Real estate professionals have always had to demonstrate tangible value to the buyers and sellers they serve. Now that's doubly important. NAR's proposed settlement agreement is prompting changes in the real estate industry, but you have all the tools and expertise necessary to navigate those changes smoothly and confidently. In a new episode of the "Drive With NAR" podcast, five pros, both agents and brokers, discuss how they're preparing for the practice changes that are coming.

No. If the MLS participant is working only as an agent or subagent of the seller, then the participant is not working for the buyer. In that scenario, an agreement is not required because the participant is performing work for the seller and not the buyer. Get more facts about NAR's proposed settlement agreement at facts.realtor.

Snapchat saw 8 million new daily active users in the first quarter to bring its total to 422 million users worldwide but it is struggling to attract marketers as it launches its "Less social media. More Snapchat" campaign. The social media site hopes to create a safe space, especially for younger users, but social media analyst Minda Smiley wonders if it will be able to monetize that.

Sophie Jamison, CEO of Lightning Media, says the best way to work with influencers is to get out of their way and let them create content they know will resonate with followers—rather than focusing on metrics. "Sometimes those smaller creators that already have that niche community are a much better use of time and money," Jamison said.

The arrival of 8,000 REALTORS® in Washington, D.C., last week brought out political, media and industry headliners, who came to the REALTORS® Legislative Meetings to discuss the most pressing issues affecting real estate. The insights from the Beltway you'll want to catch up on include:

• New practice changes underway
• Yun: It's impossible for home sales to remain low
• Advocacy opportunities in the 2024 political landscape
• Journalists on media credibility in an election year

Read all of REALTOR® Magazine's coverage from the meetings at magazine.realtor/live.

For those at the upper-end of the homeowner spectrum, investment in custom furniture, high-end finishes and design updates over time are worth the cost, according to experts.

Listed for $4.35 million by Christine Dehnel of the Re/Max Platinum Group, this recently renovated 5,000-square-foot, five-bedroom, six-bathroom home at on Manitou Island in Sparta N.J., features panoramic views of Lake Mohawk.

The traditional real estate practice of physical property walk-throughs has been transformed by virtual home tours, which offer an interactive and convenient way for buyers and sellers to engage in the housing market remotely.

The Federal Reserve's strategy of keeping interest rates high until inflation hits its 2% target is challenged by the housing sector, where rents continue to rise despite the high rates, contributing significantly to inflation. Although multifamily construction has increased in the past year, the rising borrowing costs have led to a recent decline in new projects, and many cities are not meeting their housing goals.

Given the resilience of the economy, the Federal Reserve can concentrate on taming inflation by maintaining a restrictive policy stance until the numbers show it is time to make adjustments, said Fed Vice Chair Philip Jefferson.