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🇧🇪 Belgium /Economy & Trade

Homebuyers Annoyed by AI-Edited Real Estate Photos: What's Allowed and What Isn't?

From VRT NWS · () Dutch

Translated from Dutch, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Potential homebuyers are increasingly encountering properties that differ significantly from AI-generated photos used in online listings, a phenomenon dubbed 'housefishing' abroad.
  • Belgium's Professional Institute of Real Estate Agents (BIV) has approved the first ethical guidelines concerning the use of AI in real estate advertising.
  • The new rules aim to address issues where AI-edited images create unrealistic expectations for buyers, potentially leading to disappointment upon viewing the actual property.

Potential homebuyers are growing frustrated with AI-edited property photos that present an unrealistic view of homes. This practice, known internationally as 'housefishing,' leads to disappointment when buyers visit properties that look nothing like the digitally enhanced images they saw online.

In response to these concerns, Belgium's Professional Institute of Real Estate Agents (BIV) has established the first ethical guidelines for AI use in real estate advertising. The institute approved these rules last Friday.

The new regulations are intended to curb misleading advertising practices and ensure greater transparency in the property market. By setting clear boundaries for AI-generated imagery, the BIV aims to protect buyers from deceptive marketing and restore trust in online property listings.

DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by VRT NWS in Dutch. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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