SOURCE: Windermere

Technology is transforming nearly every industry, and real estate is no exception. New tools and innovations are reshaping the way we search for, buy, and sell homes. Among these advances, artificial intelligence (AI) has quickly become one of the most talked-about technologies, being used for everything from writing and research to customer service. Naturally, this raises the question of whether it could ever replace jobs that rely on human connection and expertise, like real estate.

In the sections ahead, we’ll break down what AI can and can’t do in real estate, and how agents can use it to their advantage rather than view it as competition.

What is AI?

Artificial intelligence (AI) is technology that allows machines to simulate human intelligence. In recent years, AI has grown at lightning speed and has become part of daily life, often in ways people don’t even notice. Generative AI tools like ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini, etc., are the ones most people hear about because they can answer questions, draft text, or create images. At the same time, other forms of AI are working quietly behind the scenes on websites, apps, and services we use daily, from recommendation engines to fraud detection.

Together, these tools are changing how we interact with technology, making it faster and more efficient. But when it comes to buying or selling a home, no algorithm can replace the insight, guidance, and personal care of a trusted real estate agent.

How AI is Shaping Real Estate

AI is already influencing how buyers and sellers approach the market. From predictive pricing tools and market analysis platforms to more intelligent home search engines, AI can process large amounts of data and provide insights more quickly than any individual could manage on their own. For agents, it can automate repetitive tasks like drafting emails or creating basic listing descriptions, while chatbots help answer simple client questions around the clock. Some platforms even use AI to match buyers with properties based on preferences or past behaviors. These tools save time and make processes more productive, but they’re only part of the real estate experience.

Why Real Estate Needs a Human Touch

Buying or selling a home is never just about the transaction—it’s often one of the biggest financial and emotional decisions of a person’s life. And while AI may provide quick data or market insights, it can’t sit down with an individual and understand their specific needs, calm their nerves during a stressful moment, or celebrate when the keys are finally handed over.

A real estate agent listens, adapts, and advocates for their clients in ways that no algorithm can replicate, bringing empathy, intuition, and lived experience into the equation rather than just facts and figures. They know the neighborhoods, the schools, and the subtle details that make a house a home. They can recognize when a client needs reassurance, when to negotiate a little harder, and when to suggest a creative solution to keep a deal moving forward. These instincts and skill sets are built on years of human connection, which is what makes the difference between simply completing a deal and guiding someone through a life-changing experience or helping them reach their real estate goals.

The Future: Agents + AI, Not Agents vs. AI

Rather than replacing real estate agents, AI has the potential to make their work even more impactful. Tools like virtual tours, AI-powered staging, and digital imaging can help buyers visualize a property in new ways, while automation can create marketing materials, streamline scheduling, and analyze market trends at an increased speed. These efficiencies free up time and energy for agents to focus on what matters most: listening to clients, building trust, and guiding them through one of life’s most significant decisions.

When used thoughtfully, AI shouldn’t be viewed as a competition, but as a business companion. By blending cutting-edge technology with the irreplaceable human touch, real estate agents can continue to grow their business, deliver better service, and strengthen the personal relationships that remain at the heart of every successful transaction.

At Windermere, we use every tool available, but it’s our expertise and personal care that truly set us apart. Connect with me today and learn more!

SOURCE: Windermere

SOURCE: Windermere

In the process of buying or selling a home, you’ll frequently come across the term “MLS.” The Multiple Listing Service (MLS) is a group of regional databases of homes for sale accessible only to real estate agents and brokers. Their ability to access the MLS makes it easier for buyers to find the right home and for sellers to market their listings.

What is the Multiple Listing Service (MLS)?

The purpose of an MLS is to facilitate real estate transactions by connecting real estate agents and making it easy for them to share information about active listings and sold home data. For buyers and sellers, your agent’s access to the MLS means you’ll be connected to the largest network of homes and listing information on the market.

There are over 500 independent MLSs across the United States, with each MLS showing the homes for sale in a particular geographic region. Listing agents add their clients’ listings to the database—providing photos and detailed information about the property—so buyer’s agents can show them to their clients. The MLS allows for customizable searches, which agents use to easily identify the homes that match their clients’ criteria. The vast amount of historical data available on the MLS is what your agent will use to conduct their Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) to competitively price your home. The listing data in the MLS is fed to real estate brokerage websites, such as Windermere.com, so that buyers can search for homes on their own as well.

Benefits of the Multiple Listing Service (MLS)

Selling a home is a numbers game. The more potential buyers you can reach, the more likely you are to find the right buyer in a timely manner. After your agent conducts their CMA to determine the value of your home, they’ll upload the listing to the MLS. Here, they can add additional information beyond what you would find in a typical listing description, such as showing times, contact information, and more. The MLS provides maximum visibility for sellers by connecting them to buyer’s agents who are actively searching for listings. In today’s market, many MLS platforms offer mobile-friendly tools and agent apps, making it even easier to track showing requests, market updates, and search results on the go. Some even use AI to help agents identify pricing trends or recommend homes that match specific client needs.

