Focus this year on how to invest in your business so you don't have to watch your bottom line like a hawk.

Winter can still be a good time to sell a house, but you may have to take these steps to make the space appear cozier, warmer and more inviting.

Public relations expert Duree Mellion Ross advises that real estate firms should maintain their PR presence in the current market transition. "During economic slowdowns, opportunities are still present for developers and residential real estate firms to create awareness for their properties," Ross writes.

Real estate agent Amy Solarz-Patel shares her vision of a home-flipping project in Minnetonka, Minn., noting the caviar-colored kitchen and spacious shower.

A dated aesthetic on the outside of a home may give buyers the impression that the inside needs work, too. Know the styles that are fading in popularity.

Neutral greens in the kitchen, dark blue in bedrooms and accent walls for the living room are among color recommendations by real estate professionals.

Texas, Florida, California and New York have the greatest number of homeowners who do not have a mortgage, according to census data. By percentage, West Virginia and Mississippi top the list with more than half of homeowners in free and clear possession.

From turning on the shower to monitoring energy usage, smart-home technology is integrating more fully into homeowners' lives. This series will educate you on the benefits of this technology and what truly defines a smart, connected home.

Lawmakers in Vermont will prioritize efforts to expand affordable housing and address a chronic housing shortage. In 2022, Vermont received more than $1 billion in funding from the American Rescue Plan.

Heather Boushey, a member of the White House Council of Economic Advisers, says that as recent public and private-sector investments in infrastructure, clean energy and semiconductor manufacturing bolster the labor market, the economy can still pull off a soft landing. "Time will tell but I think the pieces are in place to have a fighting chance to do so," Boushey said.

A Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis analysis of the Philadelphia Fed's state coincident indexes finds that 27 states experienced negative growth in October. The Fed has estimated that negative SCI growth in 26 states could indicate that the economy has entered a recession.