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AJ LaTrace

@latrace.bsky.social
1.4K followers 346 following 653 posts

Senior reporter at Inman Previously: Business Insider, Chicago magazine, Curbed aj at inman dot com

PostsRepliesMedia
AJ LaTrace @latrace.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
"Rose of baby poo jars"
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AJ LaTrace @latrace.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Chicago architect Lucien Lagrange received an honorary street designation. Here's his post on LinkedIn and the ordinance from 2nd Ward Alderman Brian Hopkins. Lagrange is best known for designing luxury towers (Park Tower, Waldorf Astoria) prior to the Great Recession.
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AJ LaTrace @latrace.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Here's a pretty neat bedroom set on FB Marketplace. It feels like that bridge between mid-90s soft tech and Y2K aesthetic. My best guess would be that this is from 99-2003. It has that strong late-90s corporate relocation modernism aesthetic.
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AJ LaTrace @latrace.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Now that the mid-2010s millennial modern interiors are falling out of style, I'm going to predict that early-mid 90s cozy (overstuffed couches, pastels, floral patterns) and mid-90s soft tech modernism (beech, glass and metal) is going to make a comeback.
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Reposted by AJ LaTrace
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention @afspnational.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
It's #WorldSuicidePreventionDay! 🌎💙 Whether you've lost a loved one or experienced your own personal struggles, we're sending love today to everyone who has been touched by suicide. #NationalSuicidePreventionMonth
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AJ LaTrace @latrace.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
My toddler and I are watching “Space Buddies” — one of the Air Bud sequels where puppies sneak onto a space ship — and I swear I thought Proco Joe Moreno was playing the bad guy in the movie.
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AJ LaTrace @latrace.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
I went to the Wayfair store in Chicago’s north suburbs this afternoon for the first time. And as someone who used to write daily about residential real estate listings/trends, architecture and design, it felt a little like going back in time about 10 years — in both good and bad ways. 🧵
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AJ LaTrace @latrace.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
It's pretty amazing how you can just go to a thrift store in the suburbs and find some killer early 80s post-disco living room furniture
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AJ LaTrace @latrace.bsky.social · 22/08/2026
LVP flooring is the greatest interior/housing sin of the last decade, similar to what split face block was in the pre-recession years. I understand the need for something cheap and “good enough,” but man, LVP products are going to be landfill waste sooner rather than later.
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AJ LaTrace @latrace.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
I checked out a used furniture store today that I hadn't been to yet & it was like the Holy Grail of 80s-90s plaid & floral print sofas. Its so tempting to buy a couch like this in the year 2026 when most new furniture is flimsy, flat-pack greige junk. Remember when homes felt warm, cozy & lived in?
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AJ LaTrace @latrace.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
Core memory
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AJ LaTrace @latrace.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
Prefab home builder Boxabl went public this week. CEO Paolo Tiramani told me the company has manufactured more than 800 units and has roughly 50,000 "expressions of interest" — but major production, financing and regulatory hurdles remain. www.inman.com/2026/07/22/b...
inman.com
Boxabl CEO on going public, push to ‘crush’ housing costs
Boxabl announced this week that it had gone public as it pursues plans to turn homebuilding into a repeatable production process.
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AJ LaTrace @latrace.bsky.social · 18/07/2026
It's pretty wild that vaporwave — a genre inspired by nostalgia — is now old enough that it's already had its own nostalgic revival. Here's a video I made over a decade ago of some of my favorite tracks at the time synced to cool vintage footage of Chicago. youtu.be/nnbRBI0G4o8?...
youtu.be
50+ Hours of Vaporwave, Bonus/100 [LA TRACE GUESTMIX -- Windy City Selects, pt. 1]
YouTube video by LSTHETIC
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AJ LaTrace @latrace.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
I occasionally Google my name just to see what comes up and earlier today found links on the Chicago Tribune site with my byline. I was confused but saw that my old Chicago mag stories were recently migrated over. And then hours later I saw that Chicago mag is being permanently folded into the Trib.
