PRESS RELEASE: NAREE's 75th Annual Journalism Competition Winners

PRESS RELEASE

NAREE's 75th Annual Journalism Competition Winners

National Association of Real Estate Editors Announces 2025 Journalism Competition Winners

New Orleans - (June 18, 2025) - The National Association of Real Estate Editors (NAREE) announced the winners of its 75th Annual Journalism Awards today. This prestigious competition recognizes excellence in reporting, writing, and editing stories about residential and commercial real estate.

The awards were announced at NAREE’s annual conference held at the Hotel Monteleone in New Orleans, Louisiana. A panel of expert judges from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University selected all winners. Medill’s Karen Springen chaired the panel. Here are NAREE’s 2025 winners with judges’ comments:

Platinum Award - Best Overall Entry by an Individual - Real Estate

Cecilia Reyes, Business Insider

“Locked Out”: “When renters get locked out, they may never get back in,” “Unprotected at the margins of the rental market”

Judges’ Comment: In her enterprising stories about illegal lockouts, Cecilia Reyes powerfully illustrates the toll of evictions on parents and children. She digs through data, including thousands of 911 calls, housing complaints and court records, to find evidence that suggests an increase in the number of people whose landlords throw them out or lock them out. Sometimes they even skirt laws by changing locks or shutting off utilities. Renters, who can’t get inside to get their work uniforms or cope with the pressure, can miss days on the job or even lose their employment. And their kids can end up skipping, or dropping out of, school. Reyes zooms in on individual people – and zooms out to show variations in state laws. In the process, she exposes an under-covered problem that potentially affects many Americans: Half of U.S. renters – more than 22 million households – face financial stress over housing costs.

President’s Award - Best Freelance Collection - Real Estate

Colette Coleman, Freelance Writer, The New York Times

“Beyond the Shortage: Stories of Different Groups’ Adaptations and Innovations Amid Housing Scarcity”: “Blaxit: Tired of Racism, Black Americans Try Life in Africa.” “For a Growing Number of Latinos, Home Buying Is a Family Affair.” “The Design Trend Taking Over Rural America.”

Judges’ Comment: The best reporters write articles that make readers say, “Wow. I didn’t know that.” In her real-estate stories for The New York Times, Colette Coleman tackles Black Americans finding new houses in Africa, Latino families combining incomes and making home-buying a multigenerational collaboration, and the popularity of “barndominiums” or “barndos” (a mashup of barns and condominiums). Coleman knows to just use quotes that are gems. For example, a project manager in the “barndo” world of open floor plans tells her, “People want to play basketball in their living room.” And a Black American who relocated from Harlem to Ghana says, “Here, we’re rich.” As she covers stories that matter, such as the “trans-Atlantic exodus,” she gives an expert class on how to surprise and delight readers.

Ruth Ryon Award - Best Young Journalist - Real Estate

Jack Flemming, Los Angeles Times

“The Chaos of California’s Housing Market”: “Out-squatted: Handyman Flash Shelton will squat with your squatters - until they leave,” “An ambulance, an empty lot and a loophole: One man’s fight for a place to live,” “In the Mojave Desert, a gold rush sparks a mini real-estate boom for old mines”

Judges’ Comment: In his quirky, but important, stories, including one about a vigilante-style handyman and YouTuber known as the “Squatter Hunter,” Jack Flemming captures how owners and renters are navigating California’s chaotic housing market. With the landlords’ blessings, squatter-for-hire James Shelton moves into homes to drive away occupants who won’t leave. He dirties the bathroom, blasts music, “commandeers” the TV remote control and wears a hat that says, “Get Out.” Flemming shows how this unorthodox technique does the trick and helps owners frustrated with the legal system go rogue if they feel they can’t boot trespassers in a more traditional way. Through old-fashioned shoe-leather reporting, Flemming gives the reader an on-scene look at how people live. His pieces, including a story about a hippy-esque 30-year-old who lives in an ambulance, are never boring and always thought provoking.

Category 1: Kenneth R. Harney Award for Best Real Estate Consumer Education Reporting

Harney Winner: James Rodriguez, Business Insider

“The Brave New World of Homebuying”: “The end of the Realtor monopoly,” “’The biggest change in 100 years’,” “Inside the battle of America’s hidden homes”

Judges’ Comment: James Rodriguez knows how to explain complicated situations – like the National Association of Realtors’ $418 million settlement to end class-action lawsuits over agent commissions – in a conversational, easy-to-understand way. He uses, but never overuses, numbers, explaining that commissions hovered between 5% and 6% of the sales price for decades. He always explains what something means. In this case, the recent deal could push more buyers to forgo hiring an agent or to work out an alternate payment structure. Also, this settlement may not prevent a showdown between the NAR and the Department of Justice. But the new rules will force buyers to think about how their agents get paid. Rodriguez’s deep knowledge of the industry and his excellent Rolodex make it possible for him to educate consumers in an understandable, engaging way.

Category 2: Best Collection of Work by an Individual Covering Residential Real Estate

Gold Winner (tie): Sarah Rappaport, Bloomberg News

Collection Includes: “Freddie Mercury’s London Residence Lists at £30 Million,” “Inside Wytham Abbey, the £15 Million Castle Effective Altruism Must Sell,” “London’s Luxury Real Estate Developers Up the Ante with Botox, Wegovy”

Judges’ Comment: Sarah Rappaport knows how to cover the lifestyles of the rich and famous by looking in great depth at their homes. One example: To woo the well-heeled - luxury housing builders are going beyond fancy pools by offering over-the-top amenities like vitamin drips, Botox and weight-loss drugs via the residents’ services app. In another story, Rappaport looks at singer-songwriter Freddie Mercury’s London house, listed for £38 million by his longtime friend Mary Austin, who inherited it following the Queen star’s 1991 death. She delivers - telling details about the place, with its eight bedrooms and its Japanese-inspired garden. Finally, she looks at 500-year-old Wytham Abbey – another lux home for sale. Armchair quarterback? Try armchair high-end realtor.

Gold Winner (tie): Jack Flemming, Los Angeles Times

Collection Includes: “An ambulance, an empty lot and a loophole: One man's fight for a place to live,” “Out-squatted: Handyman Flash Shelton will squat with your squatters - until they leave,” “In the Mojave Desert, a gold rush sparks a mini real-estate boom for old mines”

Judges’ Comment: Jack Flemming knows how to come up with offbeat story ideas – and then execute them with flair. He writes about a 30-year-old man who creatively gets around Southern California’s exorbitant housing prices by buying an ambulance and living in it, with a portable toilet stashed inside. He also reports on a guy who beats squatters at their game. And he heads to the Mojave Desert to look into a mini gold rush, fueled by the price of the precious metal soaring to an all-time high of $2,630 as of the story’s publication. Flemming finds compelling characters like Sean Tucker, who previously founded a deep-sea treasure hunting company that tried to find sunken treasures in shipwrecks off the coast of Colombia before switching to treasure buried in California. These pieces are thoroughly reported -- and thoroughly enjoyable to read.

Silver Winner: Aarthi Swaminathan, MarketWatch

Collection Includes: “The new battle in divorce: Who gets custody of the low mortgage rate?” “These sellers don’t want to pay 6% commissions – so they’re pushing back,” “They don’t make $1.8 million houses like they used to: Home inspectors use TikTok to reveal ‘shoddy’ new homes”

Judges’ Comment: Aarthi Swaminathan uses compelling examples, writing about how home inspectors are taking to TikTok to post videos of shoddy workmanship in hastily built new houses. Their fear-inducing clips show rotten wood, unanchored bathtubs and toilets not firmly rooted to the ground. Yikes. Another story explains how divorcing couples sometimes even stay in the same house, with one person in the basement, to keep their pandemic-era low interest rates. Using numbers, of course, Swaminathan shows that breaking up is hard to do -- especially when it means giving up rates of 2.8% and refinancing at 7%.

Bronze Winner: James Rodriguez, Business Insider

Collection Includes: “Our Zestimate Obsession,” “The Age of DumBro,” “Home Sellers Are Facing a Summer from Hell”

Honorable Mention (tie): Katherine Kallergis, The Real Deal

Collection Includes: “How Goldentayer’s game won her a top spot in Miami luxury real estate,” “‘Bloodbath of competition’: What could happen when Miami’s pipeline of condo-hotels is delivered,” “How David Martin plans to deliver the biggest project of his career”

Honorable Mention (tie): Julie Lasky, Freelance Writer, The New York Times

Collection Includes: “A Suitable Retreat in a Postwar Environment,” “A Finn’s Trove,” “Tucking Herself Into a Place That Has Everything”

Category 3: Best Collection of Work by an Individual Covering Commercial Real Estate

Gold Winner: Aaron Elstein, Crain’s New York Business

Collection Includes: “Helmsley Building heading to foreclosure,” “SL Green sees opportunity in office carnage,” “Midtown residents risk losing their homes as co-ops face ground lease renewal”

Judges’ Comment: Elstein’s work is an impressive collection of breaking news (he scooped the competition on the Helmsley Building foreclosure), as well as enterprise and contextual journalism. In “SL Green sees opportunity,” Elstein’s sources reveal the giant landlord’s aspirations in the troubled commercial sector, and he contextualizes it with critical numbers, such as the large number of short sellers in the stock. His story on the ground lease battle affecting Manhattan co-ops takes care to humanize those affected and does an excellent job explaining the byzantine ownership structure’s long history. Elstein’s writing is crisp and clear, and his sourcing is first-rate.

