With new apps, real estate pros are offering clients a way to buy vacation homes at a fraction of the cost.

Median sales prices in Clark County, Wash., were up 16.9% in June from a year ago as agents tout location, lot size and other factors to keep listings moving. "The downtown location, square footage for price point and large bedroom sizes are all amazing and hard to find," said Brandy Pettet of Cascade Hasson Sotheby's International Realty.

Agents are helping clients manage expectations amid ongoing market changes that mean some houses are staying on the market longer, giving buyers more options. Leslie Sargent Eskildsen, a board member with the California Association of REALTORS® advises putting "some lipstick" on offers that may disappoint sellers.

Record-high home prices, declining consumer confidence and fears of recession are taking their toll on aspiring homeowners.

Housing markets with lower participation by investors are likely to retain values in a recession, says Dennis McGill of Zelman & Associates. "I would argue that the areas that will weather a recession better are the ones that have a more stable demand profile, one that's driven more by primary demand and not second home or investor demand over time, and one that doesn't have a lot of supply coming to market," McGill said.

Researchers at universities in Arizona, South Carolina, Louisiana and Florida are developing an online tool that provides details on hazard costs over time related to specific residential areas. The goal is to inform buyers and motivate owners to take protective action.

Kama Burton provides a safe space for troubled youth in California to express themselves, build camaraderie and chart a more positive path forward in life.

Sustainability isn't just about ensuring the future. Reducing waste can serve the needs of others in the here and now. A case in point: the REALTOR® organization's partnership with the Food Recovery Network.

Minimum wage is nowhere near sufficient to pay for a two-bedroom apartment in New England, according to a report by the National Low Income Housing Coalition. In Rhode Island, a person must earn at least $24.32 per hour to afford the average two-bedroom apartment.

Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., have reached a deal on ending the carried interest tax provision used by some in real estate. The proposed tax change would come as part of a broader compromise on the Biden administration's tax, energy and climate legislation.