Short answer: it’s helpful… but it shouldn’t hold your cheque.
If you’ve Googled—or asked ChatGPT—questions like “Is now a good time to buy in Kingston?” or “What should I list my home for?” you’re not alone. More buyers and sellers in Kingston and area are turning to AI as a kind of real estate advisor or coach.
And honestly? That makes sense.
AI is fast, available 24/7, and very good at explaining things clearly. But when it comes to one of the biggest financial decisions of your life, there are a few important limits worth knowing—especially in a market as nuanced as ours.
So let’s talk about what AI is great at… and where a human still matters.
What AI Does Really Well
Let’s give credit where it’s due. AI is excellent at:
Explaining real estate terms without making you feel silly
Summarizing market concepts and trends
Helping you think through pros and cons
Generating good questions to ask your realtor or lender
In other words, it’s a great research assistant. If real estate were a school project, AI would be the kid who colour-codes the notes and brings extra highlighters.
Where AI Starts to Struggle
This is where things get interesting.
1. AI doesn’t actually know your neighbourhood
AI can talk about markets in general, but it doesn’t:
Walk your street
Know why two similar homes—one in the west end, one near downtown—can sell weeks apart
Understand the difference between lakefront, riverfront, and “water-adjacent”
Factor in ferry schedules, rural septic systems, or whether a road gets plowed first
Real estate in Kingston, Amherstview, Bath, Gananoque, and the surrounding rural areas is hyper-local. Sometimes hyper-specific. AI works in averages. Homes don’t.
2. AI doesn’t know your life
Real estate decisions are rarely just about numbers. AI doesn’t know:
You’re downsizing after decades in the same home
You want fewer showings because you work from home
You’d rather accept a clean offer than chase every last dollar
You’re juggling a move, kids, work, and aging parents
AI can be logical. It can’t be empathetic. And those two things don’t always line up.
3. AI sounds confident… even when it shouldn’t
This is a big one. AI is very good at sounding certain, even when:
Data is outdated or not neighbourhood-specific
Local factors aren’t being considered
Assumptions are being made quietly in the background
It won’t say, “This feels risky—let’s slow this down.” Experienced local professionals say that all the time.
4. AI doesn’t negotiate
Negotiation is where real money and favourable terms are won or lost. AI can explain negotiation theory, but it can’t:
Read the tone of an offer
Sense when a buyer is bluffing
Pick up the phone and get context from another local agent
Push back firmly without derailing the deal
And it definitely can’t do it calmly when emotions are running high.
5. AI isn’t accountable
This part matters more than most people realize. If something goes sideways:
AI doesn’t attend inspections
AI doesn’t talk to your lawyer, lender, or insurer
AI doesn’t flag local issues that only come up mid-transaction
There’s no follow-up. No fixing it. No “we’ve got this.”
The Best Way to Use AI in Real Estate
Here’s the sweet spot. Use AI to:
Learn
Prepare
Organize your thoughts
Ask better questions
But rely on a human to:
Interpret Kingston-area market data properly
Apply local knowledge and judgement
Adjust strategy in real time
Negotiate and manage the details
Think of AI as your assistant, not your decision-maker.
The Bottom Line
AI is a fantastic place to start. But when it comes to pricing your home, navigating offers, or making a move in Kingston and area, most people want:
Local insight
Clear advice
Someone who understands both the market and the moment
A real person who is accountable for the outcome
Real estate is still a very human business. And when your home—and your future—are involved, that’s a good thing.
If you’re using AI to get oriented and want a local, human perspective to go with it, we’re always happy to talk things through—no obligation, no sales pitch.
