Top Trends Driving Real Estate Wins in 2025

As the year closes out, we’re looking back at some of the trends that have defined success for real estate professionals across the board in 2025—chief among them the growing embrace of AI. In an ever-evolving market that sees consistent innovation in hardware, software and strategy, staying ahead begins with paying attention to those shifts… …more

Universal Consulting Opportunities Expands Global Role, Supporting MLS Modernization Across Multiple Markets

Universal Consulting Opportunities (UCO), a subsidiary of Stellar MLS, has continued its international engagement in 2025, supporting multiple markets in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Latin America and Europe. The organization provides consulting, strategy development and educational resources to help real estate professionals and organizations adopt MLS frameworks and modernize practices. In the past year,… …more

Culturally Aligned and Positioned for the Future: Pearson Smith Realty Sets the Stage for Continued Growth

Above: Pearson Smith Realty Staff and Leadership at D.C. metro regional meeting. Eric Pearson CEO Chris Boris Principal Broker Pearson Smith Realty Ashburn, Virginia www.PearsonSmithRealty.com  Region served: Metro D.C., Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia Years in real estate: 10 Number of offices: 5 Number of agents: 1,112 Key to continued growth and success: Agent productivity,… …more

4 Reasons Agents Should Pursue Upside-Down Properties for New Listings

When a homeowner owes more on their mortgage than the property is worth, they’re considered “upside down” or in a negative-equity position. And these situations are more common than many agents realize. As of Q3 2025, 2.8% of all mortgaged residential properties in the U.S. were considered seriously underwater, meaning the combined loan balances were… …more

Mortgage Rates Tick Up but Remain Near 2025 Lows

As we head into 2026, mortgage rates are expected to remain in line with today’s rates, which, while not the sharp decline some buyers may have been hoping for, are enough to see modest home price growth in the new year, economists predict.  The latest Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®), released by Freddie Mac Thursday,… …more

Lock-In Effect ‘Trapping’ Homeowners, Preventing Moves: Report

The lock-in effect—the gap between existing mortgage payments and the cost of financing a home today—continues to widely affect housing supply and is “trapping” homeowners into staying where they are, according to new data from Realtor.com®.   The new Realtor.com report details how a homeowner wishing to move but locked-in at a lower mortgage rate… …more

REMAX Survey: 88% of Prospective Buyers Plan to Purchase a Home in 2026

Homeownership remains a priority for many Americans despite housing market fluctuations this year. A recent consumer survey conducted by REMAX highlights how market conditions and lifestyle preferences are shaping homebuyers’ plans. While affordability remains a key concern, buyers are also prioritizing neighborhood safety, social connection and access to lifestyle-enhancing amenities. These preferences underscore that buyers… …more

Zillow Group Updates Privacy Disclosures Following Review by BBB National Programs

BBB National Programs’ Digital Advertising Accountability Program (DAAP) has worked with Zillow Group to bring several of its digital platforms—Zillow, Trulia, HotPads and StreetEasy—into alignment with the Digital Advertising Alliance’s (DAA) Self-Regulatory Principles for interest-based advertising (IBA), according to a release issued Dec. 10. DAAP’s routine monitoring identifies third-party data collection for IBA on Zillow.com… …more

Fed Cuts Rates by Quarter Point in Final 2025 FOMC Meeting

Above, Fed Chair Jerome Powell The Federal Reserve has announced its third interest rate cut of the year—its third in a row—closing out its final Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting of 2025. The FOMC announced at its December meeting today that it has cut interest rates by a quarter-percentage point. This follows a 25-basis-point… …more

Real Expands SoCal Footprint as Freeman Wang Joins Brokerage

The Real Brokerage, the fast-growing tech-focused brokerage that has made waves in recent years, announced on Jan. 10 that Southern California real estate leader Freeman Wang and his 50-agent team have joined Real through Harvest Realty, which operates under Real’s Private Label program. Wang’s team closed 430 homes totaling $425 million in sales volume in… …more

