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AI Search is here

June 2026 · Announcements

Please note: All product mockups shown on this page are indicative and subject to change.​
Key updates:
  • Buyers can now describe what they're looking for in plain language — "Find me a bach in the Coromandel that's not too far from the beach" — and get listings that actually match their intent, not just their keywords
     
  • A two-way AI conversation guides buyers from a vague idea to a specific property search, narrowing the options at each step through dialogue rather than filter-adjustment
     
  • Currently in closed beta for residential for sale searches — rolling to more buyers throughout 2026
     
  • Listings that closely match what a buyer describes surface more prominently — nothing to change on your end, and nothing to set up
     
  • AI Search works alongside the existing filter-based search — buyers who prefer filters can still use them
Please note: All product mockups shown on this page are indicative and subject to change.​
What is AI Search?

AI Search is a new way for buyers to find properties on Trade Me. Instead of typing keywords into a search bar and adjusting filters, buyers can describe what they're looking for in plain language. A two-way AI conversation helps them get to the right listings faster.

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A buyer can say, "Find me a bach in the Coromandel that's not too far from the beach" and get results that match that picture, not just those words.

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How to use it
  1. A buyer opens Trade Me Property and starts a conversational search - typing what they're looking for in their own words
     
  2. The AI asks clarifying questions where needed ("How many bedrooms?" / "Which area?") to narrow the match 
     
  3. Matched listings appear based on how well they fit what the buyer described — properties that match the buyer's intent surface
Why we built it

Nationally, buyers are now taking 3–6 months to decide, up from 1–3 months a year ago. That's a longer window of opportunity for your listings to be discovered, considered, and enquired on.
 

The opportunity is in the search. Buyers often know exactly what they want — they just can't always get keyword search to surface it. AI Search closes that gap, connecting buyers who are serious and specific with listings that genuinely match what they're after. 
 

What's new - and why it matters
What this means
Buyers who previously bounced from the search experience — because they couldn't make keyword search surface what they actually wanted — are now staying in the search longer and reaching listings they wouldn't have found before. The buyers Conversational Search is built for are the ones who were almost ready to enquire, or almost ready to give up. For agents with listings that closely match what those buyers describe, that's new engagement from buyers who are serious.

78% of sellers believe their agent's online marketing directly influences the final sale price. The agents who can show their listings are being found by the right buyers — not just any buyers — have a stronger conversation at every appraisal.
Who gets it
Conversational Search is a buyer-facing feature - every residential for sale listing is part of the experience during the beta. You don't need to do anything to be included. 
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How can we help you?
Whether you're new to Trade Me Property, or have been with us awhile, we are here to grow your business in partnership with you.

©2026 Trade Me Limited​

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