Key Details:
- Realtor.com reports that 82% of Americans use AI for housing insights, with ChatGPT (67%) and Gemini (54%) leading the pack.
- Nearly 90% rely on social media, while 62% say agents make them smarter about the market and 65.6% call working with agents a positive use of time.
Artificial intelligence is reshaping how Americans navigate the housing market, but one thing hasn’t changed: people still trust agents more than any other source of real estate information.
According to a new Realtor.com® survey, 82% of Americans now use AI tools to gather housing market insights. The report also highlights how consumers are blending old and new habits, turning to both ChatGPT and their agents to understand what’s really happening in the market.
How Consumers Are Using AI and Social Media
The survey shows a clear shift toward technology-driven research, with ChatGPT (67%) and Gemini (54%) leading the way among AI platforms used for real estate information. More than half of respondents said they’re excited about how AI can personalize their home search experience.
To meet that demand, portals are taking action. Zillow just became the first real estate app in ChatGPT, and Realtor.com has rolled out a new AI-powered search experience designed to help people find homes the way they “actually talk and type.”
While AI use is rising quickly, social media remains a key information source. Nearly 90% of Americans rely on social platforms for housing content. Among them:
- YouTube (73%) and Facebook (57%) are the most used overall.
- 76% of Gen Z respondents say TikTok is one of their go-to platforms for housing information (more than any other generation).
This data points to a broader behavioral shift. Consumers are gathering real estate information in more places than ever, but they’re also recognizing that not all sources deliver the same level of accuracy or context.
Trust and Accuracy Still Belong to Agents
When asked which sources make them “smarter” about the housing market, respondents ranked real estate agents (62%) first, just ahead of AI (61%) and traditional media.
Agents were also rated the most accurate source of market information, ahead of AI, family and friends, and the news. In other words, people may be using AI to learn about the market, but they still turn to agents to make sense of it.
The survey also asked which sources feel like a good use of time. Here’s how respondents rated their experiences:
- Real estate agents: 65.6%
- AI: 61.9%
- Friends, family, or neighbors: 57.8%
- Television: 55.1%
- Social media: 52.6%
- News: 52%
Consumers value both efficiency and expertise, and agents are winning on both fronts.
What Consumers Say About Inaccurate or Irrelevant Information
Even as social media and streaming platforms flood timelines with real estate content, many consumers say the information isn’t relevant to their local market.
- Nearly 40% said TV and streaming shows depict an unrealistic homebuying or selling experience.
- About 30% (28.8%) said social media content doesn’t apply to their market, while 30.5% said it’s inaccurate.
- 24% said housing advice from friends or family doesn’t fit their local market either.
That disconnect between entertainment-driven real estate content and real-world experience reinforces why agents remain so critical.
AI, Agents, and the Path Forward
The Realtor.com survey underscores how consumers are eager to embrace AI, but not at the expense of human expertise. As the housing market grows more complex, people want both innovative tools and trusted professionals to help them interpret what they see online.
According to Danielle Hale, Chief Economist at Realtor.com®:
“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. 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.”
Even with AI-powered tools like Realtor.com’s new search experience, the data shows that expert guidance still matters, especially in a market where only 28% of homes are affordable to the typical household.
This is a reminder that consumers want both innovation and insight. AI may provide quick answers, but human experience is what gives those answers meaning.
Agents who use AI to enhance, not replace, their value can stay ahead as technology reshapes how buyers and sellers approach the market.