Silver Winner: Natalie Wong, Bloomberg News

Collection Includes: "'Billionaire Stephen Ross Believes in South Florida – and is Spending Big to Transform It,” “There’s Finally Hope for the Office Real Estate Market,” “Adam Neumann’s Latest Project is a WeWork Competitor”

Judges' Comment: Wong’s collection demonstrates her range, from sharp analysis that puts her readers ahead of the curve in the highly competitive commercial real estate market to a deeply reported look at the motivations behind billionaire Stephen Ross’s massive projects in West Palm Beach. Wong finds the pandemic-era flood of New York transplants tapering, and octogenarian Ross angling for an outside boost (such as a Vanderbilt University outpost) for what is most likely his capstone project. An eye for detail and smooth prose round out this winning collection.

Bronze Winner: Keith Larsen, The Real Deal

Collection Includes: “Inside the turmoil at Columbia’s Master of Science in Real Estate Development program,” “Behind the unraveling of Nir Meir,” “Riverside Abstract’s dedication to client service may have gone too far”

Honorable Mention: Lidia Dinkova, The Real Deal

Collection Includes: “‘Day of reckoning’: South Florida multifamily investors feel sting of rising interest rates, insurance,” “‘A lot of square footage’: Six office buildings are on tap in Miami Beach. Will all get leased?” “‘Miami has jumped the shark’: Analyzing South Florida’s office sales slump”

Category 4: Best Regular or Syndicated Real Estate Column

Gold Winner: Kirk Pinho, Crain's Detroit Business

“Skyscraper boom could have consequences for birds”

Judge’ Comment: Kirk Pinho calls attention to the threat posed by Detroit’s changing skyline to millions of birds whose migration paths cross the city. His column is a work of clarity and balance, weaving together explanations of birds’ seasonal movements, concerns of activists and environmentalists, and actionable practices that buildings can and should be taking to minimize bird collisions and deaths. He uses his column as a place to hold accountable specific buildings that pose the highest risks, calling on these members of the Detroit cityscape to help protect Detroit’s avian visitors.

Silver Winner: Julie Lasky, Freelance Writer,  The New York Times

“Living Small” column - Collection Includes: “Maximizing Comfort in a Minimalist Space,” “They Found a Rare Species in the Catskills,” “Tucking Herself into a Place That Has Everything”

Judge’ Comment: Julie Lasky invites readers into the homes of people who have led lives as unique as their lodgings. With Lasky’s descriptive words woven with the use of quotes from the homeowners, there’s no need to imagine the look and feel of a 74-square-foot loft in Rotterdam, a 192-square-foot cabin in the Catskills and a 345-square-foot tiny house in North Carolina. But instead of simply holding us in voyeuristic awe of these people and their small patches of square footage, Lasky draws us in on what we all have in common: the search for a house that feels like home, no matter what that may look or feel like.

Bronze Winner: Robyn Friedman, Freelance Writer,  The Wall Street Journal

“You Have Homeowners Insurance. Is It Enough to Rebuild Your House?”

Category 5: Best Economic Analysis - Real Estate

Gold Winner: Nicole Friedman, The Wall Street Journal


“Insurance and Taxes Now Cost More Than Mortgages for Many Homeowners”

Judges’ Comment: Friedman’s story, built on data analysis, reveals an alarming trend in home ownership: A growing number of people are paying more in taxes and insurance than for their mortgage. Miami and New Orleans are among the worst cities for this phenomenon, not surprisingly because of hurricanes and flooding, but so are Rochester, New York, and Syracuse, New York. Friedman’s storytelling is well-supported by data and experts, but her true gift is in the real people she finds, such as the Florida woman who wants out of her condo (and sky-high insurance premiums) but hasn’t been able to find a buyer. Friedman’s human touch demonstrates how an economic analysis can both inform and engage.

Silver Winner: Mike Wereschagin, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette


“Post-Gazette investigation: Pittsburgh’s budget on the brink in 2025”

Judges’ Comment: Wereschagin analyzes Pittsburgh’s worsening fiscal crisis through a comprehensive examination of city budget documents and tax records. What he finds is waning property tax revenue from troubled office high-rises and overly optimistic budget assumptions. Wereschagin breaks down the complex economic reality for readers in clear, well-written prose. He engages the reader right away by describing the impact of a proposed cut in police and emergency services overtime on popular parades and other city events. Strong visuals and graphics also help make this a winning story.

Bronze Winner: Paulina Cachero, Bloomberg News

“How Gen Z Ended Up in So Much Debt”

  

Honorable Mention: Matt Wasielewski, Bisnow

“Facing Billions in Budget Shortfalls, Cities Scramble for Solutions”

Category 6: Best Interior Design Story

Gold Winner: Sarah Paynter, The Wall Street Journal

“Champagne Bars, Tanning Booths and Revolving Shoe Racks: The $1 Million Closet Has Arrived”

Judges’ Comment: Yes, wealthy homeowners are dropping as much as $1 million on closets, including a two-story one with a spray-tan booth and an elevator. Sarah Paynter avoids passing judgment on anyone’s silk wallpaper or meditation areas. Instead, she uses her eyes and ears during interviews with people like Kimmie Turiansky, who hosts her girlfriends in her $120,000, 470-square-foot space – with amenities like a center island with a brass charging port for her Chanel handbag with an LED screen. She also tucks in details about guys, who apparently like leather finishes and places to store collections of 200 shoes (hip-hop promoter Damon Dash and singer Elton John). Like the best reporters, Paynter gets memorable quotes about everything from “closet-reveal parties” to metal mesh shelves that let shoes “breathe.”

Silver Winner: Amy Gamerman, Freelance Writer, Mansion, The Wall Street Journal

“He Didn’t Want to Move. So He Built a Small One in the Backyard.”

Judges’ Comment: Amy Gamerman knows a trend in the making. In this thoroughly reported piece, she showcases the latest luxury: an exquisite miniature house designed to complement the big one out front. Traditionally, homeowners built accessory dwelling units for aging parents or adult offspring. But now a growing number seem to be moving into the tiny houses, which are set on solid foundations and are equipped with plumbing, bathrooms, kitchens and washer-dryers. Full of anecdotes and real people, like the ADU-dwelling dad who gifted the big home to his 49-year-old daughter (“I said, ‘Do you want the house? You’re going to get it sooner or later.’”), this expertly crafted piece might make mansion builders think twice.

Bronze Winner: Emily Jensen, Business Insider

“Extreme Apartment Makeover”

Category 7: Best Architecture Story

Gold Winner: Amanda Abrams, Freelance Writer, The Intercept

“The Little-Known Reason Counties Keep Building Bigger Jails: Architecture Firms”

Judges’ Comment: Whoever heard of “justice architecture”? In this heartbreaking story, Amanda Abrams writes that architecture companies produce “feasibility studies” and “needs assessments” that inevitably assume a future with more inmates and recommend bigger jails – and then lobby to get the contracts to draw up the plans for them and use public funds to build them. They don’t seem to improve life for inmates. As she notes, the word “architect” might “conjure images of soaring ceilings and big windows.” But these firms are rarely creating innovative designs. So inmates, like a 41-year-old with a history of mental illness who went off his medication and quickly committed three robberies, wind up spending years behind bars in spaces ill-suited to help them.

Silver Winner: Anna Kodé, The New York Times

“The Fight to Save Googie, the Style of Postwar Optimism”

Judges’ Comment: This well-reported homage to old-school restaurants with huge, space-age neon signs designed to catch the attention of people driving by in cars captures why so many Americans are lamenting the loss of these wacky-looking places. The giant Arby’s cowboy hat exemplifies the style known as Googie, adopted by Southern California drive-ins, motels, donut shops and other roadside businesses during the 1940s through 1970s. She gives excellent historical context, noting height and size limits – and Lyndon Johnson’s 1965 “America the Beautiful” initiative that spread the idea that “commercial clutter” was taking over U.S. roads. Readers, are remaining Googie signs an eyesore -- or a nostalgic nod to a more fun, creative time?

Bronze Winner: James Rodriguez, Business Insider

“America Has a Serious Ugly Home Problem”

Honorable Mention (tie): Sarah Rappaport, Bloomberg News

“Party Barns Are the Hottest Amenity for UK’s Countryside Rich”

Honorable Mention (tie): Michele Lerner, Freelance Writer, Mansion Global

“Log Cabin Living – But Luxuriously”

Category 8: Best Residential Real Estate Story – Daily or Weekly Newspaper

Gold Winner: Debra Kamin, The New York Times

“The Homeowners Who Beat the National Association of Realtors”

Judges’ Comment: Medical reporters try to track down “patient zero” -- the first person to become infected with a disease. Debra Kamin finds the six ordinary home sellers in Missouri who took on the National Association of Realtors over its seemingly nonnegotiable rules on broker commissions, which they feel is unfair. One of them, a police officer, says his real estate agent quoted him a “law-enforcement special” of 5.5% and then charged him 6% anyway. Kamin knows the power of numbers and uses them effectively. One of the couples owed $107,000 on their mortgage, sold the house for $126,000, netted $18,000 – and then paid 40% of that amount to commissions for their agent and the buyer’s agent. As the owner says, “It was a hard pill to swallow that we were walking away with so little.” Solid reporting, and lots of it, pays off.

