The Massachusetts Senate advanced a proposal on July 24 that would require cities and towns to allow one duplex by right on lots zoned for residential use. The provision cleared the Senate as part of H.5576, a broader economic development package. It is not law. The House passed a different version of the bill, and…
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9 Services Smart Brokerages Are Offering to Attract More Agents
Today’s agents expect more from their brokerage than basic supervision, transaction oversight, and commission processing. As a real estate agent myself, I know firsthand that when agents evaluate brokerages, they’re looking at much more than commission splits. Training, technology, marketing support, lead generation, mentorship, company culture, and operational support all play a role in the…
Buyer Agreement Dispute Exposes Gaps in Brokerage Release Policies
A Pennsylvania couple who tried to fire their buyer’s agent remained tied to a one-year exclusive agreement, according to a July 22 report. Kirsten Ganas and Austin McCarley signed the agreement at their first home tour. When they later sought another agent, the brokerage offered reassignment, a referral arrangement, or an early-termination payment. The contract…
Institutional Investor Home Listings Double as Purchase Restriction Nears
Active listings tied to large institutional investors more than doubled between February and July, rising from 4,166 to 9,447 as a new federal restriction on their future home purchases approaches. HousingWire reported the increase July 21, citing data from Parcl Labs. The additional listings could add inventory in neighborhoods where corporate ownership is concentrated, but…
BXP Seeks Up to $750M for 7 Times Square Office Leasehold
BXP has hired Eastdil Secured to market the leasehold interest in 7 Times Square for a reported $700 million to $750 million, according to a July 20 report on the offering. No sale has closed, and no buyer has been identified. The offering arrives as office demand shows renewed strength in parts of Manhattan, but…
Mortgage Rates Reverse July Dip, Hit 2026 High at 6.55%
The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate rose to 6.55% for the week ending July 16, its highest level of 2026 and the highest reading in nearly a year, according to Freddie Mac’s latest rate survey. The average increased from 6.49% one week earlier and 6.43% on July 2, reversing the month’s initial decline. The increase…
Baselane Review (2026): Is It Right for Managing Your Rental Property?
As a real estate agent, I’ve worked with investors and rental property owners who are not just trying to collect rent. They are trying to understand cash flow, track expenses, organize property finances, and make smarter decisions across one or multiple rental properties. That is where Baselane stands out. Baselane is a rental property finance…
KBB Homes Expands Into Seller Leads With ZIP-Based Agent Subscriptions
Kelley Blue Book Homes will begin marketing to sellers and distributing leads to participating agents on August 1, less than a month after launching its residential valuation platform. The consumer site is already live in 10 states, offering homeowners free price reports while agents apply for subscription-based access to selected ZIP codes. Monthly pricing, projected…
Home Prices Jump Double Digits in Affordable College Towns — 4 Checks for Agents
Home prices are rising by double digits in several affordable, inland college towns while national growth remains modest. Morgantown, West Virginia, led the markets studied with a 12.9% year-over-year increase, followed by Syracuse, New York, at 12.5% and Tuscaloosa, Alabama, at 10.6%, according to a new college-town housing analysis. The three markets posted double-digit gains…
Top 8 Sources for Pay-at-Closing Real Estate Leads in 2026
Pay-at-closing real estate lead companies can be appealing because agents do not pay upfront for leads. Instead, you only pay a referral fee when a transaction closes. That can make these platforms less risky than traditional paid lead generation, especially if you want to avoid monthly ad spend or the unpredictability of cost-per-lead campaigns. But…