Using AI to Buy an Investment Property: Smart Tool or Missing Piece?
We’re seeing a growing trend in the property market: more and more buyers are turning to AI tools like ChatGPT to help them make investment decisions.
And honestly? We think that’s a great thing, when it’s used the right way.
AI can be an incredibly powerful assistant when you’re researching, learning, and trying to understand the bigger picture. But like any tool, it works best when it’s paired with real-world experience, local knowledge, and a human who genuinely cares about your outcome.
Where AI Can Be Really Helpful
AI shines when it comes to big-picture thinking and analysis, such as:
- Helping you clarify why you’re buying (rental return vs capital growth)
- Comparing different investment strategies
- Understanding general market trends
- Running numbers, scenarios, and cashflow examples
- Exploring tax concepts, yields, and long-term modelling
- Helping you ask better, smarter questions
Used this way, AI can help investors feel more confident, informed, and prepared.
The Most Important Question Investors Must Answer First
One of the biggest issues we see isn’t how people are researching — it’s what they’re trying to achieve.
Are you buying:
- For strong rental return?
- For long-term capital growth?
- Or because you want to live in the home yourself one day?
We often hear buyers say:
“I want an investment property I can move into in 20 years.”
And while we understand the emotional logic behind that, from a practical investment perspective, this can be problematic.
A property that makes a great rental investment is often very different from a property that makes a great owner occupied home. Over 20 years, homes date, layouts change, and maintenance adds up.
In many cases, a smarter strategy is:
- Get your foot in the door with well-performing investments
- Build capital growth over time
- Let your portfolio do the heavy lifting
- Then buy your dream home when the time is right — with far more choice and freedom
Where AI Has Limits (and Local Knowledge Matters)
This is where the “boots on the ground” really come in.
AI doesn’t always understand:
- The true appeal of a beachside street
- Which pockets locals actively seek out
- How buyers actually feel about certain areas
- Micro-locations that outperform despite what the data suggests
- Lifestyle factors that drive demand long-term
For example, we recently spoke with a buyer whose AI research suggested a beachfront suburb might not perform as well as other locations — yet anyone who lives here knows how tightly held and highly sought-after that area really is.
Another common example? Features like pools.
AI might not factor in:
- Ongoing maintenance costs
- Tenant preferences in our local market
- Insurance and compliance considerations
- Impact on net yield, not just headline appeal
These are the nuances that don’t always show up in a data set — but absolutely show up in real-world ownership.
The Best Results Come From Using Both
We truly believe the future of smart investing isn’t AI versus agents — it’s AI plus local experts.
AI is an incredible tool for:
- Education
- Preparation
- Strategy conversations
- Asking better questions
A great local agent adds:
- On-the-ground insight
- Street-by-street knowledge
- Honest advice tailored to your goals
- Experience that comes from years in the market
- A genuine duty of care to protect your interests
When you combine the two, you don’t just make a decision — you make a well-informed one.
If you’re using AI to help guide your property journey, we love that.
And if you’d like to pair that with local expertise, real conversations, and someone who knows this market inside and out, we’re always here to help.
Because numbers matter… but so does local knowledge, care, and context.