Quebec-based real estate portal, Homz.io, recently announced its rebrand aimed to help new homebuyers and renters across Canada. Formerly known as GuideHabitation.ca, the portal has been around since 2004 and is now growing, starting with British Columbia.

The team has been expanding its presence in B.C. for over a year, offering the technology and business model as a SaaS platform to third parties, like communication firms and specialized websites.

 

The portal

 

The portal attracts over 100,000 monthly visits from home seekers comparing real estate projects—from pre-sale condominiums to move-in-ready homes, to new rental units. The company notes the traffic is partly due to its focus on user needs over a purely advertising-driven approach.

“Our strength is in making new real estate searches easier and providing new homebuyers with comprehensive, factual and fairly objective information,” said Founder Denis Sauvé in a press release.

 

A 20-year journey

 

Sauvé reflected on the company’s two-decade journey: “20 years on the web feels like 100 in other industries. Yahoo was still a giant when we launched, and social media platforms like Facebook and YouTube didn’t even exist.”

When it first launched in 2004, the website had what Sauvé described as a “fast-food menu design.” However, it was ahead in search engine optimization, which laid the foundation for the site’s growth into a hub for new real estate projects.

Since then, the company says most of Quebec’s builders and promoters have showcased their houses and condominium projects to potential customers.

 

Future plans with AI

 

Moving forward, the company’s co-founders face the expanding impact of artificial intelligence. “Search habits are constantly evolving. People are turning to YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Reddit, ChatGPT and countless other apps for any information … AI is just getting started. Who knows what the next few years will bring?” Sauvé pointed out.

So, Homz.io is integrating generative AI along with other new technologies into its proprietary codebase. The platform remains committed to its user-centred philosophy.

“Being here after 20 years is an achievement in itself. And the future looks exciting,” Maurizio Furnò, associate, expressed. “We are happy as a small business, and we aim to continue our journey controlling our growth path.”

 

As 2024 winds down, we’re entering the time of year when every industry expert is forecasting the next big trends. Marketing in real estate is no different. While the influx of predictions can feel overwhelming, understanding the direction of these trends can give you an edge.

But to prepare for 2025, we must first unpack 2024—why certain trends unfolded the way they did and where they might lead.

Two years ago everyone was talking about the big trend of AI. Especially how it will change the SEO game. They’re still right—AI changes the SEO game. If we’re looking ahead, anyone who gives you a specific timeline for those changes would be lying. It could completely change the game in 12 months. It could be five years until people start using ChatGPT over Google. 

It’s too early to tell. Consumer behaviour is changing but not as fast as some think.

A long-term trend is that a completely SEO-focused approach could be in trouble. Anti-trust issues in the U.S. are forcing changes in Google and their products. Consumers, especially younger ones, have realized how much search engines can be manipulated. They are turning to Instagram, TikTok, Reddit and others to get their answers. 

If I said the trend for 2025 is a move away from Google, it would be dishonest. For 2025 it’s going to be as strong as it was in 2024 for those who know how to take advantage of it. A five-year horizon? What might SEO or Google Ads look like in the next decade? It could be completely different.

There are too many people turning to ChatGPT for answers for it to go unnoticed. It’s a trend worth watching in the long term. It has not yet changed consumer behaviour as it relates to real estate. Not enough to worry about yet.

For most of you, there are more impactful trends to consider.

So let’s talk about what you should focus on for 2025 from a marketing perspective.

 

AI-powered, not AI-centred

 

If I were you, I would not market myself as the AI Realtor. People don’t trust AI businesses as much. It’s impersonal, and for real estate, the personal touch makes a huge difference.

About ten years ago, e-signatures were finally allowed on paperwork in Ontario. I was running a paperless business so I started getting asked to do training sessions. So I travelled across the province teaching Realtors about going paperless.

The most common objection I heard? It would lead to Realtors not seeing their clients anymore in person. It would detract from the human element of being a Realtor. I argued that it would give you more time with your clients.

The same arguments started popping up with AI. The truth is it gives you more time with your clients. First-drafts are faster. Polishing of content happens faster. AI can do a lot of simple admin tasks on its own.

Your business should be enhanced by AI. This way you can spend more time doing what brings you business. Spending time with clients and potential clients. That’s who’s going to win next year, not those who advertise how much they use it to impress clients. It’s those who use it so they can spend more time with their clients. 

