NAR President Kevin Sears shares an update on the association's settlement agreement to resolve home seller litigation and highlights the ongoing work to advocate for members and consumers. Watch his video here.

A Billion Dollar Boy survey found that 70% of marketers increased their generative AI content investment last year, and the same percentage plan to boost spending in generative AI this year. The budget for that investment will be pulled from other marketing channels, say 65% of respondents. Also, 65% of marketers say they are willing to pay more for generative AI content from creators than content typically made by them.

The housing market is building momentum as more inventory brings consumers to the market, NAR data shows.

The public homebuilders that Howard Hughes partners with are only offering modest incentives to buyers, says CEO David O'Reilly. These companies have been posting strong margins for a prolonged period of time, an indication of the imbalance between home demand and supply. O'Reilly also discusses labor trends and consumer preferences, including demand for short commutes and walkable communities.

"Personal paradigm shifts that produce low points can happen at any time in life," but those who've been in business for a while often "instinctively know that we'll emerge from the fiery depths of a low point," leadership author LaRae Quy writes. Quy explains how leaders can "explore and embrace" themselves during these low points, using self-discovery to grow stronger.

Hearing highlights NAR research that shows how eroding affordability and inventory challenges are shutting many Americans out of homeownership.

The voices of local people experiencing homelessness get amplified in a 10-episode podcast produced by the Dallas Public Library as part of a homeless engagement initiative that's been in place since 2013. "The podcast is a way to share their stories and hopefully increase understanding and empathy," says Melissa Dease, the DPL's community relations administrator.

Stock indexes rallied to record highs Wednesday after Federal Reserve policymakers reiterated a plan to cut interest rates three times this year, despite an uptick in inflation during the past two months. Policymakers decided to hold the benchmark rate at 5.25% to 5.5%, the Fed says. The S&P 500 closed 0.9% higher, while the Nasdaq composite and the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 1.3% and 1%, respectively.

U.S. credit card balances reached a nominal record-high $1.13 trillion in the fourth quarter of 2023, with a notable acceleration over the past three years, according to bank data collected by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. Meanwhile, data from Moody's Analytics shows credit card delinquencies have hit their highest point in about 13 years. "It really is a sign that lower-income families in the U.S. are facing additional financial strain," says Citi global economist Robert Sockin.