{"id":815506,"date":"2026-07-22T01:08:13","date_gmt":"2026-07-22T01:08:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/815506\/"},"modified":"2026-07-22T01:08:13","modified_gmt":"2026-07-22T01:08:13","slug":"real-estate-agents-called-out-over-new-trend-misleading-homebuyers-out-of-control","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/815506\/","title":{"rendered":"Real estate agents called out over new trend misleading homebuyers: ‘Out of control’"},"content":{"rendered":"

A buyer’s agent is furious about the increased use of AI in real estate listings<\/a>, which he claims is misleading Aussie buyers and renters.<\/a><\/p>\n

“I’ve started to see AI just out of control<\/a>,” Dion Marsden told Yahoo News.<\/p>\n

Over time, the Melbourne-based agent said he’s noticed people have begun using AI far too liberally to create images<\/a> for properties, to the point where many listings have become unreliable<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

“Now it’s progressing into virtual staging and… completely manipulating photos to make houses look as if they’ve been refreshed<\/a> or updated or painted, or the flooring’s been done when it just hasn’t been,” he explained.<\/p>\n

\"Before<\/p>\n

A Melbourne renter shared the huge difference between the photos advertising the rental property and what things looked like in real life. Source: Domain\/Shit Rentals<\/p>\n

The increased use of AI is creating a “massive issue” for people looking for housing, as they waste time making the trip to look at properties that are in poorer condition than what was showcased online.<\/p>\n

Comparing altered images to earlier listing photos<\/p>\n

Recently, Dion was sceptical of a real estate listing, which prompted him to find older images of the property online.<\/p>\n

He said what he discovered was proof.<\/p>\n

“If you’re a buyer and you’re looking at a photo, if it looks too good to be true, most likely it’s too good to be true.”<\/p>\n

In an example he shared online, he shows a sales photo posted in the past compared to the AI-edited image of a property’s bathroom that was recently shared in a listing.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

“We just could tell that the tiles and the paints and the lights were completely different and perfect when that’s not actually the condition of the property itself,” he said.<\/p>\n

\"Before<\/p>\n

Buyers agent, Dion Marsden, shares an image he found before a photograph was enhanced using AI. Source: Supplied<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

A photo found by Dion he says has been AI-enhanced which is a growing trend frustrating buyers and renters looking for housing. Source: Supplied<\/p>\n

How can Aussies avoid being tricked?<\/p>\n

This example is one of many that Dion has spotted, which is why he is encouraging buyers and renters to think critically about what the listing claims to offer.<\/p>\n

“The best thing a buyer can do is actually go onto past sale photos, to compare the photos that are currently online.”<\/p>\n

Dion said he also noticed extensive use of AI to virtually stage homes which are seemingly “making spaces look bigger than they truly are”.<\/p>\n

“And that’s just really frustrating for a lot of buyers.”<\/p>\n

\"Left:<\/p>\n

One renter submitted images of a property they inspected to the Shit Rentals database and claimed the photos online were ‘heavily photoshopped and set-dressed’. Source: Domain\/Shit Rentals<\/p>\n

As a solution to the inaccurate listings, Dion is urging sites like realestate.com.au and Domain to “instantly ban or take down any listings that have any AI manipulation”.<\/p>\n

He further explained that the problem lies in the fact that AI-altered images are not being clearly disclosed and that there is a lack of regulation.<\/p>\n

In a statement to Yahoo News, REA Group said it has a “robust Acceptable Use Policy which governs the content uploaded to realestate.com.au<\/a>.”<\/p>\n

“We investigate reports of any breach of this policy, and if content is found to be misleading it is promptly removed,” it added.<\/p>\n

The Australian Consumer Law does not have specific rules outlined regarding AI-generated images, but it does require advertising not to mislead or deceive consumers.<\/p>\n

RELATED:<\/p>\n

As of last month, landlords and real estate agents in New South Wales are now forced to declare when they’ve used artificial intelligence to edit pictures in rental ads.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Rental advocates have been calling for other states and territories to follow the state’s lead, or go even further and ban the use of AI-edited images altogether.<\/p>\n

Yahoo News has reached out to realestate.com and Domain for comment.<\/p>\n

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