A Value-Driven Approach to Building Business

Above, Ryan Jonke Ryan Jonke Managing Broker/Owner JPAR® – Modern Real Estate Arvada, Colorado  https://www.jparmodernre.com  Region served: Denver Front Range Years in real estate: 25 Number of offices: 1  Number of agents: 170 Favorite part of your job: Teaching agents—whether that’s informing them as to what’s going on in the market or teaching them about… …more

Michael Saunders & Company Opens New Downtown St. Petersburg, Florida Office

Michael Saunders & Company, a member of Leading Real Estate Companies of the World®, has opened a new office in downtown St. Petersburg, as part of its continued expansion across Florida’s Gulf Coast. The firm has added a group of experienced real estate professionals to support its operations in the St. Petersburg/Tampa Bay market. New… …more

Mortgage Applications Remain Ahead of Last Year as Market Shows Gradual Improvement

Home purchase application activity continues to fluctuate with an increase this past week but mortgage watchers say the bigger picture shows applications overall running ahead of a year ago as market conditions continue to mark gradual improvement.  According to the latest Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) report, the Market Composite Index—the measure of mortgage loan activity… …more

Redfin Users More Likely to Consider Climate Risks After Publicized Natural Disasters

Homeowners may be feeling the impact of climate disasters on their insurance premiums, but are buyers modifying their behavior and performing deep research into climate risks during their home searches? Not for very long, it appears, per data shared by Redfin. Redfin listings separate climate risks into five categories: floods, fire, wind, extreme heat and… …more

How to Guide, Educate and Do What’s Best for Every Seller

Top from left, Dennis Cestra, Jr. and Stephanie Younger; bottom from left, Brenda Maher and Billy Nash While every company has their position and policy on how to approach private listings, every good real estate agent knows that what really matters is what’s best for the seller. Top real estate professionals tackle the topic in… …more

Brokers Hoping ‘Good News’ in 2026 Sparks Buyer Breakthrough

Another year is almost in the books, and with it, a cavalcade of economists and experts seeking to peer into the future and predict the subsequent year’s housing market. As brokers and agents parse out their path forward, these big national trends are not always the most useful guidance—even when they are accurate. After many… …more

At NAR Forecast Summit, Economists See Rosier Times Ahead for Housing Market

Above, Lawrence Yun and Nadia Evangelou At the National Association of Realtors® (NAR) Real Estate Forecast Summit, held remotely Dec. 9, NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun predicted that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates Dec. 10, with two more cuts next year. But taking a longer view after multiple sluggish years for housing, Yun… …more

Fueling Brokerage Growth With AI Innovation

Above: Jimmy McNally Jimmy McNally, sales manager for CENTURY 21 Beggins Enterprises in Apollo Beach, Florida, is a leading driver of innovation—and a big part of his success has been using MoxiWorks to support agent productivity and growth goals.  Building on that momentum, McNally is driving the firm’s next phase of growth with RISE by… …more

Corcoran Sawyer Smith Acquires Liberty Realty in Hudson County Expansion

Corcoran Sawyer Smith has announced the acquisition of Liberty Realty, an independently owned brokerage operating in Hudson County since 1995. The agreement brings Liberty Realty’s agents and offices under the Corcoran Sawyer Smith umbrella.  Liberty Realty has maintained a significant presence in Hudson County for nearly three decades, the company said in a release, offering… …more

Legislative Round-Up: Housing Reform Removed From Defense Bill; Florida Governor Seeks End to Property Taxes

Editor’s Note: The RISMedia series Legislative Round-Up looks at pending and passed federal and state-level legislation that impacts real estate professionals. Road to Housing Act removed from defense bill  The Road to Housing Act, a bipartisan comprehensive housing reform bill passed by the U.S. Senate, has met a new roadblock. The bill, previously attached to… …more