Silver Winner: Will Parker, The Wall Street Journal

“Dreading the Constable’s Knock in an Eviction Capital”

Judges’ Comment: In Phoenix, a popular, landlord-friendly city with high rents, constables for eviction courts remove people from their homes when they stop paying rent. Pandemic assistance programs are over, and local laws are on the side of owners who want to get their money promptly. As Will Parker notes, the time between late rent and an eviction filing in Arizona can be as few as five days. Evictions in the “Silicon Desert” make work for attorneys, locksmiths, moving and storage companies, and extended-stay hotels. Also effective: Parker’s use of one of the constables, a Republican who in a past life was evicted twice himself. It’s a haunting and riveting story.

Bronze Winner: Nicole Friedman, The Wall Street Journal

“The Hidden Costs of Homeownership Are Skyrocketing”

Honorable Mention (tie): Marissa Luck, Houston Chronicle

“Forget pools and home theaters. Whole-home generators are the new ‘must have’ for Houston mansions.”

Honorable Mention (tie): Robyn Friedman, Freelance Writer, The Boston Globe

“One Big, Happy Family: The Rise of Multigenerational Living in America”

Category 9: Best Residential Mortgage or Financial Real Estate Story – Daily or Weekly Newspaper

Gold Winner: Akiko Matsuda, WSJ Pro Bankruptcy, The Wall Street Journal

“Retirees’ Life Savings Can Vanish in Continuing Care Bankruptcies”

Judges’ Comment: When continuing care retirement communities fail financially, they put their residents and their heirs at risk of losing hefty, “fully refundable” entrance fee deposits. To illustrate how devastating this is, Akiko Matsuda zooms in on real seniors. One World War II veteran paid $145,000 to Henry Ford Village in suburban Detroit, which filed for bankruptcy, and his heirs learned they would recoup only $18,000 of it. His daughter calls it an “insult to the dignity and the integrity of a life well lived.” Matsuda also zooms out, explaining that 1,900 so-called continuing care or life-plan communities operate across the U.S. with 623,000 residents. After their retirement communities go belly up, seniors can lose their physical homes, their healthcare, and their life savings. Tragic.

Silver Winner: Jacob Geanous, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

“‘Nobody Wants to Leave Their House’: Evictions jumped nearly 20% in Allegheny County in 2023”

Judges’ Comment: To show how the increase in evictions is devastating some Pittsburgh residents, Jacob Geanous turns to a reporter’s best tools: numbers and real people. The number of evictions filed in the county jumped nearly 20% in a year – from 11,115 in 2022 to 13,225 in 2023. Among them: a mom of five who found herself locked out of the federally subsidized apartment, where she lived for a decade, after she lost her job and failed to pay rent. As Geanous explains, unemployment and inflation intensified an already bad situation after the pandemic-era federal eviction moratorium ended in August 2021. Who suffers most? Communities of color.

Bronze Winner: Heather Senison, Freelance Writer, The New York Times

“One Family’s Road to Building a House Despite the Obstacles”

Honorable Mention: Richard Mize, The Oklahoman

“Homeowners Insurance Is Through the Roof in Oklahoma – and the Roof Might Not be Covered, Either”

Category 10: Best Commercial Real Estate Story - Daily or Weekly Newspaper

Gold Winner: Konrad Putzier, The Wall Street Journal


“The Real Estate Nightmare Unfolding in Downtown St. Louis”


Judges’ Comment: Putzier delves into the post-Covid remains of downtown St. Louis and writes compellingly about its self-perpetuating "doom loop." In a 15-block stretch, he meticulously mapped, there are two empty storefronts for every occupied one. He pulled cell phone data showing visits downtown are half what they were in 2019. Putzier knows what details will bring the story to life: An attorney complains his firm has no place to get lunch after the nearby Panera closed; signs warn visitors to “park in well-lit areas”; and a parking garage’s ceilings are crumbling, propped up by makeshift poles. The story’s beautiful photos and color-coded map help illustrate the decay.

Silver Winner: Oshrat Carmiel, Freelance Writer, New York Post

“How Canny Foreigners Are Investing Their Way Into a Green Card”

Judges’ Comment: Wealthy foreign investors have long used real estate investment as a fast track to getting a green card. But the $800,000 they used to invest in big city projects must now go to rural communities. Carmiel’s story is an intriguing look at some of the unexpected projects that have grown out of this change, including a religious Jewish community in Florida and a flour mill in Oregon. Carmiel talks to several developers who solicit funding for the ventures and finds it’s a booming area. The story is thoroughly reported, well-written and entertaining.

Bronze Winner: Brian J. Rogal, Chicago Tribune

“Financial crisis at Heartland Alliance leads to furloughs, program cuts and an attempt to sell hundreds of affordable housing units”

   

Honorable Mention: Daniel Geiger, Business Insider

“Luxury developer Michael Shvo has big plans. Bitter disputes and a soft real estate market threaten to thwart them”

Category 11: Best Residential Real Estate, Residential Mortgage or Financial Real Estate Magazine Story - General Circulation

Gold Winner: Robyn Friedman, Freelance Writer, Kiplinger Personal Finance

“Is a 55+ Community Right for You?”

Judges’ Comments: A big question for aging homeowners in an era of “active adult” communities: Should they stay, or should they go? Robyn Friedman lays out the pros and cons, using dollars and real seniors. One sixty-something couple, who sold their Silicon Valley house, bought into a North Carolina 55+ development and happily spends their days playing pickleball and going to happy hours and concerts. A couple who bought into a Washington state community love the on-site water aerobics and line dancing. It’s all low maintenance, with the homeowners’ association handling landscaping and snow removal. Always balanced, Friedman also spells out downsides, including rules that may limit how long grandkids can visit and HOA fees that may increase faster than expected. Her practical tips include considering a test drive known as a “stay and play weekend.”

Silver Winner: Prashant Gopal, Bloomberg Markets Magazine

“Empty Rentals Burn Vacation-Home Owners Near Florida’s Disney World”

Judges’ Comment: In this lively, richly reported story, Prashant Gopal looks at how investing in Mickey Mouse – in this case, properties near Walt Disney World -- isn’t always a sure bet. He zooms in on Kissimmee, the 21-square-mile Orlando suburb with over 30,000 Airbnbs and other short-term rentals, more than any other U.S. city. The old rock-bottom interest rates fueled a buying binge there. But now post-pandemic travel to places like Disney World is slowing, rental income is falling, and investors are questioning a strategy called BRRRR (for buy, rehab, rent, refinance, repeat). Gopal tracks down hope-springs-eternal types, like a guy who will “theme” a house with, say, a 10-foot “Transformers” robot replica. Enjoy.

Bronze Winner: Emily Landes, The Real Deal

“How Icon Emerged from the Ashes of Corcoran’s First Major Franchise, Global Living”

Category 12: Best Residential Real Estate Trade or B-to-B Magazine Story

Gold Winner: Kate Hinsche, The Real Deal

“The Last Piece of Paradise: Palm Beach Battles for Its Only Major Dev Site Left”

Judges’ Comment: In Palm Beach, “not in my backyard” takes on a whole new meaning. Kate Hinsche, a master of “show, don’t tell” storytelling, starts with the doomed tale of a 5.8-acre parcel – basically a parking lot --that would seem ripe for developing. Nope. Opponents to building an apparently well-conceived space with 37 residential units included Liza Pulitzer, the great-granddaughter of newspaper magnate Joseph Pulitzer. After all, as Hinsche captures in her tale, this is Palm Beach. Fewer than 2,500 homes sit on the 16-mile-long island, perhaps best known for its estates like Mar-a-Lago and for its status as home to the highest concentration of houses priced at $50 million or more. As Hinsche points out, neighboring West Palm Beach is happily embracing developers. Noted.

Silver Winner: Sheridan Wall, The Real Deal

“Can Ryan Serhant Scale a National Brokerage Built on His Personality?”

Judges’ Comment: Sheridan Wall captures the essence of Ryan Serhant, a TV star with an eponymous brokerage in New York and seven other states. How many brokers boast 2.2 million followers on Instagram or a reality show – in his case, “Owning Manhattan”? Wall details his legend, from his start as an AT&T hand model to his 19-episode run on “As the World Turns” to nine seasons on Bravo’s “Million Dollar Listing New York.” His “eat-sleep-sell” mentality seems exhausting (he worries about “not doing enough”), but Wall simply lays it out there rather than celebrating it or passing judgment. First-rate reporting.

