Middle-aged Americans, part of Generation X, say they will need to rely on family for housing help in retirement (but they haven’t told them yet!).

Consumers should know that after Aug. 17:

• If you are a buyer and your agent is using an MLS, you will need to sign a written agreement with your agent before touring a home so you understand exactly what services will be provided and for how much.
• Written agreements are required for both in-person and live virtual home tours.
• You do not need a written agreement if you are just speaking to an agent at an open house or asking them about their services.
• Agent compensation for home buyers and sellers continues to be fully negotiable.
• When finding an agent to work with, ask questions about their services, compensation and these written agreements.

Get more facts about NAR’s proposed settlement agreement at facts.realtor.  

Don't forget sales is a team sport, advises sales expert David Brock, who encourages sales managers to provide coaching and support. "Even for the most transactional sales, we rely on our organizations to provide the products, services, customer support that enables us to sell and meet the commitments we make to the customers," Brock writes.

Bread and Butter CEO Sooyoung Cho says the same principles of ethical branding must be applied when using AI, guiding marketers by a "human-centric moral framework." Cho details two approaches for incorporating AI into branding: emphasizing creativity and cohesion over replication, and engagement and authenticity over reach.

Loan applications for home purchases remain sluggish, despite recent drops in borrowing costs.

A 25-acre oceanfront Massachusetts estate owned by former Citicorp CEO John Reed, has been listed for $40 million with LandVest/Christie's. The Long Point Lane property, features a main house with six en suite bedrooms, a private pier, and Cape Cod Bay frontage.

The Homearama 2024 event in Dayton, Ohio, features new-build, custom homes available for virtual and in-person tours. Two homes available for viewing in a virtual format only have already been sold.

Washington real estate pro Terry Miller uses her expertise and network to help potential buyers and agents identify properties and expand affordable housing efforts.

To combat racial disparities in real estate appraisal, the US Department of Housing and Urban Development and The Appraisal Foundation have reached an historic agreement. TAF, facing allegations of discriminatory barriers against Black and other persons of color, has committed to addressing these issues, as highlighted by data showing the appraisal profession as one of the least racially diverse in the US.

The Federal Reserve's latest Beige Book survey indicates slight growth as the economy heads into the third quarter, with several regions reporting flat or declining activity. Employment has increased slightly, but labor turnover has declined, and businesses have become more selective in hiring. Inflation has cooled, with consumer spending little changed, the survey shows.