Real estate professionals often predicate success upon an external force, a factor beyond their control. Like interest rates. Or inventory. How many times have you thought, “if rates just came down a little” or “if we just had more listings,” surely, business would skyrocket. In reality, however, while interest rates and inventory are critically important…
Weichert Real Estate Affiliates, Inc. (WREA) has been named one of the top franchises in the country by Franchise Business Review for the 11th straight year, earning a spot on the Top 200 Franchises list for 2026, according to a release. The annual list is based on franchise owners’ satisfaction with their franchisor and system…
The Federal Reserve is reportedly split when it comes to further interest rate cuts in 2026, operating with a “wait-and-see” attitude depending on how inflation moves during the year. The latest results from the Fed’s preferred gauge of inflation—the Bureau of Economic Analysis’s Personal Consumption Expenditure (PCE) report—showed inflation dipping then inching back up. Delayed…
Above, Lisa Cook President Donald Trump’s attempted firing of Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook appears to have hit a roadblock. The case was heard before the Supreme Court Wednesday and media reports indicate, based on the oral arguments and questions posed by the justices, the Court seems unlikely to allow the firing to proceed. The…
Above: Rob Giuffria. When Rob Giuffria, managing broker for Tea Leaf Realty, headquartered in West Hartford, Connecticut, learned that Zillow’s 2026 Hottest Market Forecast had Hartford on top, he wasn’t particularly surprised, as his brokerage’s business has been thriving. And it’s Zillow that has helped it do so. Tools like BuyAbility, which helps buyers see…
The last two weeks of mortgage application metrics have shown sizable increases. According to the latest Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) report, the Market Composite Index—the measure of mortgage loan activity volume—increased 14.1% from one week earlier on a seasonally adjusted basis for the week ending Jan. 16, following last week’s notable 28.5% increase for the…
Above from left, Drayton Saunders, Susan McLeod, Michael Saunders, Tim Jaeger and Andrew Ford. Michael Saunders & Company has unveiled a new public window installation at its downtown Sarasota headquarters, honoring the formative years that helped establish the city as a nationally recognized center for visual arts and creative culture, according to a release. Titled…
President Donald Trump’s speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos Wednesday largely focused on diplomatic tensions, but he also turned at points to the U.S. economy—including his new plans to rein in institutional investors in the single-family home market. “In recent years, Wall Street giants and institutional investment firms, many of you are here,…
Realtor.com® announced on Jan. 21 the public debut of Realtor.com®+, a home search platform built in collaboration with MLSs, intended to help real estate professionals and consumers “connect, collaborate and close with confidence.” Designed to elevate the search experience and strengthen MLS and professional value, Realtor.com+ hopes to set a new standard for transparency, insights…
Above, Amit Kulkarni and Russ Cofano This past November, when the National Association of Realtors® (NAR) repealed the rule linking MLS access to Realtor® membership—bringing an end to a structure that shaped local policy and revenue for decades—Realtor® associations and MLSs were forced to navigate a new world with no clear roadmap for moving forward. …
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