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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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
Home prices rise 4 months in a row
The Case-Shiller index for May shows steady home price growth since January and a slight dip compared to this time last year.
July 25, 2023
Florida and Texas markets are slowly regaining some balance
After heating way up over the past few years, prices and inventory in two of the most populous states are showing signs of stabilizing.
July 24, 2023
NAR 'confident' in the face of challenges to compensation
The association believes it will prevail in court, but also “highly encourages agents to use buyer broker agreements.”
July 21, 2023
Existing home sales are down, prices are way up
NAR reported that existing home sales fell in June and dropped nearly 19% year-over-year. But median sale prices reached a near-record high.
July 20, 2023
Homes.com traffic up 200% — could it become a top portal?
Zillow's site visits were up, but the portal lost market share while Homes.com and Redfin made gains, and Realtor.com slumped.
July 19, 2023
Pennsylvania broker-owner: Small MLS ‘fiefdoms’ hurt agents and clients
Broker-owner Adam Conrad of Perry Wellington Realty describes the challenges of navigating seven different MLSs as the slow journey to consolidation continues.
July 15, 2023
Realtor income (and expenses) up, inventory is top pain point
NAR's annual member profile found that agents earned more and upped their sales volume despite the market slowdown, while transaction sides held steady.
July 14, 2023
Former Keller Williams CEO returns in consulting capacity
Mark Willis, who previously served as both president and CEO at KW, is rejoining the company to assist with its market center growth.
July 12, 2023
New report calls out ‘marginal’ agents. Is it fair?
The Consumer Federation of America suggests that new and less committed agents are bad for the industry and "deprive" their full-time peers of commissions.
July 12, 2023
Could home prices and interest rates both fall?
Morningstar has made a bold prediction about where mortgage rates and home prices are headed, but for now, prices are still rising.
July 11, 2023
Homes selling above ask, but will reluctant sellers list?
It's been nearly a year since the average home sold for more than its list price, but it may not be enough to spark a wave of inventory.
July 8, 2023
Slow job growth could signal an economic shift
A lackluster June jobs report suggests the Fed’s aggressive fight against inflation may finally be working, which could influence future rate hikes.
July 7, 2023
Steve Baird: Brokerage owners ‘need to focus on what we can control’
The Baird & Warner CEO shares how his family business has thrived in a cyclical, sometimes “regressive” industry, and discusses the future of buyer agency.
July 6, 2023
Assumable mortgages: Low rates, but it’s complicated
Buyers can save a ton of money by assuming a mortgage on a home purchased a year or two ago at ultra-low interest rates, but the process can be tricky.
June 28, 2023
eXp CEO reveals Homes.com talks and new twist on recruiting
Glenn Sanford’s “State of the Union” hints at strategic partnerships, an exclusive lead-gen strategy and investments in attracting teams.
June 27, 2023
'Collaboration over competition' fuels Chicago broker collective
The Collaborative Edge is a group of five brokers who manage their own client relationships but share time and resources to help one another succeed.
June 26, 2023
Existing home sales and inventory tick up slightly as prices soften
Numbers are still far below where they were a year ago, and inventory gains are largely due to the "abundant" supply of newly constructed homes.
June 22, 2023
‘Agents are core’: Zillow's push to win over agents, innovate through tech
Errol Samuelson, chief industry development officer, explains how Zillow plans to stay on top in a growing crowd of real estate portals and agent services.
June 22, 2023
Getting your brokerage ready for a new world of buyer agency
In light of ongoing lawsuits, brokers need to prepare their buyer agents to communicate their value and respond to objections around agreements and fees.
June 19, 2023