Long before they step foot into an open home or pick up the phone to call a listing agent, younger home buyers are increasingly turning to AI to build financial knowledge and make money decisions.
A growing stack of research shows automated platforms are fast becoming a mainstream starting point for property and financial learning, altering how next-gen buyers prepare for the housing market long before contracts are prepared.
AI emerges as the new entry point for financial learning
According to Great Southern Bank’s No Place Like Home report, about 38% of Gen Z and 34% of Millennials use AI to help inform their financial and buying decisions.
More than half of Gen Z respondents say they trust sourcing financial information from social media (56%) and “finfluencers” (52%), while 64% trust AI platforms, despite warnings from financial regulators about the possible risks.
Great Southern Bank Chief Customer Officer, Rolf Stromsoe says AI is quickly becoming a mainstream source of financial information for Australians.
“Our findings show that while AI platforms continue to gain traction, human advice remains the most trusted and valued source of guidance for Australians making significant financial decisions,” he says.
“From the growing use of AI as a starting point for financial guidance, to the enduring value of human advice from professionals like brokers, our research highlights a nation balancing innovation with trust.”
Global trends match local market adoption
This shift toward tech-assisted research extends beyond domestic shores.
The World Economic Forum’s Global Retail Investor Outlook report confirms a broader international movement toward algorithmic financial planning.
In their findings, younger generations show significantly higher openness to automated guidance, with 41% of Gen Z and Millennials reporting they would allow an AI assistant to manage their investments.
“Younger generations and individuals in emerging markets are increasingly interested in investing to build wealth and enhance their financial stability,” said Natalya Guseva, Head of Financial Markets and Resilience at the World Economic Forum.
This tech adoption also intersects with non-traditional paths to home ownership.
The No Place Like Home report reveals that younger cohorts are exploring strategies like “rentvesting” – where buyers use digital tools to calculate rental yields and tax scenarios across different postcodes – at rates 50% higher than the national average.
Despite more turning to AI platforms for advice, the Great Southern Bank report says 69% of Australians consider the advice from mortgage brokers, financial advisers and banks to be more valuable.
When it comes to finalised execution, 56% of Australians state they are ultimately most likely to seek advice from a human financial adviser, compared to just 10% who would rely on AI as their primary final decision-maker.
While AI models can rapidly index public datasets, industry professionals note software cannot account for off-market conditions, street-level neighbourhood nuances, or complex live vendor negotiations – leaving professional advice at the core of the final transaction.