Product and Services Roundup: More AI in Australia and New Zealand

This week's Product Roundup has some nifty AI in Oceania, but we'll kick off in the United States...

North America: Redfin launches new search category for exclusive content

Redfin launched 'Redfin Early Access' this week, a new search category featuring homes buyers won’t find on other major real estate sites. Redfin Early Access includes homes that are only on Redfin, plus pre-market listings from Compass International Holdings’ portfolio of brands through both companies’ exclusive national partnership.

According to a press release on Redfin's website:

All visitors to Redfin’s site and app can browse Redfin Early Access listings in search results, favorite and share homes, and connect with the listing agent to learn more or schedule a tour. Buyers can save a search on Redfin and get instant notifications for Redfin Early Access listings that match their criteria.

Redfin Early Access launches as a Redfin survey finds that 83% of prospective home sellers are interested in listing their home as “coming soon” before a broad market debut. The April survey of 1000 U.S. homeowners suggests many sellers want a lower-pressure way to test the market. Of homeowners who plan to list their home in the future:

84% say greater certainty their home would sell would make them more likely to list; 84% say a more private first step is appealing; 66% say a clearer sense of what their home would actually sell for would motivate them to list; 56% say the ability to test pricing is a benefit of a ‘coming soon’ approach.

Redfin says the new tier will feature thousands of properties. Buyers can get an early look at homes they can't find elsewhere, while sellers can test the market and pricing options for their property.

Jason Aleem, Chief of Real Estate Services at Redfin, said:

"A lot of homeowners want to sell, but are not ready to commit to full exposure. Giving sellers more control over how they enter the market gives them more confidence. Redfin Early Access lets sellers test the market before going all-in, while giving buyers a first look at homes they won’t find on other major sites. That’s good for sellers, good for buyers and good for a housing market that desperately needs more inventory."

Redfin, part of Rocket, is a technology-driven real estate company with the country’s most-visited real estate brokerage website.

Its partnership with Compass is one half of a major turf war against Zillow and its pre-market ally, Realtor.com.

Oceania: Realestate.com.au to introduce walkthroughs and videos to app home screen

Property walkthrough reels and lifestyle listing videos will be introduced to the video hub on the realestate.com.au app home screen this July, providing customers with an always-on video destination and boosting exposure for their brand, Premiere+ and Luxe listings, and Project Profiles.

From 1 July, the hub will expand to showcase vertical property walkthrough reels from listings, mirroring how buyers already consume content in a continuous, swipeable scroll. Sophisticated AI-led modelling will surface a personalised video feed for realestate.com.au members who will see a stream of relevant video content on the app home screen.

REA Group says the feature will help agents engage and immerse more serious buyers in their listings earlier in the property search.

Gerard Connell, executive general manager of sales at REA Group, said:

“Immersive video is fast becoming a must-have for high-performing campaigns. We know serious buyers spend more time watching property videos and engage more deeply with content that lives on realestate.com.au compared to other platforms.Property walkthrough reels offer a deeply engaging way to present properties in a manner that's right for an agent’s brand and their vendors.

"Nearly 60% of buyers say video helps them build trust with the agent and property. A property walkthrough filmed using a smartphone with limited editing is distinctive, accessible and impactful and helps agents to get more buyers through the door. Immersive videos offer buyers a richer sense of a home before they step through the front door at an inspection and encourages them to return to a listing. On average, listings with a video on realestate.com.au receive 43% more inspection requests compared to those without."

Realestate.co.nz adds AI property image search

realestate.co.nz has launched a new AI-powered image search, a first in the New Zealand market.

The new feature allows property seekers to search for the features that matter to them, such as weatherboard exterior, wooden flooring, home gym, or a pool, with results surfaced directly from the images, rather than relying solely on written descriptions.

According to a release on the portal's website, the technology combines two layers of AI innovation. First, AI analyses each image uploaded to the platform, which rests within the AI data cloud from Snowflake, and identifies key features such as room type, interior style, flooring, and standout elements, such as custom shelving. It can even detect more subjective qualities, such as whether a property has a great view or a garden has shade trees.

Sarah Wood, CEO at realestate.co.nz, said:

"“In our 30-year history, we’ve developed a deep understanding of how people connect with property, Property searches have traditionally depended on how accurately a home is described and whether all the key features a buyer is looking for are included in the listing description.

“But buying a home is an emotional decision. People respond to how a space looks and feels. This tool connects people with homes based on what they’re genuinely drawn to, whether that’s a swimming pool, home gym, wine cellar, or walk-in wardrobe! This tool places greater importance on high-quality images that showcase a property’s best or most unique features, because those are the images directly powering search results."

Europe: Russian portal operator Cian to pay out two dividends in 2026

Cian's board of directors has recommended a dividend payment of RUB53 ($0.74) per share for Q1 2026, at a yield of 8.5% relative to the current share price. However, Cian opted against paying dividends for 2025, citing a lack of available net profit to be redistributed as a dividend.

According to a corporate disclosure release, relating to the amount of dividend on shares of Cian IPJSC and the procedure for its payment based on the results of 2025, Cian concluded:

"Due to the distribution of all available net profit based on the results of 9 months of 2025, there is no net profit generated based on the results of 2025 and sufficient for distribution in the form of dividends. In this regard, to recommend to the General Meeting of Shareholders of the Company not to declare or pay dividends on shares of Cian IPJSC based on the results of 2025".

Cian previously paid out a  ‘special dividend’ after it redomiciled in Russia for the first nine months of 2025 (at RUB104 (USD 1.45) per share).

The company also announced that it intends to pay out another dividend in 2026, subject to review. The amount and timing of the second dividend will be announced later this year.