My example makes all the sense in the world. There is some guy on this board crying because he is in deep shit. Every transaction is different and skill levels of agents are different. you seem to think that its just a few papers and away we go which isnt reality. Take the case of the unpermitted issue guy. Most agents wouldnt know what to do with that and honestly I dont know that i would have either (though anytime I see additions I make sure my client goes to city hall to check permits). The point is there are agents who would have known how to deal with that properly and having the right one would have made all the difference in the world to that guy.
You can automate trades of stock because a share of GE is a share of GE. You can automate basic legal forms too but you cant automate complex litigation cases or consitutional law cases.
Houses are unique and automating everything would be cost prohibitive. Could it be done? Possibly but doing so would be more expensive than the return and who do you think is capable of doing that? It would have to be your GOV. No for-profit entity could make that work profitably.
RE has already been transformed quite a bit and I know more is coming. I say bring it on. But I also know it will nhever be fully automated to the extent you have wet dreams over. It just doesnt make sense to do so economically.