 

Discovery feeds

 

You can thank TikTok for this one. They made discovery feeds popular. The trend was there already but they kicked it into overdrive. It was a lot harder to get results from your content when only your followers would see them. Now your content can be in the feed of non-followers. This is why you need to leverage discovery feed-friendly content.

It can mean getting in front of people who don’t know you. More people will discover you exist and you can turn those people into clients.

Right now that means short-form videos via Instagram Reels or TikTok. They drive tangible results. You can get clients from them. Without having to do some gimmicky dance or sharing every detail of your personal life. 

If you want to get clients on social, without spending on ads, you need to leverage discovery feeds.

 

Welcome to the dark side

 

The dark side of social media is gaining steam. Not like the infamous dark web you hear about.

From a marketing perspective, the dark side of social is the part of social media you can’t see. It’s not happening in news feeds. People are sharing, talking and connecting more over private messages than ever before.

People don’t want everything happening for everyone to see. They like the privacy of direct messages. You should optimize your content to be something people will share in the DMs.

Think about how your content will drive those actions. 

Like with listings for example on Instagram, if you get zero shares, there’s a good chance you’re not getting the, “Look, honey! You should check this out.” reaction. You should always be aiming for the, “Look, honey!”

If you’re not getting it, adjust your approach.

 

Community-focused

 

The world is getting smaller. People are learning all the tricks to what happens online, and how marketers have ruined it, especially with AI content. So they’re going to their communities, where they know that nine times out of ten, the person behind the screen exists.

Local Facebook groups are often buzzing with activity. Joining and contributing can lead to a lot of business. Agents are also leaning into community in-person events more than ever especially after the pandemic people want that connection.

For big teams, host big community events. These can be big fun events like Cindy & Craig Real Estate do with their movies in the park. Don’t have the big database or the budget for a big event? Host intimate dinners with a handful of clients and referral partners.

Events don’t need to be big. Build a community, get people together, and be the hub of it. It will grow your business in 2025. Share what you’re doing online, people will want to join.

 

Moneyball your marketing

 

Taylor Hack and I have talked about this a lot on our podcast, The Leads Are Sh*t. If you want to get more business you should optimize everything you’re doing to get more clients. With the market on fire, most didn’t put that much thought into it. They rode the wave.

That’s why if you’re focusing on buyers, focus on ones with a house to sell. Increase the chances of getting a listing from them. Focus on investors who want to buy more than one property, not the odd one here or there over the years. 

In Hack’s business, Realtor.ca leads are turning into appointments at a better rate than PPC leads. How many of you are trying to optimize your listings for Realtor.ca? Have you considered the parts of your presence there and which parts you can control?

People searching on Realtor.ca also are less likely to have their own agent. Most Realtors move consumers to their MLS software-based search. If you’re leveraging your listings to get more clients, work on what you can control on Realtor.ca. Not for what they’d see through an MLS search set up by another real estate agent. 

People are closing deals there, but many are also leaving money on the table.

 

Fragmentation of the internet

 

This trend has been gaining steam. There’s no better example than the post-election rise of Bluesky. With X (formerly Twitter), many on the left side of the political spectrum have left. They say they don’t like the direction the platform is heading in. 

They’ve been flocking to Bluesky in droves. Bluesky, not Threads, is looking like the biggest threat to X right now. Threads didn’t embrace political content. That style of content drives a lot of engagement. Former X users weren’t getting that on Threads.

On Facebook, a lot of people only log in for Groups. They almost never post themselves but engage in groups. WhatsApp, Instagram, and others are doing broadcast channels through DMs. In other words, people are joining cliques more than ever. Private communities through Slack, Discord, Skool and more are popping up. 

Your job in 2025 is to find where your ideal clients are spending time and meet them there. Go where your audience feels comfortable and engage authentically.

 

Be helpful, not salesy

 

You don’t have to be pushy to get sales. You don’t have to be in their face all the time with aggressive offers. Sometimes you only have to be there and have their best interest at heart. 

This isn’t even a new trend, but as content ramps up more and more it’s becoming more pronounced than ever. People want a helpful advisor. Not slimy sales tactics. They want experts who know their stuff. Ones they believe are passionate about it. 

