A big segment of buyers remains largely shut out of the current real estate market. In this Q&A, Nadia Evangelou, senior economist and director of estate research at the National Association of REALTORS®, underscores both the progress and the work that remains to allow more Americans to fulfill homeownership.

The 2025 class is a powerful reminder of the drive, vision and inspiration that today's young real estate professionals bring to the industry. Within these pages, you'll meet individuals who have launched their own brokerages, negotiated multimillion-dollar deals and built standout brands in competitive markets—all before their 30th birthday.

Social media provides short-form videos every day for 60% of people with internet access around the world, Ampere Analysis reports, making the format more popular than broadcast TV or long-form streaming. Short-form video is most popular with those between 18 and 24 years old, as 73% use it daily.

Homebuyers 55 and older are increasingly seeking homes that promote well-being and proximity to friends and family, according to John Burns Research and Consulting. These buyers, who are healthier and more affluent than previous generations, prefer low-maintenance homes with wellness amenities such as walking trails and fitness centers. The "baby chaser" trend highlights the desire to live near children and grandchildren, with cities like Austin, Texas, and Charleston, S.C., being popular destinations.

Sun Belt housing markets are accumulating unsold homes as more owners list properties as they give up on waiting for mortgage rates to fall significantly. In addition, some sellers may be driven by other factors, including insurance costs in Florida. U.S. home prices are still elevated compared with a year ago, although areas such as Dallas and Tampa have seen declines, according to S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller data.

A 10,000-square-foot home in Newtown Square, Pa., is set to sell above the $2.9 million asking price after receiving multiple offers, according to listing agent Karen Strid. The home, which was only on the market for three days, features five bedrooms, seven bathrooms, a pool, multitiered terraces and views of Aronimink Golf Club.

Brands are facing a new era in digital marketing as generative search engines and AI agents reshape consumer interactions. AI-driven platforms necessitate website optimization for natural-language queries and structured data, requiring brand coherence and personalization, while building trust and authority to remain competitive.

A National Zoning Atlas report reveals that nearly 70% of land in Colorado is zoned in a way that prevents the construction of affordable housing types such as duplexes, townhouses and apartments. This zoning restriction is a significant factor in the state's affordable housing crisis, says Sara Bronin, president and CEO of the Zoning Atlas. "There is a huge affordability gap—in part maybe due to supply, but also in part due to the fact that the places where people would most want housing are the places that are not providing it," Bronin says.