AJ LaTrace
@latrace.bsky.social
Chicago-based real estate reporter and editor currently at RealEstateNews.com
Previously: Business Insider, Chicago magazine, Curbed
aj at realestatenews dot com
Previously: Business Insider, Chicago magazine, Curbed
aj at realestatenews dot com
"The type of content losing to AI: explainers, how-tos, evergreens, aggregated news, resource lists, recipes...
The winning content? Hyperlocal news, breaking news (as it happens), scoops, notable first-person narratives, and investigative journalism."
www.niemanlab.org/2025/12/sorr...
The winning content? Hyperlocal news, breaking news (as it happens), scoops, notable first-person narratives, and investigative journalism."
www.niemanlab.org/2025/12/sorr...
Sorry, the explainer is dead
"Remember when we told journalists to write more explainers? Yeah, sorry about that."
www.niemanlab.org
December 5, 2025 at 3:19 PM
"The type of content losing to AI: explainers, how-tos, evergreens, aggregated news, resource lists, recipes...
The winning content? Hyperlocal news, breaking news (as it happens), scoops, notable first-person narratives, and investigative journalism."
www.niemanlab.org/2025/12/sorr...
The winning content? Hyperlocal news, breaking news (as it happens), scoops, notable first-person narratives, and investigative journalism."
www.niemanlab.org/2025/12/sorr...
The coyotes are out and about in Clark Park this evening.
December 5, 2025 at 12:55 AM
The coyotes are out and about in Clark Park this evening.
“Here we have a really important, prominent work of architecture, a landmark in our community for over 100 years,” Schneider said. “It’ll cost $60,000 to tear down a two-flat on that block but you pay nothing to demolish a really prominent, noteworthy building.”
blockclubchicago.org/2025/12/03/a...
blockclubchicago.org/2025/12/03/a...
After 130+ Years In Logan Square, Former Church Demolished For Single-Family Homes
The demolition of the century-old church bucks the trend of developers opting to redevelop religious buildings into housing, experts said. Some elements, like its bell, will be preserved.
blockclubchicago.org
December 4, 2025 at 3:40 PM
“Here we have a really important, prominent work of architecture, a landmark in our community for over 100 years,” Schneider said. “It’ll cost $60,000 to tear down a two-flat on that block but you pay nothing to demolish a really prominent, noteworthy building.”
blockclubchicago.org/2025/12/03/a...
blockclubchicago.org/2025/12/03/a...
Zootopia 2 ended up being too scary, so now we’re just hanging in the lounge having popcorn.
December 4, 2025 at 1:41 AM
Zootopia 2 ended up being too scary, so now we’re just hanging in the lounge having popcorn.
NAR CEO Nykia Wright, who was hired two years ago as a transitional leader and moved into a permanent role in 2024, was paid $2.55 million last year, the organization's IRS 990 form reveals. NAR reported 11 staffers whose salary exceeded $200,000 last year.
www.realestatenews.com/2025/12/03/h...
www.realestatenews.com/2025/12/03/h...
How NAR spent its money in 2024
The organization brought in $360 million in revenue, primarily from member dues, and spent more than $76 million on compensation. Another big expense? Lobbying.
www.realestatenews.com
December 3, 2025 at 10:28 PM
NAR CEO Nykia Wright, who was hired two years ago as a transitional leader and moved into a permanent role in 2024, was paid $2.55 million last year, the organization's IRS 990 form reveals. NAR reported 11 staffers whose salary exceeded $200,000 last year.
www.realestatenews.com/2025/12/03/h...
www.realestatenews.com/2025/12/03/h...
Looking forward to digging into this oral history of Risky Business from Jake Malooley
www.chicagomag.com/chicago-maga...
www.chicagomag.com/chicago-maga...
The Making of Risky Business
Forty-two years after the film’s release, the cast and crew recall the creation of a North Shore coming-of-age classic — and the birth of a Hollywood megastar.
www.chicagomag.com
December 2, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Looking forward to digging into this oral history of Risky Business from Jake Malooley
www.chicagomag.com/chicago-maga...
www.chicagomag.com/chicago-maga...
Reposted by AJ LaTrace
this rules
Pulitzer Prize–winning investigative journalist Sarah Conway will be the next editor in chief of the Chicago Reader
Some exciting news!
