Retail isn’t the only industry experiencing a Black Friday surge. According to Redfin, the number of potential buyers and sellers reaching out to agents spiked 17% earlier this month, fueled by post-election confidence and a second round of federal rate cuts. 

It’s a promising sign for the housing market—but don’t expect Black Friday discounts here. Prices are still up 4.6% year-over-year and in popular markets, homes continue to move quickly. 

SHARPEN YOUR SKILLS

TRACK THE TRENDS

MARKETS

NAR Settlement Gets Stamp of Approval

On Tuesday, Judge Stephen Bough of the Western District of Missouri approved the agreement between the NAR and the group of home sellers suing over excessive fees, requiring the NAR to pay $418M in damages—and overhaul its commission policies. 

Though the rule changes required by the settlement officially went into effect in August, this final approval serves to lock in the new normal. But don’t expect the commissions conversation to end here. 

• According to the settlement terms, agents are explicitly prohibited from discussing commission splits on MLS platforms or create workarounds like coded messages or side deals. Some agents, unsure of how to comply, have turned to informal channels like private calls or emails to discuss commissions. This has prompted concerns about potential violations and enforcement of the settlement agreement. 

• Earlier this week, the DOJ reopened an antitrust investigation into NAR’s rules, suggesting the settlement doesn’t fully address anti-competitive practices. So far, the DOJ’s scrutiny has been aimed at buyer-broker agreements. 

• Between potential settlement breaches by agents and the DOJ’s renewed investigation, there could be more broad changes in store for real estate transactions, buyer-agent relationships, and agent competition.

DIVE IN

The Friday Five

📖 BTS. A deep dive into how interior designer Paige Wassel launches a new pillow line. 

👀 Red rocks. This home-tastrope will have you seeing red.

👀 Cuban’s secret condo. See inside Mark Cuban’s secret Trump Tower condo with a view of Central Park.

💡 Conquer cold calls. Three instantly applicable cold-calling tactics from Ricky Carruth—with examples.

💡Let’s Get to the Point. Will Floyd Mayweather Jr's surprising investment be a smart move or a big flop?g talks MDLLA, what’s next for Estate Media, and his incredible Mid-Century home.

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HANGS & HAPPENINGS

Inman Connect | NYC | January 22-24, 2025. Grow your network, learn from the best in business, and get inspired through multiple networking opportunities and breakout sessions from industry pros like Rayni Williams, Mauricio Umansky, and Jimmy Burgess. 

RETCon | Las Vegas, NV | March 10-12, 2025. RETCon is a must-attend event for real estate technology and innovation professionals. The conference focuses on PropTech and RealTech solutions, trends, automation tools, AI advances, and more, and gives agents and industry pros a place to learn, network, and stay competitive.

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TIPS & TAKEAWAYS

Sold in a day 🥂

Congratulations to Tracy Tutor and team for the stunning sale of a Preston Hollow masterpiece—in one day with just one showing. Nothing better than a quick deal—and a job well done. Check out the luxury estate here and drop your reaction in the comments.

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