How Real Estate Agents Can Drive Sales While Building Stronger Communities

The face of homeownership is changing. Diverse households—especially Hispanic, Black, and Asian families—are driving housing demand and will account for more than 70% of net new homeowners in the coming decades, according to the Urban Institute. Yet these groups remain underserved due to persistent barriers like misinformation, credit access issues and limited affordable inventory. Real… …more

Nevada Prime Real Estate LLC Affiliates with CENTURY 21 Real Estate

Century 21 Real Estate LLC announced it is fortifying the brand’s presence in Northern Nevada with the affiliation of female-led Nevada Prime Real Estate LLC in Fernley.  The full-service brokerage was established in February of 2020 by current broker/owner Michelle Barney, according to a release. Barney is a staple of the Northern Nevada real estate… …more

Will AI Replace the Need for Agents? Not If You Refine These Skills

AI is everywhere—from generating images and essays to automating tasks—and real estate is no exception. With new tools for virtual tours, data analysis and marketing, many agents are wondering: Will AI replace me? The short answer: Not if you build a business rooted in skills AI can’t replicate. Human insight, emotion and creativity remain irreplaceable,… …more

MLS PIN Parties Reach Revised Agreement—But DOJ Position Unclear

The parties in the class-action lawsuit against MLS Property Information Network have jointly submitted a second and final extension request for their fourth amended settlement agreement. During the preliminary hearing April 1, U.S. District Court Judge Patti Saris decided to delay preliminary approval, citing concerns over class expansion. She called for a revised agreement by… …more

Frances Katzen: From Ballet to Billion-Dollar Team

From ballet to brokerage, Frances Katzen’s career journey is one of grit, reinvention and persistence.  Before leading one of Douglas Elliman’s top-producing teams—The Katzen Team—she spent over a decade captivating audiences as a professional dancer, performing at the American Ballet Theater and as a soloist at the Miami City Ballet and with the Suzanne Farrell… …more

Leading With Confidence and Collaboration

Above: Wendy Walker A powerhouse in Arizona’s luxury real estate market, Wendy Walker has built her career on a foundation of expertise, integrity and mentorship. As principal of Wendy Walker Fine Properties – The Agency in Scottsdale, she has spent more than two decades serving high-profile clients in the area. Her ability to navigate the… …more

4 Downers Sellers Can’t Change About Their Homes and How to Talk About Them

It can be a slippery slope for you as the listing agent to discuss a home’s true dollar value with the owner. They prefer to accentuate the positive and eliminate the negative. But the reality is they should be made aware that buyers will take everything into account, the plusses and minuses. Here are four… …more

GSEs Conservatorship on the Backburner as Experts Highlight Risk

Libby Cantrill (left), with Warren Kornfeld, (right) speaking at MBA’s Capital & Secondary Markets Conference in New York City on May 20. NEW YORK CITY—Changes to the GSEs (Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac) are here already, in the form of new leadership, policy shifts and evolving priorities under the new Trump administration. But the most… …more

Christie’s International Real Estate Announces New President

Above, Gavin Swartzman Gavin Swartzman—previously CEO of Toronto-based real estate service company Peerage Realty Partners—will be joining Christie’s International Real Estate in June 2025 as the company’s new president.  Swartzman joining Christie’s was announced by the company’s co-CEOs Thad Wong and Mike Golden at Christie’s International Real Estate’s annual conference in New York City, held… …more

Disrupting the Status Quo: How a Wildly Successful Model Rocketed Platinum Realty to No. 1 Office

Above, from left, the Platinum Realty leadership team: Rob Hill, Curtis Keith, Shelby Austin and Veronica Shaw Platinum Realty was born by a bold vision, but its unwavering commitment to its agents has defined its success as Kansas City’s largest residential real estate office by transaction count. As it celebrates its 20th anniversary milestone, Platinum… …more

Vince Leisey Named President of HSF Affiliates, Franchisor of the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Network

Above, Vince Leisey HomeServices of America has named Vince Leisey president of HSF Affiliates, the franchiser of the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices network. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices is the residential real estate franchise network owned by HomeServices of America, and part of a market-leading family of real estate brokerages, mortgage companies, settlement providers, insurance and corporate relocation… …more

LiveRamp and RE/MAX Media Network Partner for New Clean Room Integration

RE/MAX has announced a partnership with LiveRamp—the leading data collaboration partner—to power the RE/MAX Media Network. The LiveRamp Clean Room securely unifies touchpoints across the RE/MAX brand’s vast monthly digital audience of 7.6 million users and 24.7 million impressions, making RE/MAX Media Network a premier destination for advertisers seeking to improve audience targeting and optimize… …more

Breaking Down the Ban: Zillow Shares Details of New Listing Standards

Zillow’s “ban” of private listings is soon coming into effect, with the portal releasing details today of how its controversial Listing Access Standards will unfold. The standards—which were created to be compliant with NAR’s much-debated Clear Cooperation Policy—have been a hot topic in the industry since they were announced in April. Since then, Zillow has… …more

FHFA Director Compares Potential Cuts to GSEs to DOGE

Above, MBA’s Laura Escobar speaks with FHFA Director Bill Pulte at the Mortgage Banker Association’s Secondary and Capital Markets Conference in New York City Monday. Photo by Clarissa Garza.  NEW YORK CITY—During the Mortgage Banker Association’s (MBA) Secondary and Capital Markets Conference, Bill Pulte, director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), emphasized how much… …more

ERA Key Realty’s Team Blue Is Breaking Records in Boston

Above, Lori Penney A graduate of the University of Massachusetts with a degree in international marketing, Lori Penney is a born entrepreneur, with more than 10 years of business success to her credit before she set her sights on real estate in 2008. She was also early to see the value in teaming, and in… …more

PropStream to Exhibit at ‘Property Challenge Live’ in Atlanta June 6-7

PropStream, a leading real estate data and lead generation platform, has announced its sponsorship and booth presence at Terrica Lynn Smith’s Property Challenge Live, which will take place June 6–7, 2025, in Atlanta, Georgia. PropStream cited their support for Terrica Lynn Smith’s mission—that everybody deserves the chance to succeed in real estate, regardless of their… …more

Buffini & Company Launches AI Bootcamp Led by Industry Icon Michael Thorne

Buffini & Company has announced the launch of the Buffini AI Bootcamp with Michael Thorne: a 12-month live training program designed to help real estate professionals incorporate AI tools into their workflow without losing their personal touch.  Beginning June 11, Buffini stated that this innovative training program is set to empower real estate professionals to… …more

Louisiana Legislation Would Change Buyer Agreement Requirements

What to do when association rules contradict the law? Alabama passed a law banning the signing of a buyer representation agreement before a home tour, which supersedes National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) rule changes since the settlement in 2024. Louisiana could be the next state to effectively repeal that buyer agreement, as a similar bill… …more

New York Fed President Says Housing Affordability ‘Number One Issue’ for Economy

Above, New York Fed President John C. Williams, left, at the MBA conference. Photo by Clarissa Garza. NEW YORK CITY—Providing an overall economic outlook at the Mortgage Banker Association’s (MBA) Secondary and Capital Markets Conference, New York Fed President John C. Williams highlighted the “huge” imbalance between housing supply and demand and addressed the economic… …more

Leading Economic Index Hits Near-Decade Low

Pressure continues to build amidst wavering factors—trade wars and flip-flopping tariffs, inflation and a lack of change in interest rates—pushing economic data to significantly lower levels, according to recent reports. The latest Leading Economic Index (LEI) from nonprofit The Conference Board slipped 1% to 99.4, falling below the index’s median 100 level, which indicates the… …more