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Inman Real Estate News

Why ‘old school’ still rules at winning listings in 2026
While everyone else competes online, the agents who win listings will be the ones who go old school, pick up the phone and show up in person, new contributor John Angelopoulos writes. 

Why smart AI adoption is the new competitive advantage for agents
The AI advantage will belong to those who use it more intentionally, more consistently and more intelligently than everyone else, Mauricio Umansky writes.

How AI may be driving interest rates higher: Redfin economist
Lenders are pouring money into AI, Redfin's Daryl Fairweather said. As a result, there's less capital leftover for loans on everyday items.

Mortgage group: Affordability woes could end the American Dream
The National Association of Mortgage Brokers (NAMB) is ringing the alarm with its latest white paper, saying affordability is stopping Americans from achieving life milestones like homeownership and starting families.

‘Me’ leaders vs. ‘we’ leaders: Defining culture, growth and legacy
Today’s real estate agents are not just choosing a brokerage, broker-owner Lori Muller writes. They’re choosing a collaborative community where they can thrive.

Homes.com moves toward filterless search with AI assistant
CoStar debuted Homes AI on Tuesday, its home search assistant that guides homebuyers through Homes.com listings and proprietary market data with natural language. The tool will be added to other CoStar-owned sites later.

The heyday of the cash homebuyer seems to be over (at least for now)
As mortgage rates remain lower and buyers continue to have the upper hand in most markets across the U.S., many are opting out of paying for homes in cash.

Opendoor pushes AI pivot amid stock volatility
Opendoor’s CEO shakeup and AI pivot signal a push toward software-driven homebuying, as the iBuyer navigates investor scrutiny.

How broker-developer collabs build (or break) a project
In today’s market, collaboration isn’t a luxury. It's leverage. Luxury strategist Peggy Olin teaches you how to co-create opportunities with developers in your market.

Putting your commission check to work for you: A step-by-step guide
Whether it's your first commission or your hundredth, Certified Financial Planner Amanda Neely writes, implementing a simple allocation system can transform financial stress into financial confidence.

What agents say Compass should do next — in their own words: Intel
Following its acquisition of Anywhere's brands, Compass looms large over real estate. Hundreds of agents and brokerage leaders wrote to Inman Intel to share their hopes, fears and priorities for the year ahead.

Feeling presidential: Real estate’s biggest new hires and moves
Fathom Realty, SERHANT. and other industry brands made moves last week, appointing new presidents and leaders to lead their growth efforts.

Why does everybody suddenly care about affordability? The Download
After years of a housing affordability crunch, Congress has weighed in with competing proposals to make homeownership more possible for hopeful buyers.

This is the lie that keeps agents broke: eXp’s No. 1 team leader
With over $875 million in volume and 1,100-plus deals last year, and more than 10 percent of San Diego in his database, Kyle Whissel isn’t just building a team, he’s building a life — and you can too.

Leading AI transformation in real estate: The shift from traditional to agentic AI
In order for real estate to move forward, AI has to change. From reactive to proactive, task-based to goal-focused, from traditional AI to agentic AI.

Why real estate needs a clear AI standard
Most of us never sat down and defined a formal AI strategy for our teams and staff. And yet, AI now touches nearly every part of how your team operates. The real question is no longer whether AI is being used, but whether it’s being used responsibly.

Real estate needs new ways to connect with the tech world
Troy Palmquist writes that the first HomeCode Pitch Battle proved that real estate and tech connect best in ways that are less sales pitch and more get-together.

7 AI tools that help agents do in hours what used to take days
The real estate agents who are winning with technology right now are using it to remove friction and create efficiency, Jimmy Burgess writes.