In an era when artificial intelligence and social media are reshaping nearly every corner of our lives a new survey from Realtor.com® delivers a clear message: buyers and sellers may be experimenting with new tools, but they still put their faith in one source above all others – real estate agents. 

The findings are striking. More than 8 in 10 Americans (82%) now turn to AI platforms for real estate insights, with ChatGPT (67%) and Google’s Gemini (54%) leading the pack. These tools are celebrated for their ability to personalize home searches and quickly deliver data that once took hours to compile. 

Meanwhile, social media’s role in shaping housing decisions continues to grow. Nearly 90% of Americans use platforms like YouTube (73%) and Facebook (57%) for real estate information. Among Gen Z, TikTok dominates, with 76% saying it’s one of their top sources. The housing market is tough, and consumers are hungry for any edge they can get – whether that’s a short video breaking down mortgage trends or an AI chatbot helping them filter listings more precisely. 

But here’s the key takeaway: even in this tech-saturated landscape, Realtors® remain the go-to experts. Sixty-two percent of survey respondents said agents are the source that makes them “smarter” about the market — edging out AI (61%), traditional media, and social platforms. And when it comes to accuracy, agents topped the list again, beating out not only AI but also friends, family, and the nightly news. 

That trust isn’t misplaced. As the survey shows, much of the information buyers and sellers consume online isn’t applicable to their local markets. Nearly 40% said housing reality shows on TV and streaming platforms paint an unrealistic picture of the buying and selling process. Roughly 30% said social media gave them an inaccurate or irrelevant view of the market, and one in four said that advice from friends, family, or neighbors didn’t apply to their area at all. 

That disconnect underscores why professional guidance is more essential than ever. The U.S. housing market is not a one-size-fits-all environment. What’s true for Phoenix or Charlotte might be meaningless in Kingsport or Johnson City. Market dynamics shift neighborhood by neighborhood – from inventory levels and affordability to buyer preferences and pricing strategies. Realtors® are the ones with their boots on the ground, interpreting those nuances and translating them into actionable advice. 

“The housing market remains a challenge for both buyers and sellers,” said Danielle Hale, chief economist for Realtor.com®. “Americans are responding by embracing new ways to get smarter about their decisions. But this shift also shows that the future of real estate will be shaped not just by technology, but by how people integrate those new tools with trusted expertise.” 

And trusted expertise is exactly what real estate professionals provide. With only 28% of homes currently affordable to a typical household, buyers and sellers need more than generic online data — they need tailored insight. While AI and social media can broaden the search and enrich the conversation, the Realtor remains the reliable compass pointing clients toward their best decisions.