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Real Estate Industry

“All the news that's fit to print,” or to click, as the case may be, can be found right here at your favorite real estate social networking site, ActiveRain. And here you thought it was merely a great place to chat with colleagues and slap up a blog post or two.


We know you're busy – whether it's trying to fill your pipeline or following up on what's already popped out of the bottom of it. Who has time to read? And, while real estate market news geared toward consumers is easy to round up on the Internet, news for brokers and Realtors is a bit harder to come by.


Your friends at ActiveRain understand how important each of those 168 hours in every week is so we've made it easy for you by consolidating everything you need to know to keep up-to-date with the real estate industry right here, in one place.


How are housing starts looking? Has the FHFA launched any new efforts? How's that Fannie and Freddie loan limit rollercoaster doing?


You've got the questions and your colleagues here at AR have the answers. It's at your fingertips – finally.

Recent blogs on Real Estate Industry
By Adam Scard, World traveler and lover of real estate trends
Light, calm, and nature-designed on purpose.“Wellbeing doesn’t start in a yoga studio. It starts at home.”And the numbers back it up. A 2024 Australian housing survey found that nearly 68% of homeowners prioritise mental wellbeing when renovating or building, ranking natural light, greenery, and private retreat spaces above entertainment areas.That shift is changing how Sydney homes are being designed.The idea of a wellness corner isn’t about adding another room. It’s about carving out intentional spaces that help you slow down, reset, and breath, without leaving home. Think light-filled reading nooks, spa-like bathrooms, and indoor plants that genuinely improve how you feel day to day.Let’s break down how to design one properly and make it last.Why Wellness Corners Matter in Sydney Hom...
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By Joe Jackson, Clintonville and Central Ohio Real Estate Expert
(Keller Williams Capital Partners Realty)
COLUMBUS, Ohio (January 14, 2026) — Residential real estate sales in central Ohio rose 5.6% in December compared with the same month in 2024. The region recorded 2,291 closed sales, with a median sales price of $322,000.For 2025, there were 29,626 closed sales recorded in the Columbus & Central Ohio Regional MLS, up from 28,754 sales in 2024, a 3% year-over-year increase. Gross residential real estate sales in central Ohio topped $11.1 billion in 2025. The gross residential real estate sales total was $10.5 billion in 2024.Condominium sales edged up 0.9% for the year, accounting for 3,951 sales, or 13% of all residential transactions in central Ohio.Inventory continued its year-over-year growth trend, reaching 4,440 homes in December, up 14.2% from the same month last year. However, inv...
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By Sam Thomas, When it's important; hire a professional.
(Providence Group Realty)
If you’ve found yourself Googling “how to sell my house in North Dallas”, you’re not alone.Every week, I speak with homeowners across Plano, Frisco, Richardson, Allen, Carrollton, and Dallas who are asking the same questions: Is now a good time to sell? What could my home realistically sell for? What should I fix before listing? What mistakes should I avoid? Selling a home today is not the same process it was five or ten years ago. The market has changed. Buyer expectations have changed. And the margin for error has narrowed.This guide is meant to give you clear, practical insight so you can make informed decisions—whether you choose to sell now, later, or simply gather information.Step 1: Understand Your Local Market (Not Just the Headlines)You’ll hear a lot of general statements onlin...
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By Arius Valentino, Elite Agents + Qrixe Technology
(Luxe Residences)
Real estate has changed. But most technology platforms have not.Luxe Residences Florida partnered with Qrixe to bring a fundamentally different experience to both clients and agents.Qrixe is not a lead-selling platform.It is not a funnel system.It is not a portal.It is a bidirectional engagement system that allows clients to receive real intelligence instantly while agents receive verified engagement data at the same moment.What this means for clients is simple.Faster answers.Private interaction.No forms.No lead reselling.No middleman.For Luxe Residences, this partnership ensures every interaction reflects our core values of discretion, intelligence, and efficiency.Technology should elevate service. Not replace it. Qrixe allows us to do exactly that.
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By Sam Thomas, When it's important; hire a professional.
(Providence Group Realty)
By Sam ThomasReal Estate Agent with Providence Group Realty | License #0664947January 12, 2026If you’re considering selling a home in Plano, Frisco, Richardson, Allen, Carrollton, Dallas, or anywhere across North Dallas, one decision will shape your entire outcome:who you hire as your listing agent.This isn’t just about convenience. It’s about strategy, execution, and protecting your equity in a market that has become far more complex than it was just a few years ago. Pricing trends, buyer behavior, interest rates, appraisal scrutiny, and days on market all shift quickly in North Texas—and the agent you choose must understand that landscape at a truly local level.Before you sign a listing agreement with anyone, here are the most important questions to ask—and why they matter.Why Intervi...
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By Gwen Fowler SC Lakes & Mountains 864-710-4518, Gwen Fowler Real Estate, Inc.
(Gwen Fowler Real Estate, Inc)
 Title: 2026 Is Bringing Balance Back to Real EstateAfter several years of extreme swings, the 2026 housing market is beginning to show something many buyers and sellers have not seen in a long time. Balance.Mortgage rates have moved lower from their 2024 and 2025 peaks. Inventory is no longer collapsing. Buyers are coming back into the market, but they are no longer forced to make rushed decisions just to compete.This shift matters.When rates were climbing and inventory was tight, many buyers stepped out. Sellers had the advantage. In some areas, homes sold in days with little room for negotiation. That environment created inflated expectations that were never meant to last.Now we are seeing a more stable pattern. Homes are selling. Buyers are qualifying more easily. Sellers are pricin...