Bronze Winner: Moira Ritter, CoStar News

“Hurricane Fallout Tests North Carolina Agents Working Through Home Buying Season’s New Reality”

Category 13: Best Commercial Real Estate Trade or B-to-B Magazine Story

Gold Winner: Rich Bockmann, The Real Deal

“Inside the Family Feud of the Multibillion-Dollar Sol Goldman Empire”

Judges’ Comments: Family feuds can make compelling yarns, and Rich Bochmann more than delivers in this deeply reported, “Succession-esque” tale about the four children of real-estate investor Sol Goldman. He pieces through trial testimony and court documents and interviews the key players. Sol Goldman’s will named his youngest daughter, Jane, and his son, Allan, who recently died of Parkinson’s, as his co-executors. Four decades later the family is in court. At stake: control of a $4 billion to $16 billion empire that includes properties like 96 Fifth Avenue. And of course, it’s complicated. For example, Sol Goldman begged his wife not to divorce him and scrawled on a yellow legal notepad that she would get a third of his fortune when he died if she stayed. And Sol Goldman’s daughter Amy, perhaps the world’s premiere vegetable gardener, most strongly opposes her sister Jane these days. It's screenplay material.

Silver Winner: Emma Whalen, The Real Deal

“Inside Jay Shidler’s Ground Lease Kingdom”

Judges’ Comment: Hawaii-based Jay Shidler likes to own the land beneath buildings – a business model used by the king of the islands that later became an American state. Extensive reporting makes it possible for reporter Emma Whalen to convincingly draw that comparison and to tell an intriguing tale about how Shidler uses this real-estate strategy. He’s a compelling character who has contributed $238 million in cash and ground leases to his alma mater, the University of Hawaii. It’s a kingly amount.

Bronze Winner (tie): Evelyn Lee, PERE

“Ryan Cotton’s Outsider Perspective”

Bronze Winner (tie): Jeff Shaw, Seniors Housing Business

“Development Lessons from Abroad”

Category 14: Best Online Residential, Mortgage or Financial Real Estate Story

Gold Winner: Deborah Kearns, Freelance Writer, RISMedia

“Mortgage Industry Exodus: ‘Nearly Half’ of Producing Loan Officers Have Left the Business”

Judges’ Comment: Deborah Kearns shines a spotlight on mortgage loan officers as thousands have been laid off in the past few years. She balances data giving a macro look at the challenges facing the industry alongside personal anecdotes of loan officers trying to navigate the uncertainties of the real estate industry in terms of their own careers and livelihoods. She clearly shows how the overlapping pressures of higher interest rates, low housing industry and concentration of business in the hands of the top loan originators creates a “no-win situation” for those not at the top, who turn to multiple side gigs or exit the industry entirely.

Silver Winner: Kate Wood, NerdWallet

“What the Fed’s Rate Cutting Plans Mean for the Housing Market”

Judges’ Comment: Kate Wood clearly broke down for buyers and homeowners looking to refinance or sell how the Federal Reserve’s cuts could affect them, not just in the immediate aftermath of the cut but as the domino effects for the market play out. Wood brings in experts as well as takes data from recent historical trends to give those looking to buy, sell or refinance the information they need to decide the best path for them.

Bronze Winner: Libertina Brandt, The Wall Street Journal

“Public Beach or Private? Homeowners in Florida Draw a Line in the Sand”

Honorable Mention: Andrew Dehan, Bankrate

“How Generative AI Is Changing The Mortgage Process”

Category 15: Best Online Commercial Real Estate Story

Gold Winner: Ethan Rothstein, Maddy McCarty and Jarred Schenke, Bisnow

“A VC-Backed Startup Turned Houses into Stocks. Its Bets Are Failing, Leaving Its Tenants and Investors in Limbo”


Judges’ Comment: Rothstein, McCarty and Schenke were ahead of the curve on this exceptional story about fractional real estate company Landa, a start-up that sold investors small shares in properties and claimed it was “democratizing” home ownership. Later, many of those investors couldn’t access their money or get answers from Landa. The reporters visited properties and talked to tenants, who said the homes offered cheap rent but weren’t maintained. Schenke’s photos helped document the abandoned and neglected properties. Meticulously reported and well-written, the story proved prescient, as a judge later ordered Landa to divest more than 100 properties that were mismanaged and in default.

Silver Winner: Patrick Clark and Prashant Gopal, Bloomberg News


“Why NYC Apartment Buildings Are on Sale Now for 50% Off”

Judges’ Comment: Clark and Gopal detail the impact of new (2019) rent-control restrictions on New York City landlords in this deeply reported story. Their findings are dramatic: Rent-controlled buildings have lost an estimated $75 billion in value, a sharp reversal of their big gains under the old rules. Landlords, no longer rewarded for their efforts, have stopped upgrading the buildings. Some have sold their buildings, sometimes for half what they paid, while others have stopped renting out their units altogether. Clark and Gopal provide a nuanced analysis and history of rent control, and interview tenants who count on the reduced-rate digs.

Bronze Winner: Emily Wishingrad and Jon Banister, Bisnow

“’Shocking’ Plunge in Office Values Reveals Depth of D.C.’s Looming Economic Crisis”

Honorable Mention: Matt Wasielewski, Bisnow

“The Average Appraiser is Aging Out of the Workforce. A Crippling Labor Shortage Looms”

Category 16: Best Real Estate E-Newsletter Editor

Gold Winner: Katharine Carlon, Maddy McCarty, and Billy Wadsack, Bisnow

The Texas Tea

Judges’ Comment: This conversational newsletter is like sitting down across from a friend or neighbor to discuss and dissect the latest neighborhood gossip. It tackles the biggest headline news of the area with nuanced commentary and shares the best of Bisnow with appetite-whetting, quick-hitting blurbs full of context that make readers want to click on the link and get the whole story. The calendar at the end of the newsletter is a nice touch that nods to the sense of community this newsletter is cultivating.

Silver Winner: Steph Kukuljan, St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Brick City

Judges’ Comment: Brick City offers St. Louis a consistent, reliable rundown of the most important stories affecting the local real estate market. Kukuljan’s news judgment shines through the selection of top stories, a sharp and surgical breakdown of an ongoing saga of reinvestment in north St. Louis and the handy “reporter’s notebook” highlighting interesting odds and ends. It has established itself as a must-read of STL real estate news.

BRONZE: Greg Dool, PERE

Blueprint

Category 17: Best Audio Real Estate Report – Online or Broadcast – Podcast or Radio – local, network, subscription or internet channels

Gold Winner: Stephanie Ricca, Hotel News Now

“Tell Me More: A Hospitality Data Podcast”


Judges’ Comment: The best podcasts make the listener feel like they’re part of the conversation. Ricca hits the mark in this deep dive into hotel and travel trends featuring three guests and lots of valuable insights. A guest from Expedia identifies trends for 2025, such as Gen Z’s booming affinity for all-inclusive resorts. Ricca’s engagement with her guests, easy banter and well-placed questions help to break up potentially dense material. Strong production values round out this winner.

Silver Winner: Jordana Rothberg, Multi-Housing News

“MHN: Top Marketers: The Psychology of Marketing”

Judges’ Comment: Rothberg is a skilled host who engages warmly with her guest, a respected multi-family marketer who is full of tips for getting desirable tenants to commit. From ending every email with a question (to encourage more communication) to urging potential tenants to touch everything during property tours, this podcast offers actionable advice for marketers, with a psychological twist. Rothberg knows what will keep the listener on the hook and delivers it with strong production values and professionalism.

Bronze Winner: Sarah Wheeler, Housing Wire Daily

“Logan Mohtashami on Mortgage Rates Under a Trump Presidency”

Honorable Mention: Paul Rosta, Commercial Property Executive

“Investment Matters: Forging Development Success”

Category 18: Best Video Real Estate Report Online or Broadcast – Streaming or Television – local, network, subscription or internet channel

Gold Winner: Jared Kofsky, Maia Rosenfeld, Steve Osunsami, Howard Tate, Steve Senn, Mike Ladisa, Stephen Mucci, Steve Widner, Sabrina Cedeno-Tobon, Cindy Galli, and Eric Ortega, ABC News and ABC Owned Television Stations

“Our Inheritance is Washing Away: Shiloh Revisited”

Judges’ Comment: ABC's prime-time video story follows up on their previous investigation into flooding on land in Alabama after a new state highway was built. The land, owned for the past 150 years by 12 Black families, floods repeatedly when it rains, but the state refuses to acknowledge the flooding has anything to do with the new highway just yards away. The news coverage prompts then-Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to visit, and ABC tags along. The story’s compelling characters make viewers care about a far-flung community and root for a solution.

Silver Winner: Michelle Jarboe, News 5 Cleveland (WEWS)

“’Just providence.’ There’s a plan to save two historic mansions on Cleveland’s East Side”


Judges’ Comment: Two old mansions are the last survivors on a Cleveland street in a once-deemed “bad neighborhood.” The local preservation society is raising money to restore them. Jarboe tells that story, but it’s wrapped in the more poignant tale of how the owner, Frances May, fought hard to earn landmark status for the homes to ensure their survival after her death. One of May’s sons visits the house with Jarboe to reminisce and to view items May collected for a future museum in the home. The story is beautifully crafted and makes good use of historic photos, music and graphics.

