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AI has officially entered the real estate conversation.
Buyers are using ChatGPT to learn about mortgages, compare neighborhoods, make lists of questions for showings and figure out what all those unfamiliar real estate terms mean.
Sellers are using it to research home preparation, think through pricing questions, create moving plans and try to understand what happens after their house hits the market.
And my reaction?
Good. Use it.
I use AI in my own business, and I think it can be an incredibly useful tool.
But there is an important distinction between using ChatGPT to become a more informed consumer and using ChatGPT to make decisions that depend on information it doesn’t actually have.
That’s where things get interesting.
ChatGPT Is Really Good at Helping You Ask Better Questions
One of the best uses of ChatGPT during a real estate transaction may have nothing to do with getting an answer.
It can help you figure out what you should be asking.
A buyer could say:
“I’m buying my first home. What questions should I ask my lender before I start touring properties?”
Or:
“I’m looking at a 50-year-old house. Give me a checklist of things I should pay attention to during the showing.”
A seller might ask:
“I’m interviewing Realtors to sell my house. What questions should I ask them about pricing, marketing, communication and negotiation?”
Or:
“I’m preparing my home for sale. Help me separate projects that may improve presentation from projects I should discuss with my Realtor before spending money.”
Those are great uses of AI.
You’re not asking it to make the decision for you. You’re using it to help you prepare for the conversation.
And prepared clients tend to ask better questions.
I like better questions.
That idea goes beyond AI, too. In “What Good Representation Actually Looks Like After You Hire a Realtor,” I talk about why good representation isn’t simply having someone there to open doors or write paperwork. The questions we ask, the information we investigate and the conversations we have along the way are a big part of how good decisions get made.
Buyers Can Use ChatGPT as a Research Assistant
There is a lot to learn when you’re buying a home.
Earnest money. Contingencies. Appraisals. Inspections. Closing costs. Financing. Title work. Agency agreements.
If someone mentions a term during your transaction and you don’t understand it, you don’t have to sit there wondering what everyone else seems to know.
Ask.
You can even tell ChatGPT:
“Explain an appraisal contingency to me like I’ve never purchased a home before. Then give me five questions I should ask my Realtor about how it applies to my specific contract.”
That last sentence matters.
Because understanding what something generally means is different from understanding what it means in your transaction.
Sellers Can Use It Too
Sellers have their own giant list of questions.
What should I do before listing?
What should I pack away?
What happens during an appraisal?
How do showings work?
What kinds of expenses might come up?
What should I ask before accepting an offer?
ChatGPT can help you organize those questions, build checklists and understand the basic concepts before we ever sit down together.
You could even use it to create your own seller homework:
“I’m planning to sell my home in six months. Create a room-by-room preparation checklist and separate it into things I can do now, things I should discuss with my Realtor and things I shouldn’t spend money on without getting professional advice first.”
That’s useful.
Where ChatGPT Starts Getting Into Trouble
Here’s the line I don’t want consumers to miss:
ChatGPT only knows what it knows.
It hasn’t walked through the house.
It hasn’t seen the competing property down the street.
It doesn’t know why a particular buyer structured an offer the way they did.
It hasn’t spoken with the lender.
It hasn’t talked with the listing agent.
It doesn’t know the conversations happening behind the scenes.
It may not have the complete contract, addenda, disclosures, MLS information or transaction history sitting in front of it.
And even when you provide information, AI can misunderstand something or simply get something wrong.
So asking:
“What is an inspection contingency?”
can be useful.
Asking:
“Should I remove my inspection contingency to win this house?”
is a very different question.
The second question requires context, risk assessment and a conversation about your goals.
I’ve written about this distinction before in “Your Agent Advises. You Decide. Why That Distinction Matters.” Whether the information comes from AI, an online search, a friend or even your Realtor, good representation isn’t about someone else making the decision for you. It’s about having the information, context and guidance you need to make that decision confidently.
The Same Is True for Sellers
ChatGPT can explain different pricing strategies.
It cannot walk into your house and notice that buyers are going to compare your kitchen to the newly renovated house that listed three streets away yesterday.
It can explain what multiple offers are.
It cannot hear the hesitation in a buyer agent’s voice when I call to ask about their client’s offer.
It can explain common contract terms.
It cannot automatically know which combination of price, financing, contingencies, timing and other terms best aligns with what matters to you.
Real estate decisions rarely happen in isolation.
That’s why context matters so much.
Don’t Feed AI Everything
There’s another consideration that doesn’t get nearly enough attention: privacy.
You don’t need to upload every document you receive simply because ChatGPT can analyze documents.
Before sharing contracts, financial documents, preapproval letters, identification, account information or anything containing sensitive personal information, stop and think about whether that information actually needs to be shared.
Often, it doesn’t.
You can remove identifying information or ask a general question instead.
When in doubt, ask the appropriate professional before uploading sensitive transaction documents.
Ask ChatGPT to Challenge You
Here’s one of my favorite ways to use AI—and one consumers may not think about.
Don’t only ask it to support what you already want to do.
Ask it to challenge you.
Try:
“I’m considering offering $25,000 over asking price. Don’t tell me whether I should do it. Give me the questions I should answer with my Realtor and lender before making that decision.”
Or:
“I want to reject this offer because the price is lower than I expected. What other terms should I evaluate with my Realtor before I decide?”
That’s a much better use of the technology.
You’re using AI to expand your thinking rather than outsourcing your judgment.
ChatGPT + Your Realtor Can Be a Pretty Powerful Combination
I don’t need my clients to come to me knowing nothing.
In fact, I would rather you ask questions.
Research.
Learn.
Bring me the thing ChatGPT told you.
Ask me whether it’s right.
Challenge me.
Tell me what you’re worried about.
If AI helps you become more informed and gives us better things to discuss, I consider that a win.
My job isn’t to be the only source of information you’re allowed to use.
My job is to help you understand how the information applies to your house, your contract, your market, your options and your goals.
That’s a very different job.
FAQs
Can I use ChatGPT to help me buy a house?
Absolutely. It can be useful for learning terminology, creating questions, organizing priorities, comparing information you provide and preparing for conversations with your Realtor, lender and other professionals. Important transaction-specific information should still be verified with the appropriate professional.
Can ChatGPT tell me what I should offer on a house?
It can help you understand factors that may influence an offer, but an actual offer strategy depends on current market information, the property, comparable sales, competing activity, financing, contract terms, your risk tolerance and your goals. That’s a conversation to have with your Realtor.
Can ChatGPT tell me what my house is worth?
It can explain valuation concepts and help you understand the factors that influence value. A pricing recommendation, however, should be based on current and relevant market data plus the specific characteristics, condition and competitive position of your property.
Should I upload my real estate contract to ChatGPT?
Be thoughtful about sharing documents containing personal, financial or otherwise sensitive information. You may be able to remove identifying information or ask a general question instead. For legal interpretation or advice, consult the appropriate qualified professional.
What is the best way to use ChatGPT during a real estate transaction?
Use it to learn, organize, prepare questions, understand terminology and explore possibilities. Then bring those questions and ideas into conversations with the professionals who have the current information and context surrounding your transaction.
Closing Thoughts
AI doesn’t bother me.
Used well, I think it’s incredibly useful.
What I don’t want is for a buyer or seller to confuse having information with having context.
Use ChatGPT. Ask it questions. Let it help you prepare. Let it explain unfamiliar concepts. Let it give you another way to think about something.
Then let’s talk about what all of that means for you.
Because technology can give us more information than we’ve ever had before.
Good representation helps you figure out what to do with it.
Your Goals. Strategic Guidance. Confident Decisions.