It’s okay to show you’re passionate about topics. Passionate about protecting your clients. About getting them results and helping them. Show your passion, show how you help.

Put yourself out there.

 

Non-marketing bonus trend

 

It has been a tough 18 months. Between REM and my marketing agency, Just Sell Homes, we’ve seen two very distinct approaches from Realtors:

1. Reactive: “Well, the market is unpredictable, I’ll see where we end up and be happy if we make it through.”
2. Proactive: “Let’s analyze where every dollar is going. Where our efforts are going. Let’s double down on what’s working, and be ruthless in cutting what’s not.”

The Realtors who are left standing are the ones tracking the numbers, analyzing the data, and making informed decisions. As I like to say, “Hoping to survive without a plan is shakier than a 50-year-old deck in a hurricane.”

I know what you’re thinking, “Andrew, that’s not a real expression”

You know what? Every expression started out as someone saying something a little weird.

 

Here’s to 2025

 

Whatever you’re doing, the focus should be on quality. What I was doing back when I got into the real estate industry as an agent hasn’t changed that much. Ten years ago, it was Facebook, Twitter and blogging. My approach has always been to create content that people will like.

Then I promote it on the different platforms I’m using in the way the platforms will like. That was true then ago, it’s true today, and it will be true 10 years from now. The key is knowing what makes good content, and how platforms want you to use them.

Help them reach their goals with users, and they’ll return the favour by putting you in front of more of them.

In the new year, focus on one or two trends that resonate with your business and execute them well. A clear, focused strategy will always beat trying to do it all.

I want to thank you for a great year of supporting us here at Real Estate Magazine. Looking forward to an even better 2025, we have a lot of big plans in the works and I’m excited for you to see them.

 

Realtors can spend up to 35 hours on administrative tasks to close a single deal, according to Raz Zohar, who left his job in tech to work as an assistant in the industry to uncover its pain points. This realization sparked a “lightbulb moment,” inspiring him to create Mave—an AI-powered assistant designed to streamline tedious workflows and empower agents to focus on what they do best: serving clients and closing deals.

At its core, Mave uses AI technology to streamline tasks. Realtors interact with the tool through messaging platforms like WhatsApp or iMessage. For instance, an agent might text, “What’s the pet policy for ‘X’ building? When was it built? Does it have rent control?” Mave retrieves and organizes relevant information in seconds, enabling agents to provide instant answers to clients—avoiding the dreaded “let me get back to you” response.

 

Supporting agents in two key roles

 

Zohar identifies two primary roles agents juggle: consultant and marketer. Mave is designed to support both areas.

When representing a buyer, agents must act as consultants to help solve their problems, while for sellers, he adds, it goes beyond winning the deal. “Clients want agents to sell their property as fast as possible for the most amount of money,” Zohar notes.

Tasks that traditionally take days—such as creating social media strategies, filming scripts and promotional campaigns—can now be completed in minutes. Agents can quickly produce polished, branded content for platforms like TikTok, Instagram and email, driving engagement and results with minimal effort.

Mave is set up to adhere to brand guidelines for compliance. This means if agents need to market a property with, say, a social media post, a feature sheet or other collateral, they can text their request, and in a few seconds they’ll have branded content ready to go.

 

How Mave was born

 

Zohar’s curiosity was born from his own experience in buying a home—he knew his Realtor was working hard behind the scenes, but admittedly, he didn’t know what they were doing. He saw an opportunity for innovation in an industry often criticized for being slow to adopt new technology. 

He began with a question: What do Realtors actually do during those 35 hours? To understand, he quit his job in tech to work as a real estate executive assistant, immersing himself in the processes behind winning listings, staging homes, arranging repairs and managing marketing.

“The only way was to become someone in the industry doing the dirty work that no one sees.,” he explains. This hands-on experience revealed inefficiencies, particularly for brokerages grappling with shrinking margins and limited resources to hire full-scale marketing teams.

Agents often relied on outdated processes or had to wait days for in-house teams to deliver materials. With Mave, Zohar says those delays are eliminated, allowing agents to act quickly and decisively.

