AI in Real Estate: 5 Use Cases That Actually Matter

AI is no longer a future trend in real estate, it’s already reshaping how top-performing teams price assets, attract tenants, reduce risk, and operate more efficiently. From AI-driven analytics and forecasting that optimize pricing and predict maintenance issues, to AI-powered virtual property tours that 83% of renters now expect, the technology is quietly becoming a competitive advantage. Smart home AI boosts energy efficiency and tenant retention, while AI-based lease screening detects sophisticated fraud that manual checks miss. On the finance side, AI-enhanced accounts payable automation is cutting errors, saving time, and delivering measurable ROI. The biggest risk in 2025 isn’t adopting AI too early, it’s falling behind while competitors move faster, leaner, and smarter.

If you’re a real estate professional in 2025, it can be tempting to think of AI as something you’ll “use someday.” Maybe you’ll adopt new AI tools once things slow down or when the tools feel a little more familiar. But while some real estate teams are still relying on manual workflows and gut decisions, others are using AI to move faster, operate leaner, and offer a better experience to their residents and clients. The gap between the two is growing. And in some cases, that shift is happening quietly. AI is being integrated into everyday tools from your phone’s virtual assistant to the software you rely on in the office. Recognizing these opportunities (and using them intentionally) will set real estate teams apart in 2025.

Here are 5 AI use cases for real estate professionals to consider:

• AI-Driven Analytics and Forecasting

• AI-Powered Property Tours

• AI-Enhanced Smart Home Technology

• AI for Lease Screening and Risk Detection

• AI-Enhanced Invoice and Payment Automation

1. AI-Driven Analytics and Forecasting

Failing to leverage AI for analytics can leave you blind to trends that are right in front of you. If you’re still relying on static spreadsheets and intuition:

• You might be underpricing units

• You might be overestimating demand

• You might miss buildings with declining performance

That’s why more people are using AI in real estate analytics and forecasting strategies. For example, in pricing, AI can analyze market demand, rental history, and seasonal trends to recommend rates that maximize revenue without hurting occupancy.

AI can also identify underperforming buildings based on turnover, maintenance costs, and occupancy rates. If a property is consistently dragging down ROI, you’ll know about it and know the next step to take.

Predictive maintenance is another area where AI pays off. By analyzing repair history and sensor data, systems can forecast equipment failures before they occur. This keeps costs down and residents happy.

2. AI-Powered Property Tours

By 2025, traditional leasing office tours have become increasingly rare. According to RentCafe.com, 83% of respondents said a virtual tour of an individual floor plan was “very important” or “important.”

Today’s renters expect to explore potential properties digitally, on their own time, without driving around the city. If you still rely on in-person showings and front-desk scheduling, you’re adding unnecessary friction to what should be a seamless digital experience.

AI-based touring technology allows prospective tenants to “walk” through a unit, click on features, and get instant answers from an AI chatbot. Virtual staging platforms can digitally furnish vacant units, allowing users to visualize the space according to their own style preferences.

AI also provides deeper insights into user behavior. Izzy Carunungan of LCP Media said in an interview with Multi-Housing News:

“The analytics tool provides a property heat map, showing the states and cities where virtual tours are viewed. This helps target marketing campaigns for virtual tours. Another metric shows the number of guided virtual tours shared by leasing agents or other potential decision-makers.”

In other words, AI in property tours gives property managers a competitive edge. Serious renters can fall in love with a space before stepping inside, while leasing teams gain insight into who is engaging, what they care about, and how to optimize marketing. Virtual tours also make it easier to reach out-of-town prospects, and by the time someone schedules an in-person visit, they’re likely already sold on the space.

3. AI-Enhanced Smart Home Technology

Real estate professionals are discovering that smart home technology isn’t just a premium amenity to attract or retain renters. This technology is also valuable in vacant units or commercial properties left empty for hours. After all, why waste energy running the A/C or keeping lights on when no one is there?

AI adds intelligence to these systems. Modern smart thermostats can learn tenant schedules, anticipate preferences, and optimize HVAC usage to reduce energy waste. Smart lighting can dim or turn off when rooms are empty. If tenants pay their own utilities, you might not directly see the energy savings, but you may see ROI in higher rent and increased tenant satisfaction.

