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Want more housing market stories from Lance Lamberts ResiClub in your inbox? Subscribe to the ResiClub newsletter. During the Pandemic Housing Boom, from summer 2020 to spring 2022, the number of active homes for sale in most housing markets plummeted as homebuyer demand quickly absorbed almost everything that came up for sale and sellers had ultimate power. Fast-forward to the current housing market, and the places where active inventory has rebounded to 2019 levels (due to strained affordability suppressing buyer demand) are now the very places where homebuyers have gained the most power. At the end of June 2025, national active housing inventory for sale was still -11% below June 2019 levels. However, more and more regional markets are surpassing that threshold. This list is growing: January 2025: 41 of the 200 largest metro area housing markets were back above pre-pandemic 2019 inventory levels. February 2025: 44 of the 200 largest metro area housing markets were back above pre-pandemic 2019 inventory levels. March 2025: 58 of the 200 largest metro area housing markets were back above pre-pandemic 2019 inventory levels. April 2025: 69 of the 200 largest metro area housing markets were back above pre-pandemic 2019 inventory levels. May 2025: 75 of these 200 major markets were back above pre-pandemic 2019 inventory levels. Now, at the latest reading for the end of June 2025, 78 of the 200 markets are above pre-pandemic 2019 inventory levels and ResiClub expects that count will continue to rise this year. This next table helps you see what the inventory picture in these same 78 markets looks like now and what it looked like last year. Among these 78 markets, youll find lots in Sun Belt markets like Florida, Texas, Arizona, and Colorado. Many of the softest housing markets, where homebuyers have gained leverage, are located in Gulf Coast and Mountain West regions. Some of these areas were among the nations top pandemic boomtowns, having experienced significant home price growth during the pandemic housing boom, which stretched housing fundamentals far beyond local income levels. When pandemic-fueled domestic migration slowed and mortgage rates spiked, markets like Cape Coral, Florida, and San Antonio, Texas, faced challenges as they had to rely on local incomes to sustain frothy home prices. The housing market softening in these areas was further accelerated by the abundance of new home supply in the pipeline across the Sun Belt. Builders in these regions are often willing to reduce net effective prices or make other affordability adjustments to maintain sales. These adjustments in the new construction market also create a cooling effect on the resale market, as some buyers who might have opted for an existing home shift their focus to new homes where deals are still available. In contrast, many Northeast and Midwest markets were less reliant on pandemic migration and have less new home construction in progress. With lower exposure to that demand shock, active inventory in these Midwest and Northeast regions has remained relatively tight, keeping the advantage in the hands of home sellers. !function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}})}(); Generally speaking, housing markets where inventory (i.e., active listings) has returned to pre-pandemic levels have experienced softer/weaker home price growth (or outright declines) over the past 36 months. Conversely, housing markets where inventory remains far below pre-pandemic levels have, generally speaking, experienced more resilient home price growth over the past 36 months. ResiClub PRO members can find our latest inventory analysis for +800 metros and +3,000 counties here
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E-Commerce
As the school year winds down, many working parents face a seasonal challenge thats as predictable as it is taxing: how to stay productive at work while managing the logistics, emotions, and expectations that come with kids being home for the summer. For parents in leadership roles, the stakes can feel even higher. Over the past decade, as a mother of three and a leader in human resources and people operations, Ive learned firsthand how parenthood profoundly shapes ones approach to work and life. But these challenges are not just personal, theyre organizational. If employers dont address the summer wellness support gap, they risk employee burnout, decreased productivity, and long-term attrition. Its crucial that parents feel seen, supported, and empowered to thrive, both at home and in their professional lives. Why the Summer Crunch is Different and More Stressful Summer means parents suddenly take on the additional roles of full-time caregivers, activity planners, and sometimes even tutors, often while still carrying a full professional workload. With school out, daily routines dissolve, screen time goes up, childcare becomes patchworked, and workdays are punctuated by snack requests, playtime, and pleas for attention. For parents in high-pressure roles, this creates a relentless push-pull, fueling guilt, exhaustion, and a constant sense of falling short in both spheres. Whats the solution? Boundaries, Flexibility, and Mental Health First Here is a take that some may find controversial: the concept of balance is a myth. We often chase it only to feel more disappointed because its an unattainable ideal. Instead, I focus on integrationweaving work, parenting, and self-care together throughout the day in a way that honors each of these priorities. Presence is key. This means truly being in the moment, whether on a leadership call