December 2, 2025 at 4:27 PM
this rules
For anyone who's been on the fence about getting a cargo bike or are on a super tight budget, the Mongoose Envoy is only $420 right now for Black Friday. That's going to be about as cheap as you'll find a brand new cargo bike. I have one and love it.
www.mongoose.com/products/env...
www.mongoose.com/products/env...
November 27, 2025 at 7:23 PM
For anyone who's been on the fence about getting a cargo bike or are on a super tight budget, the Mongoose Envoy is only $420 right now for Black Friday. That's going to be about as cheap as you'll find a brand new cargo bike. I have one and love it.
www.mongoose.com/products/env...
www.mongoose.com/products/env...
Someone shared an interior progress shot of the Thompson Center on Reddit. Just sharing here in case the OP deletes the original thread and photo. It looks like all of the upper office levels are enclosed, but the big atrium space will live on.
www.reddit.com/r/chicago/co...
www.reddit.com/r/chicago/co...
November 27, 2025 at 2:23 AM
Someone shared an interior progress shot of the Thompson Center on Reddit. Just sharing here in case the OP deletes the original thread and photo. It looks like all of the upper office levels are enclosed, but the big atrium space will live on.
www.reddit.com/r/chicago/co...
www.reddit.com/r/chicago/co...
Under the Northwest Side Preservation Ordinance, developers have to pay steep fees to demolish existing residential to build more dense residential but pay $0 to demolish something like this to replace it with single-family homes. Make it make sense.
This blows. Not only are we losing a 130-year-old church, but in return we're getting just four homes on a site that's almost half an acre and only a 10 min walk to the Blue line.
The underlying zoning is RS-3, and it's just a lot easier to build SFHs by right than contend with a rezoning.
The underlying zoning is RS-3, and it's just a lot easier to build SFHs by right than contend with a rezoning.
Another Church Demolition Permitted, This Time In Logan Square, For SFR Redevelopment - Chicago YIMBY
Even as some Chicagoans are still coming to grips with the demolition of a vintage church in Ravenswood, another has been slated for demolition and redevelopment.
chicagoyimby.com
November 14, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Under the Northwest Side Preservation Ordinance, developers have to pay steep fees to demolish existing residential to build more dense residential but pay $0 to demolish something like this to replace it with single-family homes. Make it make sense.
I'll always take a quick look at CDs at thrift stores, but in this case, I had this weird morbid feeling of wondering if this was a Gen X'ers old CD collection who passed away and all of their stuff ended up in the thrift store. Or maybe someone just felt like it was just time to toss the CDs. 🤷♂️
November 13, 2025 at 1:37 AM
I'll always take a quick look at CDs at thrift stores, but in this case, I had this weird morbid feeling of wondering if this was a Gen X'ers old CD collection who passed away and all of their stuff ended up in the thrift store. Or maybe someone just felt like it was just time to toss the CDs. 🤷♂️
Father Steve showing off one of St. Hyacinth Basilica's new boilers at the end of mass yesterday. Looks like they got it installed just in time, though he asked that we pray that the old water pump doesn't give up until the new one is installed next month.
November 10, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Father Steve showing off one of St. Hyacinth Basilica's new boilers at the end of mass yesterday. Looks like they got it installed just in time, though he asked that we pray that the old water pump doesn't give up until the new one is installed next month.
The Great Pyramids of Chicago
November 5, 2025 at 11:22 PM
The Great Pyramids of Chicago
"In another text, Seyboth wrote:
Hope he likes fucking handcuffs
Cock sucker
He then texted the emoji of a lock."
www.golocalprov.com/news/top-ri-...
Hope he likes fucking handcuffs
Cock sucker
He then texted the emoji of a lock."
www.golocalprov.com/news/top-ri-...
GoLocalProv | News | Top RI Realtor Threatens to Call ICE on Buyer, Then Offers $20,000 to Kill GoLocal Story
Kyle Seyboth, a prominent Rhode Island realtor, in a series of text messages, threatened to call United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on a family if they did not agree to conditions...
www.golocalprov.com
November 5, 2025 at 8:40 PM
"In another text, Seyboth wrote:
Hope he likes fucking handcuffs
Cock sucker
He then texted the emoji of a lock."
www.golocalprov.com/news/top-ri-...
Hope he likes fucking handcuffs
Cock sucker
He then texted the emoji of a lock."
www.golocalprov.com/news/top-ri-...
New research from the Consumer Policy Center finds that more buyer agents are asking for a 3% commission today than they were a few years ago. CPC researchers say agents may be "charging a risk premium to help ensure the continuation of pre-settlement rates."
www.realestatenews.com/2025/11/04/b...
www.realestatenews.com/2025/11/04/b...
