Category: Next Level

The Federal Trade Commission and five state attorneys general reached a proposed settlement with Zillow and Redfin on Aug. 24, the day their antitrust case was scheduled to go to trial. If approved by a federal judge, the order would require Redfin to rebuild its independent multifamily rental-advertising business. Redfin would have six months after…

OneKey MLS made Ocusell List available to subscribers Aug. 18, giving agents a new way to create and publish listings with automated property data, AI-assisted photo ordering and optional AI-generated Public Remarks. The launch was part of OneKey’s summer product rollout. The basic version is included with a OneKey MLS subscription and works alongside Matrix…

Ghostly Labs launched separate mobile apps for Phantom Realty Engine agents and their clients on Aug. 12, extending the platform’s MLS search, lead activity, comparative market analysis, and Sarah AI tools to smartphones. The launch comes about a month after the company introduced Phantom Realty Engine as a combined real estate website, CRM, and AI…

If you’re looking for a tenant screening platform that delivers reliable credit reports, background checks, and income verification without overcomplicating the process or blowing your budget, you’re in the right place. As a real estate agent, I’ve worked closely with landlords during transactions and seen how much a tenant’s quality can impact everything from closing…

Nearly half of outstanding mortgages still carried rates of 4% or lower in the first quarter of 2026, according to a July analysis of federal mortgage data. By July 23, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate had reached 6.58%, widening the financing gap facing homeowners who want to move. That gap is pushing some unsuccessful…

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…

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…

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…

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 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…