Artificial intelligence is reshaping the way real estate agents help their clients buy and sell homes, but it should be viewed as a tool, not a threat, according to Rebecca Thomson, vice president of learning and development at Coldwell Banker Realty, a subsidiary of Anywhere Real Estate.
With the rise of AI, Thomson told Homes.com in a video interview from the expo floor at the NAR NXT conference in Houston.
"It's become this silent backbone in the real estate industry," Thomson said of the technology. "AI is really this engine that is powering things from behind, not replacing the agent, but really supercharging them."
In fact, Thomson noted that in her business, buyer and seller clients have been specifically looking to work with agents who are leveraging AI, especially to automate business processes in a way that affords them more time with their clients.
More than just AI, though, Thomson says she sees broader housing market conditions changing the residential real estate landscape in 2026.
"If I was to look at what this next year is going to bring, I think the right word is readiness," Thomson said. "People have had a year to prepare. Some of them have had more than that. They've made delays so that they can secure their financial positioning to be able to enter the market."
Watch the video to hear more of Thomson's forecast for next year's real estate market.
Homes.com, part of CoStar Group, was a sponsor of the NAR show.