Although housing inventory is slowly improving, real estate professionals may have clients who feel frustrated with the lack of options on the market. Solutions-driven agents share ways to reassure your clients that they, too, can realize their dreams of homeownership. Listen to the "Drive With NAR" podcast to also hear ideas for how practitioners can impact inventory solutions where they live.

Exceptional leaders distinguish themselves through powerful communication skills, including expressing themselves authentically, listening for emotions and embracing curiosity, writes Peter Economy.

Bluesky is attracting marketing professionals due to its similarities to early Twitter and the opportunity for genuine engagement. Bluesky requires authentic participation in conversations, posing both a challenge and opportunity to shift from traditional broadcast-style messaging to more meaningful interactions, says Gather's Christophe Jammet. CMI Media Group's James Duncan adds, "Bluesky has the potential to redefine social media by prioritizing people and community over algorithms."

This year's holiday styles are channeling bright red Christmas trees and the 1970s.

A townhouse in Raleigh, N.C., has gone viral on social media for its eclectic interior design reminiscent of a 1970s psychedelic disco. The four-story, 3,358-square-foot home is listed for $1.8 million and features vibrant, geometric wallpaper, a blue-and-lime-green kitchen and a bathroom with gold mermaid scales.

An increasingly competitive market has real estate pros seeking new ways to stand out, showcase their unique value and grow their businesses. Artificial intelligence is emerging as a key vector that could separate resourceful, tech-forward agents from the rest of the pack. Read more at NAR's Emerging Technology blog.

ZDNet writer Maria Diaz touts the Echo Dot as "a great way to add Amazon Alexa to your home, bringing the virtual assistant into your routines to answer questions and run smart home devices."

Being scapegoated at work can be isolating and unfair, but Karin Hurt and David Dye suggest using empathetic and solution-focused phrases such as "What I'm hearing you say is ..." and "I'm curious how this looks from your perspective" to help clarify roles and defuse tension. You can prevent being blamed for something in the future by documenting your work, building strong relationships with colleagues and advocating for clear team roles to avoid misunderstandings.

Tenants at Bridger Heights Apartments in Bozeman, Mont., say they could pause rent payments if their landlord, 11 Capital, doesn't address issues such as radon, black mold and plumbing problems. "We have to address affordable housing that is really affordable ... by very low-income standards and by up to middle-income standards," says Pam Bean, executive director of Montana Fair Housing.

The Federal Reserve is maintaining a cautious approach to interest rate cuts due to persistent inflation, as indicated by the core personal consumption expenditures index rising by 0.3% in October. Fed officials have expressed that there is no urgency to lower rates, given the strong labor market and ongoing economic growth.