Other
Aug 2025NYC’s broker fee ban and resulting rental-market volatility created the market opening Spotlight Realty targets; the company pivoted toward rentals in response, which adds regulatory and competitive risk to the model.
SourceAI powered brokerage reducing residential rental commissions in NYC…
Company research
Public company, workplace, funding, and market signals
Updated Jul 30, 2026
Overview
Spotlight Realty is a Y Combinator-backed, AI-powered residential brokerage for NYC and Long Island that automates listing, tenant/buyer inquiry handling, scheduling, screening, document generation, and closing while keeping human agents in the loop. It markets lower commissions for sellers and landlords, plus landlord-focused AI workflows and multi-platform syndication.
Primary product
AI-powered residential brokerage and rental leasing platform
Founded
2025
Headquarters
New York, New York, United States
Team size
1-10
Work style
Flexible
Industry
Real Estate
Sub-industry
AI-powered residential brokerage / proptech
Offices
New York, New York, United States
Long Island, New York, United States
Business model
Residential brokerage commissions
Enterprise software licensing
Affiliate referral fees
Funding
People & investors
Leadership
CEO & Co-Founder
CTO & Co-Founder
COO & Co-Founder
Director of Sales And Business Development
Founders
CTO & Co-Founder
Investors
Work & culture
Public messaging emphasizes trust, transparency, and results, with AI used to remove busywork but human agents available 24/7. The team presents itself as builders, engineers, and entrepreneurs with Cornell ties.
Work style
Flexible
Compensation
Publicly listed tour-assistant roles pay $30-$60 per hour based on performance and allow complete schedule flexibility. Other postings mention competitive compensation, performance upside, and flexible/hybrid work, but no broad salary bands or equity policy are publicly stated.
Benefits
$30-$60/hr pay for property tour assistants
Complete schedule flexibility for property tour assistants
No real estate license required for property tour assistants
Competitive compensation
Performance upside
Flexible/hybrid work for some roles
Remote roles available
Product & market
Pricing
4% commission on rentals, 1.5% commission on sales, with customized pricing for enterprise clients
Differentiators
- —AI handles inquiry response, scheduling, screening, and application workflows 24/7
- —Human agents and lawyers remain available for support
- —Lower commissions than traditional brokerage models
- —Free photography, 3D virtual tours, and home staging for sellers
- —Multi-platform distribution across MLS and major portals
- —Plaid-based tenant screening and document review
- —Targeted social ad syndication for landlord listings
- —Landlord dashboard with analytics, emails, and call logs
- —Enterprise licensing for property managers and landlords
Technology
AI agent workflows
MLS syndication
Zillow
StreetEasy
Realtor.com
Plaid
Matterport
Facebook ads
Instagram ads
Email
SMS
E-signatures
Calendly
Customers
Landlords
Property managers
Property owners
Home sellers
Homeowners
Competitors
Zillow
StreetEasy
Realtor.com
Compass
Corcoran
Openigloo
Purplebricks
Redfin
Scale & contact
Signals & risks
Latest news
Startup Intros · Jul 2026
Profile page summarizing founders, funding history, and investor names for Spotlight Realty.
Fondo · Feb 2026
Startup-launch writeup summarizing Spotlight Realty’s AI rental workflow, landlord dashboard, lower commissions, and founding team.
The Real Deal via LinkedIn · Sep 2025
The Real Deal highlighted Spotlight Realty as a new entrant targeting landlords after NYC’s broker fee ban, betting on AI and discounted commissions to win rental business.
The Real Deal · Aug 2025
Profiles Spotlight Realty’s pivot into rentals after the FARE Act, its 4% commission model, and its use of automation to handle inquiries, scheduling, and applications.
LinkedIn · Jun 2025
Official company announcement that Spotlight Realty joined Y Combinator Summer 2025 and positioned the product as a lower-cost, AI-assisted real estate platform.
Jobs and careers at Spotlight Realty
6 jobs at Spotlight Realty
TikTok Shop Account Manager - Los Angeles
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Account Management
Los Angeles; Los Angeles, California, United States
2w ago
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TikTok Shop Content Strategist
Remote
Account Management
United States- Remote; United States, United States
3w ago
Remote
Full-time
Creator Campaign Coordinator - Colombia | Brazil | Costa Rica | Mexico
Remote
Account Management
Colombia
1mo ago
Remote
Full-time
Senior Account Manager
Remote
Account Management
United States- Remote
6mo ago
Remote
Full-time
Ecommerce Operations Specialist - Colombia
Remote
Account Management
Colombia
8mo ago
Remote
Full-time
Account Manager
Remote
Account Management
New York-Hybrid
9mo ago
Remote
Full-time