or with my kids. And thats harder than ever in todays always-on world, where Zoom fatigue and Slack notifications fragment our attention. Being on all the time blurs boundaries and drains our energy. In my own professional and personal life, Ive learned that rather than letting the summer months derail my rhythm, I encourage a handful of practices to stay aligned: Calendar Management and Sacred Personal Time Build intentional breaks into your day for mental rest. Dont overbook yourself and respect your own boundaries. When time becomes more limited, especially for working parents, calendars need to do more than just reflect your next meeting. They should actively support your energy and focus. That means intentionally scheduling short breaks throughout the day to reset and decompress. Even just 10 to 15 minutes between video calls can dramatically reduce fatigue. Without a set time for personal recovery, burnout becomes inevitable. Whether its a morning workout, a midweek therapy session, or a summer Friday reset for rest and solitude, carving out nonnegotiable time for yourself is critical. This isnt about being selfish. Its about making sure you have the energy and clarity to show up fully for both work and family. Practice Presence Train Yourself to be fully engaged with whichever role youre in at the moment, whether a meeting or a family dinner. Reduce multitasking when possible. When everything happens under one roof, its easy to blend work and home roles until neither gets your full attention. Practicing presence and focusing completely on the task or person in front of you can help reestablish meaningful boundaries and reduce guilt. If youre leading an all-hands or helping out with your daughters next vocab test homework, being fully present strengthens trust, deepens relationships, and improves performance. But presence isnt automatic. Its a discipline that requires reducing distractions and intentionally shifting focus before you log off for the day. Open Communication Negotiate clearly with your employer and colleagues, and at home. Share what you need and listen to the needs of others to find win-win solutions. Work-life intention hinges on mutual understanding. Whether youre agreeing on what to make for dinner with your partner or negotiating hours with a manager, clear communication is key. For me, it took clear conversations to protect the time I needed to recharge. Every Saturday, my husband takes the kids out so I can have uninterrupted hours to myself. That understanding allows me to reset only because weve agreed on it and protect it. The same principle applies at work. Ive carved out a few mornings a week for workouts, and that means my first meeting on those days doesnt begin until a bit later. That boundary is known and respected because I communicated it clearly, and I show up better because of it. Transparency and courage in these conversations foster trust and make it easier to adjust as circumstances evolve. Community Support Join or create employee resource groups to share advice and reduce stigma. Consider coaching or mentoring to gain tailored support on navigating parenting challenges in a work context. Connecting with other working parents can be a powerful antidote to isolation and burnout. Whether formalized through an employee resource group or informal lunch-hour chats, these communities, both big and small, offer space to share real-life challenges, swap ideas, and feel understood. Parent-focused groups, especially, help reduce stigma by normalizing common experiences, from managing day camp delays to navigating guilt over missed work milestones. These groups remind parents theyre not alone and that shared understanding is a strength, not a vulnerability. Additionally, coaching offers personalized support that acknowledges the complex intersection of parenting and professional growth. A coach can help clarify values, improve time management, and provide a safe space to work through challenges like setting boundaries, managing burnout, or feeling pulled in multiple directions. For some, coaching also provides an accessible starting point for broader mental wellness work, making it easier to take proactive steps before stress becomes overwhelming. Mental Health Resources Take advantage of the mental health benefits available to you, and seek help early if you feel it’s needed. Many mental health challenges escalate not because support isnt available, but because people wait too long to ask for it. Tapping into therapy resources or EAP services, even when youre curious, can help reduce stress before it snowballs into something more serious. It also sends a powerful message: mental well-being is just as important as physical health. Organizations that promote early access to resources and normalize their use create cultures where seeking help is seen as a strength, not a shortcoming. Lasting trust and engagement As leaders, we often talk about bringing our whole selves to work. For working parents, that includes showing up with te joys, stresses, and logistics of family life, especially in the summer. The good news is that with the right support in place, parents dont have to choose between professional success and family well-being. They can create workplaces where parents thrive professionally without sacrificing family connections. By prioritizing mental health, offering flexible solutions, and fostering a culture of compassion, employers can turn a seasonal challenge into an opportunity for lasting trust and engagement. As more leaders adopt this approach, the entire organization benefits from healthier, more engaged, and more loyal teams.
