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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Ex-Zillow CEO: NAR lawsuits ‘a seismic event’ for agents, portals
Spencer Rascoff said home search portals may need to pivot in a world where buyers agents are no longer paid via the listing agent’s commission.
September 1, 2023
Do new and older homes cost the same now? It’s complicated
Limited inventory is changing the behavior of buyers and the price of new construction relative to existing homes, several experts told Real Estate News.
August 26, 2023
Zillow rolls out 1% down home loan program
The company said the new program, initially launching in Phoenix, will help ease one of the biggest barriers to entry for buying a home.
August 24, 2023
Existing home sales fall again — except in the West
NAR reported a 2.2% national decline in sales in July, but the West bucked the trend, and more first-time buyers entered the market.
August 22, 2023
A wave of housing forecast updates point the same way: up
Researchers from Zillow, Freddie Mac, and Goldman Sachs all issued revised, rising 2023 home value and price forecasts in the past week.
August 22, 2023
Former Zillow CEO unveils AI-powered lead-gen assistant
Serial entrepreneur Spencer Rascoff predicts real estate agents will be “one of the biggest verticals” that will use HeyLibby to turn contacts into customers.
August 18, 2023
Judge rebuffs Chinese homebuyers’ push against Florida law
The law, which took effect July 1, prohibits “foreign principals” from a number of countries from buying real estate in Florida.
August 18, 2023
Builder confidence slides as mortgage rates climb back to 7%
After seven consecutive months of improving confidence, homebuilders were feeling less optimistic in August.
August 16, 2023
Nearly 60% of major metros saw home prices rise last quarter
Many of the biggest annual price gains were in the Midwest, with Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, leading the way with a 25.3% gain.
August 10, 2023
Opendoor's future is looking a little brighter
A more ‘judicious’ and partner-focused Opendoor will help the company succeed in the wake of significant losses and layoffs.
August 10, 2023
RE/MAX CEO: Don't expect to 'get rich off somebody else's back'
At a conference this week, Nick Bailey said the company’s value lies in its strong brand identity and agent experience — not downlines or profit sharing.
August 8, 2023
Record-high home prices are back in many metros
A new Black Knight report reveals major gains in the Midwest and Northeast, signals an end to the U.S. housing correction.
August 7, 2023
Demand for land is hot, hot, hot
More than half of the land brokers in a recent survey said the national land market is “hot” or “on fire.”
August 7, 2023
More listing opportunities may be on the horizon
Nearly a quarter of homeowners are considering selling in the next 3 years, according to a Zillow survey — a significant increase over prior surveys.
August 4, 2023
As revenue falls, Opendoor returns to profitability
The top iBuyer hopes scaling home purchases, improving margins and leveraging partnerships will continue fueling its return to positive net income.
Updated August 5, 2023
Offerpad revenue down more than 60% but profits are up
The iBuyer reduced losses and acquired more homes over Q1, but sales and revenue dipped significantly.
August 2, 2023
HELOCs now a riskier proposition for investors
High interest rates and economic uncertainty have made home equity lines of credit costlier and more precarious.
August 1, 2023
Zillow, Redfin build on partnership with new construction listings
The two former rivals and popular home-search sites extend their connection beyond 3D Home, with Redfin calling Zillow listings “a new revenue opportunity.”
August 1, 2023
Pending home sales ticked up in June
The 0.3% gain is the first increase in four months, NAR reported, suggesting that “the housing recession is over.”
July 27, 2023
New home sales dipped in June but are well above levels from a year ago
Prices also fell slightly, nearly closing the gap between new and existing home prices.
July 26, 2023