REA Group is deepening its push into AI-driven property experiences, today announcing the launch of realAssist, an OpenAI-powered conversational companion designed to help homeowners better understand the true value of their property and ask the necessary questions.
The update marks one of the platform’s biggest AI steps to date, building on three decades of data innovation and adding to eight AI-prime features already live across the site.
realAssist is available to logged-in members who track their property, allowing them to ask questions about their realEstimate and receive tailored explanations and recommended next steps.
One in three Australian homes is now tracked on realestate.com.au, underscoring the role the platform plays in connecting homeowners with agents and generating seller leads.
REA Group Chief Product and Audience Officer Jonathan Swift said the rapid shift in consumer behaviour is accelerating the need for AI-led tools.
“We’ve been investing in AI and using the technology for over a decade, but the capability we have now and the pace at which we’re developing AI-powered products is truly transforming how buyers, sellers, renters and our real estate agent customers engage on realestate.com.au.
“Australians are obsessed with property, but it’s often an emotional and complex journey. realAssist aims to demystify property valuation, helping homeowners build their knowledge and empowering them to take the next step.”
Swift said realAssist uses “industry best practice” to deliver an agentic AI experience that will scale across the platform.
Homeowners can ask questions such as “Why is my property valuation lower than I expected?” and receive suggestions such as updating property attributes, a step taken on more than 140,000 homes in the past year.
Natural language search available to all users
Alongside realAssist, realestate.com.au has expanded its natural language search tool to all property seekers after a successful year-long pilot.
The AI search allows users to type intuitive, real-world phrases like “show me homes with a pool and a double garage in Kew” and receive instant matching results.
Swift said the feature is designed to sit alongside, not replace, traditional search filters.
“AI search is about giving property seekers more flexibility, choice and making it easier than ever before to search for property. We see this feature as a partner, not a replacement, for search filters.
“Offering users another way to search on realestate.com.au ensures we can continue to meet the expectations of the 13 million Australians who now visit our platform and deliver the most value to customers.”
REA Group says it will continue working with leading AI partners, including OpenAI, as it builds the next generation of search, matching and homeowner tools.
Early user behaviour shows strong repeat engagement with existing AI features, with realAssist and the expanded AI search expected to roll out to more homeowners and seekers in the weeks ahead.