NAR: 48% of Realtors now use AI weekly or daily, up sharply from 2025

AI moves from experiment to routine in real estate

Artificial intelligence has shifted from novelty to daily workflow for nearly half of U.S. real estate agents, according to the National Association of Realtors' 2026 Technology Report released Tuesday.

Forty-eight percent of NAR members now use AI either daily (23%) or weekly (25%), while 31% experiment with it occasionally. Only 12% reported no current or planned AI use, down sharply from 32% who had not yet tried AI in 2025, according to the report first published by HousingWire.

Among agents who have adopted AI, 75% use it to write listing descriptions, 56% generate social media posts, and 52% draft emails or follow-up messages. Roughly 30% apply AI to market summaries and personalized marketing content, while 27% use it for document review or summarization.

Time savings drive technology adoption

Eighty-one percent of surveyed NAR members said saving time is their primary reason for adopting new technology, up from 66% in 2025. Improving client experience ranked second at 71%, compared to 64% a year earlier.

"Real estate agents are making practical choices about technology, and the two payoffs they want most are time and a smoother experience for their clients," NAR Deputy Chief Economist Jessica Lautz said in a statement. "When routine work gets handled faster, agents have more time for the guidance, negotiation, and steady advice that clients count on through a major financial decision."

Core transaction tools remain firmly entrenched. Ninety-six percent of respondents use the multiple listing service, 79% use e-signature platforms, 68% rely on showing scheduling tools, and 59% use comparative market analysis or pricing software. Forty-eight percent reported using drone photography or video, and 46% use a customer relationship management system.

Why it matters

The rapid normalization of AI in listing copy, marketing, and client communications creates new compliance and training obligations for brokerages. As generative tools become embedded in agent workflows, firms will need to establish standards around fair housing compliance, data governance, and quality control—particularly for consumer-facing content that was previously written entirely by humans. The shift also signals that AI literacy is becoming a baseline expectation rather than a competitive advantage.

Adoption barriers persist

Despite growing usage, 63% of agents cited the learning curve as their biggest challenge in adopting new technology, while 59% pointed to cost. Monthly technology spending varies widely: 18% of agents spend less than $50, 36% spend $50 to $250, 19% spend $251 to $500, and 22% spend more than $500.

Client reactions to technology remain mixed. Forty percent of agents said their clients responded very positively to technology, while 37% said clients found it helpful but expressed reservations. The findings suggest agents must balance efficiency gains with face-to-face service and clear explanations of how technology is being used.

The report underscores that technology strategy is no longer optional for real estate professionals, with tools that streamline routine tasks becoming baseline expectations from both agents and clients.

Details were first reported by HousingWire.