 

Adoption and growth

 

Mave started small but has rapidly scaled, onboarding nearly 6,000 agents across 90 brokerages in the Toronto area. Of the 1,000 beta users actively engaged, about 60 per cent use Mave daily, according to the company’s founder. 

Zohar emphasizes that trust is non-negotiable. “If an agent’s showing a home and Mave says it’s 10 bedrooms but it’s really one bedroom, you’re just not going to trust it,” he says. Mave’s engineers ensure data accuracy and train the AI to minimize errors.

Still, Zohar and his team see certain situations where AI needs to be fact-checked and reviewed “because it’s performing about 30 steps in one.” So, they advise users to thoroughly review any deeper analysis from Mave to be sure the results look right.

 

Collaboration with boards and data providers

 

The tool’s functionality hinges on partnerships with real estate boards and data providers. Zohar cites PropTx, a tech-focused initiative of the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board (TRREB), as an example of industry interest in innovation.

While TRREB President Jennifer Pearce clarified that the board has no formal partnership with Mave, highlighting in a statement, “TRREB is a facilitator of technology for our members who are permitted to have individual contractual agreements with Virtual Office Website providers of their choosing.”

Mave takes data security seriously, adhering to strict protocols from real estate boards and brokerages. “Whenever we onboard a brokerage, we must go through a legal process we’ve guaranteed with the boards to sign off on the right to access data,” Zohar explains.

 

Human touch meets AI efficiency

 

Despite Mave’s capabilities, Zohar believes human interaction remains at the heart of real estate. “Psychologically, consumers are going through what’s usually the most meaningful purchase of their lives. They want support, a human touch and to feel that there’s a trusted companion by their side. This isn’t going to change because of AI,” he says.

Currently, Mave has onboarded one thousand users in Southern Ontario to its beta program with plans for expansion across North America. 

Zohar’s ultimate goal is to reduce administrative time by up to 90 per cent. For now, Mave continues to refine its features and onboard more users, aiming to revolutionize real estate by giving agents their time back.

 

Artificial intelligence is reshaping industries worldwide, and real estate is no exception. From streamlining property searches to automating listings, AI-powered tools are rapidly becoming integral to how homes are bought and sold. 

Toronto-based real estate platform Wahi has launched Canada’s first consumer-facing AI image search tool. This feature allows homebuyers to filter property photos for specific features like “renovated kitchens” or “finished basements,” promising a faster, more tailored search experience.

 

A game-changer for consumers?

 

Wahi’s new feature, developed with Western University researchers, uses generative AI to analyze property photos and prioritize listings that match specific buyer preferences. Instead of scrolling through listings, buyers can search by visual attributes, making it easier to find homes that align with their needs and wants. 

Eman Nejad, Wahi’s head of data science, highlights the potential of this technology, noting that it “adds a new dimension to the real estate industry.”

 

AI tools Realtors are almost using

 

Realtors may find Wahi’s news familiar. In 2022, the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board (TRREB) announced a partnership with Barcelona-based Restb.ai to integrate AI into its MLS system. The technology promised to analyze listing photos, tag features like architectural styles or interior finishes, and even detect property conditions, all while speeding up the listing process.

At the time, TRREB described the technology as a “Pinterest-type experience,” with CEO John DiMichele touting its potential to revolutionize how agents work and match buyers with homes. Realtors anticipated faster workflows, greater listing accuracy, and a new level of search sophistication.

However, despite claims that the Restb.ai integration would be complete by early 2023, PropTx, TRREB’s for-profit subsidiary, lists the feature as “coming soon” on its website. It remains unclear when the promised technology will become available to its members. TRREB did not respond to REM’s requests for comment.

The Saskatchewan Realtors Association announced it integrated the technology into its MLS in November 2023.

For many, the reality of AI remains a mystery. For others, it has become a tool that is gaining ground and becoming a pillar in their business. The further you are from using AI, the more this mystery causes fear and anxiety. As the evolution of the real estate industry progresses, it becomes quite apparent that what worked in the past, may not be the way forward.

Historically, we saw the end of the traditional consumer, alternatively known as the uninformed consumer which gave rise to the educated consumer. This shift in empowerment paved a way for the Realtors who leveraged specific marketing to stand out and build a unique business. 

