Survey: Consumers Are More Than Twice As Likely to Replace Their Real Estate Agent With AI Than Their Loan Officer

If AI could take over the work of one professional during a home purchase, which one would consumers be most willing to replace?

To find out, a new survey from Movoto asked 1,000 U.S. adults how they would feel about AI handling the responsibilities of a real estate agent or a loan officer, which homebuying tasks they would trust AI with, and when they would still want a human professional involved.

The most common single answer was that consumers would be equally comfortable replacing either professional (32.4%), while 22.5% wouldn’t be comfortable replacing either one. But when consumers did pick one, the choice leaned clearly in one direction: they were more than twice as likely to choose replacing their real estate agent with AI (30.8%) as their loan officer (14.3%).

That’s a notable split because the two roles cover very different parts of a purchase. A real estate agent helps buyers find a home, make an offer and negotiate with the seller, while a loan officer guides them through financing.

But that willingness has limits. When something goes wrong during a purchase, many of the same people who said they’d replace their agent still want one on their side.

Real estate agents are the first professional consumers would replace

Movoto asked consumers which professional they would eliminate from their next home purchase if AI could handle that person’s responsibilities.

The gap holds among people closest to the housing market. Among consumers who bought a home in the past five years or plan to buy within the next five, 35.8% would replace their agent and 13.2% would replace their loan officer.

Recent buyers stood out most: 40.1% of those who bought a home in the past five years would replace their real estate agent, compared with 27.1% of all other respondents.

“When it comes to AI adoption, there are three key factors at play: trust, technology, and regulation. Many consumers are already skeptical of real estate agents or don’t fully understand the value they bring to the homebuying process. As a result, the idea of replacing an agent with AI may not seem like such a big leap,” said John Berkowitz, President of Real Estate at Lower.

“That said, I believe real estate agents will be among the last professionals to be fully replaced by AI. It’s much more likely that AI will enhance what agents can do rather than replace them altogether. But agents shouldn’t overlook what these findings tell us. Consumers want to see the value agents bring to the table, and those who embrace technology will be better positioned to demonstrate that value in more meaningful and efficient ways.”

Consumers are most comfortable with AI handling research

Movoto also asked how comfortable consumers would be relying on AI, without help or review from a human professional, for 12 common homebuying tasks.

Consumers are generally comfortable letting AI handle research and comparison, whether that means finding homes, comparing neighborhoods or comparing loan options.

Comfort falls as tasks move toward contracts, paperwork and negotiation. Reviewing a purchase agreement and reviewing mortgage documents sit near the bottom of the list, and negotiating with the seller ranks last. Even so, a majority of consumers are comfortable with AI handling every task on the list.

The pattern was similar for real estate and mortgage tasks.

Consumers who’d replace their agent still want one when problems arise

One of the clearest findings in the survey is the gap between being willing to replace a professional in theory and wanting that professional’s help when something goes wrong.

Among consumers who said they would replace their real estate agent with AI, 52.6% would still most want a human agent helping them if a home inspection uncovered a major problem. Half (50.0%) would also trust their agent over AI if the two recommended different homes.

That means more than half of the consumers most open to replacing their agent still want one when a decision carries real consequences, such as whether to renegotiate, ask for repairs or walk away from a home.

Consumers overall feel the same way. When an inspection turns up a major problem, 49.7% would most want their real estate agent helping them, compared with 23.2% who would choose AI alone. Another 23.3% would want an agent and AI working together.

The same is true on the mortgage side. If a mortgage application ran into an issue that could keep a buyer from qualifying, 44.2% would most want their loan officer, compared with 18.6% who would choose AI. Across four common problems that can come up while under contract, 73.0% to 76.4% of consumers wanted a human professional involved, either alone or alongside AI.

Saving money shifts the focus to loan officers

Consumers’ preferences change when saving money enters the picture.

When asked how saving money on fees or costs would affect their willingness to use AI instead of a human professional, 34.0% said it would make them more willing to replace their loan officer. That compares with 25.7% who said it would make them more willing to replace their real estate agent.

And if AI could provide comparable services, 34.6% of consumers said they’d rather use AI than pay for either professional.

The survey asked about these savings in general terms and did not measure specific fees, rates or costs tied to either professional.

What this means for homebuyers

Consumers appear most comfortable relying on AI for research and comparison tasks, like narrowing down homes, comparing neighborhoods and looking at loan options. That kind of research can be a practical starting point, and it may help buyers go into conversations with an agent or loan officer knowing what to ask.

The higher-stakes steps are a different story. Contracts, mortgage documents and negotiations are where consumers are least comfortable leaving things to AI alone. Before relying on AI for those steps, buyers may want a professional to look over the details with them.

It also helps to plan for problems. A bad inspection or a mortgage issue that threatens approval can force difficult choices, such as whether to renegotiate, ask for repairs or walk away. Most consumers in the survey said they’d want a professional involved in moments like these, including many who were open to replacing that professional.

For buyers, the question may be less about choosing between AI and a professional and more about deciding where AI fits and when they want an experienced person helping them make the call.

Movoto surveyed 1,000 U.S. adults ages 18 to 64 through Pollfish in October 2026. The sample included current and former homeowners, people planning to buy and people who have never bought a home and don’t plan to, so results reflect consumers overall rather than homebuyers alone.

Percentages reflect unweighted results. “Comfortable” combines “very comfortable” and “somewhat comfortable” responses. Survey questions were hypothetical and reflect attitudes rather than actual purchase decisions.

This analysis may be cited with attribution to Movoto and a link to this report.