Americans from every racial background saw their homeownership rates increase in the last decade—and in 2023 alone, Blacks had the largest year-over-year increase of any group, according to NAR's 2025 Snapshot of Race and Home Buying report. Still, barriers remain for many consumers, and there are four ways real estate pros can help.

There are several points throughout the real estate transaction where you or your client could inadvertently tip your hand and reveal your bargaining power. REALTORS® Matthew Rathbun and Amy Steele discuss on the "Drive With NAR" podcast key strategies to avoid common pitfalls and enhance your negotiation skills.

Entrepreneurs face significant challenges in uncertain and rapidly changing business environments, but crises can also present opportunities for innovation. Oleg Boiko, the founder and principal investor of Finstar Financial Group, offers seven strategies for navigating turbulent times, including taking calculated risks, thinking creatively, enjoying work, building the right team, preparing for crises, setting long-term goals and saving customers time.

Research from MIT shows that employees who take debate training were more likely to move up the management ladder than those who didn't, which researchers say presents a scaleable and cost effective way to train leaders to be more assertive. Such training, says the study's co-author Michelle Zhao, "pushes individuals out of their psychological comfort zone to assert their views under pressure, teaches them to communicate persuasively and confidently, and encourages them to stand their ground diplomatically during disagreements."

Since interior designers named loud hues, like lime green and bold pink, as the worst home colors for 2025, try a softer color palette to make a property more attractive to buyers.

Natural disasters such as hurricanes, wildfires, and floods have complicated the real estate market in desirable residential areas across the U.S., posing an obstacle to selling properties amid a rising awareness of climate risks. Real estate agents are taking various approaches to highlight the positive aspects of homes in such areas while acknowledging potential issues and offering mitigation resources in some cases.

Smart-home devices have become common, but they also pose security risks, says John Joyce of CRS Technology Consultants, who notes that anything connected to the internet is vulnerable to hacking. Joyce advises using separate networks for smart devices, strong passwords and multifactor authentication.

Refusing to delegate work out of a desire for control of your business can lead to burnout, missed opportunities, and stymie growth, writes Allison Dunn, the founder of Deliberate Directions. Learn to let go by framing delegation as a strength, review areas and tasks that can either be released or turned over to others and model letting go for your team so they can also release unproductive tasks, Dunn advises.

Marin County, Calif., has allocated more than $2.4 million from excess 2023-24 budget funds to the affordable housing trust fund. This move supports a policy of contributing $5 million annually to the fund for five years. The county faces a mandate to zone for thousands of new homes by 2031, nearly half affordable, but high construction costs and interest rates pose challenges.

U.S. companies report a noticeable weakening in consumer demand due to inflation, high interest rates and new tariffs. This decline in demand is a significant shift as consumers had previously propped up the economy despite prolonged inflation. Retailers and airlines are adjusting forecasts as they face softer sales and bookings, indicating a tough year ahead.