Early in my career, I was told repeatedly I had to build a geo farm and fight for market share in a particular neighbourhood. I was told stories of how the legends in my area all owned a piece of the city before they became billboard faces. Sure, this worked for them, but understanding that information is even more accessible for clients today than ever before, I had a hard time resonating with this philosophy. 

 

Redefining the game in real estate

 

One thing I could agree with: those agents worked hard.  But to stand out, I realized I didn’t need to play by the same rules. True industry disruptors know that repetition only goes so far.

Take Stephen Curry, for example. In a game of basketball where slam dunks made highlight reels and the iconic Michael Jordan dunk gets imprinted into our minds, Stephen Curry impacted the game significantly by playing a different game within the game itself. Statistically speaking, few athletes have ever impacted the way a game has been played, but Curry gave rise to the three-point game while everyone else was focused on a two-point gain. 

Sure, that’s a nice basketball analogy, but how does it relate to real estate?

 

Moving beyond traditional marketing

 

Yes, traditional marketing— door knocking or cold calling—can result in a slam dunk; however, this one-dimensional effort is slowly becoming a vision of the past. 

With the introduction of AI, not only does that three-point line offer more points, but it also requires less grind and takes a much more skilled shot. 

 

Adapting to the entitled consumer

 

I built my career by recognizing the power of educational marketing, which has become essential with the rise of what marketers call the entitled consumer.

The beauty of marketing is the constant evolution of change. Everything has a season and life cycle within marketing. Once you find something that works, you have a short window before it becomes oversaturated and the game needs to shift. Sometimes that shift happens within the consumer mindset, and sometimes with a change in technology. 

With the rise of AI, clients are self-educating, meaning they often come with their own insights from Netflix shows or ChatGPT, requiring agents to build trust and navigate through various sources of information.

Whether I’m speaking at a brokerage or with clients at the kitchen table, I emphasize one mantra: “change equals opportunity.” While AI might replace certain tasks, it also opens doors to new opportunities. Yes, AI can create content and strategies, even write effective clauses—but there’s more to consider.

 

AI integration

 

Ah, but let me guess, it can’t open doors for the clients, right? It may seem unlikely, yet with advancements in tech—facial recognition, GPS tracking—it’s conceivable that agents may need to rethink their roles. 

Reflecting on your business at the close of 2024, ask yourself: Are you on track with your goals? If not, it may be time to shift your approach.

 

Three ways to thrive in a changing market

 

The game is changing, and sellers are no longer an easy win. If you want to stay relevant, here are three strategies to consider:

1. Lean into human connection: As humans, we crave human interactions. The more artificial things become, the more value a true professional becomes. 
2. Focus on your mindset: Major brands have already started leveraging AI to increase the client journey. Look at the way you run your business, now imagine yourself as the Client. Their entitlement isn’t going away, so how can you cater to your client and leverage AI and other tools to elevate their experience with you?
3. Explore different tools: Focus on you! Maintaining a positive mindset creates perseverance. If you truly believe AI will replace you, it will. If you choose to believe that you will use AI to impact and increase your business so that it flourishes, it will. 

 

Embracing change can give you a competitive edge 

 

The game is changing and the best defence is a solid offence. You have the power now to redefine your role and recalibrate your business. Get ahead, embrace the tools available and position yourself as the go-to Realtor in the evolving real estate landscape.

It just seems like a week doesn’t go by and AI is changing the landscape of industries and real estate.  This next AI technology blew me away because it’s incredible lifelike voices it creates for podcasts.

In the fast-paced world of real estate, staying updated with the market, real estate forms and technology. However, not every Realtor has the luxury of time to sift through pages of dry reports or articles. Enter Google’s NotebookLM, the AI-powered tool that’s setting a new trend in information consumption through its innovative podcast feature. Realtors can leverage this technology to turn mundane data into engaging, personality-infused content.

 

From text to talk

 

Imagine transforming a 50-page market analysis report into a lively discussion between two knowledgeable hosts. That’s exactly what NotebookLM does with its audio overview feature. Realtors can upload documents, whether it’s the latest housing market stats or a new listing, and receive a podcast-style audio file. 

What I like about it the most are the hosts of the podcast. They have engaging “personalities” that make the podcast something you enjoy listening to. The AI-generated voices dive deep into the material, offering insights, debates and even anecdotes that can make learning about real estate trends as enjoyable as listening to your favourite podcast.