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AJ LaTrace @latrace.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
Sometimes you've got to just go hang out with your dog along the Chicago River
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AJ LaTrace @latrace.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
Yes AI is scary and taking all of our jobs, but sometimes it's nice to have someone to nerd out about bike parts with.
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AJ LaTrace @latrace.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
A shareholder lawsuit against Portillo's (PTLO) is brewing... www.prnewswire.com/news-release...
prnewswire.com
Portillo's (PTLO) Investigation: Investors Who Suffered Losses Encouraged to Contact Johnson Fistel
/PRNewswire/ -- Johnson Fistel, PLLP is investigating Portillo's Inc. (NASDAQ: PTLO) on behalf of investors who suffered losses and whether those losses may be...
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AJ LaTrace @latrace.bsky.social · 21/06/2026
A child’s relationship with a present and loving father should be seen as normal, healthy and worth protecting. Happy Father’s Day to the dads doing the work, quietly and consistently.
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AJ LaTrace @latrace.bsky.social · 19/06/2026
End of an era... "Founded in 2011, Vox Media was among a class of publishers, including BuzzFeed and Vice Media, that entranced investors and traditional media giants with promises of reaching younger consumers on the internet." www.nytimes.com/2026/06/18/b...
nytimes.com
Penske Media Is Buying What’s Left of Vox Media
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AJ LaTrace @latrace.bsky.social · 16/06/2026
Zillow isn’t treating Google’s expanded home listing ads as an immediate threat. Instead, the home search leader is arguing that Google is moving into a pay-per-lead model that Zillow says it has been moving away from. www.inman.com/2026/06/16/g...
inman.com
Zillow says Google’s home listing ads are no traffic threat
Zillow is pushing back on the idea that Google’s newly expanded home listing ads pose an immediate threat to its core business and traffic.
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AJ LaTrace @latrace.bsky.social · 05/06/2026
My little hipster baby
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AJ LaTrace @latrace.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
I've participated in fathers/parents groups on and off for the last few years but joined a group tonight led by this gentleman. What a horrific story and a shining example of turning pain into purpose. www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/f...
cbsnews.com
Father Pushing For 'Eryk's Law' After Son's Murder At Hands Of Ex-Wife
All Rod McCall can do is take comfort in the memories he had with his 7-year-old son Eryk. "That's what I remember. Just a happy go lucky kid. When he was with me, we had a good time."
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AJ LaTrace @latrace.bsky.social · 27/05/2026
We went to Maggie Daley Park for the first time yesterday and it was just incredible. We are so lucky to have such wonderful playgrounds in the neighborhoods, but the big playground in the Loop may beat out the rest across the city.
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AJ LaTrace @latrace.bsky.social · 25/05/2026
Couldn't have asked for better weather for a long weekend in Chicago
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AJ LaTrace @latrace.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
I spoke with a handful of Chicago agents about MRED turning off the listing feed to Zillow. Reactions to the consumer impact were mixed, but the shared takeaway was that regular buyers and sellers don’t care about industry fighting. They just want to search for homes. www.inman.com/2026/05/21/m...
inman.com
Chicago agents caught in the middle of MRED-Zillow dispute
For agents and brokers, the disruption moved a broader fight over pre-marketed listings into more practical territory about advising clients.
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AJ LaTrace @latrace.bsky.social · 19/05/2026
Chicago is one of the hottest housing markets in the country right now. And within Chicago, Lincoln Park, Lakeview, Wicker Park, Bucktown, Logan Square and Avondale are the most in-demand neighborhoods. therealdeal.com/chicago/2026...
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AJ LaTrace @latrace.bsky.social · 18/05/2026
This is so wild www.inman.com/2026/05/18/z...
inman.com
Zillow to lose source of Chicago listings by Wednesday: MRED
The MLS powering Chicago's real estate market said that it would cut off its supply of listings that power Zillow starting Wednesday at midnight unless it changed its rules around publicly marketed pr...