Bronze Winner: Francisco Alvarado, Nicole Guillen, and Sydnee Bursik, The Real Deal

“How Wynwood became Miami’s hottest neighborhood”

Honorable Mention: Jesse Williams, RISMedia

“Brokers Expect Post-Election Sales Jump, With Rates Dependent on Outcome”

Category 19: Best Breaking Real Estate News Story

Gold Winner: Patrick Clark, Natalie Wong, and Diana Li, Bloomberg News

“A $560 Billion Property Warning Hits Banks From NY to Tokyo”

Judges’ Comment: This collaboration between reporters in the U.S. and Japan took overnight breaking news of New York Community Bancorp’s and Tokyo-based Aozora Bank’s stocks plunging and reported with an eye beyond just the immediate effects on the market. They showed how various factors such as increased regulation and fearful investors were keeping the commercial real estate market in a state of precarity that would have ramifications beyond just the troubled office market. Their work painted a picture of a complex web with no easy fix and warned of the possibility of long-reaching effects.

Silver Winner: Katherine Kallergis and Sheridan Wall, The Real Deal

“Lawsuits accuse top broker Oren Alexander, brother Alon of rape”

Judges’ Comment: This story broke the news of lawsuits accusing a top broker and his twin brother of rape. Katherine Kallergis and Sheridan Wall untangled the series of cases stacking up against Oren and Alon Alexander, giving context and nuance to the headlines and stories that have proliferated since on the Alexander brothers. The story broke down the lawsuits, explaining both the allegations and the legal implications in New York, where the suits were filed, showing sound news judgment on which details to include.

Bronze Winner: Maddy McCarty, Bisnow

“$384M In Houston Multifamily Properties Set For Auction Block Tuesday As Distress Mounts”

Honorable Mention: Kirk Pinho, Kurt Nagl, David Eggert, Crain's Detroit Business

“RenCen plan would demolish 2 towers — but it hinges on public money”

Category 20: Best Investigative Report or Investigative Series - Real Estate

Gold Winner: Lizzie Kane and Talia Soglin, The Chicago Tribune

“Verbal abuse, a ‘sex-driven’ culture: Ex-employees describe toxic environment at Guaranteed Rate”


Judges’ Comment: Lizzie Kane and Talia Soglin’s in-depth reporting on employees’ experiences working for residential mortgage company Guaranteed Rate uncovered a toxic culture characterized by verbal abuse and misogyny. Kane and Soglin interviewed dozens of former employees and reviewed court records, internal company emails, exit interviews and text messages, meticulously piecing together a picture of a workplace environment that affected employees’ mental health and led many to quit, despite a public-facing employee-wellness campaign toted by the company. Kane and Soglin make it easy to follow the many layers of their investigation, a showcase of masterful and meticulous reporting.

Silver Winner: Jason Hidalgo, Reno Gazette-Journal

Series Includes: “Families say misplaced headstones and poor upkeep at Mountain View Cemetery compounded their grief,” “Conflict over Reno’s only Muslim cemetery test the area’s Muslim community”

Judges’ Comment: Jason Hidalgo uncovers a pattern of mismanagement and conflict at a Reno cemetery that serves the local Muslim community. He shines a spotlight on problems, such as bodies being moved to different spots in the cemetery, poor upkeep, extra fees being charged and headstones being lost or misplaced — that is, placed on the wrong graves. Hidalgo contextualizes the significance to the community of having a dedicated Muslim cemetery, explaining the traditions of Muslim burials and increased ability of families to visit their loved ones. His reporting creates a multi-dimensional picture, highlighting both the personal and legal ramifications of this conflict.

Bronze Winner: Sydnee Chapman Gonzalez, Freelance Writer, The Utah Investigative Journalism Project

Series Includes: “Utah in danger of losing hundreds of affordable housing units in next few years” The Utah Investigative Journalism Project & KSL.com; “St.George complex among hundreds of affordable housing units expiring in the next few years” St George News; “Ogden complexes among hundreds of affordable housing units expiring in the next few years” The Standard-Examiner.

Honorable Mention: Alex Nitkin, A.D. Quig, and Cam Rodriguez - Chicago Tribune and Illinois Answers Project

Series Includes: “Luxury Home or Vacant Lot? Cook County Assessor Misclassifies Hundreds of Properties, Missing $444M in One Year Alone,” “How We Reported on Cook County Assessment Errors” Illinois Answers Project; “Misclassifications, missed millions,” “How much have county assessors back taxed?” “How we reported on assessment errors” Chicago Tribune.



Category 21: Best Multi-Platform Package or Series - Real Estate

Gold Winner (tie): Caroline Spivack, Crain’s New York Business

“Subway & Retail SOS”

Judges’ Comment: Spivack’s story is a visually stunning data-driven investigation of the mall spaces beneath the New York City subway in Manhattan. They’re 80% vacant, worse than the worst-performing shopping malls, Spivack finds, while transit ridership has mostly rebounded after Covid-19. She interviews transit experts who say the dark, empty spaces make riders feel unsafe. The story is layered with historical and international context alongside a vertical timeline dotted with text, numbers, video, photos and pull-quotes that add a wonderful sense of discovery to the reader’s experience. It’s an impressive piece of work.

Gold Winner (tie): Marissa Luck and Amelia Winger, The Houston Chronicle

Series Includes: “Houston is filled with empty office buildings no one wants. Why aren’t more turned into housing?” “How $100M turned a vacant downtown Houston highrise office into luxury apartments,” “Why converting offices to apartments won’t save a broken office market in Houston”

Judges’ Comment: Empty office buildings beg the question – what will become of them? Luck and Winger attempt to answer that question for Houston’s empty buildings in this outstanding series of stories. Costs are steep, but the city could provide tax incentives, developers tell them. One of the stories allows the reader to scroll over a floor plan of an office to see how it can transform into residential units. Another explores a recently converted property that’s succeeded. Luck and Winger leave few stones unturned in this deeply reported series, and their writing style is clear and accessible.                                                         

Silver Winner: Natalie Wong and Patrick Clark, Bloomberg News

“The Brutal Reality of Plunging Office Values is Here”

Judges’ Comment: Wong and Clark surveyed the state of the U.S. office building market as deals resumed post-Covid 19, and produced a compelling story that’s impressive in both scope and depth. With more than $1 trillion in commercial real estate loans coming due, property owners must either default or sell buildings for a fraction of what they paid. With nuance and context and plenty of detail, Wong and Clark write coherently about the reckoning. An explainer video further articulates the issue with high-quality production values, writing and interviews.

Bronze Winner: Jonathan LaMantia and Jasmine Anderson, Newsday

“Why Long Island homebuyers can’t catch a break in a market where prices are up 86% in 10 years”


Honorable Mention: Erin Reynolds, The Philadelphia Inquirer

“Real estate social video stories”

Category 22: Best Real Estate Data Journalism Reporting

Gold Winner: Ronda Kaysen and Ethan Singer, The New York Times

“Millions of Movers Reveal American Polarization in Action”

Judges’ Comment: Ronda Kaysen, Ethan Singer and the graphics team literally show what happens when people who are Democrat and Republican relocate from more politically balanced neighborhoods to ones that are more red or more blue – that is, more ideologically homogenous. (Independents choose more balanced places.) Kaysen and Singer sift through extensive data, including voter-registration records, and interview many movers to show how partisanship plays a powerful role when Americans uproot and find a new home. This widens the gap between blue and red communities. In essence, as this fascinating story and its compelling visuals show, it seems Americans’ home is increasingly where both their hearts and the members of their political party are.

Silver Winner: Nicole Friedman and Alana Pipe, The Wall Street Journal

“Boomers Buying Houses Had It Bad in the ‘80s. Millennials Have It Worse.”

Judges’ Comment: It’s official: The environment for buying a home is even worse today than in the 1980s. Back then, mortgage rates were even higher. Yet the supply was bigger. Nicole Friedman and Alana Pipe show with numbers why millennials and Gen Zers feel frustrated as they cross their fingers for more home building. The Wall Street Journal team finds the data, crunches it, shows it in charts and clearly explains it in this thoroughly reported numbers-heavy story. Yes, it’s true that the median age of first-time and repeat buyers is getting older and older. And it’s true that the inventory of single-family homes for sale is down. Interestingly, the popularity of adjustable-rate mortgages is plummeting. Boomers who felt the pinch in the ‘80s may feel lucky after they see this story.

Bronze Winner (tie): Kate Hinsche and Adam Farence, The Real Deal

“The Miami Paradox”

Bronze Winner (tie): Carmen Arroyo, Natalie Wong, Aaron Gordon and Christopher Cannon, Bloomberg News

“The Commercial Real Estate Crash Is Battering Even the Safest Bonds”

Honorable Mention: Frank Kummer, Kevin Riordan, Jake Blumgart, Joseph N. DiStefano, and Erin McCarthy, The Philadelphia Inquirer.