The MLS has also helped to make the industry more equitable. Many MLSs enforce policies that promote fair and equitable access to listing data. This includes rules that require agents to submit a listing to the MLS within 24 hours of public marketing, along with principles from the Fair Display Guidelines, which aim to ensure that property listings are represented transparently and are easily accessible. Small real estate brokerages have access to the same MLS info as large companies, putting everyone on a level playing field.

For buyers, the MLS means greater transparency. Agents can set up auto-alerts based on your criteria and ensure you’re seeing listings as soon as they go live. Because the MLS is updated in real-time by licensed agents, it’s often more reliable than national search portals when it comes to availability and details.

What is an MLS number?

An MLS number is a unique code for each home listed on the market. It makes it easier for agents to communicate regarding a specific property. This number also helps agents quickly pull up detailed reports, schedule showings, and share links directly with their clients. If you ever have a question about a home you’ve seen, providing the MLS number ensures your agent can locate it fast.

SOURCE: Windermere

SOURCE: Windermere

Imagine a home-buying scenario where you make an offer, the seller immediately accepts, and everything goes smoothly until you’re handed the keys. It’s possible, but more often, buying a home involves negotiation, counteroffers, and a back-and-forth dialogue between buyer and seller to reach a deal. And in some cases, the deal can fall through.

That’s where contingencies come in.

Contingencies are built-in protections within a real estate contract. They help both buyers and sellers navigate the natural ups and downs of the home-buying process by setting clear conditions that must be met for the sale to go through. For buyers, they also provide important safeguards, along with strategic tools to shape and strengthen their offer. Whether you’re a first-time home buyer or you’ve bought before, you should be aware of common real estate contingencies and the role they play in making an offer on a home.

Making a Contingent Offer on a Home

Once you and the seller agree on the price of a home, both parties have certain responsibilities before closing. Buyers are responsible for securing financing, scheduling a home inspection, and getting the property appraised. Sellers are responsible for prioritizing the offer on the table and opening their doors to the home inspector when the time comes. The agreed-upon contingencies included in the contract define what happens if something doesn’t go as planned.

Contingencies present a spectrum of options to home buyers, allowing them to walk away from a real estate transaction with their earnest money intact or renegotiate the contract. And while including contingencies offers protection and negotiation leverage, removing them can be an effective strategic move too, especially in a competitive market.

In a seller’s market, competition amongst buyers is high, and they often face multiple-offer situations. It’s not uncommon to see escalation clauses, bidding wars, and all-cash offers as buyers try to stand out and strengthen their position. To sweeten their offers in such market conditions, buyers will typically waive their contingencies. However, while waiving contingencies can make for a more attractive offer, it also presents increased risk due to lack of protection. That’s why it’s necessary to understand each contingency and carefully consider what makes the most sense for your situation.

Common Real Estate Contingencies

Home Inspection Contingency

After you’ve made an offer, a professional home inspector will thoroughly examine the property before the deal is finalized. If issues are uncovered, this contingency allows you and your agent to request repairs, present the seller with a new offer that accounts for the home’s lessened condition, or cancel the contract entirely.

Financing Contingency

Also known as a “mortgage contingency,” a financing contingency gives the buyer a specified period of time to secure adequate financing to purchase the home. Even if you are pre-approved for your mortgage, you may not be able to obtain the right loan for the home. If you are unable to finance the purchase, this contingency allows you to back out of the contract and recover your earnest money, and the seller can re-list the home.

Appraisal Contingency

An appraisal contingency states that the home must appraise for, at minimum, the sales price. In other words, it is to make sure the home is worth the agreed-upon price. It allows you to walk away from the deal if the property’s appraised value is lower than the sales price and typically guarantees that your earnest money will be returned.

Home Sale Contingency

If you’re buying a new home while selling your current one, you may want to include a home sale contingency in your offer. This contingency specifies the date by which you’ll need to sell your current home in order to move forward with your offer. If you don’t sell your home by the specified date, the contract is terminated. Home sale contingencies are financially appealing in that they allow buyers to use the proceeds from their home sale to fund their new home purchase. However, these contingencies force sellers to wait until the buyer’s current home sells, which means they likely won’t accept such offers in competitive markets.

Title Contingency

Before the sale of a home goes final, a search will be performed to ensure that any liens or judgments made against the property have been resolved. A title contingency allows you to raise any issues you may have with the title status of the property and stipulates that the seller must clear these issues up before the transfer of title can be completed. If an unpaid lien or unpaid taxes turn up in the home’s title search, this contingency also allows you to back out of the deal and look for another home.

To learn more about preparing a winning offer, connect with a local, experienced Windermere Real Estate agent.

SOURCE: Windermere