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E-Commerce
Sharon found me at the drinks event after my keynote, wine in hand with a hesitant smile. As a keynote speaker focused on empathy and leadership, I am often approached at the bar for tough conversations. I was told by my boss to come to your talk, she began, because apparently I dont have any empathy. She said it half as a joke, half as a confession. We both laughed, but I could tell there was something deeper to what she was saying. A mix of defensiveness, concern, and curiosity. By her own description, Sharon was a passionate and experienced but hardened leader. As she described her perception in the workplace, I detected resignation in her voicelike she was missing this capacity called empathy, as if it were an innate quality you either possess or not. But empathy isnt an innate quality. Its a skill that can be honed. And its not about being niceits about being effective. Empathy is the ability to understand othersrecognizing what drives people and how theyre affected by our decisions. Its not soft; its strategic. Because when we understand the impact we have on others, we can build trust, create commitment, and lead people. Empathetic leadership: Avoiding assumptions and reactions Empathy doesnt always come naturally. Human brains are incredibly complex and use shortcuts (mental models built from our experiences) to navigate the world efficiently. These models are learned and embedded; they become our traits. We use these to judge quickly, often habitually reacting without seeking to understand. Leading with empathy requires us to have humility in complex situationsseeking to understand and be strategic instead of using assumptions and quick reactions. Thats why I teach people to be consciously curious. Its the practice of slowing down our judgments, letting go of the need for instant certainty, and asking better questions to explore. Assumptions might work fast, but we need more than speed. Heres how to do it. 3 simple tips to lead with empathy Ask What else? The first thing any leader can do is to ask themselves What else could be going on here? Our impulsive brains like to look for a pattern, make a connection, and react quickly. But genuinely asking yourself this question can force you into more exploration, and thats crucial in the often new and highly complex situations leaders face. When someone makes a snide remark, you might assume theyre being unkind. But perhaps something else is going on. Maybe they are frustrated by a process, angry with a peer, fearful of being dismissed, or lack the communication skills to express themselves in a more effective way. If you arent sure what the driver is, it can be challenging to respond empathetically. Asking yourself the question can help you slow down and find out whats really at play first. Disagree without being disagreeable. In todays combative world, we often react to opposing views with defensiveness or hostility. Many people avoid and discourage disagreement because to them conflict violates hierarchical structures. But differing opinions are not an annoyancetheyre essential for diverse teams to face unprecedented challenges. We need to disagree. Empathy helps us stay curious, even amid the complexity and uncertainty of arguments. Instead of proving others wrong, empathic leaders lean in to explore alternative perspectives. Mastering the art of respectful disagreement means managing ourselves first, creating space for conversation, exploration, and understanding. This leads to better decisions. Practice the art of shutting up. While there are many techniques available to build empathy into your leadership, one of the simplest to accept and hardest to master is being quiet. Silence can be a powerful tool in deepening understanding. The most skilled interviewers and negotiators know that a tough question isnt always the key to communication; often, it is the willingness to wait in the uncertainty and allow others to reveal themselves. Weve all been in meetings where things were left unsaid because we were too busy or too noisy, and everyone was left worse off because of it. In leadership and life, silence is an invitation to go deeper. When we resist the urge to fill the gaps, we create space for others to expand. Mastering the art of listening not to respond but to truly discover unlocks trust, insight, and connection. It helps people share more and be more engaged. Empathy leads with curiosity, not answers. It values understanding over speed and commitment over compliance. And anyone can learn these skills to lead with empathy.
