Redfin Launches Conversational Chatbot to Revolutionize Home Search Experience
In a significant advancement for digital real estate shopping, Redfin has unveiled a new conversational chatbot designed to transform how potential homebuyers search for properties. Released in November 2025, the AI-powered assistant enables users to describe their dream homes in natural language and engage in back-and-forth conversations to refine their search results. This innovation marks a departure from traditional filter-based searching, instead mimicking the natural flow of conversation between homebuyers and real estate agents—but with the added advantage of instantaneously scanning Redfin’s nationwide listing database.
The development reflects a growing recognition that homebuyers often struggle to articulate their complete wish list through rigid search filters. As Ariel Dos Santos, Redfin’s senior vice president of product and design, explained, “We relied on search filters to define queries for years, but people share more about their preferences when it’s a conversation.” This insight drove Redfin to create a more human-like interface that allows users to express nuanced preferences, react to suggested properties, and dynamically adjust their criteria throughout their search journey. For example, a user might begin with general parameters but then refine with statements like “more like this, but with an extra bedroom” after seeing initial results—just as they would when working with a human agent.
Built in partnership with Sierra, the AI customer experience platform recently valued at $10 billion, the chatbot represents a strategic technological investment for Redfin following its acquisition by Rocket Companies in July. The Seattle-based company designed the tool to not only understand and respond to user queries but also to learn from interactions over time, progressively delivering more relevant results as it processes more conversations. This adaptive learning capability distinguishes Redfin’s offering from competitors’ more limited natural language search options, which typically support only one-off queries without maintaining context throughout a conversation. Additionally, the platform supports multiple languages, making it accessible to diverse homebuyers across the country.
Early testing results suggest the new approach resonates strongly with users. According to Redfin’s internal data, homebuyers using the conversational search viewed nearly twice as many property listings compared to those using traditional filtered searches. Perhaps more significantly for Redfin’s business model, these users were 47% more likely to request property tours or engage with other Redfin services—indicating that the more intuitive search experience may translate directly to increased customer engagement and potential conversions. These metrics likely validate Redfin’s investment in conversational AI technology at a time when the real estate industry is increasingly embracing artificial intelligence to enhance customer experiences.
The launch comes amid intensifying competition in the real estate technology space, with fellow Seattle-based company Zillow recently introducing the first real estate application within ChatGPT. This technological arms race reflects the industry’s recognition that AI-powered conversational interfaces may represent the future of digital home shopping. By creating experiences that more closely mirror human interaction while leveraging the processing power of artificial intelligence, companies like Redfin are attempting to combine the best aspects of traditional agent relationships with the convenience and scope of digital platforms. The chatbot complements Redfin’s existing “Ask Redfin” feature launched last year, which focused on answering specific questions about individual property listings rather than facilitating the broader search process.
Currently available on Redfin.com and its mobile web platform, with an iOS app release scheduled for December 2025, the conversational chatbot represents an evolution in how technology companies approach the deeply personal process of home buying. While no AI system can fully replace the expertise and emotional intelligence of human agents, Redfin’s innovation suggests a future where technology and human service become increasingly complementary in real estate transactions. As homebuyers grow more comfortable with conversational AI interfaces across various aspects of their lives, tools like Redfin’s chatbot may help bridge the gap between impersonal online browsing and the high-touch experience of working with dedicated real estate professionals—potentially transforming both consumer expectations and industry practices in the process.
