Zillow creates buyer hub; AI-forward mortgage brokerage launches 

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. 

Zillow adds personalized buyer hub, new transaction tools

Zillow has launched a personalized homebuying hub designed to guide buyers through each stage of the purchase process, the company announced last week.

The hub organizes the buying journey into four milestones — setting a budget, finding a home, making an offer and closing — and automatically updates as users complete key steps. It also brings affordability information, market insights, transaction tasks, documents and contacts for agents and lenders together in one centralized space, according to a news release.

Among the included features is BuyAbility, a real-time affordability tool that uses a buyer's financial profile and current mortgage rates to estimate which home price ranges and monthly payments would fit that buyer. BuyAbility was introduced in late 2024 and received a significant upgrade last year. 

The hub also includes local market data — such as median days to pending, active listings and a one-year home price forecast — and a "shopper's team" with the buyer's agent and loan officer, or the option to connect unrepresented buyers with an agent through Zillow's Agent Finder.

The feature is available now on the Zillow iOS and Android apps, with a web version planned for the company's website.

Ralo launches AI-powered mortgage brokerage

Ralo has launched an AI-powered mortgage brokerage and secured a $2.9 million seed round led by Y Combinator, Manresa Ventures and Pack Ventures. The funding will support product expansion and entry into additional markets, the company said.

Founded by former Google employees Arjun Lalwani and Helly Shah, Ralo uses artificial intelligence to automate much of the mortgage process, including rate shopping, pre-approvals and loan coordination. The company said borrowers can receive personalized rate quotes without lengthy applications and work with AI-powered loan officers throughout the transaction, with human loan officers available as needed.

The platform is designed to reduce costs by automating traditionally manual workflows. It can close mortgages in an average of 15 days, which is about three times faster than the process typically takes, according to a news release. The company is licensed in California, Colorado and Texas, with plans to expand into additional states.

"My co-founder and I experienced firsthand how painful getting a mortgage can be," Lalwani said. "We realized AI could reinvent the process and make mortgages faster, less expensive, and much less stressful for borrowers."

Women's Council of Realtors partners with 'innovative leader'

Roomvu has inked a deal with the Women's Council of Realtors to provide members with free access to its AI-powered social media marketing platform.

Roomvu, which serves more than 400,000 users, according to the company, automates content creation and posting across six social media platforms. The tech is designed to help agents maintain a consistent online presence with minimal manual effort, the company explained in a news release.

As part of the partnership, Council members will receive automated, branded social media content, listing videos, AI-powered landing pages, digital business cards and access to Roomvu's Listing Studio, along with monthly training webinars and tools to share Council content across their social channels. Onboarding, training and ongoing support for Council members will be handled by the Roomvu team, the company said.

"Partnering with an innovative leader like Roomvu allows us to equip our thousands of members nationwide with cutting-edge AI tools that elevate their personal brands effortlessly," said Cheryl Keller, 2026 National President of the Women's Council of Realtors.

The deal "lets us hand a real marketing engine to agents who are already leading this industry at no cost, no learning curve, no extra work," Roomvu Founder and CEO Sam Mehrbod added.

Clear Capital integrates valuation platform with MeridianLink

Clear Capital has integrated its real estate valuation platform with MeridianLink, enabling lenders to share data between the two systems to streamline loan origination workflows, the company said.

The integration gives lenders access to Clear Capital's suite of valuation, property inspection and appraisal review solutions through their existing platform. The connection is designed to improve data consistency, reduce risk and support more efficient collateral decisions across the loan lifecycle, according to a news release.

The partnership "expands how lenders can access Clear Capital's collateral solutions within the workflows they rely on every day," said Kenon Chen, EVP of strategy and growth for Clear Capital.

"Our secure, seamless integration with MeridianLink enables our clients to make more confident collateral decisions with clearer, more complete insights," Chen said, adding that this will enable clients to "more efficiently process loans and grow their business."

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.