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E-Commerce
One of the most frequent questions Ive been getting from business execs lately is whether the AI pin will become the next great tech device. After all, with OpenAI recently finalizing its acquisition of Io Products, the AI hardware design firm led by legendary former Apple designer Jony Ive, it looks like well soon see the next great interface: a voice-activated, lapel-pin-size AI device thats a successor to the smartphone. And wont it be a better, calmer form of technology, they ask me, freeing us from having to stare at a small screen in our hands? No. In a world teeming with intelligent interfaces, the AI pin chooses to be dumbnot technically, but emotionally, socially, and spatially. The core failure of the AI pin genre isnt technical, but conceptual. But seemingly no one involved or interested in the form factor has stopped to ask: Is a chest pin even a good interface? Not questioning this is to ignore decades of interaction design: that good form emerges from use, from behavior, from affordance. Heres what I mean. The Narrative Inertia and Unanswered Questions Behind the AI Pin To begin with, there are a number of very real questions with this new form factor yet to be plausibly answered, including: Can you hear it in the wind or while in a crowd? Can others around you tell if its listening? What new social cues does it produce? How do you use it while walking, biking, cooking, parenting, holding a coffee, working in a noisy office, standing in line, or going on a date? What does it feel like to wear something thats constantly watching, blinking, and projecting? By all appearances, the AI pin concept wasnt born out of ergonomic study, social anthropology, or material intuition. It was born out of narrative inertiathe idea that because voice agents exist, and because wearables exist, the next logical step is to wear a voice agent. The Problem With Invisible Interfaces Another driver of the AI pins narrative inertia is the concept of the invisible interfacethe belief that our computing is best served through a device we dont have to see, but that seamlessly responds to our stated wishes. This vision has a long history, starting with voice-based computers in science fiction (more on that below); its conceptual stickiness was further strengthened with the launch of Siri and other voice-activated assistants in the 2010s. As a design goal, invisibility is best understood through a famous quote by Xerox PARCs Mark Weiser (though its easy to misinterpret): A good tool is an invisible tool. . . . By invisible, we mean that the tool does not intrude on your consciousness; you focus on the task, not the tool. The second part of the quote tells all. Its not about the device itself being invisible, but the act of usage rendering it invisible. For instance, when we use a hammer, we focus on the nail, not the hammer. To a good woodworker, the very act of using the hammer renders it invisible. In my experience across countless design and tech conferences, the notion of an invisible interface quickly becomes a very powerful semantic black hole. Once people start hearing the term, they cant see anything other than it, and their minds (and design practices) auto-complete to it, instead of considering other formats such as physical buttons and other familiar technologies. Invisible technologies lack the feedback that people need to develop a relationship with them. Your mind has to make up for the invisibility in other ways, adding a cognitive strain and microfriction to their usage. If you have voice-controlled lights in your house, for instance, you have to remember what you taught Alexa to call themthe upstairs lights or something else? Imagine having a conversation like this with an AI pin all day, across many topics! If design is governance, making an interface invisible takes away agency and ensures that design choices are far removed from the people who use it. Which takes us to the sci-fi culprit behind the AI pin. Truthy Tech vs. Track Record When product developers assume pins are a natural form factor for ambient computing, they must then reverse-engineer behavior, trust, and social rituals to support it. They think the form factor will look so cool that it will just work, and address none of the cultural aspects. Its yet another variation of what I call truthy tech: products or concepts that are exciting at first glance, usually because they resemble props from sci-fi TV shows and movies, but that quickly lose their luster when real-world considerations creep in. In other words, the AI pin may seem inevitable because for decades, weve watched characters on the Star Trek series communicate with each other and the ships computer through the ComBadges on their uniforms. Its easy to forget that the ComBadge is only designed to be visually exciting and help advance the shows storyline, and not actually to be functional. As a real-life consumer device, however, nearly a dozen pin-based devices have come and gone over the years without gaining mass adoptionfrom 2003s SenseCam by Microsoft (promoted by famed tech pioneer Gordon Bell) to 2024s Humane AI Pin, which imploded despite $240 million in funding. Ive and the Search for a New Steve Jobs-Level Visionary I should stress that none of this is meant as a criticism of Jonny Ive. He is an amazing supply chain innovator who thrived in Apples halcyon days. But his best work was always done alongside a genuine visionary. And it is very debatable if Sam Altman can ever fill Silicon Valleys conspicuous Steve Jobs-shaped absence. In any case, the likeliest form factor for a wearable AI device is one that already exists and has been integrated into our daily lives: the earbud-type AirPods. Rather than assume Altman can somehow completely transform culture enough that we will want to interact with artificial intelligence through a lapel pin, it makes far more sense to expect a future where the AI program is connected to our iPhones and AirPods. And after all, Jony Ive helped develop those.