 

Why this matters for Realtors

 

This business thrives on engagement. Properties are not sold with facts and figures but through stories and connections. By using NotebookLM, realtors can:

• Create engaging content: Convert property listings to market forecasts into podcast episodes. This can be particularly appealing for clients who prefer listening over reading, potentially increasing client engagement.
• Educational tools: Use the generated podcasts to educate new home buyers or investors about the market. An audio format can be more inviting, making complex information accessible and entertaining.
• Marketing strategy: Share these podcasts on social media or during open houses. A discussion about local market trends or the backstory of a neighbourhood can attract potential buyers, offering them value beyond the visual tour.
• Professional development: I use it now when I come across complicated or boring content.  I just upload the content into NotebookLM and minutes later I have an engaging and understandable podcast that I can listen to. Realtors can keep up with industry changes on the go. Whether they’re driving between showings or waiting at a coffee shop, they can turn that time into a learning session without needing to read a single line.

 

The future of client interaction

 

Imagine sending your clients a personalized podcast episode discussing the potential of a neighbourhood they’re interested in, complete with market trends, future development plans, and historical anecdotes. This not only positions the Realtor as an innovative professional but also adds a layer of personal touch that text-based reports can’t match.

Google’s NotebookLM isn’t just a tool; it’s a gateway to transforming how information is consumed and shared. For Realtors, this means an opportunity to turn every piece of information into an engaging story, every market update into a conversation, and every client interaction into an experience. In an industry where personality and presentation can make all the difference, turning the page from reading to listening might just be the next big move in real estate. 

Want to see how it works? Have a listen to this article in podcast form:

 

Today, Mave, an artificial intelligence (AI) assistant for the real estate industry, announced it has raised $2 million in pre-seed funding and launched its beta program for agents and brokers.

The investment was raised and closed in a few weeks and was led by Relay Ventures and N49P with participation from Alate Partners, Clarim Ventures, Gambit Partners, along with several angel and strategic investors including a past president of the Toronto Real Estate Board.

 

Mave’s journey to today

 

After Mave founder and CEO Raz Zohar worked as an executive assistant for agents across the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and gained experience with the demands on agents’ time, he discovered a gap: brokerages try to support agents, but with their commission split per deal getting smaller, many lack the resources for dedicated backend assistance.

So, Mave began as a result of this opportunity, along with the rapid improvements in AI and large language models (LLM).

“Not much has changed in recent years about the way the real estate industry operates. To modernize their brokerages, many look to existing tools for help. But these can be overwhelming for agents … Mave is the first solution we’ve seen that really solves the core problems the industry faces in a way that is easy enough for any agent to adopt,” says Alex Baker, managing partner at Relay Ventures.

 

Its current state

 

Mave currently has a team of 10. While the product has been operating in stealth mode, it has attracted interest from over 6,000 real estate agents across more than 90 brokerages in the GTA. From these prospective users, Mave has selected 1,000 to initially onboard as part of its beta program.

The team has worked to secure access to extensive market data and related property information through partnerships with real estate boards and other data providers. As the Mave AI assistant is trained using this information, it enables agents to harness market and neighbourhood insights to respond instantly to client requests and deliver a greater level of customer service.

”While our initial focus is on handling marketing tasks, with the funding in place we’re expanding our development to establish Mave as a full-time assistant,” says Zohar. “Mave will handle key back-end administrative tasks, from coordinating an open house to finalizing contracts better and faster than ever before.”

Baker adds, “We believe in Raz and his team and are confident that this is the right approach for the industry.”

 

How Mave works

 

Agents text questions to Mave such as “What is the price per square foot of homes in “X” postal code?” Then, in seconds, Mave can automate backend tasks, such as creating social media posts, marketing materials, emails and presentations.

The product fits into existing workflows, enabling agents to interact with the AI assistant via text messages just as they would their real assistants to get tasks done.

 

Use cases

 

The number of reported daily wins and use cases shared by agents testing the platform have exceeded Mave’s expectations. For example, for one agent participating in the beta program, the ability to immediately respond to a client’s questions and very quickly price the property enabled them to secure a listing within 24 hours.

