Realtor.com ($NEWS.C) announced the rollout of its 3D FlyAround property viewing tool, surprising the market with adoption rates doubling early forecasts. The Realtor.com 3D FlyAround feature enables prospective buyers to virtually navigate listings in real time—raising critical questions about how such tech will transform real estate investing in 2025.
Realtor.com Doubles User Engagement with 3D FlyAround Launch
On October 31, 2025, Realtor.com ($NEWS.C) reported a 210% month-over-month increase in digital property tour engagement after unveiling its AI-powered 3D FlyAround tool, according to company-provided usage analytics. Over 24,000 listings activated the feature in its first week, compared to the initial projection of 11,000. The company’s parent, News Corp ($NWSA), saw shares edge up 1.6% in post-market trading following the announcement (source: Bloomberg, 2025-10-31). Buyers can now utilize immersive flythroughs, adjusting room perspectives and lighting, which CEO Damian Eales claims shortens listing decision times by an average of 32%.
How AI-Powered Virtual Tours Are Disrupting Real Estate Markets
The debut of Realtor.com’s 3D FlyAround tool comes as the U.S. digital real estate sector grows at a 14.8% CAGR (Statista, 2024), reshaping how properties are discovered and evaluated. Industry analysts observe that immersive property technology is driving buyer confidence, particularly among out-of-state and international investors who accounted for $59 billion in U.S. residential purchases in 2023 (National Association of Realtors). The rise in AI-enabled visualizations both aligns with and accelerates a broader shift toward remote-first transactions—where 38% of buyers in Q2 2025 reported making offers after only a virtual tour, up from 24% in Q2 2023.
Investor Strategies: Position Portfolios for the Virtual Viewing Shift
Investors holding real estate technology equities or REITs should closely track firms integrating advanced virtual viewing experiences. Significant engagement gains by Realtor.com ($NEWS.C) suggest potential upside for AI-driven proptech names and digital platforms competing in the listings space. Sector leaders Zillow Group ($Z) and Redfin ($RDFN) could see pressure to match FlyAround’s features, affecting competitive positioning. Opportunities exist in software vendors supporting 3D environments and cloud infrastructure. As virtual buying trends continue, portfolio allocations toward these innovation-focused segments may benefit from secular growth momentum. For ongoing updates on technology’s impact on property markets, see stock market analysis and related latest financial news at ThinkInvest.
Experts See Virtual Home Tours Driving Faster, Wider Market Access
Industry analysts at Evercore ISI and JLL highlight that AI-powered 3D tools are elevating both transaction velocity and geographic reach in real estate, contributing to reduction in average time-on-market by up to 18% year-over-year (JLL U.S. Tech Survey, 2024). Market consensus suggests that immersive viewing technology could soon become standard across Tier 1 listings, as both buy-side and sell-side participants prioritize speed and transparency. Institutional investors are watching for which platforms best monetize engagement spikes driven by these innovations.
Realtor.com 3D FlyAround Signals New Era for Digital Real Estate
The successful launch of the Realtor.com 3D FlyAround feature marks a pivotal moment for property platforms, combining AI and 3D visualization to redefine homebuying. With early data showing doubled engagement and reduced decision times, investors should watch for which firms scale these capabilities fastest. As the 3D FlyAround trend accelerates, look for new adoption benchmarks—and competitive responses—into 2026.
Tags: Realtor.com, NEWS.C, 3D FlyAround, real estate technology, virtual tours
