The FCC is stepping up enforcement of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act and the National Do Not Call Registry. Some real estate pros are being accused of unlawfully using telemarketing calls and texts for promotional purposes. Here's how to stay out of legal trouble.

The agreement would release all state/territorial and local REALTOR® associations from liability for the types of claims brought in these cases on behalf of home sellers related to broker commissions, and would also require their compliance with the practice changes agreed to in the settlement. Institutes, societies and councils affiliated with NAR are included in the release in the settlement agreement. Get more facts about the settlement and practice changes at facts.realtor.

Rana Reeves, founder and CEO of RanaVerse, explains four ways the advertising world can authentically engage during this year's Pride Month, including focusing on emotion, positivity, nuances and not giving in to potential online backlash. "Focus on the message, live up to your values, and your audience will follow you through the storm," Reeves writes.

Inclusive marketing doesn't have to start from the ground up but should be an evolution from a brand's current values, writes Julie Kratz, founder of Next Pivot Point and Little Allies. "Speaking up about DEI issues doesn't have to mean taking a political stance," writes Kratz. "Statements or actions can show support for historically marginalized communities without alienating people from different political perspectives."

Vote for your favorite rising stars in real estate and help one of them clinch the Web Choice Award, which will secure their place in REALTOR® Magazine's 30 Under 30 Class of 2024. You and your clients are eligible to cast one vote per finalist every day, so be sure to spread the word to your sphere.

Finance expert Meredith Whitney says a wave of U.S. seniors downsizing to smaller homes could be the most immediate source of inventory coming to market.

Real estate agent Jeremy Kamm advises that effective staging can make spaces not only appear larger but also enable prospective buyers to envision a home's potential.

Consumers love to spot a fake, and the use of AI will only fuel this, such as with the marketing chaos surrounding Kate Middleton's edited photos, writes Audrey Chee-Read, principal analyst at Forrester. Chee-Read suggests brands lean into intelligent creativity where "teams of creators and strategists conceive, design, produce, and activate business solutions with the assistance of AI, intelligent automation, and data."

Sears shares a message from the road about valuable member services that NAR is providing at no additional cost, as well as how to get involved in NAR committees. Watch his message to you.

In 2023, the U.S. saw another increase in homelessness, with the ongoing housing affordability crisis becoming a key issue for voters during this election season. Presidential candidates, including President Joe Biden, former President Donald Trump and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., have each shared their perspectives on how to address this critical challenge.

Some economists have indicated that interest-rate cuts might not be coming this summer, and some have even floated the idea that there might be no rate reductions in 2024. "Personally, I wouldn't be surprised if we saw less rate cuts and pushed more towards the end of the year," said George Lagarias, chief economist at Mazars. Meanwhile, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York has released updated survey data on consumers' future inflation expectations.