Key Takeaways
- • Inman has consolidated its Best of Proptech and Best of AI awards into a single unified program for 2026, expanding to 25 categories from previously separate honors, reflecting the convergence of technology and artificial intelligence across residential real estate transactions.
- • The 2026 awards introduce seven new categories this year, with AI recognition segmented by specific use cases including autonomous workflows, valuation and decision tools, marketing and content creation, conversational AI, and responsible deployment—signaling institutional focus on AI governance and implementation diversity.
- • Nomination period runs from August 31 through October 1, 2026, with winners announced October 27, recognizing founders, companies, and investors driving innovation across the full real estate value chain from construction and financing through transaction execution and property management.
- • The 25-category framework spans fintech, construction, transactions, AI, and company impact, covering emerging technologies including digital mortgages, modular construction, and autonomous AI agents capable of managing transactions from origination to close.
- • Tom Bohn, CEO of Inman, positioned the merged program as providing "a much clearer picture of the people and companies building what comes next," emphasizing that technology and AI are reshaping every component of the residential real estate transaction.
Summary
Inman, the leading news platform serving real estate agents, brokers, executives, and technology leaders, has opened nominations for its 2026 Best of Real Estate Proptech Awards, marking a structural consolidation of industry recognition in property technology. For the first time, Inman has merged its standalone Best of Proptech and Best of AI programs into a unified awards initiative, creating what the organization describes as "the industry's most complete recognition of property technology."
The expanded program encompasses 25 categories, including seven newly introduced categories in 2026. The framework spans five primary domains: fintech, construction, transactions, AI applications, and company impact. Rather than awarding a single artificial intelligence honor, the program now segments AI recognition by specific use cases and deployment contexts—autonomous workflows, valuation and decision tools, marketing and content creation, conversational AI, and responsible deployment. This architectural shift reflects both the proliferation of AI applications across real estate transactions and institutional investor focus on governance frameworks for AI implementation.
The awards are designed to spotlight founders, companies, and investors reshaping residential real estate across the full transaction lifecycle. Coverage extends from property development and modular construction through digital mortgage origination, transaction execution, and ongoing property management. Notably, the program recognizes autonomous AI agents capable of managing transactions from initial concept through final close, reflecting technological advancement in workflow automation.
According to Tom Bohn, CEO of Inman, the consolidation responds to fundamental market dynamics: "Technology and AI are changing every part of the real estate transaction. Bringing Best of Proptech and Best of AI together gives us a much clearer picture of the people and companies building what comes next." The nomination window operates from August 31 through October 1, 2026, with winners announced on October 27, 2026.
The expanded program encompasses 25 categories, including seven newly introduced categories in 2026. The framework spans five primary domains: fintech, construction, transactions, AI applications, and company impact. Rather than awarding a single artificial intelligence honor, the program now segments AI recognition by specific use cases and deployment contexts—autonomous workflows, valuation and decision tools, marketing and content creation, conversational AI, and responsible deployment. This architectural shift reflects both the proliferation of AI applications across real estate transactions and institutional investor focus on governance frameworks for AI implementation.
The awards are designed to spotlight founders, companies, and investors reshaping residential real estate across the full transaction lifecycle. Coverage extends from property development and modular construction through digital mortgage origination, transaction execution, and ongoing property management. Notably, the program recognizes autonomous AI agents capable of managing transactions from initial concept through final close, reflecting technological advancement in workflow automation.
According to Tom Bohn, CEO of Inman, the consolidation responds to fundamental market dynamics: "Technology and AI are changing every part of the real estate transaction. Bringing Best of Proptech and Best of AI together gives us a much clearer picture of the people and companies building what comes next." The nomination window operates from August 31 through October 1, 2026, with winners announced on October 27, 2026.
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