At NAR's Real Estate Forecast Summit, economists unveil the cities expected to lead the housing rebound and the key indicators of an improving market.

Video: NAR and FEMA discuss why the extension of the National Flood Insurance Program is essential to protect citizens in flood-prone areas.

At the "Enchanted Library," an interactive space at the annual conference, agents and brokers opened up about how they've become everyday heroes for their clients.

False equivalencies—which present two sides of an argument as equally valid when one lacks factual grounding—can undermine public discourse and trust, writes Paul Oestreicher. The issue is evident in debates on climate change and vaccine safety where misinformation spreads unchecked, often amplified by social media. Oestreicher emphasizes the need for better communication of scientific processes to rebuild trust.

An analysis of the industrial, retail, multifamily and office segments finds that "year-over-year rent growth rates have broadly been modest or moderating across the four traditional property types," writes Nareit's Edward Pierzak. However, "it is important to note that rent growth rates across each of the four traditional property types have generally remained positive," Pierzak writes.

There are certain signs of growing momentum for new multifamily projects as interest rates decrease and inflation slows. For example, AvalonBay Communities recently started construction on a 444-unit development in Austin, Texas. "We are leaning into development, which not everyone's saying," said AvalonBay CEO Benjamin Schall.

Smart-home energy monitors are devices that provide real-time data on energy consumption, helping homeowners reduce usage and costs. These monitors can identify energy-hogging appliances and suggest more efficient usage patterns. They often connect to smartphones or tablets, offering convenience and accessibility for users.

The Homeless Outreach Team at the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department has made nearly 50,000 contacts since its inception in 2018, helping more than 500 people this year alone get off the streets completely, the department reports. The team works closely with community organizations to connect people with shelter and social services, and it has advised similar teams in Albuquerque, N.M., and Columbus, Ohio.

A bill that would have temporarily raised commercial property taxes in Boston has failed in the Massachusetts Senate, with a legislative leader citing concerns about the potential economic impact. Mayor Michelle Wu says that without her proposal, single-family homeowners' taxes will increase 10.5%, up from an average of 9% in recent years.

Thirty-eight percent of respondents to a survey by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York expect their financial situations to improve in the coming year. Respondents' one-year, three-year and five-year inflation expectations also increased by 0.1%.