‘Adapt or Get Left Behind’: Cyrus Mohseni’s Playbook for Surviving the Coming AI Wave in Real Estate

Written by:

Steve Marcinuk

Date:

23 May 2025

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Artificial intelligence is quickly becoming more than just a buzzword in real estate. It is actively changing how agents build and maintain client relationships. Cyrus Mohseni, Co-Founder and CEO at The Keystone Team, believes the industry’s competitive landscape is about to change dramatically.

“In a couple of years, agents who aren’t maximizing artificial intelligence capabilities will struggle in this industry not because they lack skill, but because I’ll operate with greater efficiency and connect with their clients before they have the chance,” he says.

Mohseni’s perspective reflects a growing consensus: AI is poised to alter not just how deals are closed, but how trust and communication are built in the first place.

From Soccer Fields to Real Estate Innovation

Mohseni’s path to real estate began with personal tragedy. After losing his grandmother, uncle, and father all within the same year when he was just a child, he found direction through soccer. His dedication led to a professional career with teams worldwide, including in Switzerland, Costa Rica, and with San Jose Earthquakes in the U.S.

“Soccer was the only thing that kept my mind off everything going on at home,” Mohseni recalls. “I would practice before school, after school, and after after-school.”

His promising athletic career ended abruptly when a driver made an illegal turn and T-boned his car. “I had this whole identity crisis,” he explains. “I never went to college, so right out of high school, I went pro. I always told my teachers, ‘A backup plan is an excuse to fail.’ And then all of a sudden, I’m wondering what to do with my life.”

Turning Setback into Opportunity

Having completed real estate school during an off-season (initially just to learn about buying a house), Mohseni decided to become a real estate agent. His ambitious nature immediately set him apart. When a brokerage owner suggested he tone down his first-year sales goal of $10 million, Mohseni knew he needed a different environment.

“I said, ‘If you’re the one that’s supposed to help me get to where I want to get, and you don’t believe I can get there, then what am I doing here?'” He left to start his own independent brokerage—despite having no real estate experience—and ended up selling $30 million in his first year.

Mohseni attributes this early success to the same determination that drove his athletic career. “All I knew was how to work. There’s always someone out there getting better than you by working harder than you,” he explains. His initial strategy was straightforward but demanding: “I door-knocked for two hours a day, I cold-called for four hours a day, and I did two open houses every single week.”

The AI Revolution in Real Estate

After building a successful independent brokerage and serving as Vice President of Strategy and Growth for First Team (where he helped achieve 23% growth), Mohseni now believes the real estate industry is at a technological turning point comparable to when the MLS went online.

“Every top-producing agent with a team emphasizes CRM—client relationship management,” Mohseni says. “What I’m developing is the anti-CRM. What if you don’t actually need a CRM?”

His vision involves an AI system that creates a seamless ecosystem around client interactions:

“What if, when a client calls, you talk to them, you input them into your system, and that same system now has ways to send properties to them. The client reviews properties inside the artificial intelligence, which observes what they like and dislike. The artificial intelligence hears your conversations and monitors your text message communications.”

This comprehensive data collection enables unprecedented personalization. “With a click of a button, you can ask, ‘What’s John’s favorite food?’ And your AI assistant will say, ‘Oh, sushi,'” Mohseni explains.

Beyond Basic AI Tools

While many agents are beginning to use AI tools like ChatGPT or Google’s Gemini to create email templates and nurture campaigns, Mohseni sees this as just scratching the surface. The real power comes from integrated AI systems that can autonomously create truly personalized communications.

“With AI, if all of this data is going into the system, now you can click ‘nurture,’ and your AI assistant can send a message saying, ‘Hey John, how are you? I know it was your son’s birthday this weekend. Hope you guys celebrated and had a great time. Did you see 123 Main Street?'”

This level of personalization would traditionally require “multiple full-time assistants” to manage for a database of 30,000 clients like Mohseni’s. “I would have to hire multiple assistants to review all notes, read all communications, listen to every call, and then write one email to connect with that person.”

More Personal, Not Less

Contrary to concerns that AI might depersonalize client relationships, Mohseni argues it actually enables deeper personalization at scale.

“The AI isn’t providing any information I haven’t already heard,” he explains. “It’s actually making interactions more personalized for the client, which is paramount.”

He emphasizes that this approach extends beyond simply using ChatGPT to draft content that must then be manually implemented. “You typically have to transfer data between multiple systems to create different outputs. We’re proposing an integrated ecosystem that hears, sees, and understands every aspect of the client journey through to contracts and transactions.”

The Technology Partner

Mohseni identifies Radius as the company building this comprehensive AI ecosystem for real estate. “When I saw what Radius is developing with technology, it was a clear choice for me,” he says. The platform allows him to maintain his independent brokerage brand while accessing sophisticated AI tools.

He believes the technology gap between forward-thinking brokerages and traditional ones will widen rapidly. “A one-year technology lag in today’s environment represents an enormous disadvantage. Many don’t appreciate how rapidly technology will advance, particularly in artificial intelligence.”

A Warning and an Invitation

For successful agents considering their future, Mohseni offers straightforward advice: “If you’re a top-performing team at any major brokerage, evaluate the tech stack and support your company provides. If it’s not offering tools for the future—not just for now, but what’s coming in 5, 10, 15, 20 years—then align yourself with someone who will provide these resources.”

As the real estate industry continues its technological evolution, Mohseni’s journey from professional athlete to technology-focused broker demonstrates how embracing innovation can transform individual careers and potentially the entire industry. His message is clear: future success belongs to those who recognize and harness AI’s potential today.