ChatGPT, Gemini increasingly used in home buyer searches

When it comes to learning about today's housing market, a majority of potential buyers are going digital, turning toward artificial intelligence and social media for information, according to Realtor.com.

A majority of potential buyers said they are excited about how AI can help personalize their home search experience, and 82% are using it in their research, according to the real estate platform's summer survey. ChatGPT and Gemini rank at the top of the AI platforms they feel comfortable utilizing, with respondent shares of 67% and 54%, respectively. 

Social media also plays an important role in how buyers learn about housing trends, with an overwhelming majority of 90% finding value in it. Youtube and Facebook are the most commonly used platforms, with shares of 73% and 57%. Among Generation Z specifically, though, 76% said they relied on Tiktok. 

"From AI platforms to social media, consumers are expanding where they turn for insights. This shift shows that the future of real estate will be shaped not only by market conditions, but also by how quickly people adopt fresh tools and perspectives to navigate them," said Realtor.com Chief Economist Danielle Hale in a press release. 

As artificial intelligence tools have improved and expanded throughout finance and business services, including in the mortgage industry, consumers have shown greater willingness to go digital. Distrust from all sides of the housing transaction remains about potential AI flaws and the accuracy of some of the content generated.  

Where does the real estate agent fit in?

Yet despite the acceleration and adoption of technology among the homebuying public, consumers still prioritize the value of professional expertise. 

Real estate agents outranked artificial intelligence and social media when buyers considered the resources that made them "smarter" about the housing market. Agents just edged out artificial intelligence by a share of 62% to 61%, the survey showed. 

More buyers also considered the real estate agent community the most valuable use of their time in their home-search plans above all other resources. 

Almost two-thirds, or 65.6%, deemed agent consultations and correspondence as a positive use of their time in their home search. The share outpaced the 61.9% who thought as highly of artificial intelligence tools. 

AI, though, ranked ahead of buyers' friends, families and neighbors when it came to positive time usage, which came in at 57.8%. Television, social media and news lagged, but a majority still consider them valuable resources. 

"The housing market remains a challenge for both buyers and sellers, and Americans are responding by embracing new ways to get smarter about their decisions," Hale noted.