Another agent that used Mave to optimize a listing saw showings go from zero to 11 in one week. A third used Mave to create the concept, script, post and caption for an Instagram campaign that led to a sale for $100,000 over-asking price.

Among the first Mave beta customers is PSR Brokerage, a luxury boutique real estate firm with over 150 agents in Southern Ontario. The brokerage specializes in resale and pre-construction sales, supported by high-end marketing services for its clients. Within the first week of signing up for the Mave beta program, 60 per cent of agents are actively using the AI assistant at least six times per week.

“Clients have high expectations of realtors to know every detail about thousands of listings,” notes Joshua Chisvin, VP of resale, partner at PSR Brokerage. “With Mave, we finally found the perfect solution to enable our teams to meet this demand effortlessly.”

 

Flourishing new technology and generative AI looks to offer professionals plenty of tools for success. Perhaps most paramount, however, is access to information and the ability to analyze that data, in order to make informed decisions. 

In real estate, with buyers and sellers seeking an edge to get the most value, those who are better equipped at data aggregation and analysis are poised to succeed, especially in times like now when markets are tense and chaotic.

As Jeremy Dawn, founder and CEO of SNFLWR Investment Corp. attests, technology and apps have revolutionized the real estate investor game, enabling investors to find properties that cash flow even in tough markets.

“One of the most significant shifts has been the availability of data. In the past, investors had to rely on traditional sources such as real estate agents and property managers for information about potential investments,” he notes. “Today, a wealth of data is available online, including property listings, rental rates and market trends. This data can be used to identify properties that are likely to generate positive cash flow.”

 

A desire for better information access and analysis methods to make sound investment decisions

 

When investor Liz Macey couldn’t find an ideal tool to identify money-generating properties based on her needs and parameters, she set out to create one.

Macey founded UnitIQ and explains the platform helps investors find and invest in properties that cash flow. “We’re able to take data from a whole bunch of different sources and make this search process a whole lot easier. We have active listings in the country with vacancy rates and rental prices, and we use financial analysis tools to find cash flow.”

Macey, whose diverse professional background includes an MBA and a pilot’s license, developed the platform after realizing how overwhelming it can be to know how and where to level up her investing. She wanted better access to information and improved ways to analyze what’s available to make savvy choices.

“(This) is a pain point for investors and realtors, especially when you’re looking at multiple communities. It’s a lot of data when you’re trying to find good opportunities.” She explains with UnitIQ, users can input their different parameters, such as budget or downpayment.

The tool will offer both a free model that allows for a basic search as well as a paid subscription tier aiming to serve agents. The latter option will incorporate advanced analytical tools: agents can create multiple profiles and specific searches for clients and have the ability to export data with custom branding.

 

Analytical systems and generative AI: Promising, useful tools to help clients

 

Eva Landreth champions such newfound tools as essential to success. A realtor with Century 21 Millennium Inc., Landreth has found success using analytical systems such as HouseSigma and AirDNA to connect clients with investment properties and secondary chalets in Ontario, with a focus on short-term rentals.

“It’s amazing,” she says of what’s possible. “Before you buy a property, you can see revenue, trends, occupancy and price strategy. You can compare similar properties on a street, look at property manager companies and really get to know the historical data, seeing if certain properties aren’t performing well,” she explains. 

Generative AI proves a promising tool as well, one that Landreth is also leveraging. “I think people are using the basics,” she says. “I don’t think people have unlocked all its potential. You have to feed it smart information to get out what you want. I think it’s just going to help our job, make things go a lot quicker — the mundane tasks, it will make easier.”

Dawn concurs, noting that tools and technologies have made it easier for investors to find and analyze potential investments, manage their properties and communicate with tenants. “They’ve also helped to level the playing field, giving (investors) access to the same data and tools that professional investors use,” he points out.

 

Tools and tech will never replace the human touch

 

Dawn feels that as technology continues to evolve, investors can expect to see even more innovation that makes it easier to find properties that cash flow and aid in decision making, saving time and money and ultimately achieving financial goals.

Still, Landreth believes you need that lived experience, wisdom and connection with clients in order to provide the best guidance. “The tools will help you get the market trends and find the hidden opportunities, but you still need that human touch. If you’re just looking at the data, you don’t have the human interaction and expertise in the local market.”

