Is That Home Listing AI? Agents, Buyers Say They're Being 'Housefished'
Business Insider • • business
Key Points:
- Realtors are increasingly encountering discrepancies between online listing photos and actual property conditions, a phenomenon dubbed "housefishing," where AI-enhanced images can mislead buyers about a home's true state.
- California has enacted Assembly Bill No. 723, effective January 2026, requiring disclosure of digitally altered real estate images alongside unaltered originals to promote transparency and curb deceptive advertising.
- While AI tools like virtual staging and photo enhancement offer convenience and creativity for agents, industry professionals caution against overuse that misrepresents property conditions, as ethical standards and laws struggle to keep pace.
- The adoption of AI in real estate photography and staging has transformed agents' workflows, enabling rapid image improvements but raising concerns about the fine line between helpful enhancements
