Be ready to explain to home buyers and sellers why there may be conflicting reports on a home's livable space.

A fresh coat of paint "gives the illusion of newness," says Michael Rosenblum of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices in Chicago. Half of sellers plan to do some level of painting when listing their home, according to Realtor.com®.

Branded apps have become a popular vehicle to localize consumer engagement, and McDonald's, which focuses "heavily on deals and freebies," is the most popular one in terms of downloads when comparing the first half of 2022 to H1 2021, reports Sensor Tower. "Apps for popular retailers and local services now provide a range of useful digital enhancements to the in-store experience and offer brands a powerful tool for cultivating loyalty and repeat business," writes SOCi's Damian Rollison.

New Balance, the 116-year-old shoe and apparel company, has survived and thrived for so long thanks to its marketing skill set, which includes a conscious approach to sustainability and partnering with growth-focused industries like video games, writes Chief Marketing Officer Chris Davis. "Using science-based tactics and understanding the art of marketing to a loyal customer base, New Balance has truly honed its ability to grow brand awareness," Davis writes.

Rising interest rates around the world are pushing borrowing costs higher, causing some prospective home buyers to pull back. The impact for existing borrowers varies by country, with many U.S. homeowners on fixed-rate loans with terms as long as 30 years.

Rent rates in Pittsburgh have increased 16.4% since March 2020, the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, and rents are positioned to keep rising due to an influx of new residents who have left more expensive areas.

A survey from Snap and Ipsos found that approximately 60% of people in the U.S. and nearly all social and communication app users expect to use augmented reality by 2025, while 84% of respondents have interest in using AR to make purchase decisions. There's a large gap between the experience brands are delivering and those that consumers desire, according to the survey report, which also offers five tips to help marketers gain a competitive advantage.

Affordability for first-time home buyers reached a new low in the second quarter as mortgage rates rise. Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Buffalo, N.Y., and St. Louis are among the most affordable markets for first-time buyers.

The disappearance of coastal properties amid rising sea levels will have an economic impact on city and county property tax revenues, and some municipalities will have to raise rates to account for revenue lost to properties that become submerged, predict experts at the Climate Central think tank. A.R. Siders of the University of Delaware's Disaster Research Center says local authorities should discourage development in flood-prone areas, increase affordable housing inland and warn residents about the risks of coastal real estate purchases.

Fannie Mae is now requiring lenders to verify there are no major deferred maintenance issues or unsafe conditions in condos and co-ops prior to financially backing mortgages, a significant change in lending rules, experts say. Building inspection history, the board action plan and meeting minutes are among the new required pieces of information boards must provide.