Buyer agents asking for higher fees than they were 3 years ago
Despite some reports suggesting agent commission rates were dropping, a CPC report finds that 95% of buyer agents ask for 2.5-3% of a home’s final sale price.
www.realestatenews.com
November 5, 2025 at 6:04 PM
New research from the Consumer Policy Center finds that more buyer agents are asking for a 3% commission today than they were a few years ago. CPC researchers say agents may be "charging a risk premium to help ensure the continuation of pre-settlement rates."
www.realestatenews.com/2025/11/04/b...
www.realestatenews.com/2025/11/04/b...
Trying to make the most of these late autumn days. 🍂
November 3, 2025 at 3:38 AM
Trying to make the most of these late autumn days. 🍂
Halloween in Logan Square
November 1, 2025 at 1:38 AM
Halloween in Logan Square
"It does feel like a bit of a ghost ship," Trulia founder Pete Flint said. "It's there, but underinvested and not growing. I look at it pretty frequently, and it's really not changed in a decade."
www.realestatenews.com/2025/10/30/w...
www.realestatenews.com/2025/10/30/w...
When giants buy giants: ‘Ghost ship’ sails on amid portal wars
Trulia went from rival to teammate after Zillow’s 2015 acquisition, but new challengers emerged — including Rocket, with its purchase of Redfin, and Homes.com.
www.realestatenews.com
October 31, 2025 at 5:23 PM
"It does feel like a bit of a ghost ship," Trulia founder Pete Flint said. "It's there, but underinvested and not growing. I look at it pretty frequently, and it's really not changed in a decade."
www.realestatenews.com/2025/10/30/w...
www.realestatenews.com/2025/10/30/w...
Happy 10th Gotcha Day to my sweet, loving Lucy Poo
October 30, 2025 at 9:53 PM
Happy 10th Gotcha Day to my sweet, loving Lucy Poo
With a major consolidation moment underway in residential real estate (Rocket's acquisition of Redfin and Compass' plan to buy Anywhere), we look back at another major acquisition deal that changed the industry: when Zillow bought out its top rival, Trulia.
www.realestatenews.com/2025/10/28/w...
www.realestatenews.com/2025/10/28/w...
When giants buy giants: How acquiring top rival changed Zillow
It was like Coke bought Pepsi when Zillow bought Trulia a decade ago, declaring a truce in what was then its biggest battle for home search dominance.
www.realestatenews.com
October 28, 2025 at 8:48 PM
With a major consolidation moment underway in residential real estate (Rocket's acquisition of Redfin and Compass' plan to buy Anywhere), we look back at another major acquisition deal that changed the industry: when Zillow bought out its top rival, Trulia.
www.realestatenews.com/2025/10/28/w...
www.realestatenews.com/2025/10/28/w...
Reposted by AJ LaTrace
Went to a prayer service tonight at St. Mary of the Lake, where they have cardboard cutouts throughout the church representing parishioners afraid to come to Mass because of ICE.
October 25, 2025 at 1:57 AM
Went to a prayer service tonight at St. Mary of the Lake, where they have cardboard cutouts throughout the church representing parishioners afraid to come to Mass because of ICE.
I was fortunate to play Fireside Bowl on two different occasions with two different bands and to have attended countless shows there back in high school. When I pass by even 20-25 years later, I still imagine that this is how it looks inside. (I was at this show too.)
youtu.be/XlcFTOQVB-Q?...
youtu.be/XlcFTOQVB-Q?...
Thursday - 03 - Standing on the Edge of Summer
YouTube video by gunsnrobotss
youtu.be
October 23, 2025 at 3:31 AM
I was fortunate to play Fireside Bowl on two different occasions with two different bands and to have attended countless shows there back in high school. When I pass by even 20-25 years later, I still imagine that this is how it looks inside. (I was at this show too.)
youtu.be/XlcFTOQVB-Q?...
youtu.be/XlcFTOQVB-Q?...
This is not good for regular working people. Equifax requires a a FTC identity theft report to initiate an extended fraud alert.
October 23, 2025 at 1:51 AM
This is not good for regular working people. Equifax requires a a FTC identity theft report to initiate an extended fraud alert.
Lovely Ephraim, Wisconsin
October 22, 2025 at 12:24 AM
Lovely Ephraim, Wisconsin