AI reshapes property research as data analysis accelerates

Artificial intelligence is changing the way property market research is conducted, with Hotspotting managing director Tim Graham saying the technology has dramatically reduced the time required to process and analyse market data.

Speaking on the Whisky & Suits series, hosted by Chris Christofi and Imran Khan, Graham outlined how AI is being incorporated into property research while stressing that technology remains only one part of the decision-making process.

Graham said Hotspotting previously required around nine weeks to produce reports covering Australia’s 17,000 property markets.

With AI now incorporated into the process, that analysis can be completed in approximately nine minutes.

The technology allows the business to process large volumes of property and economic data more efficiently, helping identify market trends that may otherwise be difficult to detect.

Hotspotting also uses its proprietary “hotspotting thermometer”, which scores suburbs out of 100 based on market trends and pressure.

Graham said the tool has recorded more than 90 per cent accuracy in its predictions over a five-year period.

Chris Christofi and Imran Khan with Tim Graham at the Ticker Studio

However, Graham cautioned against treating broad national property forecasts as representative of every market.

While headline data may point to a widespread downturn, individual suburbs and regions can perform very differently depending on local economic conditions.

Major infrastructure projects, including new hospitals, can create jobs, attract investment and support property markets even when broader conditions are weaker.

That makes the quality of the underlying data particularly important.

Hotspotting combines real estate sales information with economic indicators including population and demographic trends, infrastructure development and broader economic activity.

Graham said this approach provides a more complete picture than relying solely on property transaction data.

The discussion also highlighted the evolving role of AI in professional decision-making.

While the technology can process large datasets and automate repetitive analytical tasks, Graham said human judgement remains important when interpreting the information and determining what it means for investors.

For the property sector, the shift could mean faster access to market intelligence, allowing analysts and investors to spend less time compiling data and more time assessing the implications.

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