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The Close is a new kind of real estate site designed to give agents, teams, and brokerages actionable, strategic insight from industry professionals. We cover real estate marketing, lead generation, technology, and team building strategies from the perspective of working agents and brokers who want to take their business to the next level.
We also strive to bring you the best insights from other disciplines including cutting edge psychology, business & marketing strategy, design,and disruptive technology. All for free, all to help you close more, and close better. Source
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| Scope | National, Student/Alumni |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Country | United States of America |
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Recent Articles
Search ArticlesMost Agents Say Real Estate Has an Oversaturation and Professional Problem
The Close surveyed newsletter readers about agent oversaturation, professionalism, and licensing requirements. The results reveal how real estate professionals view the state of their own industry: There are a lot of real estate agents. As an agent in New Jersey, I’ve seen this firsthand. It sometimes feels like everyone either has a real estate license or knows someone who does.
State Farm Moves to Reopen California Home Insurance for Fire-Hardened Homes
State Farm General is making its first move toward reopening California homeowners insurance since shutting the door on new business in 2023. On Sept. 16, the insurer filed updated underwriting guidelines that could let it consider new applications from homes meeting specified wildfire-resilience standards. State Farm is not accepting applications under the proposal yet.
Homeowners Hold a Record $35.8T in Equity — But Sellers Still Face a Tougher Market
US homeowners are sitting on record housing wealth, and more of them are still putting homes on the market despite borrowing costs near 7%. New listings rose 0.9% from a year earlier in the week ending Sept. 19, while Realtor.com’s latest market update pointed to record equity as one factor helping some long-time owners overcome mortgage-rate lock-in.
Where Short-Term Rental Investors Are Looking Next — and What Agents Should Know
AirDNA’s newest STR ranking spotlights 17 smaller markets. Here’s what agents should check before turning that data into an investor pitch. · 3 minute read The Close content and product recommendations are editorially independent. We may make money when you click on links to our partners. Learn More Some of 2026’s highest-yielding short-term rental markets look nothing like the vacation towns investors usually chase. A new ranking released Sept.
Underwater Mortgages Rise in 33 States — What Agents Should Check Before Listing
A new Q2 state ranking from ATTOM published Sept. 11 put Minnesota at the top of the country for seriously underwater mortgages, with 12.1% of mortgaged residential properties in that category. Minnesota’s rate was up sharply from 2.6% a year earlier, while Louisiana followed at 10.3%. Nationally, 3.2% of mortgaged residential properties were seriously underwater in the second quarter of 2026, unchanged from Q1 but up from 2.7% a year earlier.
Zillow Preview Listings Hit Realtor.com — Here’s What Agents Get
Zillow Preview listings went live on Realtor.com on Sept. 17, giving participating agents another major portal for marketing homes before they become active MLS listings. The properties appear as Realtor.com Preview Listings, and buyers can view them without a special login or brokerage relationship. Participating listing agents can get broader premarket exposure, free direct connections when buyers choose to contact them, and potential revenue participation on certain closed transactions.
LinkedIn Is Cutting AI Slop. Are Real Estate Agents Sounding Too Much Like AI?
Fifty-six percent of REALTORS who use AI now use it to create social media posts, according to the newly released 2026 REALTORS Technology Report. The Sept. 22 finding arrived one week after LinkedIn reported a 40% drop in views of content it classifies as “AI slop.” More than 1 million members used the platform's “Seems like AI slop” feedback option within two weeks of its August rollout, according to the Sept. 15 platform update.
Does Living Near Costco Raise Home Values? What New Research Shows
New research finds Costco can boost home values in some markets, but local comps should decide whether that premium holds. · 3 minute read The Close content and product recommendations are editorially independent. We may make money when you click on links to our partners. Learn More A Sept. 18 report on Costco and home values is revisiting a question agents and homeowners have debated for years: Does living near the warehouse retailer actually make a home worth more?
Des Moines Tops New 2026 Ranking of Buyer-Friendly Housing Markets
Realtor.com released its first Metro Affordability & Homebuilding Report Cards on Sept. 16, grading the 100 largest US metros on housing affordability and homebuilding. Des Moines, Iowa, took the top spot with an A+ and a score of 83.4 out of 100, narrowly ahead of Raleigh, North Carolina, at 82.8 and Columbia, South Carolina, at 75.3. That doesn’t mean Des Moines has the cheapest homes in America.
Mortgage Rates Just Hit a 15-Month High
Link to How To Become a Successful Real Estate Agent How To Become a Successful Real Estate Agent Learn how to become a successful real estate agent with The Close's top strategies, from planning and networking to using the right tools. Link to The Ultimate Checklist for New Real Estate Agents' Success The Ultimate Checklist for New Real Estate Agents' Success Discover essential tips and strategies for new real estate agents to succeed, from building connections to navigating your first deals.