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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'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
Dallas is the latest city to clamp down on short-term rentals
This week, the Dallas City Council voted to ban short-term rentals from residential zones, with no exceptions for existing STRs.
June 17, 2023
Here’s what Fed Chair Jerome Powell said about real estate today
After 10 consecutive rate hikes, the Federal Reserve announced at today's meeting that it would hold rates steady.
June 14, 2023
Why Zillow thinks its model wins for consumers and agents alike
Errol Samuelson, chief industry development officer for Zillow, discussed the company’s "housing super app," empowering agents, and consumer innovations.
June 14, 2023
There are fewer millionaires — but don’t blame it on real estate
A World Wealth Report found that the number of millionaires fell by 800,000 in one year, but real estate has been a fairly resilient asset.
June 12, 2023
A hazy future for homeowners insurance in California
Two of the state's top providers will no longer accept new applications, setting a grim precedent and adding another challenge for buyers.
June 9, 2023
Home appreciation sluggish but could double by end of year
CoreLogic reported that national home price growth slowed to just 2% year over year in April, but gains (and losses) varied locally.
June 7, 2023
Buyers look to the South and Midwest, but costs can be high
Midwest and Sunbelt markets continue to attract home shoppers, but affordability is precarious, especially in Florida as insurance rates rise.
June 5, 2023
Buyers most likely to turn to agents with financing questions
A survey of homebuyers reveals which parts of the financing process buyers understood the least, and how agents can add value through financial education.
June 2, 2023
4 of real estate's top leaders offer a look behind the curtain
CEOs Andy Florance, David Doctorow, Gino Blefari and Nick Bailey shared exclusive, and sometimes controversial, insights with Real Estate News.
May 27, 2023
CEO of fast-growing platform pitches ‘brokerage as a service’
Pinnacle Realty Advisors CEO Sam Sawyer discusses his company’s model, growth trajectory and the traps they’re trying to avoid along the way.
May 26, 2023
Pending home sales flat from March to April
Low inventory combined with a lack of affordability continues to stifle spring sales nationally, though numbers were up in some regions.
May 25, 2023
CoStar CEO's 'super simple business concept': Support agents
“You do not want to think you're smarter than your customers,” Florance said on CoStar’s strategy of building Homes.com as a platform for agents and consumers.
May 24, 2023
Small investors continue to scoop up homes
Seeking steady rent growth and affordable price points, investors were drawn to cities in the Midwest and Southeast.
May 23, 2023
New home sales surprisingly steady in a wobbly market
New homes may be particularly appealing to buyers when existing home inventory is tight.
May 19, 2023
Existing home sales down for a second month
Home sales surged in February after a year of declines, but the momentum didn't last long. After dropping in March, sales dipped further in April.
May 18, 2023
Homes.com could become No. 2 search portal in 12 months, says CEO
In an exclusive interview, CoStar CEO Andy Florance shared his ambitious road map for Homes.com’s growth and a critique of the site's competitors.
Updated December 31, 2024