#21 Real Estate AI: Closing the Performance Gap

Hello, real estate professionals. While 88% of firms are testing AI tools, only 5% are hitting their goals. The gap between piloting and performance has never been wider, and it's creating a rare window for agents who move fast.

The question isn't whether to adopt AI anymore. It's whether you'll be in the 5% that actually makes it work.

In today's AI rundown:

• Why most real estate AI pilots fail (and what works instead)

• Major brokerages win awards for embedding AI into agent workflows

• SkySlope expands automation tools to 1,200+ agents

• 5-step framework to build your first AI workflow

• $100M case study: How one brokerage uses AI agents 24/7

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LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

INDUSTRY ANALYSIS 📊 Why most real estate AI pilots fail (and what works instead)

The Rundown: New data shows 88% of real estate firms are testing AI, but a massive execution gap means only 5% achieve their objectives, creating major advantages for early movers who implement systematically.

The details:

• While AI pilots are everywhere, most agents and firms struggle to translate tools into measurable productivity gains.

• JLL's survey of 1,500+ senior decision-makers found firms average five concurrent AI use cases but lack clear implementation strategy.

• Successful adoption requires four things: clear use-case definition, team training, data quality assurance, and integration with existing workflows.

• The competitive advantage now goes to agents who systematically integrate AI into lead generation, marketing, transaction management, and client communication.

• Firms are prioritizing strategic advisory on AI, cybersecurity enhancements, and infrastructure improvements to close the gap.

Why it matters: The pilot-to-performance gap means most of your competitors are experimenting but not executing. Agents who move beyond testing and build real workflows today will capture disproportionate market share while others stay stuck in pilot mode.

BROKERAGE INNOVATION 🏆 Major brokerages win awards for embedding AI into agent workflows

The Rundown: Anywhere Real Estate and affiliated brands took home top honors at the 2025 Inman AI Awards and HousingWire Tech Trendsetters, with recognition for their proprietary AI platform and marketing innovations.

The details:

• The company's Anywhere Intelligence Platform (AiP) won Best Use of AI by a Brokerage for embedding AI into core agent workflows.

• Kacie Ricker, Senior VP of Product, was named one of only 75 HousingWire Tech Trendsetters for leadership in shaping product strategy.

• Coldwell Banker, Corcoran, and Premier Sotheby's International Realty won recognition for Best Use of AI in Marketing.

• CEO Sue Yannaccone emphasized responsible AI that enhances rather than replaces human connection.

Why it matters: These awards signal how major brokerages are moving AI from pilot programs to production systems that support agents daily. If your brokerage isn't investing in AI infrastructure, you may need to build your own stack to stay competitive.

TRANSACTION AUTOMATION 📝 SkySlope expands automation tools to 1,200+ agents

The Rundown: Greenwich Association of Realtors partnered with SkySlope to give members access to automated form completion and digital document management, freeing up agent time for client-facing work.

The details:

• SkySlope Forms automates form completion with MLS syncing to reduce manual data entry.

• DigiSign enables virtual document management and signing for faster transaction closings.

• GAR leadership emphasized these tools allow agents to focus on clients and community rather than paperwork.

• The deal reflects broader industry momentum toward automating back-office processes.

What we're watching: As automation tools become standard through association partnerships, agents who master these workflows early will handle higher transaction volumes without adding admin overhead.

MARKET TRENDS 💰 Proptech funding stays strong despite venture capital pressure

The Rundown: European proptech firms leveraging AI and machine learning continue capturing investment momentum despite broader venture capital tightening, according to an International Banker report.

The details:

• Arbio raised $36M Series A while Buena secured €49M for AI-powered property management platforms.

• Investors continue prioritizing firms addressing clear pain points in property management and transaction workflows.

• Proptech companies are solving real operational problems through platform technologies, data analytics, cloud-based solutions, and smart hardware.

• Companies like Zillow, Airbnb, and Buildium set high standards for what investors expect from proptech investments.

AI TRAINING 🔧 Build your first AI workflow in 5 steps

The Rundown: Realtor.com published a practical framework that removes the mystery of AI adoption for residential teams without requiring tech expertise or major platform switches.

Step-by-step:

• Identify one bottleneck where you're losing time: writing listings, lead responses, or social posts.

• Choose an AI tool that integrates with your existing CRM to avoid workflow disruption.

• Test it with one or two agents for a week to validate results before rolling out.

• Roll out to the team with simple training sessions focused on the specific use case.

• Track results weekly: measure time saved, improvements in lead response, and gather agent feedback.

Pro tip: Start small with one clear problem rather than trying to AI-ify everything at once. The competitive advantage comes from systematic integration, not tool collection.

CASE STUDY 💼 $100M in sales with a 24/7 AI agent

The Rundown: Porta da Frente Christie's deployed eSelf AI's visual assistant in 2024 and generated $100 million in documented sales by handling 5,000+ property inquiries around the clock without human intervention.

The details:

• The AI agent handles lead qualification, virtual tours, and multilingual property matching 24/7.

• CEO João Cília: "It's impossible for a human to memorize 5,000 property details, but the AI agent knows everything instantly."

• The workflow: prospects inquire at any hour, AI qualifies them on budget and preferences, pulls matching listings, runs interactive 3D tours, and books showings.

• Results include faster conversions, lower staffing overhead, and 24/7 availability especially powerful for international buyers in different time zones.

Why it matters: While most agents pilot AI tools, this brokerage deployed a full AI agent that replaced entire workflows. The $100M result proves that systematic AI integration delivers measurable ROI, not just time savings.

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