In a world where speed and information are king, the real estate sector has often lagged behind, especially in regions like France, where house buying is highly fragmented. French company Zefir aims to fill this niche, pioneering an AI-first approach to simplify residential real estate transactions. With transactional speed and agent revenue both improved significantly, the firm has facilitated sales amounting to over €600 million. Now Zefir looks to support buyers with Europe’s first AI-driven property searching tool called ZIA, effectively creating a streamlined digital experience for real estate transactions. This development marks a significant step towards bridging existing gaps in the property market.
The concept of using AI to enhance efficiencies in real estate isn’t entirely new. Traditional platforms like Zillow have used machine learning to estimate home values, while platforms like Purplebricks have employed online-only real estate services. However, unlike these earlier models, Zefir brings a holistic AI application from the start to the end of a transaction, integrating buyers and sellers into one seamless operational workflow.
What Is ZIA and How Does it Benefit Buyers?
ZIA, Zefir’s artificial intelligence assistant, acts as a buyer’s personal digital agent. This tool allows prospective homebuyers to search, compare, and make decisions faster than ever before. ZIA eliminates the old hassles of going through numerous agents, ensuring timely and relevant updates while improving confidence in the market. According to Remy Fabre, co-founder and CEO of Zefir, the AI assistant reduces transaction times to under two months and delivers a much-needed advantage that has been missing in Europe’s real estate market.
“Our AI matches their home with qualified buyers across our partner network,” Fabre explained.
How Does Zefir’s Model Benefit Agents and Sellers?
Zefir not only benefits buyers but also plays a significant role in enhancing agent performance and seller satisfaction. Zefir has managed to cut average selling times by half, providing substantial benefits to real estate agents who have reported increased earnings. By serving as the consolidator for buyer and seller data, Zefir eliminates non-serious inquiries, making the buying process more efficient. Consequently, real estate agents can close deals faster and with less friction.
“We generate more qualified leads and earn agents up to €100K more annually,” shared Fabre.
Zefir’s strategy converts what often feels like an isolating experience for buyers into a collaborative process that has already gained the support of 4,500 agents. As part of a larger ambition, Zefir wants to become the backbone of European property transactions, reminiscent of how services like Booking.com reinvented the travel sector.
The company’s future objectives remain grounded in expansion and innovation. Plans include increasing its AI capabilities and growing its geographical footprint within France. With recent financial backing, including €15 million secured in its latest Series B funding round, the company embarks on mission-driven growth strategies to expand its capabilities further.
Envisioning a long-term shift toward digitization, Zefir’s CEO foresees the real estate industry evolving towards more transparency, speed, and confidence.
“Over time, every adjacent real estate-related service could plug into our platform,” Fabre hinted.
As AI becomes increasingly integral to decision-making, Zefir positions itself to lead in an evolving digital real estate environment, aiming not just to meet the needs of buyers and sellers but to integrate further services and enhance the overall property dealing experience.
