Research · 4 min read
How Realtors Use AI in 2026: The NAR Survey Numbers
Nearly half of agents now use AI daily or weekly: 23% daily and 25% weekly, in NAR's 2026 technology survey released Sept 22. Most use it to write: listing descriptions (75%), social posts (56%) and email and follow-up (52%). Here are the numbers that matter, and which ones compare to last year.
The headline numbers
AI use rose across the board: daily users went from 20% to 23%, weekly from 22% to 25%, and non-users fell from 32% to 21%.
| Measure | 2026 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Use AI daily | 23% | 20% |
| Use AI weekly | 25% | 22% |
| Experiment occasionally | 31% | Not asked the same way (2025: 27% used it a few times a month) |
| Curious but haven't tried | 9% | Not asked the same way |
| Not using and no plans to | 12% | Not asked the same way |
| All non-users | 21% | 32% |
| Say AI helped their business | 55% | 50% |
| Say AI hurt their business | 11% | 4% |
| No noticeable impact | 34% to 35% | 46% |
What agents use AI for
Among agents who use AI, writing dominates: 75% use it for listing descriptions.
- Writing listing descriptions: 75%
- Social media posting: 56%
- Creating emails and follow-up: 52%
- Market summaries: 30%
- Marketing content in a personal tone: 30%
- Reviewing or summarizing documents: 27%
Which AI tools agents use
ChatGPT is used by 91% of AI-using agents, up from 58%, and Gemini more than doubled to 42%.
Copilot rose to 27% from 15%. Claude came in at 25%, a figure reported by RealEstateNews with no 2025 comparison.
These shares are of agents who use AI, not all agents.
The technology agents use most
The MLS is nearly universal at 96%, e-signature is at 79%, and fewer than half of agents, 46%, use a CRM.
- MLS: 96%
- E-signature: 79%
- Showing scheduling: 68%
- CMA and pricing tools: 59%
- Drone photography: 48%
- CRM: 46%
- AI content tools like ChatGPT, Copilot and Gemini: 41%
Why agents adopt tech, and what stops them
Saving time is the top reason, at 81%, and the learning curve is the top barrier, at 63%.
Reasons: saving time (81%, up from 66%), a better client experience (71%, up from 64%), closing more deals (57%), less manual work (54%) and staying ahead of competitors (44%).
Barriers: the learning curve (63%), cost (59%), too many options to choose from (44%), and privacy and security (36%).
What agents spend and what's next
About a third of agents, 36%, spend $50 to $250 a month on technology.
Another 18% spend under $50, 19% spend $251 to $500 and 22% spend more than $500. Looking ahead, 54% use or plan to use generative AI for content, the top item on NAR's list of tools for the next 12 months.
AI-backed CRMs come second (51%), followed by AI lead generation and follow-up (48%).
Clients mostly like it: 40% of agents said clients responded very positively to their AI use, and another 37% said clients found it helpful but had reservations.
How to read these numbers
The survey's weak spot is its low response rate: 1,165 usable responses from 73,718 members invited, about 1.6%, collected in June, according to Inman.
- 01NAR compares the 12% who say they won't use AI to 2025's 32%, but the 32% counted every non-user. The fair comparison is 21% this year against 32% last year.
- 02The tool shares, like ChatGPT's 91%, are of agents who use AI. The 41% using AI content tools is of all agents. They come from different questions.
- 03The 46% for CRMs measures use, not how valuable agents find them.
- 04Inman reports 34% saw no noticeable impact from AI; RealEstateNews reports 35%.
What it means for an agent
Agents have made AI part of their writing; the next step is AI that handles follow-up without adding another tool to learn.
Half of AI-using agents already use it for email and follow-up. The top barriers are the learning curve (63%) and cost (59%), with too many options third (44%).
That points to tools that work inside the apps agents already use, like email and texts.
Where Sifta fits
Sifta is built for the follow-up half of that list, and there is nothing new to learn: you text it.
No dashboard, no prompts to write, and no new app on your phone: it works in Messages. Sifta is an AI assistant built only for real estate agents. Here is what it does:
- Connects to Gmail or Outlook and your calendar, and runs by text from the Messages app on your phone.
- Drafts the reply to each portal lead in your voice, with real open times, and texts it to you to approve.
- Tracks the deal dates it finds in your email.
- Pulls comps on any address you text it.
- Books showings from the group text with your client.
- Briefs you every morning.
It does not make phone calls and it is not a CRM. Sifta Pro is $199 a month.
If Sifta doesn't catch something worth more than the price in week one, you don't pay.
Sources
6 sources
Every fact on this page was checked against these sources on September 23, 2026.
These products change every week. If something here is out of date, email hello@joinsifta.com and we will fix it. "Not stated" on this page means we could not find the company saying it, not that the product can't do it.
- NAR: 2026 Technology Report release (Sep 22, 2026)
- NAR: Realtor Technology Report
- Inman: NAR technology report on AI adoption (Sep 22, 2026)
- RealEstateNews: Agents branch out from generative AI (Sep 22, 2026)
- HousingWire: Realtors' AI use in 2026 (Sep 22, 2026)
- HousingWire: NAR 2025 technology survey (Sep 18, 2025)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many real estate agents use AI?
In NAR's 2026 survey, 23% of agents use AI daily and 25% weekly, and another 31% experiment occasionally. About 21% don't use it at all, down from 32% in 2025.
What do realtors use AI for most?
Listing descriptions (75% of AI-using agents), social media posts (56%), and email and follow-up (52%).
What AI tool do most real estate agents use?
ChatGPT, used by 91% of agents who use AI. Gemini is second at 42%, then Copilot at 27% and Claude at 25%.
What stops agents from using AI?
The learning curve (63%) and cost (59%) top the list, followed by too many options (44%) and privacy and security (36%).
Related reading
Three ways in
AI that does the follow-up, by text.
Sifta Pro is $199 a month. Works with Gmail and Outlook. Setup takes two minutes. First week guaranteed.
See Sifta pricing Or book a 15-minute demo