A massive outage across multiple MLSs nationwide, caused by a cyberattack on a technology vendor, was one of the biggest events in real estate tech this year. Artificial intelligence applications in the real estate business, which are advancing at breakneck speed, also grabbed plenty of headlines. But more practical, everyday cybersecurity advice proved helpful as well. Here are five of REALTOR® Magazine's top technology articles in 2023.

Heading into the new year, the housing market is showing positive signs with a year-over-year increase in housing inventory in November, according to Realtor.com, which could lead to more competition and potentially lower home prices. Additionally, mortgage rates are gradually declining after reaching their highest level in over two decades.

Patterns, textures, color and furniture choices combine to bring a 1970s aesthetic to life in 2023.

The House of Representatives and the Senate have introduced bills to amend the Fair Credit Reporting Act, effectively outlawing the practice of trigger leads, in which credit bureaus inform mortgage lenders when they receive a credit report request from another lender on a mortgage loan application. This notification frequently results in unsolicited approaches from the lenders to the applicant and a several financial trade associations have welcomed moves to end the practice.

In recognition of the holidays, SmartBrief will not publish Dec. 25 through Jan. 1.