T
echnology is reshaping real‑estate transactions, with startups and incumbents alike pushing new tools and partnerships. Below are the latest moves from the industry’s key players.
**AI‑Powered Search on Major Portals**
Zillow’s conversational search is no longer unique. Realtor.com and Homes.com have rolled out their own AI‑driven search engines.
*Homes.com* unveiled Smart Search, a natural‑language interface that lets users type or speak queries such as “ranch‑style house with a pool in Austin.” The system parses complex, multi‑city requests, voice commands, and points‑of‑interest data, delivering tailored results instantly. CoStar Group CEO Andy Florance said the tool “reduces frustration, makes discovery intuitive, and is the easiest way to find a home.” Smart Search supports speech‑to‑text and can handle intricate criteria, helping buyers and renters match lifestyle, price, and traditional filters.
*Realtor.com* introduced a similar feature that interprets everyday language and even analyzes listing photos. It recognizes over 300 terms—including “vaulted ceilings” and “modern kitchen”—and learns from user behavior to refine results. The AI can parse complex requests like “3‑bedroom ranch with a pool in Austin under five years old.” Agents can use the tool to quickly locate properties that fit client preferences, speeding up the search cycle and boosting client confidence.
**Real Brokerage Expands Financial Services**
Real Brokerage has added Real Wallet Capital, an embedded lending product that lets agents tap working capital directly from the Real Wallet interface. Available in 28 states plus Washington, D.C., the service uses data such as past earnings, pending deals, and projected income to auto‑underwrite and update each agent’s credit line. Eligible agents can access funds the same day they request them, sign loan agreements, and draw credit without leaving the ReZEN agent dashboard. Repayment is automated, with a portion of commissions and revenue share applied to the balance. The move builds on Real Wallet, a business‑banking platform launched last year, and aims to give the 4,000 agents who already use the Wallet on‑demand financing for marketing, bridging closing gaps, or scaling operations without traditional bank loans.
**eXp Automates Payments with Payload**
eXp Realty partnered with fintech firm Payload to replace manual payment processes with a fully automated system. The integration connects Payload to eXp’s agent portal and financial systems, enabling agents, clients, and partners to send, receive, and manage payments across the U.S. and Canada. The platform is already handling nearly 100,000 payments per month. CFO Jesse Hill emphasized that the partnership “elevates the entire transaction experience,” giving agents modern tools to close deals faster and with less friction.
Key workflows now automated include agent billing, earnest money deposits, buyer retainers, title disbursements, and lease commission payments. Agents can request deposits digitally; buyers pay via QR codes; renters can pay by card or ACH at lease signing—all without manual intervention or wire‑transfer risk. The system supports same‑day ACH, credit cards, mobile wallets, and instant payment networks such as RTP and FedNow, streamlining fund flow across transactions.
