Buyers demand accuracy, disclosure and human oversight before trusting AI in property decisions
Australian homebuyers are less willing than counterparts in three other major markets to accept AI-generated property valuations, according to new research from data analytics firm Cotality.
The company's AI in Housing: 2026 study — which surveyed recent and prospective homebuyers across Australia, Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom — found that just 40% of Australian buyers would accept an AI-automated valuation. That compares with 62% in Canada, 52% in the US, and 46% in the UK.
Aussies also showed a lower threshold for inaccuracies in property data. Globally, 33% of buyers said they had zero tolerance for errors in listing data, regardless of the source. In Australia, that figure rose to 42%.
"A single error in a listing, valuation or risk assessment can do real damage to trust," said Craig Dargusch (pictured right), chief data officer at Cotality. "Australian buyers are telling the industry that AI needs to be accurate, explainable and accountable before it becomes central to property decisions."
Despite their caution, Australian buyers are not opposed to the use of artificial intelligence. The report found that three in four buyers globally already assume AI plays some role in the home buying process, with 86% believing property websites use the technology.
However, 68% of buyers globally said they wanted clear notification when AI had generated a listing, price, or mortgage recommendation, and an equal proportion said they would manually verify AI-produced information before acting on it. Nearly half (44%) indicated they would pay an additional fee for a human expert to review AI-generated decisions.
"Australian buyers are not rejecting AI outright. They are setting a higher bar for where it can be trusted," said Dargusch. "When the decision involves someone's home, mortgage, or insurance premium, speed alone will not be enough. Buyers want accurate data, clear disclosure, and a human backstop when the stakes are high."
Commercial value tied to trust
Lisa Jennings (pictured right), chief commercial officer at Cotality, said industry confidence in AI would hinge on how transparently it is deployed.
"AI can help the property industry move faster and make better-informed decisions, but the commercial value will come from using it in a way people trust," Jennings said. "That means being clear about how a model has informed an outcome, backing it with reliable data, and making sure clients and consumers can still rely on human expertise when the decision carries real weight."
Cotality's report argues that the central question for the sector has shifted. Buyers no longer ask whether AI is present — they want to know how it is being used, what data it draws on, and whether outcomes can be challenged.
"The next stage of AI in property will be defined by trust," Dargusch said. "The companies that can show where the data comes from, how decisions are made, and who is accountable when something goes wrong will have the advantage.
"The Australian market has an opportunity to get this right early. AI can support faster and better-informed property decisions, but only if the industry builds confidence around the technology. For Australian buyers, trust is the product."
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