The deadly wildfires come amid an ongoing insurance crisis in the state. For many residents, rebuilding will be a challenge.

Communication within a brokerage starts at the top. Set your agents and your office up for success by modeling open, frequent communication.

Purpose-driven marketing has evolved into a core business strategy, requiring brands to align their mission with profitability, writes Reid Carr, founder and CEO of Red Door Interactive. While these initiatives can enhance reputation and drive innovation, they also pose challenges such as increased operational costs. Brands must integrate purpose into their core strategy and ensure it contributes to key business outcomes like growth and customer acquisition, Carr writes.

Agency leaders predict a creative renaissance in 2025, highlighting trends such as the integration of AI, augmented reality and virtual reality to enhance storytelling. Other predictions include a focus on human creativity, with brands taking bold risks amid economic uncertainty and cultural shifts, and a continued resurgence of humor and nostalgia in campaigns.

Meta has removed its independent fact-checking program and reintroduced political content, moving to a Community Notes system much like X. CEO Mark Zuckerberg says the changes aim to "restore free expression" and simplify content policies. The move comes as Meta seeks to improve relations with President-elect Donald Trump, who has criticized the platform for bias.

This four-bedroom Albuquerque, N.M., home is seeing a boost in value thanks to being prominently featured on the hit series "Breaking Bad." The $3.995 million asking price is driven by the show's popularity and its pop culture significance, according to listing agent David Christensen of eXp Realty Luxury.

Wood drenching, a top interior design trend for 2025, involves enveloping a space in natural wood tones and textures to create a warm and cozy atmosphere. Designer Debbie Mathews explains that this can include hardwood floors, wood paneling and rich wood furnishings. Designer Liz Williams notes the trend's eco-friendly aspect, as some people use responsibly sourced or reclaimed wood to bring the outdoors inside.

New Jersey municipalities are working to meet a new state law that requires nearly 150,000 affordable housing units by 2035. The law, praised by advocates like Adam Gordon of the Fair Share Housing Center, aims to address soaring housing costs and limited stock. However, opponents, including Montvale Mayor Mike Ghassali, argue it places an unfair burden on towns without providing necessary planning tools or taking community-driven solutions into consideration.

Colleges and the economy are bracing for a demographic shift as the number of 18-year-olds begins to decline this year, a trend that started with falling birth rates during the Great Recession and is projected to result in 15% fewer 18-year-olds by 2039, compounding an existing 15% drop in college enrollment. This decline poses a significant economic threat, with potential labor shortages expected by 2032 and a decrease in skilled workers, increasing the risk of college closures, especially in the Northeast, Midwest and West.