From 'Searching' to 'AI-Accompanied' Experience: Nifty Real Estate Launches Trial of SUMAI Discovery Nav, a Revolutionary Home Search Service Without Inputting Conditions

Realizing a home search experience where consulting AI reveals your 'future lifestyle'

SUMAI Discovery Nav: https://myhome.nifty.com/sumai-agent/

Nifty Lifestyle Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Nakano-ku, Tokyo; President & CEO: Takashi Narita; Securities Code: 4262) has launched a trial version of 'SUMAI Discovery Nav,' a next-generation home search service powered by generative AI, on its flagship platform 'Nifty Real Estate,' and has begun a proof-of-concept experiment.

Our company's purpose is 'to continuously support each individual's decision-making for a happy life through empathy and technology.' This initiative aims to verify a new experience where AI acts as a consultant, accompanying users from the 'searching' phase to the 'deciding' phase—considering life after moving in—and to realize the 'future of home search.'

Solving the Difficulty of Narrowing Down Choices Amid Abundant Listings, with Technology That Adapts to User Behavior

'Nifty Real Estate' has long provided users with an overwhelming range of choices, leveraging its strengths in aggregating property listings from major real estate sites and offering superior UI/UX. It ranks No.1 in both the number of listed properties and customizable search conditions (※), establishing itself as a leading platform.

However, as information and search options grow richer, it becomes increasingly difficult for users to correctly identify 'what suits them' from vast amounts of data and narrow down to their ideal property on their own. Particularly among young users who are 'unsure where to start in their first home search' and dual-income households who 'lack time for thorough comparisons,' the challenge of being 'unable to choose or decide' based on life stage has become apparent.

In response, we pursued a new approach that avoids burdensome processes like text input or back-and-forth chat, enabling users to intuitively and confidently reach their ideal home.

Thus, with 'SUMAI Discovery Nav,' we have built a system (Investigation Memo) where AI gently interprets users' latent preferences—even those they themselves haven't noticed—based on simple browsing behaviors, without requiring users to input detailed conditions. Rather than unilaterally setting conditions, AI proactively suggests new perspectives with prompts like 'How about this angle?'—aiming to create a collaborative relationship where users actively discover satisfying conditions.

This initiative perfectly embodies our purpose of 'supporting each individual's decision-making for a happy life through empathy and technology.' By combining our foundation of vast information with AI technology that sensitively adapts to user behavior, we aim to evolve from a mere search tool into a 'consultative, companion-type service' that supports life decisions.

※ Survey Overview: Market Research on Real Estate Listing Sites, May 2025 Period; Research Agency: Japan Marketing Research Institute

'Search AI' and 'Decision AI' Accompany Users Throughout Decision-Making

The functions offered are broadly divided into two roles: 'Search AI (Exploration & Discovery)' and 'Decision AI (Comparison & Judgment).' Both are designed to anticipate user actions based on their behavior, without relying on lengthy chat conversations.

Uniquely embodying this concept is the 'Discovery Team,' an AI agent. 'Captain Mee (Meerkat),' with a broad view from high above, reliably leads users from initial consultation through property search to overall evaluation of estimates and comparisons. Supporting Captain Mee are the colorful 'Prairie Team Members (Prairie Dogs)'—Sowa (Insight), Kira (Inspiration), and Awa (Confirmation)—who gently offer advice from the side at key moments, leveraging their unique strengths to accompany users toward confident decisions.

※ Captain Mee and the Prairie Team Members accompany users throughout the decision-making journey, from 'searching' to 'deciding.'

[Search AI] Exploration Experience That Creates Encounters Without Relying on Input ~ Meet Your Ideal Home Without the Burden of Verbalizing Preferences ~

- After selecting an area, only one initial question is asked—realistic conditions are instantly set

The starting point for home search is just one question: 'Who do you spend the most time with?' Based on this, recommended floor plans are determined. In the background, AI automatically retrieves the latest market prices for the selected area. Furthermore, budget is automatically set using Nifty Real Estate's vast search and behavioral logs. Without requiring users to input extra information, realistic conditions are seamlessly prepared. Current location is estimated by AI but presented only as a 'candidate' for user confirmation—easily corrected with one tap if inaccurate. Location estimation uses a proprietary method designed with privacy in mind.

- Proactive suggestions based on behavior, and 'neighborhood suggestions' that prevent dead-ends

Which properties did the user examine closely, and which did they skim past? AI quietly analyzes browsing behavior and automatically organizes candidate properties as starting points for consideration. Each property card displays matching results like 'Budget: ◎, Proximity to Station: ◎, Size: △,' making it immediately clear why AI is recommending it—resolving the confusion of 'not knowing where to start.'

When few properties match the criteria, AI automatically expands the search range and suggests alternatives. The 'expanded' portion is clearly indicated in a post-hoc report, ensuring user understanding and allowing a return to original conditions at any time. For users familiar with local areas, AI gently suggests 'similar neighborhoods' or 'similar regions,' preventing search dead-ends.

- Expressing preferences in a single sentence, with smart conversion—no chat required

A one-line request such as '2LDK or larger near Musashikosugi, renovated with good sunlight' is interpreted by AI—including station and place names—and converted into search conditions. Users can confirm or exclude the interpreted conditions on the spot, with no need for chat back-and-forth. When adopting a suggestion, 'add/change' is clearly indicated, incrementally updating the current conditions—making changes transparent and easily reversible with one tap if unwanted.

[Decision AI] Confident Judgment with Life After Moving In in Mind ~ Going Beyond Spec Comparisons to Sharpen the Resolution of Lifestyle and Household Budgets ~

- 'Lifestyle Cost' to realistically visualize life after moving in

Beyond property price, it calculates monthly costs (Lifestyle Cost) expected from housing-related expenses such as management fees, taxes, and remaining loan balances, as well as household life-stage costs. By incorporating life events, it presents a 10-year outlook for choosing that home. This enables comparisons with future expenses in mind, allowing users to vividly imagine 'life in this home' and enjoyably find the perfect fit.

- 'Comparison Lab' that visualizes why this property is recommended

When users save three properties to favorites, the baton is seamlessly passed to Decision AI. In the comparison table, each property's strengths are instantly clear through winner badges like '★Lowest Price' and '★Lightest Burden.' AI selects a top recommendation based on user preferences, offering distinct justifications per card—relieving users from the tedious task of interpreting complex comparison tables.

- 'Investigation Memo' that reveals AI's understanding

AI's learned understanding of your preferences Keywords: