After several years of sellers holding most of the power, concessions are starting to work their way back into the conversation. That does not mean every market has suddenly flipped or that every seller is handing out credits freely. But it does mean agents need to be ready for a more nuanced negotiation environment — one where price is no longer the only lever being pulled to get a deal done. Recent market reporting suggests buyers are gaining more room to negotiate as inven

North Carolina real estate agents may be wondering whether the USDA’s recent drought disaster designation matters in everyday practice. The short answer is yes — especially for brokers working with land, rural homes, farms, horse properties, private-well properties, and listings where water availability or wildfire risk could affect a buyer’s decision. On April 21, 2026, USDA announced that 40 North Carolina counties were designated natural disaster areas because of drought,

A major federal compliance change has been aimed at residential real estate, and even agents who are not personally responsible for filing reports should understand the basics. FinCEN’s Residential Real Estate Rule was designed to increase transparency in the U.S. housing market and deter money laundering through certain residential property transfers. FinCEN says the rule targets a relatively small slice of the market, but one it considers higher risk for illicit activity. W