Lobby AI — the ChatGPT for CRE — is here. Instantly turn your data into decisions and accelerate insights from weeks to seconds. 
Generative AI has quickly shifted from being a curiosity to an everyday business tool. According to McKinsey’s latest global survey, nearly 8 in 10 organizations are now using AI in at least one area of their business, and adoption is still accelerating. Commercial real estate (CRE) is no exception. Owners, lenders, and advisors are experimenting with AI to draft memos, summarize offering memoranda, or model refinancing scenarios.
But here’s the reality: not all AI is created equal. The same general-purpose tools that are fine for brainstorming can become dangerous when applied to complex, highly regulated areas like CRE finance. What looks like efficiency on the surface can hide risks that damage your bottom line or your reputation.
Below are four of the most underestimated risks, and practical ways to protect your business.
1) Confidentiality and Data Leaks
Consumer-grade AI tools are built for the open internet, not your sensitive loan agreements and rent rolls. When a team member pastes borrower financials or investor updates into a public chatbot, that information may not stay private. We’ve already seen headlines where companies accidentally leaked sensitive code or client data through AI tools. In CRE, a similar slip with underwriting details or lender comments isn’t just embarrassing; it can cross into breach territory.
This risk isn’t theoretical. IBM research shows that privacy and trust are among the biggest barriers to AI adoption. Even executives eager to use AI worry about where their data ends up and who can access it.
Mitigation: Use purpose-built, private platforms like Lobby AI, which is designed for commercial real estate and contractually protects your data. Lobby AI doesn’t train on your information and operates in a secure environment, meaning your rent rolls, loan terms, and investor communications stay locked down.
2) Mistakes That Sound Convincing
Public AI tools are designed to sound smooth and confident, not to guarantee accuracy. That’s a problem in CRE finance, where precision is non-negotiable. These tools might “hallucinate” details like interest-reserve rules or misinterpret amortization schedules. The result? A lender memo that leaves out replacement reserves, or a refinance scenario based on the wrong assumptions. In a business where one decimal point can swing millions, these aren’t harmless mistakes.
Mitigation: Lobby AI is grounded in your verified data (loan agreements, rent rolls, cashflow models, etc.) instead of generic web text. It connects calculations and commentary back to your actual portfolio, and you can cross-check results with built-in financial calculators. Think of it as a supercharged analyst: fast and efficient, but always working from your numbers, not guesses.
3) Unpredictable Model Changes
Public AI providers update their models constantly. That’s great for casual use, but risky if you’re relying on the tool for financial workflows. You might get one answer on Tuesday and a slightly different one on Friday, simply because the provider quietly rolled out a change. That inconsistency makes it hard to reproduce results, which can be a big issue if you’re preparing materials for lenders or investors.
Mitigation: With a dedicated solution like Lobby AI, you can trust the stability of outputs. You’ll know which version of the model you’re using, and you can re-run stress tests across your portfolio with confidence. That means when someone challenges your debt service coverage ratio (DSCR) or cashflow analysis, you can show consistent, verifiable results.
4) Bigger Decisions, Bigger Risks
The CRE “maturity wall” is real: MSCI estimates nearly $500B of U.S. CRE loans maturing in 2025, and research shows a significant share would be underwater at current valuations. In that kind of high-stakes environment, relying on generic AI shortcuts, like canned cap-rate assumptions or auto-generated net operating income (NOI) trends, can make already tough calls even riskier.
Mitigation: Lobby AI ties its insights directly to your portfolio data. It pulls from your loan docs, rent rolls, and accounting systems to stress-test refinancing scenarios, cap-rate movements, and capital stack options. Instead of relying on generic assumptions, you get tailored analysis built for your assets. When markets are volatile, that accuracy isn’t just helpful; it’s essential.
The Leadership Takeaway
AI is already part of your business whether you realize it or not. The real question isn’t if you use it, but how safely. The biggest risks in CRE finance don’t come from the technology itself but from how leaders choose to apply it:
- Where does your sensitive data live?
- How do you verify outputs?
- Which workflows can you safely automate?
- What do you tell investors and lenders about your AI use?
Leaders who restrict generic chatbots to low-risk tasks and adopt private, CRE-specific tools like Lobby AI for financial workflows will capture the upside of AI without exposing their portfolios to unnecessary danger.
The stakes couldn’t be higher. With billions in loans coming due and rates staying higher for longer, this is not the moment to let a consumer-grade model improvise your refinance strategy—or your investor letter. Build on AI, yes. But do it with the same discipline and governance you demand in underwriting.
See how Lobby AI keeps your data secure and ensures precise, portfolio-backed financial insights. Explore use cases, read FAQs, and schedule your tailored demo today.
