Zillow, CoStar = Realty Rumble! CoStar has not been quiet about its goal to surpass Zillow, even running a series of advertisements during this year's Super Bowl to boost brand awareness. Many in the industry believe the National Association of Realtors' proposed $418 million settlement of the commission lawsuits will help CoStar reach its goal. (HW)

3% of Vietnam’s GDP: Is the total value of the fraud perpetrated by Truong My Lan, who was sentenced to death for orchestrating the country's largest financial fraud at $12.5 billion. Lan, aged 67 and chairwoman of Van Thinh Phat, was found guilty of manipulating the Saigon Joint Stock Commercial Bank over a decade, leading to a $27 billion loss. Despite being a first-time offender with charitable contributions, the court issued the severe sentence citing the orchestrated and irrecoverable nature of her crimes. The fraud eroded public trust in Vietnam’s institutions at a crucial time when the nation was increasing ties with the U.S. and trying to attract more foreign investments. (NPR)

Cut Optimism: Two Federal Reserve officials have recently shared an optimistic outlook for potential rate cuts this year despite ongoing uncertainties and sporadic inflation spikes. John Williams of the New York Fed expressed confidence that it would make sense to gradually lower interest rates this year if economic conditions align with expectations. Similarly, Susan Collins of the Boston Fed acknowledged the need for more data to confirm a sustainable path toward the 2% inflation target but remains hopeful for rate reductions later this year. Both officials emphasize a cautious yet hopeful stance, indicating that while immediate economic indicators present a mixed picture, the broader strategy aligns with an eventual easing of monetary policy. (Yahoo! Finance)

Now, investors are flocking to CoStar faster than millennials to an avocado toast sale. Their secret? Offering free leads to listing agents. That’s right, in a world where even 'free' Wi-Fi costs your personal data, CoStar is handing out leads like Oprah. 'You get a lead! You get a lead! Everybody gets a lead!' Let’s go!