Real estate professionals can not only reduce homeownership costs for their clients—but also prove their value and expertise along the way.

With a new Congress and presidential administration taking office in January, NAR continues the critical work of relationship-building and advocacy education.

Barb Betts, CEO of The RECollective in Long Beach, Calif., talks dicey real estate practices.

Housing leaders say real estate professionals can play a critical role in addressing the affordable housing challenges in their communities.

Starbucks and Boeing are addressing performance and employee issues under new CEOs Brian Niccol and Kelly Ortberg, respectively. Both leaders are emphasizing a return to the companies' core values, with Niccol focusing on Starbucks' coffeehouse roots and Ortberg on engineering excellence. They are also engaging directly with front-line employees to drive change.

AI search is evolving rapidly with Google, ChatGPT and Perplexity leading the way, offering more personalized and human-like interactions. Google has integrated shopping ads into its AI Overviews, while Perplexity plans to sponsor related questions. Marketers are advised to increase their brands' social and digital activity to leverage AI's content density preference.

Median rent on new apartment leases in Manhattan rose 2.4% in October on a year-over-year basis to reach $4,295, according to Douglas Elliman Real Estate and Miller Samuel. The annual increase was the first since April. Median rent rose 3.2% from a year earlier in Brooklyn, and it climbed 4.8% in northwest Queens.

Current market conditions are forcing multigenerational family property owners to sell their core office assets at significantly reduced values compared to five years ago, marking a significant departure from their historical approach of holding onto buildings through various economic cycles. Buyers are often investment firms or large developers seeking to convert these buildings into other types of properties, such as rental apartments.

The metaverse, once heralded as the future of the internet, has seen a rapid decline in interest after initial enthusiasm from brands like Nike and Macy's. "Brands are still experimenting in the space, but focus has shifted from broad, experimental activations to more practical, value-driven experiences," Jason Snyder of Momentum Worldwide says.

The need for affordable housing on Martha's Vineyard can be met without compromising the island's environmental beauty, Vineyard Conservation Society board member Jack Fruchtman writes. Fruchtman advocates for smart growth, including building within already developed areas, using nitrogen-reducing septic systems and avoiding fossil fuels.