Brokers carry a heavy load—and maintaining mental wellness is vital. REALTOR® Taryn Kelly, a wellness expert, shares key takeaways from NAR's latest Broker Power Hour. Kelly's tips can help you recognize burnout, reset and lead with calm clarity. Plus, sign up for tomorrow's Broker Power Hour (no cost to NAR members) for timely info on managing liability and reducing risk.

Making referrals to home services providers can involve significant risk for unwary real estate professionals. This two-minute video offers the best practices you should follow when you make recommendations.

Sales success now hinges on thorough preparation, including researching leads, customizing outreach and collaborating with marketing. Personalization has become the baseline, and sales cycles are longer, requiring more scrutiny from buyers. Top sales teams also focus on operational risks, including adequate insurance coverage. Creating a culture of preparation through internal collaboration and continuous improvement is essential for building trust and shortening sales cycles.

Employers should invest in education to improve talent mobility, which builds an agile workforce that thrives during uncertain times, writes InStride Chief Product Officer Michelle Westfort, who points out the approach closes skill gaps and prepares employees for new roles. "Your existing employees represent a goldmine of potential, known qualities with proven cultural fit who can deliver what your company needs," writes Westfort, citing the example of a health care provider that developed internal talent for data analytics during an economic downturn.

Homeowners who encounter financial trouble may not know where to turn when they can no longer afford their monthly mortgage payments. Mortgage relief through forbearance may help. This comprehensive overview is a great resource to read and share with troubled clients.

Howard Hughes Holdings CEO David O'Reilly notes that there continues to be a shortage of homes in the US and that some consumers are patient amid broader uncertainty. O'Reilly also discusses the company's strategic direction in terms of land sales to homebuilders.

Some people who bought homes in recent years had hoped that mortgage rates would decline significantly, allowing them to refinance at lower rates. However, rates have remained above 6.6%, preventing buyers from following through on these plans. Still, economists aren't expecting the situation to lead to a wave of foreclosures.

Ecosystems such as Amazon Alexa, Apple Home and Google Home offer convenience but come with hidden costs, including the need for smart home hubs, devices and ecosystem subscriptions, forced upgrades and potential privacy concerns. The ecosystems can also lock users into specific products, limiting compatibility with other brands.

Making quick decisions is often necessary, but leaders don't have to go through the process alone, says business writers Karin Hurt and David Dye, noting, "You do need a pulse check from the people who are most affected." Ensuring that decisions are informed without the need for lengthy meetings involves asking for input, not consensus, which can strengthen team relationships, even under pressure.

True Ground Housing Partners has unveiled plans to redevelop its Leckey Gardens property in Arlington, Va., to build 249 affordable housing units. The project involves replacing two three-story buildings with 10-story structures, and completion is planned for 2029, with funding from county gap sources, Low-Income Housing Tax Credits and other unnamed sources.