Homebuyers are gradually returning to the market despite elevated mortgage rates and home prices, driven by life events such as growing families, job changes, and retirement. Some buyers are adjusting their expectations, exploring more affordable options farther from city centers. However, homebuying activity remains slow from a historical perspective.

Too much matching can result in a bland, monotone space that risks becoming quickly forgettable to buyers. Find out how to use color, texture and accents to make your listings stand out in photos and home tours.

Brands need to rely on data-driven marketing to navigate economic uncertainty, prioritizing personalized, value-centric messaging, writes Nicole Penn, EGC Group president. Agile strategies, including rapid testing and real-time feedback, are essential for adjusting to market conditions and maintaining customer trust, Penn writes.

Designers Jennifer McKissick, Laura Covington and Peter Falkner share tips for maximizing outdoor living spaces. McKissick transformed a patio with checkerboard flooring and Chippendale railings, Covington designed a coastal kitchen with a glass garage door, and Falkner added surprises such as a hammock and raised beds.

A 6,022-square-foot home in Miami Township, Ohio, has listed with Scott Oyler of Oyler Hines, Coldwell Banker Realty for $1.25 million. The property features five bedrooms, an elevator, a generator, a heated four-car garage with an electric vehicle charger and river views.

Smart home and security devices are increasingly important for seniors aging in place, offering independence while ensuring safety. Threshold Motion Wi-Fi Sensing Plugs, for example, provide noninvasive monitoring by tracking changes in Wi-Fi signals. Other useful devices include smart speakers for voice-activated assistance, versatile smart locks and smart pill dispensers.

There are "over a million AI models" available, writes Charles Rollet, as he examines more than 20 of the latest AI models released in 2024 and 2025, highlighting their capabilities and usage. Notable ones include Google's Gemini 2.5 Pro Experimental, OpenAI's GPT-4o image generator, Alibaba's Qwen QwQ-32B and Cohere Command R+.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore has emphasized the importance of homeownership as an investment and a means to build generational wealth, sharing a personal story about how his grandparents borrowed against their home to fund his education. However, high housing costs are making homeownership unattainable for many young adults, with 30% of young Maryland residents considering leaving the state because of high housing costs, Moore says.

The U.S. economy is showing signs of stagflation, with stagnant growth and rising inflation, as consumer spending has declined and inflation has increased. A real-time estimate from the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta indicates economic contraction at a 0.5% rate in the first quarter, and the University of Michigan consumer sentiment survey shows increased pessimism about job prospects and inflation.

Employers likely slowed their hiring in March compared with the prior month, according to economists surveyed by Bloomberg. Meanwhile, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell and other Fed officials are expected to weigh in on the economic outlook this week, offering potential insight into what's next for interest-rate policy.