NAR CEO Nykia Wright sat down with House Speaker Mike Johnson, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and other leaders of Congress in a series of meet-and-greets on Capitol Hill to discuss top housing priorities, including inventory and affordability. Meanwhile, NAR staff joined lawmakers to mark the kickoff event for the relaunched bipartisan Congressional Real Estate Caucus.

Brands are increasingly partnering with "silver influencers" from Generation X and baby boomer generations to enhance brand awareness and cultural relevance. Progresso Soup has collaborated with the Retirement House and influencer Patti Roberts on TikTok and Instagram, while Harmless Harvest is seeking senior influencers for a new yogurt product. The trend reflects a shift in consumption habits among older generations and the broad appeal of older influencers across age groups.

Social media is a powerful tool for small businesses, with 84% of consumers checking brands on these platforms before purchasing, according to Porch Group Media. When conducting social listening on an ongoing basis, businesses can find the trends to capitalize on before they go stale. Not every trend will suit every brand, and misalignment can lead to negative publicity or reputation damage.

The average for the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage has fallen for seven weeks in a row. This week, it posted its largest drop since mid-September.

Rising home prices and elevated mortgage rates continue to challenge the U.S. housing market, but eXp Realty CEO Leo Pareja expects a modest rise in sales this year, with resales reaching between 4.2 million and 4.3 million. Pareja says the inventory of homes for sale has risen sharply in states such as Florida and Texas, creating a more buyer-friendly market, though he does not anticipate significant declines in mortgage rates.

A penthouse at The Summit Club in Las Vegas has been listed for $25 million, making it the most expensive on the market in the city. The residence features two primary suites, five en suite bedrooms, a wraparound terrace, a private jetted lap pool and views of the Strip and Red Rock Mountains. Ivan Sher of IS Luxury is the listing agent.

Abode Systems has introduced an Apple TV app and upgraded its Android TV app, allowing users to manage home security and view camera feeds directly from the television.

Bob Williams and Lisa Boccetti, in cooperation with the Wake County Register of Deeds, led a massive community volunteer effort to create a map of the North Carolina county's neighborhoods with racially restrictive covenants. This collaborative project aimed to raise awareness about the lingering effects of these covenants, which includes generational wealth disparities..

In one of his first speeches since assuming his role, Turner focused on clearing a path for the construction of more affordable housing.

Philadelphia Federal Reserve President Patrick Harker discussed the state of the economy, noting that unemployment remains low but that certain threats remain. "We're starting to see that confidence is starting to wane," both from a business and consumer perspective, Harker said.