

6) It’s a sophisticated group of squatters…

Squatters go to extreme lengths to avoid paying rent or buying a place the honest way. So, it’s not out of the realm of possibility that a group of high-tech squatters is using drones to find unoccupied homes and keep tabs on potential targets.

7) Or maybe it is aliens…

Considering we Earthlings are scoping out the potential to live on the Moon or Mars, it’s possible that it could be extraterrestrials looking at Earth as an alternative place to live. Well, the good news is, once they see how much houses sell for on Earth, they’ll probably disappear pretty quickly.