Consumers may want to know why they need an appraisal or what happens if the appraised value of a home is different than the purchase price. Get ahead of their inquiries and share NAR's latest Consumer Guide directly with clients and prospects or on social media and in other marketing materials. Download all of NAR's Consumer Guides, including Spanish versions, at facts.realtor.

Two industry professionals reflect and share tips on handling written buyer agreements, referencing best practices that are also highlighted in NAR's member resource on "dos and don'ts" when working with buyers.

Sales planning should be occurring at all times rather than just being reserved for a yearly or quarterly basis, according to Colleen Francis. One of the secrets to sales success is to balance long-term planning with daily activities that help sales teams meet their goals, Francis writes.

Authentic leadership often involves "leading from behind," a strategy that can be more effective than the traditional approach of forging ahead, writes leadership coach Piers Fallowfield-Cooper, who notes that this method requires leaders to pace themselves with their teams, foster trust and create a sense of shared ownership of solutions. "To truly lead, you must stay close enough to your team to know when they're ready for the next step. Only then can you turn around and find them walking with you," Fallowfield-Cooper writes.

California real estate pro Michael Pasqualino's supersized decorations—his house is covered in 70,000-holiday lights—attract tens of thousands of visitors each year. He asks those who come to marvel at his front doorstep to also donate to good causes.

Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos open the doors to their five-story Upper East Side townhouse in Architectural Digest, showcasing an Art Deco interior designed by William Sofield and Emma O'Neill. The couple, who have lived there since 2013, have filled the home with Parisian-inspired treasures and functional touches. "I don't want to sound morbid, but they'll have to carry me out of here feet-first," Ripa says.

Companies such as AvalonBay Communities, Invitation Homes and Blackstone are investing in single-family rental homes, catering to millennials and others priced out of the housing market. "We think we're really in the early stages of what could be a pretty significant, almost new asset class," said Matt Birenbaum of AvalonBay, which recently bought 126 build-to-rent townhomes in Texas in a $49 million deal. The build-to-rent trend is particularly strong in the Sun Belt as a result of available land and an influx of workers.

Malware and malvertising pose immense economic risks to digital media and advertising, with even minor malware incidents that can lead to revenue losses. The industry's focus on brand safety often overlooks the financial implications and diminished brand reputation and trust.

Minneapolis has allocated nearly $18.5 million from the Affordable Housing Trust Fund to support 11 affordable housing projects. "With the support of our amazing housing partners, we're creating deeply affordable housing at a rate 8.5 times higher than previous years," Mayor Jacob Frey says.

A Reuters poll reveals that a significant majority of economists expect the Federal Reserve to implement a 25 basis point cut in December. However, opinions diverge on future actions, with more than half of the economists polled predicting a pause in rate changes at the January meeting as the Fed takes stock of the economy.