NAR Tech & Innovation

09/02/2026

“The ultimate pressure cooker.” Can your startup handle it? 🔥

That’s how two-time NAR Tech & Innovation Pitch Battle competitor Joseph Wibe describes the experience of taking the stage:

“You have four minutes to tell the story and vision of your startup in front of 500+ people, followed by four minutes of rapid-fire Q&A from judges with completely different areas of expertise. Add in the nerves, technical mishaps, and unpredictability of a live event, and it becomes a real spectacle.”

But the pressure comes with a payoff—and not just the chance to win $15K:

“Both experiences pushed me to think bigger about the companies I represented and the value we could create.”

— Joseph Wibe, Founder & PropTech Leader
2023 Pitch Battle Winner | 2025 Crowd Favorite

Applications for the 2026 NAR NXT Tech & Innovation Pitch Battle close September 18. Apply now!https://bit.ly/4i3kvKW

08/26/2026

Home search is getting smarter. And a lot more personal.

AI is moving home search beyond traditional filters, using natural language, images and personalized recommendations to better understand what buyers are looking for and refine results along the way.

And as technology gets better at finding information and providing answers, human expertise becomes even more valuable in helping consumers understand what those answers mean.

🔗 ICYMI, explore The Next Evolution of Home Search: AI:

Home searches are getting even more sophisticated and personalized, driven by an amalgamation of data and consumer behavior, and expanding digital ecosystems—with AI adding a new layer of intelligence.

08/11/2026

Got the next big real estate idea? Prove it!

📣 The 2026 Tech & Innovation Pitch Battle applications are open. Four minutes to pitch live in New Orleans at NAR NXT. One shot to win $15,000 — and get in front of the national REALTOR® audience, industry leaders, and decision-makers who can move the needle for your business.

Learn more and apply by September 18: https://bit.ly/3SfmPUA

07/22/2026

The AI conversation is changing. FAST.

The biggest shift isn't just that models are getting smarter. It's that organizations are moving beyond experimentation and beginning to integrate AI into everyday business operations.

In our latest article, we explore five trends shaping real estate right now, including:
✅ AI moving from pilot projects to business infrastructure
✅ More capable AI assistants and workflows
✅ The rise of agentic AI
✅ Deepfakes and AI-enabled fraud risks
✅ Why trust, governance, and human oversight matter as much as the technology itself

As AI becomes more integrated into day-to-day business, staying informed about emerging capabilities, and the considerations that come with them, will be increasingly important.

Read the full article: https://tech.realtor/2026/07/16/5-ai-trends-changing-real-estate-right-now/?utm_content=static-image_blog-ai-trends&cid=osoc_sbit_26_tech-innovation-40&utm_campaign=sbit_26_tech-innovation_blog-tech%26inno&audience=proptech&utm_medium=organicsocial&utm_source=meta

07/14/2026

If a client called you today, would you know if it was really them?

Join us for Deepfakes and the Growing AI Fraud Threat, a webinar exploring how AI-generated audio, video, and images are being used in scams and what real estate professionals can do to help identify warning signs and reduce risk. https://bit.ly/4ffD8bB

Featuring:
• Pat Kinsel, award-winning keynote speaker and Founder & CEO of Proof
• "Tracey, the Safety Lady" Hawkins, AI Cybersecurity Expert
• Alexander Fahsel, Founder & CEO of Property Shield

You'll learn:
✔ How deepfakes and AI-enabled fraud are evolving
✔ Common warning signs to watch for
✔ Practical verification and risk-reduction strategies
✔ Emerging tools and approaches designed to help combat fraud

📅 July 29, 2026
🕐 2:00 PM CT
👉 Register: https://bit.ly/4ffD8bB

06/26/2026

🤩 Standing room only! 📰 https://bit.ly/4eyKHuU

ICYMI: We kicked off the Tech & Innovation track at last week with a packed house for Sunday's "Top 5 Things You Need to Know About AI Right Now" session. Missed the session? Check out the pics and read the recap: https://bit.ly/4eyKHuU

One more shout out to our incredible speakers: Sharon Love-Bates, Ashley Stinton, Grayson Gibson, Dan Stewart, and Divya Aathresh!

And thank you to the attendees who joined us and contributed to such a thoughtful discussion! The energy at this event highlighted the industry's growing interest in AI, while reinforcing the value of human expertise, local knowledge, and trust.

Have pics of your own? Share them in the comments! 👇

06/23/2026

Innovation isn't just about new technology, it's about solving real problems and creating new opportunities for people and businesses. 📰 https://bit.ly/4xG2UOm

Congratulations again to Landy Liu, Andrew Coca, and Jerimiah Taylor on being named our 2026 Innovators of the Year! Their work reflects the incredible momentum happening across our industry.

While we celebrated three outstanding innovators at , the awards are also a reminder of something bigger: innovation is happening across every corner of real estate, and the pace of change continues to accelerate.

We took a closer look at this year's honorees, the problems they're solving, and what their work says about where our industry is headed.
📖 Read more: https://bit.ly/4xG2UOm

A special thanks to Marki Lemons Ryhal, MBA, CSP, CRS, CRB, CIPS for emceeing an inspiring celebration, Damian Eales, CEO at Realtor.com and Colleen Lyons Doyle, NAR’s vice president of REALTORS® Information Network and Strategic Initiatives for sharing their perspectives during an engaging fireside chat on innovation and leadership, and .RealEstate for sponsoring the reception and helping us celebrate the entrepreneurs and visionaries shaping the future of real estate.

Thank you to everyone who joined us in recognizing the changemakers moving our industry forward! 📸 Have photos from the event? We'd love to see them—share them in the comments below! 👇

05/26/2026

📣 Webinar this Thursday! The Future of Social Media + AI Technology: From Content to Clients — Hosted by .RealEstate. https://bit.ly/4fAL7S9

From content creation to lead generation, the agents learning how to combine AI + social media effectively are gaining a major competitive advantage.

In this upcoming session, learn practical strategies for:
→ Streamlining content creation with AI
→ Growing your personal brand online
→ Creating more consistent engagement
→ Attracting buyers, sellers, and referrals through social media

Whether you’re experimenting with AI for the first time or refining your digital strategy, this session offers a practical look at where the industry is heading next.

Learn more and register: https://bit.ly/4fAL7S9

05/19/2026

Home search is changing faster than most people realize.

AI is making search feel more intuitive, conversational, and personalized than ever before.

Buyers are no longer just filtering by beds, baths, and price. They’re asking:
→ “Show me homes with good natural light”
→ “Find neighborhoods with a creative vibe”
→ “I want something walkable but quiet”

And increasingly, AI can interpret that.

The shift isn’t just about smarter search. It’s about changing consumer expectations, and what people will expect from agents, platforms, and the overall experience moving forward.

New from NAR Tech & Innovation: how AI is reshaping home search, redefining consumer expectations, and reinforcing the value of human expertise in the transaction.
Read here: https://bit.ly/49C9dYV

05/12/2026

The next wave of fintech won’t be about adding AI to outdated workflows. It will come from rethinking the system itself. 📰 https://bit.ly/4u6B2kg

This piece explores:
• Why legacy infrastructure is slowing meaningful AI impact
• The difference between automation and transformation
• How “native AI” fintech startups are approaching the problem differently
• What real estate professionals should watch as financing, underwriting, and transaction experiences evolve

If you’re tracking where AI is creating real operational change, and where the industry may still be thinking too small, don't miss this read.