‘Edge’ invites proptech firms to compete; renter AI search debuts 

Editor's note: Technology is a driving force in real estate. From startups to established players, tech companies are constantly innovating, growing and forging partnerships. Here we highlight some of the latest news about the companies that help power the industry. 

'Edge Pitch Battle' applications open

In anticipation of T3 Sixty's Edge: The Tech and Data Forum event taking place this fall in Texas, the company is inviting interested parties to submit applications for Edge Pitch Battle, a competition for emerging proptech companies in the residential real estate space.

"If you're building something that changes how brokerages or agents operate, this is the stage to prove it," T3 Sixty President and CEO Jack Miller said in a news release.

The two-day competition will be part of the wider event taking place Oct. 28-29 in Dallas. Contestants will be graded based on their product's pitch, quality, uniqueness, industry impact and market potential.

Eligible companies will either have advanced no further than series B or have less than $7 million in annual recurring revenue. Applicants must have at least one paying customer or signed pilot for the product they aim to enter in the competition, which must also be live in the market. Nine finalists will be chosen, with applications open through the end of July.

"The Edge Pitch Battle will put the most promising proptech companies in front of those who actually buy and deploy real estate technology," T3 Sixty SVP of Technology Consulting Bryson Creighton noted. "We built the format to reward real products solving real problems, not concept-stage pitches."

(Note: Real Estate News is an editorially independent division of T3 Sixty.)

Apartments.com launches AI-powered rental search

CoStar Group has introduced Apartments.com Ai, a conversational apartment search tool that uses artificial intelligence to help renters find, compare and evaluate rental properties through natural-language interactions. The tool arrives four months after the launch of Homes Ai, CoStar's conversational home search product for residential buyers.

Available on Apartments.com, the platform enables users to describe preferences in their own words rather than relying on traditional search filters, according to a news release. The tool is powered by Apartments.com's property, pricing and neighborhood data and builds on the company's broader investment in AI-driven real estate search experiences, CoStar said. It can answer questions about properties and neighborhoods, compare apartment communities, guide users through Matterport 3D tours and help contact leasing teams.

"Finding an apartment is one of the most important decisions people make, yet the search process has remained largely unchanged for years," CoStar Founder and CEO Andy Florance said in the announcement, adding that the new tool "represents a fundamental shift from searching listings to having a conversation with a trusted rental advisor."

"By combining artificial intelligence with the most comprehensive multifamily data in the industry, we can understand what renters are truly looking for, guide them through their options and help them find a home that fits their lifestyle with far greater speed, confidence and precision," Florance added.

NoteRouter integrates NAR content in time-saving bid for agents

NoteRouter has partnered with the National Association of Realtors to make official NAR content available directly within the NoteRouter communications platform.

The integration enables association and MLS staff to access and insert NAR content into emails and text messages without manually copying, formatting or rebuilding materials. According to the company, users can browse NAR content within the NoteRouter editor, add preformatted content blocks to communications and distribute updates to members more quickly.

"We built NoteRouter to modernize member communications. Making official NAR content one click away is exactly that," NoteRouter Founder and CEO Nick Gough said in a news release. "No copy-paste, no HTML imports, just hours saved every week."

Partnerships like these allow NAR "to provide more content to our State and Local associations that makes it easier for members to find the compelling content that gets them to their next transaction," added Raffi Williams, NAR's VP of communications.

NoteRouter said the integration — which is available now to all of its customers — is intended to reduce administrative work for association and MLS staff while helping ensure member communications reflect official NAR content.

MaxHome.AI joins LeadingRE's solutions program

Leading Real Estate Companies of the World has added MaxHome.AI to its Solutions Group program, giving member brokerages access to the company's AI-powered transaction and workflow automation technology.

MaxHome.AI uses document-understanding technology to analyze real estate documents, extract structured data and automate operational workflows. According to the company, the platform also assists agents by automating routine tasks and providing feedback during transactions to help improve accuracy and reduce manual follow-up.

"Real estate has always been a relationship business, but the companies that win over the next decade will be the ones with the best systems behind the scenes," MaxHome.AI Founder and CEO Divya Aathresh said in a news release. "We value our affiliation with LeadingRE because it represents a network of brokerages that are not just adapting to change, but actively defining the future of real estate."

LeadingRE's Solutions Group connects its network of more than 500 real estate firms with preferred technology and business service providers. The organization said MaxHome.AI's addition expands the technology resources available to member brokerages seeking to streamline operations and transaction management.

Second Century Ventures expands Latin America partnership

NAR's investment arm, Second Century Ventures (SCV), has formed a strategic partnership with the Confederación Inmobiliaria Latinoamericana (CILA) to support technology adoption and innovation across Latin America's real estate sector.

The agreement connects CILA's network of real estate associations and professionals across 19 countries with SCV and its REACH technology accelerator program. The partnership will focus on sharing industry best practices, expanding educational opportunities, facilitating connections between real estate organizations and technology companies, and exploring programs to assess technology readiness across regional markets, according to a news release.

The collaboration also creates a framework for future initiatives, including regional innovation assessments, benchmarking studies and modernization programs. SCV said the alliance expands its international footprint and strengthens REACH's presence in Latin America.

"Latin America is not an emerging market — it is an emerged one, and the real estate sector here is ready to lead," said Dave Garland, managing partner of SCV and REACH. "Partnering with CILA gives us access to the deepest network of real estate professionals, associations, and leaders across the entire region."

Editor's note: AI was used in the initial drafting of this content, which was then thoroughly reviewed, fact-checked and revised by a Real Estate News editor.