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AJ LaTrace @latrace.bsky.social · 02/05/2026
This is how bleak it's gotten for people looking for housing from corporate-owned and managed complexes in the Chicago suburbs. $375 in non-refundable fees just to get started. And if you do get approved, you're looking at $1,200 to $1,500 in fees before you even get your keys.
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AJ LaTrace @latrace.bsky.social · 27/04/2026
Compass set out to hit 30% market share in its top 30 markets. New data suggests it may already be there — or close to it. Here's a detailed look back at the acquisitions, strategy and key players behind Compass' rise to brokerage dominance. www.inman.com/2026/04/27/c...
inman.com
How Compass built the biggest empire in real estate history
How Compass International Holdings supercharged its growth — and what that means for real estate consumers.
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AJ LaTrace @latrace.bsky.social · 23/04/2026
This photo my roommate took of me eating at Cafe Con Leche 20 years ago popped up in my Facebook memories. It's wild to think that I've basically spent my entire adult life in the Logan Square/Avondale area.
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AJ LaTrace @latrace.bsky.social · 20/04/2026
Riese & Müller (basically the Mercedes-Benz of cargo and family bikes) has announced that they are exiting the US market just as family biking and ebikes are really gaining momentum here
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AJ LaTrace @latrace.bsky.social · 20/04/2026
Recent estimates for the U.S. housing shortage range anywhere from 1 million to 10 million homes, a wide gulf that can leave consumers and real estate professionals struggling to make sense of the issue. Here's a look at why nobody can agree on the housing shortage. www.inman.com/2026/04/17/u...
inman.com
Why nobody can agree on the scope of the US housing shortage
A new White House economic report estimates the country is short 10 million homes, but researchers can't seem to agree on the number.
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AJ LaTrace @latrace.bsky.social · 16/04/2026
It's wild that this gigantic hole in the ground is about 90% full right now from all of the rain we've been getting. If we have another storm like last night's all of the basements in Chicago will become temporary water holding tanks. youtu.be/3wR9xDkVogM?...
youtu.be
Chicago Scene at the McCook Reservoir (Part 1)
YouTube video by WGN News
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AJ LaTrace @latrace.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
The Midwest is one of the last regions where homeownership still feels attainable — but even that window may be narrowing. My colleague Marian McPherson talked to economists about what’s driving the shift, and what could break it. www.inman.com/2026/04/15/t...
inman.com
'The dream of the 90s is alive in the Midwest'
The Midwest is gaining popularity with homebuyers. Three economists discuss the region's strengths and challenges.
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AJ LaTrace @latrace.bsky.social · 14/04/2026
We made this little vid for one of my stories the other day. If you're on the 'gram, take a look. www.instagram.com/p/DW9QdfZEdjS/
instagram.com
inmannews on Instagram: "From the stage to the closing table. 🎸🏡Which musician would you want to work with?Read the full story at the link in bio. #reales…"
From the stage to the closing table. 🎸🏡Which musician would you want to work with?Read the full story at the link in bio. #realestate #inman #realestateagent #homesales
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AJ LaTrace @latrace.bsky.social · 14/04/2026
Compass now holds between 30% and 39.5% of unit sales in Boston, Washington, D.C., Chicago, San Diego and Austin — and the brokerage is also keeping more of those transactions in-house, a new Consumer Policy Center report finds. www.inman.com/2026/04/14/c...
inman.com
Compass dominating key markets and double-ending deals
Compass now holds 30 percent to 39.5 percent of unit sales across five major markets — a share larger than the next biggest brokerage.
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AJ LaTrace @latrace.bsky.social · 10/04/2026
If you attended Warped Tour in the 2000s, there’s a chance that a member of one of your favorite bands has a second career in real estate today. I spoke with members from New Found Glory, Armor for Sleep and The Hush Sound about their pivot from music to real estate. www.inman.com/2026/04/10/m...
inman.com
Meet the musicians who found a 2nd stage in real estate
For many touring musicians, the transition into a second career in real estate isn't as surprising as it sounds.