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By Dana (Lerner) Sparks, Satisfying You with Service Innovation & Education
(Maximum One Realty - Managing Broker)
2026 Changes to the Georgia Association of REALTORS (GAR) Contract Package. Welcome to the series on the changes that the Georgia Association of REALTORS has made to the 2026 Contract Forms. Please share with any agents in GEORGIA too! Dana SparksBroker, Maximum One Greater Atlanta, REALTORS
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By Leanne Smith, The Grit and Gratitude Agent
(Dirt Road Real Estate)
Possibly, some of us we may remember the TV series “Mission Impossible.” Peter Graves (the brother to James Arness). Graves played Mr. Phelps, a leader of a covert team, MI. Phelps would received instructions via a tape recorder with a specific mission and the desired result. Of course, Phelps always had the choice not to accept the mission as well as the tape would self-destruct in 5 seconds.The definition of mission is “a specific task with which a person or a group is charged.” (Source: Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary)From my experience in working with small to even larger businesses, the published Mission Statement is often the Vision as there is no specificity in what is called the HOW.  I have asked CEO’s to managers to read the Mission Statement and consider this question:If yo...
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By Leanne Smith, The Grit and Gratitude Agent
(Dirt Road Real Estate)
Some may remember the original Alice in Wonderland movie when Alice comes across a tree in the woods and wonders what path she should take. Here she meets the Cheshire Cat who she then asks which way should she go.  The Cat responds it really doesn’t matter as Alice doesn’t know where she is going.For some real estate agents, they are much like Alice. They don’t know where they are truly going. For business owners, from the micro to the macro knowing the WHERE is the Vision, the vanishing point on the horizon. This vanishing point is different for each individual and may potentially conflict with the brokerage’s vision as well.Fortunately, when I signed on with Dirt Road Real Estate, I understood the Vision of the founders.  Since that time, I have fine tuned my Vision Statement and ens...
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By Patricia Feager, Licensed to April 2027
(Referral Specialist - DFW FINE PROPERTIES)
Journal for Sunday, 1/11/206To be clear, I'm no authoritarian on religious matters. Nor am I the sharpest or brightest color in a crayon box, but there are quotes we all find interesting. If it's something that resonates with you, it doesn't matter where the source came from, if it makes good sense, then maybe that's where we find our superpower. Could it be, our superpower is as old as ancient wisdom always has been?"Be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow tobecome angry." ---James 1:19 Throughout our life we learn to listen but often what we hear, is misunderstood. If not listening correctly occurs frequently, then listening to what other people say poorly, can result in bad outcomes due to: Misunderstood instructions. Misdirected steps in the process. Erroneous actions that make ...
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By Daryl Datus, 360-801-6373
(Kellyright)
UNDERSTANDING BUYER REACTIONS IN MASON AND KITSAP COUNTY BY MARKET TRENDS By Daryl DatusUncategorized January 10, 2026 Mason and Kitsap counties experienced a 23% shift in buyer behavior patterns during the last quarter, fundamentally changing how properties move through these markets. Understanding buyer behavior in these specific counties isn't just helpful information - it's the difference between making smart moves and costly mistakes in your real estate decisions. This article breaks down exactly how buyers in Mason and Kitsap counties respond to current market trends, giving you the data and insights you need to navigate these competitive areas with confidence. You'll discover the specific factors driving buyer decisions, from interest rate fluctuations to inventory levels, and le...
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By Arius Valentino, Elite Agents + Qrixe Technology
(Luxe Residences)
Luxe Residences Florida was created to serve clients who expect more from real estate representation. Not more noise. Not more mass marketing. More clarity. More discretion. More results.We operate across Florida’s most dynamic markets, focusing on strategic representation for buyers, sellers, and investors who value intelligent positioning over volume exposure.Our approach is simple.Private access beats public listing noise.Strategy beats speed.Execution beats promises. Luxe Residences Florida is here for clients who want their real estate decisions handled with 
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By GilbertRealtor BillSalvatore, Realtor - 602-999-0952 / em: golfArizona@cox.net
(Arizona Elite Properties )
Good post by Leanne today, and worthy of our daily Re-Blog.BillGILBERT ARIZONA HOMES FOR SALE, Bill Salvatore, AZVHV / HelpingArizona Heroes, New-Construction Advantage, Realtor, sell my house, 2026Market, Chandler Outside of your WHY in Real Estate Is, Your WHAT for me is the most important question to be answered.  I believe if more real estate agents would commit their “WHAT” to writing, the general public would have higher confidence in working with real estate agents. Now you may be asking yourself, what is the WHAT in real estate. Simply speaking, your WHAT is your Values, your moral code, your ethics, call it what you will.  Your behaviors are a direct results of your values. For professional real estate agents who are also REALTORS®, there exists a Code of Ethics. In the first a...
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By Leanne Smith, The Grit and Gratitude Agent
(Dirt Road Real Estate)
