diff --git a/stay-scout-hub/src/app/api/research-area/route.ts b/stay-scout-hub/src/app/api/research-area/route.ts
index be3ac00d1..84c9dedfc 100644
--- a/stay-scout-hub/src/app/api/research-area/route.ts
+++ b/stay-scout-hub/src/app/api/research-area/route.ts
@@ -128,6 +128,12 @@ RETURN JSON ONLY (no markdown):
             enqueue({ type: "SCREENSHOT", data: { streamingUrl: event.streaming_url } });
           }
 
+          // The client renders this as the current action. Without it, progress
+          // text stays on the initial message for the whole run.
+          if (event.type === EventType.PROGRESS) {
+            enqueue({ type: "STATUS", message: event.purpose });
+          }
+
           if (event.type === EventType.COMPLETE && event.status === RunStatus.COMPLETED) {
             const raw = typeof event.result === "string" ? JSON.parse(event.result) : event.result;
             const analysis = parseResearchResult(raw as Record<string, unknown>, area, city);
diff --git a/stay-scout-hub/src/lib/api/area-search.ts b/stay-scout-hub/src/lib/api/area-search.ts
index 0706a79c3..928f9ed73 100644
--- a/stay-scout-hub/src/lib/api/area-search.ts
+++ b/stay-scout-hub/src/lib/api/area-search.ts
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ export function researchArea(
               });
             }
 
-            if (event.type === 'STATUS') {
+            if (event.type === 'CONNECTED' || event.type === 'STATUS') {
               onStatus({
                 areaId: area.id,
                 areaName: area.name,