Primer: Vertical AI Agents for Real Estate

Generative AI is moving fast, and commercial real estate (CRE) could be next in line to see big changes. One emerging possibility is the Vertical AI Agentic Platform—a specialized solution designed to automate industry-specific workflows.

Rather than offering generic AI features, these future platforms might create “Digital Coworkers” customized for real estate tasks. The vision is that they’ll manage repetitive chores, simplify complex processes, and integrate directly with the software CRE pros already rely on. In this piece, we’ll explore how this new wave of Vertical AI Agentic Platforms could reshape real estate, plus an inside look at how CRE Agents plans to lead the charge toward a more efficient, data-driven future.

What Is an AI Agent? What Is a Digital Coworker?

In the coming years, an AI Agent could be an autonomous, task-based system that proactively handles work, adapts to changing conditions, and interacts with users through chat, email, or voice. It won’t wait around for commands like traditional software—it will look for ways to help, all on its own.

A Digital Coworker would be a specialized version of that concept—an AI Agent crafted to work alongside people in a particular industry. Think of it as an extra member of your team, able to take on repetitive tasks and blend into current workflows and tools.

Similarities

• Autonomous & Task-Focused: Both AI Agents and Digital Coworkers could make decisions without constant human oversight.
• Proactive: They might initiate actions, gather information, and deliver results independently.
• Machine Learning & Instructions: Both would rely on training data and predefined guidelines to carry out tasks.
• Seamless Integration: These agents are likely to connect with tools such as Slack, Teams, and email, so you wouldn’t have to change how you work.

Differences

• Team Dynamics: A Digital Coworker would be designed to work as part of a team—communicating naturally, providing updates, and sharing insights like a real colleague.
• Specialization: Each Digital Coworker could be tuned to a specific vertical or department (like CRE underwriting or project management).
• Collaboration Focus: While a general AI Agent might operate alone, a Digital Coworker would be built to cooperate with human teams, taking mundane tasks off their plates.

How an Agentic Platform “Could” Train AI Agents

In future AI Agentic Platforms, training an agent might work differently from the usual “train a model” approach. Instead, the focus would be on defining tasks clearly and connecting the AI to the right tools.

1. Task Definition and Workflow Design. Potential users could identify repetitive tasks within an industry—say, data analysis or automated reporting—and then break those tasks down into step-by-step instructions.
2. Building a Skill Library. Each agent might come with a library of “skills” tailored to industry needs (e.g., underwriting, reporting, or transaction management). Over time, this library would grow and evolve.
3. Integration with Industry Tools. To fit seamlessly into existing workflows, future AI Agents could hook into popular CRE tools—like ARGUS for valuations or Yardi for property management—so there’s no need for manual data entry or switching systems.
4. Customization for Unique Processes. Users might customize standard skills to reflect their specific methods. For instance, one firm’s AI Agent might generate a standard memo, while another might apply a special set of metrics or formatting.
5. Continuous Learning and Improvement. Over time, these AI Agents could refine their work based on user feedback and real-world performance, boosting efficiency and accuracy.

Unique Integrations and Skills in Vertical AI Agents

What will set Vertical AI Agents apart is deep integration with industry-standard tools and specialized skills designed with CRE in mind.

1. Industry-Specific Integrations. Instead of forcing you to adapt to new software, future Vertical AI Agents could connect to ARGUS, Yardi, CoStar, LoopNet, or Cherre—where they’d handle tasks like market research, valuations, or listing updates without you lifting a finger.
2. Skill Library Tailored to CRE. They might offer pre-built skills for:
   • Underwriting & Financial Modeling
   • Investor Reporting
   • Transaction Management
   • Lease Abstracting & Renewal Analysis
3. Customizable & Bespoke Skills. Customizable Skills: Firms could tweak these built-in skills to follow their own best practices.
   • Bespoke Skill Development: For truly unique processes, entirely new skills might be built to meet specific needs—kept private and secure.

Differences Between Vertical and Horizontal AI Agentic Platforms

AI Agentic Platforms could be split into Vertical or Horizontal, each serving different purposes. Here’s a quick breakdown of how they might differ in the future:

1. Industry Focus
   • Vertical: Targets a single industry (CRE, healthcare, legal) with deep, specialized workflows.
   • Horizontal: Broadly applicable across many fields, focusing on general tasks like data analysis or marketing automation.
2. Skill Specialization
   • Vertical: Might come with out-of-the-box integrations tailored to standard CRE workflows.
   • Horizontal: Offers a wide range of features but usually requires more customization to be truly valuable in specific industries.
3. Integrations & Workflows
   • Vertical: Could plug into specialized software used daily by CRE professionals.
   • Horizontal: Typically links up with general-purpose tools like Gmail or CRMs.
4. Value Proposition
   • Vertical: Likely offers immediate returns by addressing critical tasks unique to an industry.
   • Horizontal: Has broader capabilities but might need extra work to handle niche requirements.
5. User Experience & Adoption
   • Vertical: Fits easily into what industry experts already do, making adoption smoother.
   • Horizontal: Might require learning new interfaces or adjusting existing workflows.

Introducing CRE Agents: Building the First Vertical AI Agentic Platform for CRE

Looking ahead, CRE Agents aims to create the first Vertical AI Agentic Platform specifically for commercial real estate. Currently in an early-access phase for 2025, CRE Agents plans to roll out Digital Coworkers designed to slot seamlessly into the CRE workflow—handling repetitive tasks and boosting overall productivity.

Built on Four Years of Proof of Concept

This vision builds on technology tested at Stablewood, where a homegrown Digital Coworker underwrote and created investment memos for over 50,000 deals. Those four years saved millions of dollars—equal to around 20 full-time analysts—and proved there’s massive potential for AI-driven automation in CRE. That success now guides CRE Agents in bringing these efficiencies to the wider industry.

What Sets CRE Agents Apart

1. Industry-Focused Ambitions: CRE Agents aims to address the complex workflows of CRE across multiple segments (brokerage, asset management, acquisitions, development, etc.).
2. Potential Integrations with Key Tools: The platform intends to link with mainstays like ARGUS, Yardi, and CoStar, maintaining familiar workflows.
3. Comprehensive Skill Library: Over time, CRE Agents plans to develop a robust library of pre-trained skills and allow clients to craft their own custom ones.
4. Smooth Communication: Future Digital Coworkers could interact through text, chat, email, voice, or video, so teams won’t have to overhaul their processes.
5. Proven Time & Cost Savings: The experience at Stablewood proved how transformative AI automation can be. Early adopters of CRE Agents will get to shape the platform while benefiting from the efficiency gains.

Conclusion

Commercial real estate is poised for a major technology shift, and CRE Agents aims to be a trailblazer with its Vertical AI Agentic Platform. By combining next-level AI, domain expertise, and a proven concept from Stablewood, we’re looking to redefine how the industry operates in the years to come.

Interested in shaping the future of CRE? Whether you’d like early-access, have questions about investing, or just want to learn more, drop a comment or message us.

Together, let’s pioneer the future of work in commercial real estate!