As one of the most destructive wildfires in history destroys thousands of homes in California, agents and brokers are rushing to help.

Do you tell your clients that you're available 24/7? Do you answer the phone no matter what time it is or who you're with? Do you struggle to take time off? In a business that doesn't have standardized hours, it's hard to set boundaries around your time, but not doing so can lead to unintended consequences.

Social media scorecards can drive key business metrics, writes Sprout Social's Scott Morris, such as brand discoverability and resonance, customer feedback and competitor analysis, which can inform strategies across departments. "A social media scorecard with the right data can change how businesses market themselves and what they make, who they make it for and how they sell it," Morris writes.

LinkedIn's Tom Pepper highlights key trends for 2025, including the importance of brand trust and credibility amid the rise of AI. Pepper notes that B2B brands are increasingly investing in influencer marketing and video content to engage buyers and improve return on investment. He also emphasizes the need for chief marketing officers and chief revenue officers to become change management experts as AI reshapes the marketing landscape.

"Home" has become a place to show off on social media. But how do you balance a home that's designed to envy against one that is also functional for everyday life?

A Colonial Revival estate in Del Rey, Calif., built in 1910 by Sun-Maid Raisins founder H.H. Welsh and architect J.J. Blick, is on the market for $4 million. The home, listed by Sarah Hedrick, features six bedrooms, four bathrooms and original elements such as Ernest Batchelder fireplaces and Limoges porcelain doorknobs. John and Valarie Feaster, the current owners, have meticulously restored the property.

Landlords in Los Angeles are being accused of illegal rent increases during the current wildfires, with some properties seeing hikes of up to 20%. California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Gov. Gavin Newsom have vowed to enforce price-gouging laws, which prohibit increases of more than 10% during emergencies.

Small housing providers in Chicago are struggling to maintain affordable rent amid rising costs, writes Stacie Young, CEO of the Community Investment Corp. Young emphasizes the importance of naturally occurring affordable housing and calls for federal support, including access to Small Business Administration benefits, as well as more property management training and input on housing policies.

American consumers expect inflation to rise significantly over the next year and beyond, with the University of Michigan's survey showing one-year inflation expectations jumping to 3.3% in January. Concerns over potential tariffs and Trump-era economic policies, coupled with a strong labor market, are driving inflation fears and dampening consumer sentiment while expectations of further Federal Reserve rate cuts dim.