AI in Real Estate
Sunil Anthony • September 3, 2025
How to Use It Safely and Reliably
Sunil Anthony is Director of Innovation at OneKey MLS with over twenty years experience in technology.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a futuristic concept; it’s here, and it’s transforming the real estate industry. From writing property descriptions to analyzing market data, generating photo descriptions, AI can help REALTORS® save time, work more efficiently, and unlock new opportunities for client service.
But with new technology comes new questions:
Is AI safe? Is it reliable? Could it put my clients or my business at risk?
As part of
REALTOR® Safety Month, let’s explore the realities of AI in real estate and outline practical steps you can take to use it both effectively and responsibly.
Understanding the Risks
While AI offers incredible potential, it’s important to recognize where the risks lie. The most common concerns for real estate professionals include:
- Data Privacy Violations – Client or transaction details being exposed through AI platforms
- Confidentiality Breaches – Sensitive property or negotiation information becoming public
- Regulatory Compliance – Violations of industry rules, licensing requirements, or fair housing laws
- Inaccurate Outputs – AI “hallucinations” or incorrect data leading to liability issues
Most of these risks can be managed with the right tools, policies, and habits.
The DOs: Best Practices for Safe AI Use
1. Use Trusted, Business-Grade Platforms
Choose AI tools from reputable vendors that clearly state how they handle your data. Many providers, such as OpenAI (Enterprise/Team), Microsoft, Google, and ElevenLabs offer enterprise-level security and do not use your data for model training by default.
Before using any AI tool, read the privacy policy and understand the data retention policy. If needed, use the vendor’s opt-out settings to prevent your data from being stored or used for training.
Helpful links:
2. Remove or Anonymize Client Data
Before entering information into any AI system:
- Replace names with placeholders (“Client A”)
- Remove specific addresses, contact info, and financial details
- Avoid sharing private negotiations or sensitive notes
3. Review All AI-Generated Content
AI is a great starting point for content, but it is not perfect. Always:
- Fact-check against MLS data and official sources
- Review for compliance with fair housing and advertising rules
- Adjust tone and details to reflect your expertise and local market knowledge
4. Keep Humans in the Loop
Use AI as an assistant, not a replacement. Critical decisions, pricing strategies, legal language, contract terms should always be reviewed and approved by a licensed professional.
5. Stay Educated
The AI landscape changes quickly. Attend training sessions, webinars, and industry events to stay informed about new tools, risks, and best practices.
The DON'Ts: Avoid These Pitfalls
- Don’t Share Confidential Information in public AI tools—ever.
- Don’t Rely Solely on AI for legal, financial, or contractual advice.
- Don’t Use Unverified Tools found through social media ads or unknown websites.
- Don’t Assume Privacy—consumer-grade tools may store your inputs unless you opt out.
- Don’t Ignore Company Policies—check your brokerage, MLS, and NAR guidelines before adopting new AI tools.
Quick Safety Checklist Before Using AI
☐ Is this a secure, business-grade platform?
☐ Have I removed all client identifiers?
☐ Am I following my brokerage and MLS policies?
☐ Have I fact-checked the AI output?
☐ Am I taking responsibility for the final result?
The Bottom Line
AI is a powerful tool but it’s still just that, a tool. It can help you work smarter, reach more clients, and focus on high-value tasks that require your unique expertise. When used with care, AI can enhance your business without compromising safety, compliance, or client trust.
Remember: Technology can assist you, but it’s your professional judgment, ethics, and personal relationships that will always set you apart in the market.
OneKey MLS is pleased to welcome Abbey Stote as our new Learning, Outreach, and Events Specialist.
Abbey brings creativity, energy, and firsthand real estate industry experience to the team. With a background in marketing and sales, she has worked closely with real estate agents to support marketing initiatives, sales
OneKey® MLS has released its annual housing market report, detailing residential real estate trends across the New York Metropolitan Area. The analysis notes that inventory shortages are driving up prices in some areas, while others see steadier growth, and buyer activity is returning to pre-pandemic levels. In 2025, pending sales rose 0.7% to 50,541, and closed sales dipped 0.6% to 48,833. Median home prices increased 5.9% year over year to $675,000, though at a slower pace than in past years. Inventory dropped 8.2% to 12,794 active listings, highlighting ongoing supply constraints. Local performance varied notably by region: New York City showed pronounced contrasts . Manhattan faced challenging conditions, with closed sales falling sharply—down 77.7% year over year—and inventory swelling to a 22.3-month supply, signaling sluggish demand and prolonged negotiations. Conversely, the Bronx outperformed with a 12.3% increase in median sales price to $410,000, while Brooklyn and Queens maintained steady buyer interest despite listings spending longer on the market. Long Island stood out for its stability amid broader volatility . Nassau County’s 9,799 closed sales were virtually unchanged compared to last year, as median prices climbed 5.9% to $805,000. Suffolk County’s sales edged down just 0.4%, but sellers there still averaged over 100% of the original list price, contrasting with softer conditions in nearby Manhattan and indicating Long Island’s persistent demand for appropriately priced homes. The Hudson Valley presented yet another picture . Putnam County’s closed sales jumped 15.6%, and Ulster County rose 8.3%. Median prices grew 7.6% in Putnam and 7.3% in Rockland County, highlighting continued strong buyer demand for comparatively affordable communities, in contrast to weak sales growth in parts of Manhattan. “Our data shows the market is adjusting rather than declining," said Richard Haggerty, CEO of OneKey® MLS. "While Manhattan recalibrates, parts of Long Island and the Hudson Valley display strength, revealing that local markets are progressing at different rates but gradually moving toward balance." Sellers across the region performed well in 2025, averaging 99.2% of the original list price. Single-family homes received 99.6%, condominiums 98.3%, and co-ops 97.4%. Transactions for homes priced at $849,000 or more increased 11.4%. Looking ahead to 2026, OneKey® MLS anticipates a gradual improvement in the New York metropolitan area . Mortgage rates fell in the second half of 2025 and are expected to remain near 6%, supporting some gains in affordability. Inventory growth will likely continue unevenly by county, with moderate price appreciation expected. Explore the full report and get more detailed market insights at https://marketstats.onekeymls.com .