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E-Commerce
Users of Microsoft apps are having a rough year. First, in May, the Windows maker shut down the popular VOIP calling app, Skype, for good. Microsoft said it was done so that the company could focus on its latest communications app darling, Microsoft Teams. Now, Microsoft has announced that it is nerfing one of its most popular mobile apps, too. While not shutting the app down completely, Microsoft Authenticator is about to go through a radical downgrade. The app previously acted as a password manager and authentication app, but starting this month, Microsoft has stripped Authenticator’s ability to autofill your saved passwords. And come August, Microsoft will delete all your saved passwords from Authenticator. This means that just as users of Skype needed to find a new VOIP app, those who use Microsoft Authenticator as a password manager will need to hurry up and find a new one. Heres why Microsoft is making its changes to Authenticator, and the alternative password managers you may want to migrate to before the August deadline. Why is Microsoft killing Authenticators password management feature? Microsoft first introduced Authenticator in 2016 as a stand-alone app used to manage two-factor authentication security codes. In 2020, it added password management support to Authenticator, making the app a one-stop shop for autofilling passwords and security codes on websites. However, in 2020, Microsoft also introduced its new Edge browser, and since then, Edge has become a top priority for the company. And Microsoft has now decided that Edge should act as a Microsoft users password manager of choice, partly due to the fact that the Edge browser supports multiple platforms: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more, while Authenticator only supports iOS and Android. The logic here is that if Edge is now your password manager, all your passwords will be accessible on every device logged into Edge. To facilitate this transition, Microsoft will automatically transfer a users saved passwords from Authenticator to Edge before permanently deleting them from Authenticator next month. This move is great for people who dont mind a web browser serving as their password manager. However, many people prefer a dedicated password manager app because it is usually more versatile, offers advanced features like password sharing, and integrates seamlessly with various desktop and mobile browsers. If you are in that second group, youll want to export your passwords from Authenticator before they are deleted and import them into a new dedicated password manager appbut which one to use? Microsoft Authenticator password manager alternatives There is no shortage of dedicated password managers out there. However, if you are moving from Microsoft Authenticator, there are three in particular that you might want to consider: Apple Passwords: This is Apples designated password manager, which the company introduced last year. The biggest advantage of Apple Passwords is its clean, simple interface. It lets you store not only your passwords, but your passkeys and security codes, too. The Apple Passwords app is perfect if you operate primarily in Apples ecosystem, but the app also supports Windows PCs (via the iCloud app) and major browsers, including Chrome and Firefox. The app is also free to use. However, Apple Passwords does not support Android, so if you have a ‘droid, its best to consider using one of the two password managers below. 1Password: One of the most popular password managers on the planet is 1Password. Its also one of the most versatile. Not only does it support passwords, passkeys, and security codes, but you can also save identity and credit card information and even important documents. 1Password supports all major platforms, including Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and Linux. One drawback, especially if you are used to Microsoft Authenticator, is that 1Password is a paid app. Individual plans start at $2.99 per month. Bitwarden: In addition to 1Password, there is another other cross-platform password manager champ: Bitwarden. Like all good password managers, it offers robust password management and passkey support. It also supports all the major platforms, including Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and more. Best of all, Bitwarden offers a free tier of the app, allowing anyone to use its password management feature. However, if you want a password manager that also handles your security codes, like Authenticator does, youll need to upgrade to a Bitwarden plan, which starts at $10/year. Don’t forget to export your passwords from Microsoft Authenticator If you do switch to one of the above apps, youll need to transfer your passwords from Microsoft Authenticator to the app you choose. Just do it quickly. Microsoft will delete all your passwords stored in Authenticator on August 1, 2025. From that date, youll need to download Microsoft Edge and export them from the companys web browser instead. To export your passwords from Authenticator before the August deadline, follow Microsofts instructions here.
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E-Commerce
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