What are offers of compensation and why are they a compelling strategy for sellers to consider when marketing their property? These questions and more are answered in the latest resource in NAR's "Consumer Guide" series. Download and share the resource directly with inquiring consumers.

About 45% of Generation Z users prefer to use social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram for finding information on brands, products and services rather than Google, compared with 10% of baby boomers, 20% of Generation X and 35% of millennials, according to Bernstein Research, citing an April survey by Forbes Advisor and Talker Research. Google is adapting to these changing search behaviors and developing new features like augmented reality glasses that allow users to search images and text, and is testing its Gemini AI models with an Ask Photos feature to answer queries for information in a photo.

Content experts share ideas on how to connect emotionally with audiences via audio, including branded podcasts, sonic branding and using generative AI tools to incorporate sound into existing content. "Every piece of branded sound or music makes a long-term impression on a consumer—from advertising to social content to activations," says Made Music Studio's John Taite, noting, "We often say that people think about what they see, but they feel what they hear."

Fraudulent mailers are circulating, purporting to help members register or renew .realestate or .realtor domain addresses, the association warns.

Ryan Tarr of Stanfield Real Estate was the listing agent for this home on Lido Isle in Newport Beach, Calif. It recently sold for $21 million, setting a notable price per square foot at $5,250, triple the citywide average.

August brought a welcome decrease in New York City apartment rents, with Manhattan's median rent dropping to $4,245—a 3.5% decline from the previous year's record high. Brooklyn and Queens also saw annual decreases in median prices, according to data from appraiser Miller Samuel and brokerage Douglas Elliman Real Estate.

The Real Estate Roundtable's Q3 2024 Sentiment Index showed a rise in confidence among commercial real estate executives, with an overall score of 64, a 3-point gain from the prior quarter. The overall score gained 18 points compared with last year.

Futurist and author Bernard Marr sings the praises of Apple Intelligence, calling it the "gold standard" for handling AI. A major difference from competitors is that Apple's privacy-first system keeps information on the iPad, iPhone or Mac instead of shipping it to the cloud for analysis, where it might be breached or misused.

Drama classes for those of any age can teach the skills needed to succeed in the workplace, including teamwork, solving problems through improvisation, learning public speaking and developing critical and creative thinking, write Deakin University senior lecturer Jo Raphael and associate professor Joanne O'Mara. "Research shows drama develops empathy, social skills, well-being and confidence," they write.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development is providing funding to fair housing organizations to combat discrimination under the Fair Housing Initiatives Program. These grants will support fair housing enforcement, education and outreach efforts to ensure fair access to quality, affordable housing, particularly for historically discriminated groups.

In a recent webcast, DoubleLine Capital CEO Jeffrey Gundlach highlighted six signs that the U.S. economy might be close to or in a recession. He also noted that the significant gap between the federal funds rate and the 2-year Treasury is support for the Federal Reserve to cut its benchmark interest rate by 50 basis points at its meeting next week. While recent data indicated a rise in core inflation, Gundlach suggested that declining overall inflation could justify the rate cut.