Adapting to practice changes, leadership in turbulent times, flexible design choices -- and cicadas? These are the real estate stories that were most popular this year with REALTOR® Magazine readers.

Bluesky's new trending topics feature on its mobile and web apps is designed to enable users to view and engage with real-time popular discussions. This feature is reminiscent of Twitter's innovation and is in beta phase. Bluesky, which has more than 25 million users, faces competition from Threads, which has 300 million monthly active users and introduced trending topics in March.

Meta is planning to integrate AI-generated characters into Facebook to enhance user engagement and have them "exist on our platforms, kind of in the same way that accounts do," says Connor Hayes, Meta's lead for generative AI. These characters, developed through AI Studio, will mimic human behavior and interact with users like real people. While there are concerns about bots inciting misinformation and fraud, Meta aims to use these characters to flag such instances.

One-third of local businesses opted for AM/FM advertising this year, with many rating it highly for effectiveness, according to a Borrell Associates survey. Only 11% of businesses turned to streaming audio ads, reflecting a preference for traditional radio. The study indicates that small and medium-sized companies spent an average of $18,100 to advertise on broadcast radio this year, surpassing the $15,000 average for streaming audio.

Interior design trends for 2025 are set to be dramatic and immersive, featuring colorful kitchens, sculptural lighting and pattern drenching, as well as dramatic drapery, Art Deco-era antiques and moody hues. "Designers are increasingly asking for detailed edges on shades or overlays on drapery, which elevate the window treatment from a functional piece to a design feature," says interior designer Haley Weidenbaum, founder of Everhem.

A real estate agent recently thwarted a fraud attempt in Great Cacapon, W.Va., by alerting property owner Marlin Strand to a listing he did not create. The fraudsters used falsified documents to list the property and set up showings. Morgan County Sheriff Johnnie Walter notes that such scams are a nationwide issue, often conducted entirely online.

Moonstone Ranch Estate in San Luis Obispo County, Calif., has set a local price record, selling for more than $17 million. Neyshia Go of Sotheby's International Realty -- Beverly Hills Brokerage served as listing agent for the 78.5-acre estate.

Proptech is transforming the real estate industry, with key trends including AI for data analysis, AR and VR for virtual property tours, blockchain for secure transactions and IoT for smart property management. Companies like Zillow, Redfin and Matterport are leading the way, showcasing the potential of these technologies. However, challenges such as data security and regulatory compliance remain.

Affordable housing in Immokalee, Fla., has become a reality, offering a significant change for families who previously lived in substandard conditions. The new housing units, provided by the Immokalee Fair Housing Alliance, mark a pivotal moment for a community where over 40% live below the poverty line.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's final rule on overdraft services provided by financial institutions with over $10 billion in assets "could prompt many to limit the service, especially to low-income and low-credit customers," which "would drive customers in a pinch toward high-interest credit such as payday loans," writes The Wall Street Journal editorial board. A lawsuit filed by the Consumer Bankers Association makes a "strong claim" that the CFPB failed to sufficiently assess the consequences of the rule, the board writes.