“Millions of square feet of warehouses have dramatically altered the Philly area. Towns are starting to push back.”

Category 23: Best International Real Estate Story

Gold Winner: Colette Coleman, Freelance Writer, The New York Times

“Blaxit: Tired of Racism, Black Americans Try Life in Africa”

Judges’ Comment: Colette Coleman weaves together the stories of Black Americans who have relocated to Africa, building homes and living in places without the deep-rooted racism and discrimination they faced in the U.S. Coleman crafts, with care, a complex look at what changes for these families after their move - from their material situations, to the psychological effects, to navigating new tensions that arise. These unique perspectives add dimension to our understanding of the challenges still facing and remaining unaddressed in American society.

Silver Winner: Mark Faithfull and Mike Phillips, Bisnow

“The Green Building Certification System Is Worth Billions — But It Isn't Helping”

Judges’ Comment: Mark Faithfull and Mike Phillips explore the business behind green building certification as it experiences a “golden age.” Their reporting shows how the certification system, meant to award and encourage buildings and companies to aim for sustainability, is failing at helping the real estate industry cut carbon. A bloated system and varying standards for what constitutes a net-zero building have not helped the process. But Faithfull and Phillips don’t stop there — they identify ways to improve the system and make it more effective, shining a light on a possible path forward.

Bronze Winner: Michele Lerner, Freelance Writer, Green Builder Media

“Should I Expat to Own a Home?”

Category 24: Best Team Report - Real Estate

Gold Winner: Madeline Berg and Dan Latu, Business Insider

“Homes on billionaire hot spot Nantucket are falling into the ocean at an alarming rate – but the wealthy won’t stop buying”

Judges’ Comment: Berg and Latu set out to explain why Nantucket remains a magnet for the ultra-wealthy despite erosion that threatens its multimillion-dollar homes. The story is full of colorful anecdotes and quotes (“..once the septic falls in, it’s a pretty shitty situation”) from residents who gamely stay put. The story soars on such tidbits as a local golf club applying for a demolition permit “in case,” and a coastal home selling for $600,000 instead of the $2.3 million asking price. Meanwhile, a real estate agent worries the industry isn’t doing enough to warn potential buyers. Berg and Latu do a masterful job with this schadenfreude-esque story.

Silver Winner: Teri Errico Griffis and David Slade, The Post and Courier


“Charleston-area employers are buying property to house workers. Could this become a trend?”

Judges’ Comment: Responding to a tip, Griffis and Slade discovered a surprising trend in the Charleston area. A few employers, including the owner of a pharmacy, were buying homes and then renting them to employees at a reduced rate. The reporting duo drilled down on the area’s high cost of housing amid a shortage of affordable homes and found examples in other South Carolina communities, such as Hilton Head, where employer-subsidized housing was taking hold. The story is comprehensive, packed with examples and supporting data, and ahead of the curve.

Bronze Winner: Zachary Hansen and Drew Kann, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

“Georgia wanted to attract more data centers. Now it needs more power.”

Honorable Mention: Lillian Dickerson and Taylor Anderson, Inman News

“Jason Oppenheim identified as mystery broker in kickback plot”

Category 25: Best Design, Home or Shelter Magazine

Gold Winner: Pete Catapano, Mansion Global

Experience Luxury

Judges’ Comments: This high-end magazine covers lifestyles of the rich and famous with panache. Beautifully photographed, well-reported pieces about multimillion-dollar log cabins and mansions jutting off the side of a cliff are par for the course in this publication. It’s written and edited with panache and clever headlines, including, “Living Like Lincoln – But Luxuriously.” The ads are gorgeous as the editorial pages, and that’s part of the fun and charm of this coffee-table winner. Curl up with Mansion Global and browse through sale listings for properties such as the $37.8 million Sullivan Estate in Hawaii. And then flip back to a story about “wellness” travel to retreats in Bali and New Mexico. This guilty pleasure is decadent and delightful.

Category 26: Best Residential Real Estate - Trade Magazine

Gold Winner: Stuart Elliot, Editor-in-Chief; Cara Eisenpress, Features Editor; Sheridan Wall, Cover Story Reporter and the TRD Staff , The Real Deal

August 2024 issue

Judges’ Comments: The Real Deal knows how to both inform and entertain. It’s hard to resist flipping ahead to “Dirty Deeds: This month in real estate crime and punishment” and reading about an armed, tattooed investor fleeing arrest in Los Angeles. But all the sections are interesting and well named, including “Comings & Goings,“ “Obituaries,” and “In Their Words.” In this issue, TRD tackles “Which Side of the Aisle” – a look at the outspoken, big-spending political players in real estate. It's timely and intriguing. (Trump gets more real-estate donations than Harris.) Other strong pieces: a ranking of LA’s top brokers and a cover about TV star broker Ryan Serhant. It’s a high-quality, hard-to-stop-reading, dishy magazine.

Silver Winner: Paige Tepping, RISMedia Real Estate magazine

February 2024 issue

Judges’ Comments: This magazine gives agents and brokers what they need to know, under sections called “headliners,” “coaching,” “team talk,” “business builders” and “trends and issues.” It also highlights newsmakers, like CoStar founder and CEO Andy Florance, who recently started a big homes.com marketing campaign. The magazine runs a Q&A with a young woman realtor with a side gig as a “golf content creator” – and another Q&A with the president and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices’ New York Properties’ New York City brokerage. It also gives its readers good “news you can use.” For example, a Q&A called “Tips for Talking to Potential Buyer Clients About Commissions” talks about being open about not working for free and about bringing up and explaining the NAR lawsuits. The “hall of fame” profiles also seem like a must-read for people in the industry.

Bronze Winner: Matt Power and Alan Naditz, Green Builder magazine

May-June 2024 issue

Category 27: Best Commercial Real Estate - Trade Magazine

Gold Winner: Stuart Elliot,  Editor-in-Chief; Cara Eisenpress, Features Editor; Keith Larsen, Cover Story Reporter and the TRD Staff, The Real Deal

April 2024 issue

Judges’ Comment: The arresting cover line, “Real Estate’s Rasputin,” is classic for The Real Deal, which zeroes in on colorful characters whose stories illustrate larger issues in the industry. (In this case, Nir Meir lived a life of luxury and chaos and wound up at Rikers Island.) TRD is irreverent, in the best way. A regular two-page spread called “In Their Words” shows photos of real-estate newsmakers along with pull quotes from them. As a good industry magazine should, it also includes explainers, including one on why the NAR settled its antitrust lawsuit and what it means. In classic fashion, it also looks at the winners and losers. TRD is never dull, which wonderfully extends to its headlines (“Big Bad Wolfe: Dallas Syndicator Kenny Wolfe may have blown his own house down when he took on office-to-resi conversion”). Read it cover to cover, learn a lot, and smile at the skillful reporting, writing and cleverness.

Silver Winner: Randall Shearin, Shopping Center Business

May 2024 issue

Judges’ Comments: This monthly may seem niche (it is, after all, focused on shopping centers), but it’s fascinating, well reported and well executed. A cover story on Ovation, a planned 80-acre, upscale, mixed-use center in Orlando for adult travelers and locals, explains plans for different themed “zones.” (Zone 5, for example, will be nightlife.) Another piece looks at lessons learned for urban areas from three mixed-use developments in Georgia. And yet another one peeks at that mall staple, Wetzel’s Pretzels, and its new concept, Twisted by Wetzel’s. And as it should, this industry publication includes nuts-and-bolts news about, for example, a new, 135,000-square-foot Target in Provo, Utah, in “Newsline,” and about, for example, a new Freddy’s Frozen Custard airport location in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in “Retail News.” A sign of this magazine’s vibrance: Its 133 pages, including ads.

Bronze Winner: Charlotte D’Souza, Evelyn Lee, Harrison Connery, Jonathan Brasse, Christie Ou, Stuart Watson, Sarah Marx, Lucy Scott, Guelda Voien, PERE

September 2024 issue

Category 28: Best Real Estate Newsletter Issue - Digital or Print

Gold Winner: Heather Stone and Glenn Demby, Fair Housing Coach

July 2024 issue

Judges’ Comment: In this newsletter, Fair Housing Coach tackled the discriminatory issues that come with using AI-based services to screen potential tenants. The pages are filled with explanations of how the tenant-screening industry has increasingly turned to artificial intelligence, how discrimination still seeps through AI and what landlords can do to ensure they are not falling into this pattern of discrimination. It is a robust guide full of detailed best practices and additional tips to help landlords navigate this murky and evolving landscape.

Silver Winner: Kathryn Brenzel, The Real Deal

“The Daily Dirt: Broker-fee bill, brought to you by TikTok”

November 2024 issue

Judges’ Comment: Kathryn Brenzel delivers a conversational and informative newsletter to subscribers’ inboxes. She combines the tone of columnist and reporter as she breaks down the influence of TikTok on the passage of a City Council bill. On one hand she’s the slightly befuddled Millennial who prefers Instagram, on the other she’s pressing council members for more context on how the bill came together and explaining the next hurdles it would need to clear to become law. The rest of the newsletter is a quick-hitting scroll through the more tidbits of New York real estate news, balancing importance with piquing interest.

