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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What agents should know about the investors buying 1 in 3 homes
Investors purchased over 345,000 homes in the U.S. during the second quarter of 2025 — the highest level of investor activity in at least five years.
October 10, 2025
As industry leans into AI, report finds agent use is lagging
The real estate professionals who do use AI tools find them helpful in tackling content creation, scheduling and administrative tasks, a Kaplan survey found.
October 8, 2025
Rocket gains massive market share after closing on Mr. Cooper
On Oct. 1, Rocket Companies completed its $14.2B acquisition of mortgage rival Mr. Cooper, calling it “the largest independent mortgage deal in history.”
October 1, 2025
Douglas Elliman formally enters the private listings game
CEO says Elliman is embracing the “power of choice” by providing “private, public, coming-soon, and delayed listing options” with its new exclusive marketplace.
September 25, 2025
Will the Compass deal change how homes are bought and sold?
If Compass’ acquisition of Anywhere goes through, it could trigger a private inventory race with major implications for the brokerage ecosystem — and consumers.
September 25, 2025
Compass to acquire Anywhere, creating world’s largest brokerage
The combined companies would be worth $10 billion, with roughly 340,000 real estate professionals servicing about 120 countries and territories, Compass said.
September 22, 2025
Opendoor taps longtime finance exec as interim CFO
The leadership shifts continue as Christy Schwartz, who has also served as the iBuyer’s chief accounting officer, steps into a role she held from 2022-2024.
September 19, 2025
Opendoor to expand nationally after stock bull run, C-suite shakeup
Opendoor intends to expand its service area to the “entire continental United States” at some point “in the coming weeks,” a new SEC filing states.
September 17, 2025
Is the US rental market up or down? It’s a little of both
Rent prices have softened in a handful of major U.S. markets, but overall asking rents remain much higher now than before the pandemic.
September 17, 2025
‘Illogical’ or ‘awesome’? Private listings divide Compass agents
Do off-market listings “erode trust” with consumers — or are they “a great marketing tool” for sellers? Current and former Compass agents have mixed opinions.
September 11, 2025
Texas bans property sales to some international buyers
Gov. Greg Abbott said “foreign adversaries like China, Russian, Iran and North Korea” and terrorist organizations “must not be allowed to own land in Texas.”
September 5, 2025
RE/MAX Premier picks up 5 former Compass offices in Chicagoland
The offices, located in the upscale North Shore region, mark a major expansion for RE/MAX in the greater Chicago area.
September 3, 2025
Ex-Zillow exec unveils startup offering AI ‘listing coordinator’
Carey Schwaber Armstrong, former Zillow VP and Tomo COO, soft-pitched Truelist — an AI assistant with an agent-seller dashboard — via LinkedIn this week.
August 29, 2025
How small brokerages — and an open housing market — could collapse
If large brokerages go all-in on private listings, they would dominate the market, putting smaller firms “right out of business,” a consumer advocate warns.
August 29, 2025
How one agent wins clients with her Gen Z ‘brain rot’ videos
Going viral helped agent Margie Doucette Marasco get new referrals. The key to her success? Videos edited by her Gen Z son, which racked up millions of views.
August 26, 2025
‘Ask T3’: Don’t FSBO your brokerage when you’re ready to exit
Watch the conversation as FX Consulting Founder Fran Santangelo explains why it’s important to get the numbers and timing right when selling your brokerage.
August 21, 2025
Investors stepping up amid crunch in housing supply, affordability
In many major U.S. metros, small-time mom-and-pop flippers are delivering more renovated homes to the market than new home builders, a New Western report found.
August 19, 2025
Investor sentiment bounces back from two-year slump
The shift toward a buyers market provides investors with more room to negotiate, but many remain cautious amid rising labor and insurance cost concerns.
August 18, 2025
United’s bold growth goal: ‘We will double our size’ in 3 years
United Real Estate is on a mission — and locating “the true gems in the marketplace” is key to bolstering its talent pool, President Rick Haase said.
August 14, 2025
MRED leads effort to rejuvenate national home search portal
The MLS-owned site won’t make brokers "buy their customers back," leaders with Midwest Real Estate Data and Broker Public Portal told Real Estate News.
August 12, 2025