Farmingdale, NY – January 20, 2026 –The OneKey® MLS December 2025 Market Report highlights a housing market that closed the year with measured growth, resilient demand, and continued price stability across the region’s diverse housing segments. Across the OneKey® MLS service area, total closed sales increased 1.5% year-over-year, reaching 4,303 transactions, with gains across single-family homes, condominiums, and co-ops. Median sales prices continued their upward trajectory, rising 3.8% year-over-year to $675,000, reflecting sustained buyer confidence amid constrained inventory. Single-family homes led the market with 3,229 closed sales, reflecting a 1.4% increase over the previous year. The median sales price for single-family homes rose to $740,000, up 4.2% from December 2024. Condominiums saw a median price increase of 9.0%, while co-ops rose by 8.9%. Pending sales for all property types increased by 12.8%, indicating positive momentum entering early 2026. Inventory remained tight, with total homes for sale down 9.0% year-over-year, helping to keep days on market relatively low. Properties sold in a median of 54 days, nearly 7% faster than one year ago, while sellers continued to receive close to the asking price, averaging 98.6% of the original list price. “December’s data shows a market that continues to move forward with discipline and durability,” said Richard Haggerty, CEO of OneKey® MLS. “Even with ongoing inventory challenges, buyers and sellers remained engaged through year-end, and the strength we’re seeing in pending sales and pricing points to a constructive start for 2026. These trends reflect the adaptability of our professionals and the enduring appeal of our region.” Looking ahead, market activity is expected to remain steady as demand continues to outpace available inventory. With buyer engagement holding firm and pricing trends showing resilience, the region enters 2026 on a solid footing. To access all local and regional housing market reports, visit https://marketstats.onekeymls.com .
Scheduled for February 2, 2026
Farmingdale, NY – December 16, 2025 – The New York real estate market remained strong and accelerated in November. Home values rose, and buyer interest increased. The regional median sales price jumped 6.5% year-over-year to $685,000, showing high demand in the New York Metropolitan area. Closed sales fell 7.5% year-over-year due to seasonality, but the market stayed strong. Pending sales rose across all housing categories: single-family homes up 4.0%, condominiums up 6.0%, and co-ops up 11.6%. This contract activity mirrors national patterns, underscoring that buyers are responding quickly to steady mortgage rates and favorable fall conditions. Richard Haggerty, CEO of OneKey® MLS, said: “Pending sales, especially the 5% jump across all property types, show buyers gaining confidence. Consumers are moving quickly, setting up an active start to 2026.” Meanwhile, the single-family homes segment continues to drive the market, with median sales reaching $750,000—a 6.3% increase from November 2024. As inventory remains limited, down 7.1% year-over-year for all property types, competition for move-in-ready homes continues to boost equity gains for current homeowners. Looking ahead, expect this competitive environment to persist into early 2026, as buyers remain eager despite limited options. Many are expanding their searches to surrounding counties and suburban markets in hopes of finding suitable homes. This increase in activity is likely to support continued price growth and keep market momentum strong as the new year begins, sustaining the region's positive trends. To access all local and regional housing market reports, visit https://marketstats.onekeymls.com .
Your account is the Keystone . Keystone is account management.
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The New York Metropolitan area real estate market demonstrated consistent, moderate price appreciation in October 2025, according to the latest regional market summary.
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Caroline Andree is having a full circle moment. Starting her career in the MLS industry at Stellar MLS, she discovered her passion for connecting people, processes, and technology to create streamlined ways of working. Those skills served her well in roles in the death care technology space leading transformative projects that brought structure, empathy, and innovation to an industry ready for change. The OneKey® MLS team is excited to bring the benefits of Caroline’s expertise in automation, onboarding, and customer success to the Greater New York Metropolitan real estate community. In her new role, Caroline will collaborate with internal partners and external vendors to strengthen customer adoption of OneKey’s premium products and streamline workflows that help real estate professionals work smarter, not harder. Her superpower of seeing the systems beneath chaos - transforming complexity into clarity and building frameworks that empower both teams and end users to thrive--embodies OneKey’s values of service, innovation, collaboration, and adaptability , supporting the company’s vision to connect professionals and consumers with unparalleled data and solutions . Caroline’s personal philosophy— “Be kind, do good, listen in the moments of quiet” —reflects her belief that lasting progress requires both compassion and accountability and echoes OneKey’s commitment to integrity . Outside of work, Caroline enjoys journaling, various methods of crafting, being the “spooky friend”, and time with her family.
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OneKey® MLS, the largest multiple listing service in New York, today released its September 2025 residential market statistics, revealing continued stability in home prices and modest gains in sales activity across the New York regional area.
Our customer-facing teams regularly receive feedback and suggestions to improve our local customers' user experience. This information is compiled, assessed by our advisory task force, and then used to drive enhancements and fixes in our technology solutions.
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The August 2025 housing market across the OneKey® MLS regional coverage area demonstrated steady momentum, with notable month-over-month price gains in several counties despite a modest dip in overall closed sales.