Mortgage rates are now lower than a year ago, but house hunters remain cautious.

You have the power to be more innovative, responsive and effective.

Stay positive when dealing with a downturn in sales and look for ways to overcome obstacles instead of dwelling on mistakes, advises sales expert Colleen Francis. "Consistently successful sellers and team leaders—those who rebound quickly from a loss—instead look at the obstacles to success as opportunities," Francis writes.

Salespeople focus on differentiating products but should also look at differentiating engagement strategies, writes David Brock, author and sales expert. "We spend so much time focusing on how different we are from the alternatives, we forget about the customer and what they are trying to achieve," Brock writes.

Cyd Greer of Coldwell Banker Brokers has the listing for celebrity Ryan Seacrest's 40-acre Napa Valley, Calif., property that includes an 8,650-square-foot residence, a guest cottage and a pool house. The estate is listed for $22 million.

Empire State Realty Trust, a real estate investment trust that owns the Empire State Building, has agreed to pay $195 million for two properties in Brooklyn. The deals will bolster its presence on North 6th Street, where it already holds several retail properties.

Robot vacuums have come a long way, offering a range of features that cater to different needs and budgets.

REALTOR® Kay Wilson-Bolton continues supporting the poor and homeless with food, shelter and hope.

Advocates for the senior living industry are focusing on the lack of affordable housing for older adults in the U.S., urging for more federal resources to address the issue.

Higher-for-longer interest rates seemed like the right way to go, but the facts have now changed, writes Bill Dudley, former president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, saying the Fed should cut rates ideally at its meeting next week. The U.S. economy was strong for years, but the Fed's efforts to cool growth are having a notable effect. As unemployment rises and inflation pressures abate, the Fed shouldn't wait any longer, Dudley writes.