Talk, Don't Type: Bilingual Voice Search Comes to New Construction

Written by:

Heather Hook

Date:

08 Sep 2026

KeyCrew Studio

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For all the search tools in real estate, most still expect a buyer or agent to type filters into a form. One new construction platform is testing a different front door: a conversation.

Search by Talking, in English or Spanish

Builders Update, a national database for new construction, has built a tool it calls Home Scout that lets an agent or buyer describe what they want in plain language rather than filling in fields. “It was created for people who don’t like to type. They can just talk to it,” says Bill Gaul, CEO of Builders Update and chair of the RESO Data Dictionary New Construction Subcommittee. A user might say they need a three-bedroom, two-bath home in a particular zip code, even while driving, and the tool responds conversationally.

What sets it apart, Gaul says, is that it works in both English and Spanish and switches automatically. “It doesn’t even ask if you want Spanish. If you start speaking Spanish, it responds in Spanish,” he says, adding that the translation is meant to sound natural rather than mechanical. The bilingual option has drawn the most interest in markets with large Spanish-speaking populations, including Miami, San Diego, and border regions.

From Question to Inbox

The tool is available on the company’s website. After a search, the results, floor plans, property details, and photos arrive in the user’s inbox. “By the time that person parks the car, the floor plans and the pictures are in their inbox,” Gaul says. An agent can forward those results to a client in one of two versions: a full agent view that includes the address and builder name, or a buyer-facing view that shows photos, floor plans, and pricing without the address or builder.

Keeping the Agent in the Transaction

That two-version design reflects the platform’s agent-centric model. Detailed listing information is reserved for licensed agents, and buyers register through their agent rather than around them. The platform also offers electronic buyer registration: when an agent submits a buyer’s name, the builder can confirm the buyer is not already in its system, which protects the agent’s claim to the commission if that buyer later purchases. Gaul describes the registration process, which is part of the company’s patent, as a way to keep the agent’s role transparent and protected. “We’re trying to inject the agent into the process,” he says.

Adoption is a work in progress. Gaul notes that even where the tool has been available for a while, some agents have not tried it, and part of the effort now is simply encouraging them to click. The platform currently serves more than 860,000 agents nationwide.

About the Expert: Bill Gaul is CEO of Builders Update and chair of the RESO Data Dictionary New Construction Subcommittee. Based in Austin, Texas, he specializes in new construction data and MLS interoperability.

About Builders Update: Builders Update is one of North America’s leading providers of new construction inventory data, serving builders, MLSs, brokers, and real estate professionals. Through its innovative platform and commitment to data quality, Builders Update advances transparency, interoperability, and collaboration within the new construction sector. For more information, visit www.buildersupdate.com.

Disclaimer: This article is based on information provided by the expert source cited above. It is intended for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or real estate advice. Readers should conduct their own research and consult qualified professionals before making any real estate or financial decisions.

Disclosure: Individuals or companies mentioned may have a commercial relationship with KeyCrew.