A growing share of homebuyers appear ready to hand more of the mortgage process over to artificial intelligence.
More than half of prospective homebuyers (53%) say they would be comfortable purchasing a home without any direct human involvement, according to a new survey from Veterans United Home Loans. The findings suggest consumers are becoming increasingly comfortable relying on AI-powered tools for tasks traditionally handled by loan officers, real estate agents, and other housing professionals.
The survey found that 89% of prospective buyers would share personal financial information with a lender's AI-powered tool in exchange for tailored mortgage advice, while 68% say they trust mortgage information provided by AI-based platforms.
"What's striking is how much trust buyers are placing in these tools when it comes to major financial decisions," said Chris Birk, vice president of mortgage insight at Veterans United. "Their willingness to share financial information, seek personalized guidance, and even consider a fully AI-driven experience suggests many consumers are becoming far more comfortable with this technology than they were just a few years ago."
AI's Expanding Role In The Mortgage Process
Buyers' comfort with AI extends well beyond simple information gathering.
According to the survey, 76% of prospective buyers would be comfortable using AI tools to shop for mortgage lenders on their behalf. Nearly seven in 10 (69%) say they are comfortable using AI-powered systems to help manage loan application documents, with more than one-third reporting being very comfortable with that role.
The findings arrive as lenders, technology vendors, and industry organizations continue to push deeper into AI adoption. Over the past year, mortgage technology providers have increasingly rolled out tools designed to automate borrower communications, streamline document collection, analyze loan scenarios, and provide personalized recommendations.
For lenders, the survey offers another indication that borrowers may be more willing to engage with AI-powered experiences than many in the industry previously assumed.
Veterans Show Higher Levels Of Trust
Veterans and service members reported significantly higher levels of confidence in AI tools than civilian buyers across virtually every category measured.
Among Veterans, 77% trust mortgage information provided by AI-powered tools, compared with 59% of civilian buyers. Veterans also reported greater willingness to share financial information and use AI for lender shopping, document management, and other mortgage-related functions.
"The gap between Veterans and civilian buyers is a reminder that technology adoption isn't a one-size-fits-all story," Birk said. "Different groups may arrive at the same destination, but they don't always move at the same pace."
Because Veterans United serves a borrower base heavily concentrated in military and Veteran communities, the findings may also offer an early glimpse into how AI adoption could spread among broader homebuyer populations in coming years.
Human Expertise Remains Important
Despite the growing acceptance of AI, the survey suggests consumers are not yet ready to eliminate human guidance entirely.
While 53% say they would be comfortable buying a home without direct human involvement, only 25% say they would be very comfortable doing so.
That distinction may be particularly important for mortgage professionals navigating the industry's AI transition. Consumers increasingly appear willing to let technology handle research, comparison shopping, and administrative tasks, but many still value human expertise when making one of the largest financial decisions of their lives.
The survey also arrives amid growing industry debate over how AI should be deployed. Earlier this week, NNMP reported on the Mortgage Industry Standards Maintenance Organization (MISMO) 's efforts to develop practical AI governance frameworks for lenders and servicers. MISMO President Brian Vieaux argued that the industry's challenge is no longer whether AI will be adopted, but how to implement it responsibly while maintaining compliance, transparency, and consumer trust.
Buyers appear increasingly willing to let algorithms do the paperwork, the research, and even the shopping. But when it comes time to commit to a 30-year financial obligation, many still want a human in the room. The challenge for mortgage professionals is figuring out where technology adds value — and where personal expertise remains irreplaceable.
