- Smart Search enables natural, voice-based apartment searches, letting renters combine preferences like price, location, and amenities in a single spoken query.
- Designed for mobile users, the feature targets the 70% of renters searching on phones and reduces friction compared to traditional filters.
- Voice searches don’t affect rankings or paid placements, ensuring property visibility remains unchanged.
Renter search gets a voice upgrade
Apartments.com is introducing Smart Search, the multifamily sector’s first voice-activated AI search experience, built using Microsoft Azure OpenAI. Instead of typing keywords or toggling a long list of filters, renters can now speak naturally—saying things like, “I’m looking for a two-bedroom under $2,000, pet-friendly, with in-unit laundry near downtown”—and immediately receive relevant listings.
This conversational search feature simplifies how users navigate the apartment hunt by letting them combine multiple criteria in a single, intuitive voice command. It’s a shift from reactive search tools to proactive, AI-driven assistance that better reflects how people think and speak.
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Why now?
Voice search is becoming a dominant trend across digital platforms, accounting for roughly 40% of all online searches. These searches are typically longer and more specific than typed queries—making them ideal for complex, high-consideration decisions like apartment hunting.
Apartments.com built Smart Search with this behavior in mind, particularly for mobile, where around 70% of its user base already searches. Historically, many of those users have skipped filters altogether, so this new voice-first experience addresses a major friction point: getting to the right results faster, with less effort.
No change to visibility or rankings
Importantly for property owners and advertisers, Smart Search does not affect how listings are ranked or displayed on Apartments.com. The platform confirms that sort order, rankings, and paid placement remain unchanged, regardless of whether a user types a query or speaks it. That means owners can benefit from more qualified renter traffic without needing to adjust their advertising strategy or spend. It also won’t impact how listings appear in generative AI search engine results, according to the company.
What’s ahead
The current version of Smart Search is just the beginning. Apartments.com plans to expand its capabilities with features such as:
- Voice-enabled property-specific Q&A
- Search criteria based on lifestyle preferences, walkability, or school districts
- Deeper neighborhood insights
- Integration with Matterport-powered 3D tours for more immersive virtual exploration
These updates will enhance the discovery experience while giving renters more tools to make informed decisions—all within a seamless voice interface.
The bigger picture
Smart Search marks a major leap in how renters engage with online apartment listings, signaling a broader shift toward AI and voice-first digital experiences in real estate. It also solidifies Apartments.com’s position not just as the largest rental platform, but as an innovation leader in the multifamily category.
By helping renters clearly communicate what they’re looking for—and delivering better-matched results—Smart Search is designed to shorten the search process and improve lead quality for property owners. As voice-driven tech continues to evolve, expect features like this to become standard in the next wave of rental discovery.
