What We Learned from CCRE's AI + Real Estate Panel

 From left to right: Scott Budman, Business & Technology Reporter, NBC Bay Area (Moderator); Charlotte Brown, Vice President of Product and Design, Qualia; Max Diez, CEO, Twenty Five Ventures; and Nina Dosanjh, Chief Technology & Operations Officer, Vanguard Properties.

Artificial intelligence is no longer a future consideration for real estate professionals. It is already changing how properties are marketed, how information is delivered to consumers and how transactions are managed.

At the Center for California Real Estate's recent panel discussion, The Next Era of Housing: AI's Role in Real Estate, moderator Scott Budman, business and technology reporter for NBC Bay Area, was joined by Charlotte Brown, vice president of product and design at Qualia; Max Diez, CEO of Twenty Five Ventures; and Nina Dosanjh, chief technology & operations officer at Vanguard Properties, to explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping residential real estate.

Setting the stage for the discussion, Budman noted that, from his perspective covering Silicon Valley, “the two hottest topics,” in the Bay Area today are AI and housing. He observed that the two issues are increasingly intertwined, with conversations about housing affordability, home values and economic growth often tracing back to the region's AI-driven technology boom.

While the conversation covered a wide range of topics, several key themes emerged throughout the discussion.

Key Takeaways 

1. AI is becoming embedded in real estate, but adoption remains uneven Panelists discussed AI's growing role in marketing, document review, transaction management, title and escrow operations and client communications. At the same time, many practitioners are still determining which tools deliver meaningful value and which create additional complexity. Brown described today's environment as “a bit of the wild west,” noting that while many technology providers are working to build useful and secure products, real estate professionals are increasingly being asked to evaluate a rapidly growing universe of AI tools.

   
   

2. Consumers now arrive with AI-generated opinions and analysis One of the strongest themes of the discussion was the changing relationship between consumers and information. Buyers and sellers are increasingly using AI to analyze disclosures, estimate property values, research neighborhoods and evaluate properties. Diez noted that consumers now arrive with more information than ever before, changing the role of the agent from information gatekeeper to trusted advisor. As he put it, “AI is not the answer; it has some answers.” Professionals still play a critical role in helping clients evaluate competing sources of information and apply judgment to complex decisions.

   
   

3. Privacy and data governance may become one of the industry's biggest challenges Panelists also emphasized the importance of understanding how client information is collected, stored, and shared. Dosanjh warned that many tools appear useful on the surface but may rely heavily on user data, while Brown encouraged professionals to carefully evaluate technology vendors and understand the protections in place before uploading sensitive information. The panel agreed that practitioners have an obligation to ensure client information is handled responsibly and that convenience should not come at the expense of privacy.

   
   

4. AI may increase, not decrease, the value of human expertise Despite the rapid pace of technological change, panelists consistently argued that AI cannot replace trust, judgment, experience, negotiation skills and local market knowledge. Brown used a healthcare analogy to illustrate the point. While she now expects doctors to use AI tools to assist their work, she said, “I also do not want to see an 'AI doctor.'” In the same way, consumers may increasingly expect real estate professionals to leverage AI, but they will still seek human expertise when making major financial decisions. The discussion repeatedly returned to the importance of relationships. Near the conclusion of the program, Diez summarized the sentiment shared across the panel: “Relationships still matter; trust still matters.” Later, he described real estate as “a belly-to-belly business,” underscoring the idea that technology may transform transactions, but it does not replace the human connection at their center.

   
   

5. Verification is becoming more important, not less As AI-generated content becomes more sophisticated, panelists stressed the importance of verifying information rather than accepting outputs at face value. Consumers, practitioners, and technology providers all have a role to play in maintaining confidence in the transaction process. Asked what advice she would offer buyers and sellers, Dosanjh's answer was simple: “Trust your intuition. If it feels off, it's off,” adding that consumers should “verify, then verify again.” The comment reflected a broader message throughout the discussion: AI can be a powerful tool, but responsible use still requires critical thinking and human oversight.

The discussion made clear that while AI is changing how real estate business gets done, trust, judgment, and professional expertise remain essential. As technology evolves, the most successful practitioners will be those who can combine new tools with the human guidance consumers continue to value.

To watch the full panel recording, visit CCRE's dedicated webpage for past panel discussions.

For additional perspectives on the panel, readers can also explore news coverage of the CCRE conversation.

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