Amid a drastic market slowdown, brokers are finding ways to increase agent support and brand value to convince talent not to go looking for other opportunities. Listen to "Drive With NAR" as three brokers explain their agent retention strategies.

When you put in the extra hours to develop a business specialty, you can set yourself apart by promoting your education. Even if those outside of the real estate industry don't know what the acronyms mean behind your name, most understand that you committed to extra training.

Ansley Williams, head of influence for North America at Ogilvy, talks about the agency's report on 2024 influencer trends, which reveals the importance of sonic identities, explores how AI will change the influencer landscape and how sports, driven by the Olympics, will have a big impact. Williams also discusses the power of influencers, who are "a bridge between the brand and the consumer, translating the message into something relatable and approachable that connects people."

Delays in dropping cookies gave marketers time to put together strategies for first-party data, such as offering exclusive access or deals to customers who answer questions about their habits. Now agencies and brands need to develop plans for analysis and application, create consistent standards and explore the potential of retail media, experts say.

Take a look back at some of the trending designs in homes last year, from bright exterior colors to horrifying fads. Which ones do you hope to see continue dominance in the new year?

Designer Jake Arnold says "quiet luxury" will be a design catchphrase for both interiors and fashion. "Within design, there will be a continued emphasis on classic, investment pieces that you can build a room around," Arnold says.

Real estate professional Jeff Checko predicts active real estate transactions in the spring and summer, but uncertainty toward the year's end, especially as election years often impact Federal Reserve policies. For investors, 2024 presents differing scenarios: Individual landlords may face high financing rates, while cash-heavy investors could find significant opportunities, particularly in bulk purchases from builders eager to sell.

Experts in the legal field assert that the use of generative artificial intelligence is an irreversible trend that is expected to accelerate, similar to its adoption in other industries. This perspective is reinforced by a report from U.S. Chief Justice John Roberts on the potential risks and impacts of generative AI in law, with the belief that firms not adopting these tools will be at a significant disadvantage in terms of speed, accuracy and efficiency.

In 1948, the Supreme Court issued a landmark ruling on restrictive covenants in real estate. Three-quarters of a century later, REALTORS® are reckoning with the past as they work to bring equal housing opportunity to all.

A bill introduced ahead of Florida's 2024 legislative session would mandate that homeowners insurers offer policies covering just the unpaid principal on a mortgage, although at least one expert is questioning the adequacy of such policies and whether they would meaningfully reduce premiums.