Bronze Winner: Randy Plavajka, PERE Credit

“Term Sheet”

October 2024 issue

Category 29: Best Newspaper Real Estate or Home Section

Gold Winner: Nikita Stewart and the NYT Staff, The New York Times

“The Renters Issue”

Judges’ Comment: The New York Times’ Renters Issue is a wonderfully curated collection of stories bursting with information for the city’s renters and those contemplating buying. The pages hold a balance of practical advice, personal anecdotes and profiles, and features full of photos showing beautifully lived-in spaces — the place people call home. It is a rich archive of the breadth of renters’ experiences.

Silver Winner: Heather Halberstadt, The Wall Street Journal

“Mansion”

Judges’ Comment: The Wall Street Journal’s Mansion brings together a wide array of real estate stories from around the world, but they all feel at home in this gracefully laid-out section that manages to prioritize both the written words and stunning visuals. Where else can you stroll through Parisian neighborhoods, then turn a page and land in Texas? Take a tour through Tom Ford’s real estate portfolio, then learn about the effects of a landslide in Wyoming and Idaho?

Bronze Winner: Lois Weiss, Steve Cuozzo, Christopher Cameron, Christopher Bunting, and Anissa Lorenzi Boukourizia, New York Post

“October Commercial Real Estate Special”

Category 30: Best Real Estate Web Site

Gold Winner: Stuart Elliott, Jerry Sullivan, Ina Cordle, Ellen Cranley, Erik Engquist, Cara Eisenpress, Caysey Welton, Rachel Stone, Joel Russell, Avital Chizhik-Goldschmidt, The Real Deal

Judges’ Comment: The Real Deal is a consistently rich repository of real estate news. It serves as a home for everything from quick hits to deep dives, covering all corners of the industry. The visually appealing site orders this deluge of information in clearly marked sections and labels, so users can either easily find what they’re looking for or scroll leisurely through to peruse all the offerings.

Silver Winner: Pete Catapano, Mansion Global

Judges’ Comment: Mansion Global is a destination real estate website that uses its space to highlight beautiful homes and locations to devastating effect. The clean, crisp design and enjoyable user experience makes navigating this website a pleasure. One must find the will to stop flipping through the gorgeous photos featured in the listings, but the creative columns and peeks into celebrity homes are up to the task.

Bronze Winner: Jennifer White Karp, Celia Young, and Evelyn Battaglia, Brick Underground

NAREE Debuts New Award for 75th Anniversary of its Journalism Competition

Call for Entries: NAREE's 75th Annual Real Estate Journalism Competition Module Opens Feb. 1

January 22, 2025

New Orleans — The National Association of Real Estate Editors has issued a call for entries for NAREE's 75th Annual Journalism Competition.

Prepare entries now for NAREE's Real Estate Journalism Contest. Awards will be presented at NAREE conference in New Orleans on June 18. #NAREE2025 Contest portal opens Feb 1. #Journos #NOLA Multiple categories: Residential, commercial, design, etc

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Deadline: Enter on www.naree.org between Feb. 1 and March 1, 2025, 11:59 p.m. EST.

NAREE’s journalism competition is open to reporters, columnists, writers, editors, and freelancers covering commercial and residential real estate, mortgage finance, sustainable development, and related real estate fields, including home building and design.

NAREE has added a new category to recognize excellence in data journalism. Awards for Best Collection ofWork covering residential real estate and Best Collection — commercial, Best Column, Best Economic Analysis, Best Architecture story, and the Kenneth R. Harney Award for Best Consumer Education Reporting will recognize work with a single byline.

Teams of journalists and individuals can enter work in Best E-Newsletter, Best Podcast, Best Breaking News Story, Best Investigative Report or Series, Best International Real Estate Story and Best Multi-Platform Package or Series.

Editors will be recognized in the Best Newspaper — Real Estate or Home Section, Best Home or Shelter Magazine, and Best Web Site categories.

NAREE's Platinum Award of $1,000 recognizes the Best Overall Individual Entry. The Kenneth R. Harney Award for Best Consumer Education Reporting also carries a $1,000 prize. The Best Freelance Collection winner receives $500. The Ruth Ryon Best Young Journalist (age 30 or under) and Gold winners in 29 categories receive $250 awards.

The faculty of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University will judge entries on clarity of writing, objectivity, originality, depth of reporting, and/or graphic design/production.

All professional journalists writing for bona fide independent news outlets, both NAREE members and non-members, may enter work published in 2024.

Winners will be announced in June at NAREE's 59th Annual Real Estate Journalism Conference in New Orleans, which runs June 16-19, 2025.

Visit NAREE.org under the awards tab to enter and view descriptions of all 30 categories and three overall awards.

NAREE, founded in 1929, is a non-profit association of reporters, editors, authors and online journalists.

Contacts

NAREEjcontest@gmail.com
Mary Doyle-Kimball, NAREE Executive Director
mdkimball@naree.org

Presenting NAREE's Board

NAREE Elects Leadership for 2025

 

Tony Wilbert, a regional editor at CoStar News and a long-time NAREE volunteer, has been elected and installed as 2025 president of the National Association of Real Estate Editors, a non-profit association founded in 1929.

 

At CoStar News, Wilbert oversees coverage of commercial real estate in the Washington, D.C. and Canadian markets. Tony produces CoStar News’ twice-weekly People and Canadian newsletters. Tony has covered real estate as a staff writer for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Savannah Morning News and Atlanta Business Chronicle, and he served as editor-in-chief of National Real Estate Investor magazine.

 

NAREE members also voted to elect other members of the board to lead the organization, including Katherine Feser of the Houston Chronicle as Vice  President; Shonda Novak, Austin American-Statesman, Treasurer; and Jeff Ostrowski, Bankrate, Secretary.

 

Jon Banister, Bisnow; and Suzann Silverman of Commercial Property Executive and Multi-Housing News, were both installed as active members of the board.

 

Elected as NAREE’s Second Vice President is

Tierre Banks of Veterans United Home Loans. Kris Hudson, CBRE, was elected to serve as an associate director.

 

NAREE’s 2024 President, Aldo Svaldi of the Denver Post, is now Chairman of the Board and will serve in that position in the year ahead. NAREE owes a debt of gratitude to Aldo for his many hours of volunteer service.

 

Rotating off the board after significant terms of volunteer service to NAREE were former President Jeff Collins of the Orange County Register; John Gittelsohn of Bloomberg News; Ginny Walker of KBS Realty Advisors; and Kimberly Steele of JLL. Their contributions of time and hard work should be appreciated by all NAREE members.

 

NAREE has strong leadership in place as we head toward our 59th Annual Real Estate Journalism Conference in New Orleans in June and continue to proceed to celebrating our 100th anniversary in 2029.

 


NAREE 75th Annual Real Estate Journalism Contest Deadline is March 1, 2025

NAREE Gears up for 2025 with a New Data Journalism Award

NAREE will recognize the work journalists focused on real estate data with a new award for 2025: The Best Real Estate Data Journalism Reporting award will recognize the work of a real estate reporter or team covering residential or commercial real estate for their collection of data, visual presentation of that data and subsequent analysis.

Save your work now. Entry portal opens February 1 and the Entry Deadline in March 1, 2025. Note: NAREE no longer offer deadline extensions. The full list of 30 categories will be updated by year’s end.

PRESS RELEASE: NAREE's 74th Annual Journalism Competition Winners

PRESS RELEASE: NAREE's 74th Annual Journalism Competition Winners

National Association of Real Estate Editors Announces 2024 Journalism Competition Winners

Austin - (June 20, 2024) - The National Association of Real Estate Editors (NAREE) announced the winners of its 74th Annual Journalism Awards today. This prestigious competition recognizes excellence in reporting, writing, and editing stories about residential and commercial real estate.

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NAREE to Host Day One Wellness Design Debriefing at IBS in Feb.

Media Alert: NAREE Media Debriefing & Cocktail Party Feb 27 at IBS Las Vegas 


You’re invited to attend NAREE’s Cocktail Party and Media Debriefing on Tuesday, Feb 27 from 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM at IBS Press Lounge, Room N-232 in the NAHB Press Complex at the Las Vegas Convention Center.


Join us for complimentary light bites and libations at 

“NAREE’s Day One Design Downloads:  Journalists Weigh in on Wellness Concepts at IBS”

Panelists: Dan DiClerico, Director of Home Improvement & Outdoor / Good Housekeeping Institute; Andrea Lillo, Executive Editor, Designers Today and Jennifer Quail, Deputy Editor, aspire design and home. Moderator: Jamie Gold, Forbes.com contributor and award-winning author of Wellness by Design (Simon & Schuster).  

All journalists attending IBS and KBIS and their guests are invited to attend this fun, informal and conveniently located aprés show networking event for an informative look at the top wellness trends spotted at the show. NAREE, founded in 1929 and celebrating 95 years, is the only professional association devoted to writers, editors, columnists, producers, covering design, architecture, development, home building and real estate on every platform. NAREE’s annual journalism competition recognizes journalistic excellence with cash prizes in 30+ categories. Entry deadline is March 1. Details coming to naree.org.