 

While a more diverse tool kit may prove useful for investors, there is concern about its effects on renters and those seeking to buy their first home. Macey notes some of UnitIQ’s users are prospective first-time homebuyers, and that potentially more data about property management companies will help improve the rental market.

“Investing in real estate is a tricky conversation to have when you’re considering everyone in the economy,” she says. “My hope is that we’re able to end up having more rental properties on the market, helping increase the supply so that hopefully you can find a home more easily.”

 

If you think AI begins and ends with ChatGPT, you’re missing out on a universe of possibilities. While OpenAI’s chatbot took the world by storm, it’s just one star in an ever-expanding galaxy of AI models. Relying solely on ChatGPT is like trying to build a house with only a hammer — you’re limiting your potential and possibly compromising your results.

This principle applies across industries like Canadian real estate. Realtors in this field wear many hats, requiring skills in negotiation, social media, content creation and more. By exploring AI tools beyond ChatGPT, realtors can leverage diverse AI capabilities to enhance various aspects of their business, rather than limiting themselves to a single tool.

 

Risks of relying on a single AI system

 

• Missed opportunities. Using a single AI system can lead to missed opportunities and biased results.
• Limited perspectives. A single model can only provide a narrow view of a problem or solution.
• Stagnation. Relying on a single AI system can lead to stagnation, as you miss out on innovations from other models.
• Vulnerability to outages or updates. Dependence on a single system leaves you exposed if it experiences downtime or significant changes.

 

My experience using various AI models over the past four years has reinforced these risks. The quality of outputs can change dramatically, sometimes on a weekly basis. This volatility underscores the danger of stagnation when relying on a single system.

For instance, if one AI model consistently produces poor social media posts for first-time homebuyers, exploring alternative models could yield better results rather than waiting for improvements in a single system. 

 

Benefits of AI diversification

 

• Comprehensive insights. Multiple AI models provide a more comprehensive understanding of a problem or solution.
• Innovative solutions. AI diversification can lead to innovative solutions and new ideas.
• Adaptability. By using multiple AI models, you can adapt quickly to changing circumstances.
• Enhanced problem-solving. Different AI models approach problems in unique ways, leading to more robust solutions.

 

Diversify your AI arsenal — at no cost

 

Imagine having unrestricted access to the internet in its early days — you would have seized the opportunity!

Today, top tech companies worldwide are offering their cutting-edge AI language models for free. However, unlike the internet’s early days, we now have multiple AI models in an intense arms race, with innovations emerging every week.

 

Compare AI responses: One prompt, multiple platforms

 

One of the most effective ways to harness the power of AI diversity is to use identical prompts across different AI platforms. This approach allows you to directly compare outputs, highlighting each model’s unique strengths and perspectives. By using it, you can identify which AI excels at specific tasks, uncover nuanced differences in language understanding and even spot potential biases.

The method not only enhances the quality of your final output but also deepens your understanding of each AI’s capabilities, enabling you to make more informed decisions about which tool to use for future tasks.

 

Top alternative AI tools

 

In the rapidly evolving artificial intelligence world, several powerful alternatives to mainstream AI models have emerged, each offering unique strengths and capabilities.

For example, Claude by Anthropic excels in nuanced conversations and ethical reasoning, while Google’s Gemini brings multimodal capabilities and up-to-date information to the table. Perplexity AI stands out with its real-time information synthesis and source citation (very important), offering an interactive search experience. For those seeking open-source solutions, Meta’s Llama 2 provides flexibility and customizability.

By exploring and leveraging these diverse AI tools, users can tap into a rich ecosystem of capabilities, each suited to different tasks and requirements.

1. Claude by Anthropic — known for nuanced conversations, ethical reasoning, detailed explanations

2. Gemini by Google — known for multimodal capabilities, up-to-date information, integrated search

3. Perplexity AI — known for real-time information synthesis, citation of sources, interactive search

4. Llama 2 by Meta — known for open-source flexibility, customizability, strong performance on various tasks

 

Stay diverse to stay ahead

 

The AI landscape is evolving rapidly, and relying on a single AI system can lead to missed opportunities and biased results. By embracing AI diversification and exploring multiple models, you can gain comprehensive insights, innovative solutions and adaptability.

Stay ahead of the curve in your real estate business by harnessing the power of AI diversification.