AJ LaTrace

Director, News Reporting

AJ has covered real estate for the last decade as a reporter and editor for publications including Vox Media's Curbed, Chicago magazine and Business Insider. At Business Insider, AJ led the brand's coverage of how everyday people invest in real estate as a means of gaining financial independence, and he reported on big-picture trends and pain points in the broader U.S. real estate market. AJ is based in Chicago, where he also moonlights as a small-time landlord.

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Real estate news, advice and warnings to revisit heading into 2025
Feel like you couldn’t keep up with all the news last year? Take a moment to look back at some key stories that will continue to play an important role.
January 2, 2025
HUD: Housing programs crucial as homelessness reaches new highs
A new report found that homelessness in the U.S. increased 18% over the past year due to high housing costs, natural disasters and migration.
December 31, 2024
Quotable moments from a year of notable change
See what leading industry influencers shared exclusively with Real Estate News on topics spanning commissions lawsuits, NAR, and brokerage and MLS success.
December 31, 2024
Homeowner survey: Return to the office — or quit?
In a recent poll, 37% of remote workers said they would look for a new job if asked to come back to the office full time, citing the commute as a key factor.
December 27, 2024
Agents expect more sales, (much) lower rates in 2025
Two recent surveys of agent sentiment conveyed a general sense of optimism heading into the new year, though mortgage rate expectations may not match reality.
December 20, 2024
The Ten: Real’s dynamic president, and the firm’s stellar year
As other brokerages stumbled in 2024, Real saw enviable growth in agent count, transactions and share price — with President Sharran Srivatsaa setting the tone.
December 19, 2024
2025’s ‘defining challenge,’ and what will (or won’t) change
Expect a “solid year for new home sales,” modest declines in mortgage rates, and a faster pace of wage growth, Fannie Mae and Veterans United experts predict.
December 17, 2024
The Ten: The portal wars, and how the gloves came off in 2024
For CoStar and Move, the battle for dominance escalated from civil competition to full-scale attacks. Zillow and other players, meanwhile, stayed out of it.
December 14, 2024
Realtors should know where their NAR dues are going, says NYT reporter
After her New York Times story sparked controversy, Debra Kamin told Real Estate News that agents — and the public — deserve to know how NAR spends its money.
December 13, 2024
Another brokerage to let Arizona agents split with NAR
Scottsdale-based HomeSmart is giving area agents the choice to opt out of NAR membership in 2025.
December 11, 2024
NAR responds to ‘myths’ in New York Times ‘dark money’ story
The association shared “a comprehensive fact check” rebutting claims of political bias and questionable financial practices related to an affiliated nonprofit.
December 10, 2024
New York Times targets NAR again, this time over political influence
A new report shines light on NAR’s American Property Owners Alliance and raises issues around transparency and the ethics of partisan spending.
December 9, 2024
Controversial sale-leaseback proptech EasyKnock shutters
The company had been mired in lawsuits from customers in Texas and Michigan and had also received scrutiny from different state attorneys general.
December 9, 2024
The Ten: How eXp’s Leo Pareja has taken the reins
During a year of turmoil in the industry, Pareja — who just moved into the CEO role in April — has repeatedly jumped into the fray to tackle issues head-on.
December 7, 2024
Realtor.com CEO on fighting ‘the right way,’ growth, and the CCP
Damian Eales sees Zillow as both a top competitor and an important partner, and explains why he has continued to “call out” Homes.com.
December 4, 2024
NAR holds onto more than 1.5M members despite turbulent year
The National Association of Realtors reported having roughly 1.52 million members in December, despite growing pushback from agents and local associations.
December 2, 2024
Why buyers are gravitating toward smaller homes
As household composition shifts, builders look to the starter homes of yesteryear to deliver more practical, affordable single-family homes for today’s buyers.
November 29, 2024
DOJ’s 11th-hour statement on NAR deal elicits strong reactions
Industry insiders quickly weighed in on the agency’s Sunday filing, which suggested that the settlement won’t protect NAR from future antitrust action.
November 25, 2024
The US needs more housing — and agents are key advocates
Chronic undersupply has led to an affordability crisis, but real estate professionals can help by supporting new development in their communities, experts say.
November 22, 2024
Corcoran gains 400+ agents with new DC-area affiliate
The luxury-focused firm announced its first franchise in the D.C. metro, which will boost its total agent count and number of offices by nearly 10% each.
November 20, 2024