Real estate giant CoStar Group has introduced a new artificial intelligence platform on its Homes.com website to change how people search for property. The system, developed with Microsoft Foundry, allows users to speak or type naturally to find a house. It moves away from traditional search filters by using a two-way conversation model. This technology accesses a vast range of data including property records, neighborhood insights and 3D digital twins.

The system is designed to remember user preferences as they interact with the site. It can answer specific questions about local schools and market trends while also offering a feature to virtually remove furniture from images. CoStar Group confirmed that the data used within the portal is kept private and will not be used to train external AI models. The project was led by Senior Vice President of Product Livia Sponseller and Vice President of Enterprise Solution Architecture Andy Ventura.

Despite the high-tech shift, the company stated that real estate agents will remain a central part of the process. All enquiries made through the platform will continue to go directly to the listing agent. CoStar Group intends to roll out this conversational technology across its other websites including Apartments.com and Land.com in the future.

“This innovation signals a shift as significant as the emergence of online search itself,” said Andy Florance, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of CoStar Group. “Home shopping is no longer constrained by rigid filters and disjointed online experiences. Instead, it has become dynamic, consultative, and deeply personalized – mirroring the way people naturally research and evaluate a home. We’ve spent years building the industry’s richest property data and Homes AI harnesses that foundation to transform the consumer experience in a way that feels intuitive, human and incredibly powerful.”

“Just as important, Homes AI is designed to enhance – not replace – the essential role of real estate professionals. Agents remain at the center of every transaction and that will not change. In keeping with our ‘Your Listing, Your Lead’ commitment, inquiries from buyers and renters will always go directly to the listing agent, ensuring stronger connections, more meaningful conversations and better outcomes for everyone involved.”