The Close

Learn how Zillow Preferred works, how it compares to Zillow Premier Agent, what agents pay at closing, and whether the referral fee is worth it. · 5 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 Zillow Preferred, formerly Zillow Flex, is Zillow’s invite-only, pay-at-closing lead program for top-performing agents and teams.

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Seller concessions appeared in 46.2% of US home sales in newly released Redfin data, up from 43.1% a year earlier and the highest May share in the company’s records. The report is based on seasonally adjusted data for the three months ending May 31. For real estate agents, the numbers point to a more negotiation-heavy summer market, especially in metros where inventory has risen and buyers have more options.

The National Association of Realtors’ latest member profile shows a more experienced agent population working through a slower housing market with deeper client pipelines. The typical Realtor now has 13 years of experience, up from 12 in 2024, according to NAR’s 2026 Member Profile. The report also found that 75% of members are very certain they will remain active in real estate for at least two more years, up from 74% a year earlier.

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s condo rule changes are creating new due diligence issues for agents as key compliance dates arrive this summer. The rules were issued in March through Fannie Mae’s Lender Letter LL-2026-03 and Freddie Mac’s Guide Bulletin 2026-C, but the transaction impact is hitting now. A per-unit deductible standard applies to loan applications dated on or after July 1, 2026. Fannie Mae’s Limited Review process must be retired for loan applications dated on or after Aug. 3, 2026.

Listing photos used to mean cleanup, brighter lighting, and maybe a staged room. Newer editing tools can do more than polish a photo. They can change how a property appears in ways buyers cannot detect online. That puts agents and brokerages on the hook for images created with virtual staging, automated enhancement, or generative AI.

HUD’s 2026 FHA multifamily updates are now in effect, giving lenders and developers new environmental-review rules, a middle-income underwriting option, and updated loan-review thresholds. The changes do not directly affect conventional homebuyers, but they could matter in markets where rental supply and workforce housing are already part of the local deal flow.

New Census and HUD construction data show the homebuilding pipeline weakened in the latest monthly report, with housing starts down sharply and building permits also lower. Recent resale inventory gains are not enough to close the affordability gap on their own. For agents and brokers, the issue is not just whether more homes are listed. It is whether new supply is arriving fast enough, and at prices buyers can carry, to support a broader transaction recovery.

World Cup 2026 could bring new furnished-rental demand to host markets across North America, but owners still have to clear local rules, taxes, building restrictions, and realistic revenue expectations. Boston shows how complicated those questions can get. Boston Stadium in Foxborough is hosting seven matches from June 13 through July 9, including five group-stage games, a Round of 32 match, and a quarterfinal.

Falling list prices are forcing agents to price listings tighter, coach sellers earlier, and re-engage buyers with local data instead of national headlines. This is not a housing crash. In May 2026, existing-home sales ran at a 4.17 million annual pace, with a median sales price of $429,300 and 4.5 months of inventory, according to NAR’s latest housing snapshot. But asking prices are moving differently.