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The current homebuying and selling experience is feeling the tech and human touch.
The National Association of Realtors’ “2026 Technology Report” details how real estate agents nationwide are adopting new technology, including artificial intelligence, to save time and improve the client experience.
NAR reported that 81% of Realtors said the main reason they adopt new technology is primarily to save time. The second reason, cited by 71% of Realtors, was to improve the experience for their clients.
Dr. Jessica Lautz, deputy chief economist and vice president of research at NAR said agents are making practical choices, and the two payoffs they want most are time and a smoother experience for their clients.
The report found that 23% of agents now use artificial intelligence every day, and another 25% use it weekly.
While AI is currently generating significant attention, it didn’t top NAR’s 2026 list of current technologies used in the real estate business. The list, ranked based on the percent of survey respondents using each technology, was dominated by more traditional tools.
1. Multiple Listing Service: 96%
2. E-signature: 79%
3. Property showing scheduling tools: 68%
4. Comparative Market Analysis tools: 59%
5. Drone photography and video systems: 48%
6. Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems: 46%
7. AI-generated content: 41%
8. Transaction management systems: 36%
9. Social media scheduling and content tools: 32%
10. Virtual tours: 29%.
Using real estate-related technology helps agents spend less time on paperwork and more time helping clients find the right home that fits their lifestyle and needs.
“When Realtors adopt a new technology, the goal isn’t to replace the human relationship; it’s to create more time so we can focus on the human-to-human aspects of buying and selling,” said Bill Espinola 2026 President of the Bay East Association of Realtors.
The NAR report said that it isn’t just Realtors who find value in technology. Forty percent of Realtors said their clients responded positively to the use of technology during the buying and selling process.
Espinola acknowledged that clients are using technology too, and observed, “As good as technology has become, it may not know specific situations, timelines or the fine print of the offer in front of you. Start with your Realtors, use the tools to fill in gaps and build confidence, then bring what you learned back to your Realtors to confirm it actually applies to you.”
“That last step is the one people are most tempted to skip, but it’s the one that protects them,” he added.
Editor’s note: Devin Davis is a public affairs specialist for the Bay East Association of Realtors, which is based in Pleasanton.
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