Outside of your WHY in Real Estate Is, Your WHAT for me is the most important question to be answered.  I believe if more real estate agents would commit their “WHAT” to writing, the general public would have higher confidence in working with real estate agents.Now you may be asking yourself, what is the WHAT in real estate. Simply speaking, your WHAT is your Values, your moral code, your ethics, call it what you will.  Your behaviors are a direct results of your values.For professional real estate agents who are also REALTORS®, there exists a Code of Ethics. In the first article, three words appear for me that sum up how I behave with clients. Those three words are "protect and promote." However, my interactions go beyond clients to customers to vendors to community individuals to frie...
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By Joan Cox, Retired Broker/Owner, Enjoying Every Day to Its Fullest!
I always chuckle when our Association sends out emails in mid to end of December with last-minute commission update classes.    There must be those who wait until the last dang minute for this, or they wouldn't be offered. My preference is as soon as I can get into a class first of January, as there are new rules that have come out, and want to know them right away.    This year will be a tad different, as I am not doing anymore real estate this year, and have lots going on right now.   Probably once I get settled in Portugal, will take a Zoom class. I always like to go back into House Bills given or even the Commission Position statements to review them again. PS - Last year in my Zoom class one of my past clients sent me an email asking to meet up for dinner in a week.   Guess I didn'...
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By Adam Scard, World traveler and lover of real estate trends
Why Video Is No Longer OptionalScrolling through listings today, it’s clear that the bar has risen. Static photos and bullet-pointed features just don’t cut through the noise like they used to. Buyers want more—and they want it quickly. Video isn’t just a “nice to have” anymore; it’s the standard. Whether it's a 60-second Instagram reel or a full walkthrough hosted on YouTube, video gives buyers what they’re really craving: emotion, atmosphere, and context.A well-produced property video doesn’t just show a home—it tells a story. It captures the way light filters into the kitchen at 10am, the breeze that drifts through bi-fold doors on a Sunday afternoon, or the lifestyle that comes with a rooftop terrace in South Yarra or a poolside cabana on the Gold Coast.And for agents juggling five ...
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By Adam Scard, World traveler and lover of real estate trends
In Ontario's evolving property landscape, services like those from Francis Movers help families and professionals transition into communities that match changing needs for space, affordability, and lifestyle.Ontario's real estate market reflects economic pressures, shifting demographics, and regional differences. Entering 2026, relocation patterns reveal how buyers and sellers adapt to slower growth, higher inventory, and moderating prices. Urban areas like Toronto see cautious activity, while suburbs and regions beyond the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) attract those seeking larger homes or lower costs. Mixed-use developments gain traction, offering walkability and convenience that suit remote workers and families relocating for balance.Data from 2025 shows Canada's population growth slowe...
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By Adam Scard, World traveler and lover of real estate trends
In the Colorado real estate market, certain features always grab a buyer's attention. We see it all the time with updated kitchens and mountain views. But there is one feature that sits right at the center of the living room and the buyer's wish list: the fireplace.For homes in Colorado Springs, a working fireplace is more than just a decor choice. It is a source of heat during our snowy winters and a gathering place for families. However, for a fireplace to be a true asset the kind that helps close a deal it needs to be in excellent condition. A neglected chimney can quickly turn from a selling point into a deal-breaker during the inspection phase. Here is why keeping your hearth healthy is one of the smartest investments you can make before listing your home.The Inspection Deal-Breake...
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By Adam Scard, World traveler and lover of real estate trends
The Seattle real estate market is tough. Prices are high, and inventory is tight. For many buyers, the dream of finding a perfect, "move in ready" home is becoming harder to reach. The competition for these turnkey properties is fierce, often leading to bidding wars that push prices well above the asking price. But there is another trend happening quietly in the background. Smart homeowners and buyers are realizing that buying a fixer upper or renovating their current home often leads to a better result and a better investment than fighting for a finished house.In a city with such unique neighborhoods and varied housing styles, a custom renovation offers something a generic flip cannot: a home that actually fits your life. Instead of paying a premium for someone else’s design choices, y...
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By Adam Scard, World traveler and lover of real estate trends
Closing day is finally here. You have signed the mountain of paperwork, shaken hands with the agents, and received that shiny set of keys to your new home. It is a moment of pure excitement. You are probably thinking about paint colors, furniture placement, and where the coffee maker will go. However, there is one critical task that should happen before you move a single box inside. You need to change the locks.It is easy to assume that because the house is yours, the keys are yours alone. Unfortunately, that is rarely the case. In the months leading up to the sale, that property was likely accessed by a dozen different people. Real estate agents, contractors, cleaning crews, stagers, and even neighbors might have been given a spare key. The previous owners likely gave copies to family ...
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