A Florida startup is betting that artificial intelligence can replace much of the traditional real estate agent’s role — and early buyers say the savings are real.

Homa, a home-buying platform currently available only in Florida, uses AI to guide buyers through roughly 95% of the purchase process, including understanding the market and determining offer prices. Buyers are still connected with local showing agents to tour properties and with a licensed real estate agent for final negotiations, but the company says automating the bulk of the work allows it to pass commission savings back to buyers.

One recent buyer, 21-year-old computer programmer John Harrison, said he was credited back more than $10,000 after using Homa to purchase a Temple Terrace home. He said the savings will go toward home updates and appliance replacements.

Homa CEO Arman Javaherian said the platform has closed on 15 homes, with dozens more in the offer stage, and plans to expand to Texas and other states in the coming months.

The broader trend extends beyond Homa. According to NerdWallet’s 2026 home buyer survey, nearly half of all buyers expect to use AI tools during the purchasing process. Bay area agents are also adopting the technology — broker associate and Florida Realtors treasurer Cyndee Haydon said she uses AI for price analysis and data consolidation, though she cautions that the results still require human interpretation. “It is a good way to process data… to let us free up time to have those conversations about what does the data mean to you,” she said.

Haydon raised questions about whether buyers who bypass a traditional agent might miss critical local knowledge, noting that experienced realtors understand the nuances of specific neighborhoods in ways AI currently cannot replicate.

Follow the St. Pete-Clearwater Sun on Facebook, Google, & X

St. Pete-Clearwater Sun: local St. Pete-Clearwater news at PIE-Sun.com