I asked ChatGPT for real-estate advice, and it's not a bad starting point if you have no idea where to begin

ChatGPT has taken the internet by storm, but it's a mixed bag for a real-estate advice.NurPhoto/Contributor/Getty Images

• I asked ChatGPT common questions about real estate.
• I didn't get earth-shattering advice, but it could be a good place to start if you feel clueless.

In today's overwhelming real-estate market, it would be nice to have a friend with all the answers.

ChatGPT is not exactly that friend, but the generative-AI tool sweeping the internet is a good starting point to tackle the most basic real-estate questions.

It could be most useful for first-time homebuyers — who face the most obstacles in today's market, including high prices and a historic lack of starter homes — by providing a basic description of what the homebuying process entails.

Specific ideas or advice, such as the timing for real-estate choices or ways to improve the value of a home, were less impressive.