Listing video with an AI avatar: HeyGen for Real Estate, and Sume

With Sume, a listing video is an avatar talking video whose scene is a photo of the property (scene: { "type": "photo", "image_url": "..." }) and whose script runs 4-60 seconds. Sume's docs describe an API, not a managed real estate service; HeyGen's August 2026 notes describe a real estate offer that includes a done-for-you option.

What did HeyGen launch?

HeyGen's August 2026 notes describe "Listing videos for every property" and a service option: "Text us what you want, we produce the video, and you approve before it publishes". Those are HeyGen's own descriptions.

How do I build a listing video with Sume?

Create an avatar for the presenter, then send the script and the property photo. Media fields must be fetchable public HTTPS URLs. Leave out product_image if there is no product; the docs say an avatar video without one is fine.

curl -X POST https://api.sume.com/v1/avatar-1.0/talking-video \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $SUME_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -H "Idempotency-Key: listing-001" \
  -d '{
    "avatar_handle": "agent_presenter",
    "script": "Welcome to 12 Example Street. Three bedrooms, a sunny kitchen and a quiet garden. Book a viewing today.",
    "scene": { "type": "photo", "image_url": "https://example.com/listing-front.jpg" },
    "aspect_ratio": "9:16"
  }'

How do I approve before I pay for the render?

Create an avatar video preview first. It returns first-frame stills, and you call generate-video on the preview id only when the framing looks right. That gives you an approval step before the full render.

What should I check first?

Only use photos you have rights to, and follow your local listing rules for AI-generated presenters. The docs cover the API fields; they do not cover real estate advertising law.