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AJ LaTrace @latrace.bsky.social · 05/04/2026
Holy Saturday scenes from St. Hyacinth
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AJ LaTrace @latrace.bsky.social · 04/04/2026
Cleansing the timeline with some Good Friday content. May peace be with us all.
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AJ LaTrace @latrace.bsky.social · 03/04/2026
NWMLS lawyers on Compass 3-phase marketing strategy: "Such exclusionary marketing hurts sellers, buyers, and other brokers, and only benefits Compass and its brokers by allowing them a greater opportunity to participate on both sides of the sale." www.inman.com/2026/04/03/c...
inman.com
NWMLS blasts Compass' 'Orwellian' listing strategy
NWMLS is escalating its legal battle with Compass, filing federal counterclaims that accuse the brokerage of a deceptive listings strategy.
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AJ LaTrace @latrace.bsky.social · 02/04/2026
Offerpad is aiming to use AI to improve home seller leads for agents and reduce the need for human review in its own underwriting and buying process. CEO Brian Bair told me he's aiming to have Offerpad underwriting decisions be 99% automated. www.inman.com/2026/04/01/o...
inman.com
Offerpad bets on AI to deliver higher-quality seller leads
As brokerages fight over listings, Offerpad is quietly rebuilding its seller intake and routing system with new AI tools.
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AJ LaTrace @latrace.bsky.social · 01/04/2026
www.thelettersfromleo.com/p/obama-want...
thelettersfromleo.com
Obama Wants to Meet Pope Leo XIV — And He May Get There Before Trump
The former president's Catholic roots run deeper than most people know. His career began in Chicago parishes funded by the bishops — the same city that formed the pope.
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Reposted by AJ LaTrace
Stephen Jacob Smith @stephenjacobsmith.com · 31/03/2026
Told you. The market-clearing equilibrium price to sell a home is 5-6%, and no amount of legal action can shift the underlying economics of the business.
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AJ LaTrace @latrace.bsky.social · 31/03/2026
Nearly two years after rule changes tied to the NAR settlement took effect, agent commissions are holding steady. Agents told Lance Lambert they’ve seen little to no change, underscoring the “stickiness” of compensation. www.inman.com/2026/03/30/a...
inman.com
Commissions show ‘stickiness’ nearly 2 years after NAR
Roughly two-thirds of agents report no significant shift in commission levels since the 2024 settlement, a new report finds.
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AJ LaTrace @latrace.bsky.social · 30/03/2026
My colleague used Claude to vibe code an interactive mortgage calculator that illustrates how rising interest rates reduce buying power. Check it out (and the accompanying story about the recent mortgage rate spikes) here: www.inman.com/2026/03/27/s...
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AJ LaTrace @latrace.bsky.social · 29/03/2026
Palm Sunday at St. Hyacinth Basilica
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AJ LaTrace @latrace.bsky.social · 27/03/2026
To close the current housing gap of roughly 5 million homes, the Center for Public Enterprise estimates the U.S. would need to increase multifamily construction from 350,000 units per year to about 500,000 annually for nearly a decade. www.inman.com/2026/03/27/u...
inman.com
The U.S. is still short millions of homes
“If a lot of the shortage was created by restrictions on multifamily, then more of what needs to be made up is going to be multifamily."
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AJ LaTrace @latrace.bsky.social · 24/03/2026
Compass Chief Economist @mikesimonsen.bsky.social discussing how Milwaukee became "the hottest housing market in the country"
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AJ LaTrace @latrace.bsky.social · 24/03/2026
The Midwest is having its moment because millennials need affordability and the dream of moving to Brooklyn or San Francisco to start a life and career after college just isn't as viable anymore. That and a lot of millennials decided to move back home when they're ready to start their own families.
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AJ LaTrace @latrace.bsky.social · 17/03/2026
Election day in Chicago
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