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, the largest multiple listing service in New York, has released its July 2025 Market Report, revealing a continued upward trend in home prices across the region, even as overall sales activity slows.
At OneKey MLS we appreciate our customers every day, but recently we asked staff to nominate customers for their standout efforts in the following categories:
Summer 2025 Release Notes updated 8/20/25
OneKey® MLS, the largest MLS in New York, has released its latest regional housing market report, showing a slight dip in closed sales activity while inventory challenges continue to shape conditions across the New York metro area.
National Homeownership Month is an opportunity to raise awareness about the challenges that make homeownership an accessible option for everyone and to evolve the conversation about what a home looks like. We also want to highlight individuals and initiatives that are working towards helping those in need. Impactful Lives is a nonprofit organization supporting unhoused young mothers living in shelters. Founded by Natasha Williams, the organization adopts a holistic, community-driven approach to address five critical challenges faced by these mothers: reproductive justice, economic insecurity, youth development, educational attainment, and food insecurity. Through tailored support, mentorship, career guidance, and essential provisions, Impactful Lives empowers these women to transform their circumstances and emerge as thriving contributors to society. With the mantra "The time to make a difference is now," Impactful Lives offers several programs focused on mental health support, provides essential supplies, and celebrates achievements. These programs include back-to-school and essential item drives, grocery store outings to help mothers purchase fresh produce, moving celebrations for those transitioning to independent living, and intimate sessions where successful mothers volunteer to share their personal journeys, offering hope and inspiration to moms currently in shelter. Additionally, their annual signature event: hosting uplifting Mother’s Day brunches at the shelters serves as a moment of refresh and inspiration. Lastly, Impactful Lives works with women to build a plan for homeownership that includes down payment assistance, aided by DPR (a resource provided through OneKey MLS). Natasha Williams, the driving force behind Impactful Lives, brings over 15 years of expertise in finance, a distinguished background as a youth educator, and a successful career in real estate. Her unwavering commitment to community empowerment and social change inspired her to create this self-funded nonprofit, where she serves as both founder and president with passion and dedication. She also regularly teaches first-time homebuying seminars to help buyers navigate the process and partners with housing agencies to expand access to down payment assistance, financial education, and sustainable homeownership opportunities. In 2023, Natasha Williams was honored with the REALTOR® Spirit Award from the Long Island Board of REALTORS® for her extraordinary impact and dedication to her community. Under her leadership, Impactful Lives continues to ignite hope and foster meaningful change for young mothers in need. Learn more about Impactful Lives' mission and programs, and explore ways to contribute at https://www.impactfullives.org . For more information on National Homeownership Month, visit the NAR resource page .
OneKey® MLS, the largest multiple listing service in New York, released its May 2025 market report, highlighting steady median home prices and a healthy uptick in new listings throughout the New York Metropolitan area.
OneKey® MLS proudly announces a strategic partnership with Crexi, the nation’s fastest-growing commercial real estate marketplace and technology platform.
OneKey® MLS is excited to welcome James Gaughan to the team as Customer Engagement Learning & Outreach Manager.
Richard Haggerty and the WAV Group's Victor Lund explore the strategic thinking behind OneKey's move to a single, unified backend database.
Spring Market Brings a Deluge of Activity
OneKey® MLS Reports April 2025 Residential Market Data: Region Remains Strong, Though Activity Slows
OneKey® MLS, the largest multiple listing service in New York, today released its April 2025 residential market statistics, revealing continued resilience in home prices across the New York regional area, even as overall sales activity declined.
Spring 2025 Release Notes updated 5/28/25
As an MLS executive and someone who believes deeply in fair and equitable access to housing, I don't view fair housing as a compliance item — I see it as a fundamental responsibility. Either our systems support equity, or they leave room for bias. There isn't a middle ground. The real estate industry has a well-documented history of overt and subtle discrimination. As stewards of the MLS, we must do better. Transparency is crucial. The NAR's Clear Cooperation Policy limits pocket listings and private networks that restrict access. While off-MLS strategies may seem harmless, research indicates they can have negative consequences. A 2020 National Fair Housing Alliance investigation revealed that pocket listings harm buyers from historically marginalized communities by limiting their access to available homes. By marketing properties privately within small, homogeneous networks, this practice reinforces exclusivity and restricts opportunities for others, undermining the principle of an open and competitive market. More recent studies have provided compelling data on the detrimental effects of pocket listings and private networks in real estate. A 2025 Zillow analysis revealed that New York homes sold off the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) typically fetched $13,749 less than those listed on the MLS. The impact is even more pronounced in communities of color – almost 3% less than sellers in majority-white neighborhoods nationally. These statistics highlight the importance of transparent and inclusive listing practices. We promote fair access and help sellers achieve the best financial outcomes by ensuring that properties are listed on the MLS. This practice also guarantees that all buyers have an equal opportunity and that sellers benefit from wider market exposure. Our commitment goes beyond implementing policies. We must also do more by leveraging technology to identify discriminatory language, establish rules that prevent harmful practices, and provide education and guidance to our users. These actions form the foundation of our industry. Fair housing isn't a political issue. It's a matter of professional integrity—and, not least of all, of human character. At the MLS, we play a central role in shaping how real estate is practiced—and that includes ensuring the systems we maintain are fair, transparent, and inclusive for everyone.
OneKey® MLS, the leading real estate marketplace serving the New York regional market from Montauk to Manhattan and north through the Hudson Valley to the Catskill Mountains, has released its monthly residential statistics for March 2025, reflecting a continued competitive market that favors sellers.
Ocusell is proud to announce its latest partnership with OneKey MLS, the largest Multiple Listing Service in New York. Through this collaboration, Ocusell provides OneKey MLS subscribers with the ability to seamlessly create and manage listings and populate them directly into the Matrix MLS system. With over 45,000 subscribers serving Long Island, New York City, and Hudson Valley region, OneKey MLS supports one of the most diverse and dynamic housing markets in the country. To meet the demands of this uniquely broad inventory—from Manhattan co-ops to beachfront homes on Long Island—they needed a listing management solution flexible enough to handle a wide range of property types and business rules. Enter Ocusell List™. Designed for speed, accuracy, and adaptability, it streamlines the entire listing process. Leveraging advanced AI tools and real-time validation checks, agents can reduce listing creation time by up to 82%, cut compliance violations by over 75%, and publish to multiple MLSs instantly—all from a single platform. “At OneKey® MLS, we’re committed to empowering our 45,000 real estate professionals with innovative tools that enhance efficiency, collaboration, and compliance,” said Richard Haggerty, CEO of OneKey MLS. “Ocusell’s platform gives our agents and brokers their time back by streamlining the listing process and reducing compliance issues before a listing ever goes live. This partnership reflects our ongoing mission to deliver real value at every stage of the listing lifecycle—for both our members and our MLS staff.” Ocusell’s platform works with a broad spectrum of property types, ensuring that listings are created quickly, accurately, and in compliance with OneKey MLS rules. Real-time validation checks automatically alert agents to potential issues before a listing goes live, improving both the speed and accuracy of the listing process. “OneKey MLS is an exemplary forward-thinking MLS that recognizes the value of streamlining the listing process while maintaining compliance,” said Hayden Rieveschl, CEO and Co-founder of Ocusell. “This partnership marks an exciting next step in the evolution of MLS technology and data management.” OneKey MLS joins previously announced partnerships with FMLS in Georgia and HIVE MLS in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia, bringing Ocusell’s user base to over 100,000 professionals in just a few months.