According to the 2021 Buildium Annual Renters’ Report, smart home technology ranked among the top 10 features renters want in their homes.

4. AI for Lease Screening and Risk Detection

Tenant screening is one of the most important (and riskiest) parts of the leasing process. If you only look at credit scores and pay stubs, it’s easy to miss red flags. If the wrong person slips through, you could face months of missed rent and stress.

AI makes this process smarter by analyzing applicant data such as payment history, job stability, behavioral signals, and document authenticity. AI platforms can also flag fake pay stubs, inflated income claims, or ID mismatches.

According to Snappt’s 2024 Fraud Report:

“Traditional screening methods and visual inspections are no longer enough to catch these advanced fraud schemes.”

Snappt reported an average fraud rate of 6.4% in 2024. The top three methods used were:

• Fraudulent PDF creators (fake documents that appear legitimate)

• Text insertion (editing existing documents to falsify information)

• Font errors (mismatched fonts or poorly aligned text)

5. AI-Enhanced Invoice and Payment Automation

Real estate finance teams are also starting to embrace AI. According to AvidXchange’s Ultimate Guide to AI in Finance, 65% of organizations are using AI technology in their finance departments. Nearly all (97%) of surveyed finance leaders reported a return on investment or tangible benefits from their AI investments.

Property managers who don’t embrace AI and automation likely still process every invoice manually. These teams can spend hours every week on data entry, chasing approvals, and reconciling books at month-end. Extra manual work increases human error and stress. Mistakes can be costly.

AI-driven invoice automation allows minimal manual effort for processing, paying, and analyzing invoices. For example, with AvidXchange software, property managers can:

• Invoice capture and data entry: AI extracts data and auto-populates fields based on previous invoices, speeding up approval.

• Purchase order matching: Automates detailed line-item matching.

• Invoice approval insights: Uses historical data to predict approval likelihood.

• Reporting and analytics: Generates reports and dashboards to improve decision-making and remain audit-ready.

More importantly, these tools reveal which vendors are consistently late, which buildings overspend, and where savings can be made.

AI is transforming how real estate teams operate—from leasing and property tours to financial workflows and day-to-day decision-making. As renters and investors expect tech-driven experiences, integrating these tools into operations becomes critical to staying competitive.

Automation doesn’t mean everything runs without your approval, and AI isn’t here to replace your team. AI is a tool that allows teams to work faster and smarter, reducing repetitive, monotonous tasks.

FAQs

1. Is AI only useful for large real estate companies, or can small teams benefit too?
No. AI is not size-dependent. Smaller teams often benefit the most because AI reduces manual work and compensates for limited staff. Automated analytics, virtual tours, and invoice automation allow small teams to operate at a level that previously required far more resources.

2. Does using AI mean replacing leasing agents or finance staff?
No. AI eliminates repetitive tasks such as data entry, document checks, scheduling, and basic reporting. Human judgment remains critical. AI supports teams; it does not replace them.

3. How reliable is AI when it comes to tenant screening and fraud detection?
AI-based tools are significantly more effective than manual review alone. Snappt’s 2024 Fraud Report highlights that fraud tactics are increasingly sophisticated, and visual checks are no longer sufficient. AI adds a critical layer of risk detection.

4. Are renters actually demanding AI-powered experiences?
Yes, often without calling it “AI.” Renters expect seamless digital tours, instant answers, and smart home features. These expectations are already standard in other industries, and real estate is catching up quickly.

5. What’s the biggest risk of not adopting AI in real estate?
The biggest risk is falling behind quietly. Competitors using AI make faster pricing decisions, catch issues earlier, reduce operating costs, and deliver smoother customer experiences. Over time, that gap compounds.

Resources

• RentCafe – Rental Listing Preference Survey

• Multi-Housing News – LCP Media Interview

• Buildium – Annual Renters’ Report

• Snappt – 2024 Fraud Report

• AvidXchange – Ultimate Guide to AI in Finance

• McKinsey & Company – AI in Real Estate and Operations

• Deloitte – AI Adoption in Finance and Property Management