We found that 100% of answers in Austin named a specific agent, team, or brokerage. This was +11 percentage points from the national result of 89%, and +11 percentage points from the large-market result of 89%. Each city reflects 20 answers collected on two days, so small differences may be within noise.
Where AI looked in Austin
This table compares the source types found in this market's answers. A source type can appear in more than one answer, so shares describe answer-level presence rather than a rank of individual websites. The two rank columns show how the local share compares with the study's 50 markets and its size class.
| Source type | Here | Same-size markets | National | Vs. size | Vs. national | Rank / 50 | Rank / size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agent or team websites | 60% | 75% | 72% | -15 pts | -12 pts | #42 | #12 |
| Zillow | 60% | 51% | 57% | +9 pts | +3 pts | #16 | #2 |
| Other directories | 50% | 38% | 31% | +12 pts | +19 pts | #5 | #1 |
| HomeLight | 25% | 25% | 22% | 0 pts | +3 pts | #14 | #5 |
| Local news | 25% | 12% | 12% | +13 pts | +13 pts | #1 | #1 |
| Homes.com | 20% | 23% | 24% | -3 pts | -4 pts | #37 | #8 |
| Yelp | 20% | 7% | 7% | +13 pts | +13 pts | #2 | #1 |
| FastExpert | 15% | 38% | 44% | -23 pts | -29 pts | #49 | #12 |
| Google Business Profile | 15% | 11% | 15% | +4 pts | 0 pts | #19 | #2 |
| Brokerage websites | 10% | 8% | 10% | +2 pts | +1 pts | #17 | #2 |
| Realtor.com | 10% | 13% | 19% | -3 pts | -9 pts | #36 | #7 |
| Social media | 0% | 2% | 3% | -2 pts | -3 pts | #28 | #6 |
pts = percentage points; local average: 2.5 individual agents per answer
FastExpert was the largest gap in both comparisons: 15% here, -29 percentage points from national (44%) and -23 percentage points from same-size markets (38%).
Selected public platforms cited
These raw citation counts are limited to public platforms; personal, team, and brokerage domains are not listed. The highest local counts were google.com (63), zillow.com (26), realtrends.com (17).
| Platform | Citations |
|---|---|
| google.com | 63 |
| zillow.com | 26 |
| realtrends.com | 17 |
| homes.com | 10 |
| homelight.com | 5 |
| fastexpert.com | 4 |
| realtytimes.com | 4 |
| yelp.com | 4 |
| realestate.usnews.com | 2 |
| realtor.com | 2 |
| maps.google.com | 1 |
| ratemyagent.com | 1 |
Biggest local differences
- Compared with national results, FastExpert was -29 percentage points at 15% here versus 44%.
- The local Other directories share of 50% stood +19 percentage points from the national share of 31%.
- Local news registered 25% locally and 12% nationally, a +13 percentage points difference.
How each AI tool answered in Austin
| Tool | Share naming an agent/team | Avg. names per answer | Individual agents per answer | Teams per answer | National share | Difference | Top 3 source types |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Google AI Mode | 100% | 5.4 | 2.6 | 2.8 | 85% | +15 pts | Agent or team websites (40%), Local news (40%), Other directories (40%) |
| ChatGPT | 100% | 3.6 | 1.6 | 2.0 | 88% | +12 pts | Other directories (80%), Agent or team websites (60%), HomeLight (60%) |
| Gemini | 100% | 7.8 | 3.8 | 4.0 | 99% | +1 pts | Other directories (60%), Zillow (60%), Agent or team websites (40%) |
| Perplexity | 100% | 2.6 | 1.8 | 0.8 | 83% | +17 pts | Agent or team websites (100%), Homes.com (80%), Zillow (80%) |
Google AI Mode: its largest source-mix difference from its national answers was FastExpert, at 0% here versus 29% nationally (-29 percentage points).
ChatGPT: its largest source-mix difference from its national answers was Other directories, at 80% here versus 36% nationally (+44 percentage points).
Gemini: its largest source-mix difference from its national answers was Other directories, at 60% here versus 24% nationally (+36 percentage points).
Perplexity: its largest source-mix difference from its national answers was Realtor.com, at 0% here versus 32% nationally (-32 percentage points).
All four tools named an agent or team in 100% of answers. Average names per answer ranged from 2.6 to 7.8.
Across the four tools, average pairwise overlap was 7% in Austin, compared with 7% nationally. At least one name overlapped across tools in 100% of comparable local answers, versus 83% nationally.
Austin in the 50-market study
These positions use the 50 markets in this study and the markets in the same size class; tied values are ordered by market name for a stable comparison.
| Measure | Here | Among 50 markets | Among large markets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Answers naming an agent or team | 100% | #1 of 50 | #1 of 12 |
| Individual agents per answer | 2.5 | #32 of 50 | #8 of 12 |
| Average tool-list overlap | 7% | #24 of 50 | #4 of 12 |
Markets nearest in the ranking
- For agent-or-team naming share, Austin led the 50-market ranking ahead of Denver, CO.
- For individual agents per answer, Austin ranked between Santa Fe, NM and Hilton Head Island, SC among the 50 markets.
- For tool-list overlap, Austin ranked between Columbus, OH and Missoula, MT among the 50 markets.
Austin market context
Population: 979,539
Median household income: $93,658
Median home value: $555,300
Per-capita income: $62,862
Owner-occupied homes: 43%
Homes with broadband: 94%
Home-value-to-income ratio: 5.9×
Household-to-per-capita-income ratio: 1.5×
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimatesAustin Census context in the study
These Census estimates add local context; ranks use the same 50 study markets and size class, with ties ordered by market name.
| Measure | Here | Among 50 markets | Among large markets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 979,539 | #11 of 50 | #11 of 12 |
| Median household income | $93,658 | #8 of 50 | #3 of 12 |
| Median home value | $555,300 | #12 of 50 | #5 of 12 |
| Per-capita income | $62,862 | #7 of 50 | #2 of 12 |
| Owner-occupied homes | 43% | #43 of 50 | #8 of 12 |
| Homes with broadband | 94% | #7 of 50 | #3 of 12 |
What this means for agents in Austin
- Answers named 4.8 people or organizations on average here, versus 4.6 nationally. A consistent public identity is more useful when an answer presents a longer list.
- A directory source appeared in up to 50% of local answers, versus 44% nationally. Consider reviewing directory listings for accuracy and consistency.
- Local news or social media appeared in 25% of local answers, versus 12% nationally. Consider developing useful local coverage beyond profile pages.
Questions asked in Austin
- Who is the best real estate agent in Austin, TX?
- Who should I hire to sell my home in Austin, TX?
- Top realtors in Austin, TX
- Best listing agent in Austin, TX to sell a house
- Which real estate agent should I use to buy a home in Austin, TX?
Austin AI search questions
How often did AI name an agent or team in Austin?
In Recasi's 2026 study, 100% of AI answers for Austin, TX named an agent or team. The national comparison was 89%.
Which source type appeared most often in Austin AI answers?
Agent or team websites appeared in 60% of answers for Austin, TX.
How much did AI tool lists overlap in Austin?
The four tools had 7% average pairwise overlap in Austin, TX, versus 7% nationally. At least one name overlapped across tools in 100% of comparable answers.
Read the full study
See the 50-market report for national results and all 50 local comparisons.