  

RSVP for Design Downloads to NAREE Executive Director Mary Doyle-Kimball at mdkimball@naree.org. Or stop by the NAREE Table in front of the IBS Working Press Room N-236.

Timeline for NAREE Event on Feb 27:

Cocktails and Networking begin at 5:00 PM

Panel with Q & A: 5:30 PM to 6:15 PM

NAREE Announces 73rd Annual Real Estate Journalism Competition Award Winners

NAREE Announces 73rd Annual Real Estate Journalism Competition Award Winners

Las Vegas, NV - (June 8, 2023) - The National Association of Real Estate Editors (NAREE) announced the winners of its 73rd Annual Journalism Awards today. The competition recognizes excellence in reporting, writing, and editing stories about residential and commercial real estate. The awards were announced at NAREE’s annual conference, held at Caesars Palace on the Las Vegas strip. A panel of expert judges from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University selected all winners. Medill Assistant Professor Karen Springen chaired the panel.

CLICK HERE for NAREE’s 2023 winners with judges’ comments.

Call for Entries: NAREE's 73rd Annual Real Estate Journalism Competition Module Opens Feb. 1

BOCA RATON, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The National Association of Real Estate Editors has issued a call for entries for NAREE's 73rd Annual Journalism Competition.

Deadline: Enter on www.naree.org between Feb. 1 and March 1, 2023, 11:59 p.m. EST. NAREE’s journalism competition is for work published or aired in 2022.

NAREE’s journalism competition is open to reporters, columnists, writers, editors, and freelancers covering commercial and residential real estate, mortgage finance, sustainable development, and related real estate fields, including home building and design.

Competition categories for work with a single byline include Best Collection of Work - Residential Real Estate, Best Collection of Work - Commercial Real Estate, Best Column, Best Economic Analysis, Best Architecture story, Best Interior Design story, and the Kenneth R. Harney Award for Best Consumer Education Reporting.

Categories for individual writers published in a daily or weekly newspaper include Best Residential Real Estate Story, and Best Commercial Real Estate Story.

Three categories are available to magazine writers with a single byline including Best Residential, Mortgage, or Financial Real Estate magazine story.

Teams of journalists and individuals can enter work in Best E-Newsletter, Best Breaking News Story, Best Investigative Report or Series, Best International Real Estate Story and Best Multi-Platform Package or Series. Teams or individuals may enter Best Audio Report or Podcast, and/or Best Video Report.

Publications may enter the Best Newspaper Real Estate or Home Section, Best Home or Shelter Magazine, or Best Web Site categories.

Categories are listed on NAREE.org

NAREE's Platinum Award of $1,000 recognizes the Best Overall Individual Entry. The Kenneth R. Harney Award for Best Consumer Education Reporting carries a $1,000 prize. The Best Freelance Collection winner receives $500. The Ruth Ryon Best Young Journalist (age 30 or under) Gold winners in 29 categories receive $250 awards.

Winners will be announced at NAREE's 57th Annual Real Estate Journalism conference.

The faculty of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University will judge entries on clarity of writing, objectivity, originality, depth of reporting, and/or graphic design/production.

All professional journalists writing for bona fide independent news outlets, both NAREE members and non-members, may enter.

NAREE, founded in 1929, is a non-profit association of reporters, editors, authors and online journalists.

Contacts:

NAREEjcontest@gmail.com
Mary Doyle-Kimball, NAREE Executive Director: 561-391-3599
www.NAREE.org

NAREE Announces 72nd Annual Real Estate Journalism Competition Award Winners

National Association of Real Estate Editors Announces 2022 Journalism Award Winners

Atlanta, GA - (October 13, 2022) - The National Association of Real Estate Editors (NAREE) announced the winners of its 72nd Annual Journalism Awards today. The competition recognizes excellence in reporting, writing, and editing stories about residential and commercial real estate. The awards were announced at NAREE’s annual conference, held in Atlanta at the Westin Buckhead hotel. A panel of expert judges from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University selected all winners. Medill Assistant Professor Ceci Rodgers chaired the panel. The jurors decided to honor a team of journalists from The Miami Herald with a Platinum Award for Best Investigative Report for their work on the Surfside tragedy. This is the first time a Platinum Award has been given to honor team work in NAREE’s contest. 

Here are NAREE’s 2022 winners with judges’ comments.

Platinum Award - Best Overall Individual Real Estate Winner:
Troy McMullen, Freelance Writer, The Washington Post, “For Black homeowners, a common conundrum with appraisals”

Judges’ comment: In a time of racial reckoning, McMullen’s story stood out for its powerful and devastating vignettes of homeowners who experienced racial discrimination during home appraisals. Who could forget the story of the couple whose house appraised for $145,000 higher when the husband, who is Black, was not present, or the owner whose house appraised for more than $60,000 when a white neighbor took his place? McMullen wove these personal, painful stories with a sweeping look at appraisals across the nation, balancing statistics about disparities in homeownership and historic discriminatory practices with where the industry stands today. 

President’s Award - Best Freelance Collection – Real Estate:
Michelle Hofmann, Forbes, 
Collection includes: “Jay Leno Opens Up About Buying a $13.5 Million Newport Mansion and Returning to Prime Time,” “Mattel Family’s Barbie Penthouse Lists for $10 Million in Los Angeles,” “A Columbus Teen Becomes One of Ohio’s Youngest Homeowners With an Assist From a Harlem Globetrotter”

Judges’ comment: Michelle Hofmann knows what makes an intriguing story – a 19-year-old who bought a house and the $10 million listing of the Mattel family's "Barbie” penthouse. Her genuine curiosity leads to fascinating revelations. Automobile buff Jay Leno, for example, explains that he uses only rental cars at his $13.5 million Newport mansion because the salt air is so corrosive. With her pieces, expect to be surprised and entertained.

Ruth Ryon Award - Best Young Journalist – Real Estate:
Joe Lovinger
The Real Deal, “First We Take Manhattan: Inside Reuben Brothers’ NYC Shopping Spree” 

Judges’ comment: Lovinger reports and writes with an authority and flair beyond his years. He tackles difficult stories, such as a profile of the secretive real estate duo Simon and David Reuben, who came out of nowhere and bought up $4 billion in New York City trophy properties. He also contributes to The Daily Dirt newsletter, always adding his signature style. A recent example: "Sales of new condominiums in July evoked the Tom Petty classic 'Free Falling' – and it's developers who are home with broken hearts." It's tricky to surprise and delight veterans of any industry, and certainly this one. Lovinger is one to watch.

SECTION I: INDIVIDUAL AWARDS, ALL MEDIA, SINGLE BYLINE

Category 1: Kenneth R. Harney Award for Best Real Estate Consumer Education Reporting

Winner: Eric Peterson, The Utah Investigative Journalism Project, 

Collection includes: “Is Utah misusing federal funding intended to help renters by paying landlord legal fees?,” “Report: Utah disbursed 39% of federal rental assistance by fall deadline,” “Salt Lake apartment complex hikes rent after receiving the most federal aid in Utah”

Judges’ comment: Peterson’s series explored how Utah mishandled distributing federal emergency rental assistance funds and how tenants facing deplorable living conditions at a Salt Lake City apartment complex had their rents hiked even though the complex received the largest chunk of federal rental aid in the state. Peterson wove the stories of affected renters and their families with what he found through dogged data reporting that uncovered how federal rental assistance wasn’t being distributed in a timely manner and in some cases was being used to pay landlord legal fees during eviction proceedings.

 

Category 2: Best Collection of Work by an Individual Covering Residential Real Estate

Gold Winner:
Heidi Groover, The Seattle Times, Collection includes“Racist restrictions in old home deeds across Washington State will get expanded scrutiny,” “Afghan refugees face a dire need for affordable rental housing in high-priced Seattle,” “So you can’t afford a house in Seattle. Are investors to blame?”

Judges’ comment: Groover’s coverage of the Seattle residential real estate was multi-faceted, covering the beat from many angles yet always grounding stories in the experiences of current residents. Groover dove into racist property covenants that historically restricted property ownership to white people and remain on older property records, explored the plight of Afghan refugees navigating the high cost of housing as they build new lives in the area, and took a harder look at Seattle’s sky-high rents and the role investors play in driving up prices.

Silver Winner:
Jason Hidalgo, Reno Gazette-Journal, Collection includes: “RGJ investigates: COVID-19 hits Reno’s lower-income and minority communities the hardest,” “How one man’s shipping container housing pitch turned into a nightmare for Reno nonprofits,” “Nevada evictions expected to spike as uncertainty surrounds federal eviction moratorium” 

Judges’ comment: Through strong reporting and writing, Hidalgo gave a voice to Reno’s most vulnerable residents as they were being squeezed on two fronts: the area’s housing crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic. He depicted with delicacy and compassion the difficulties of those whose living conditions made them more susceptible to COVID-19, those who faced skyrocketing rents amid uncertainty surrounding the end of the eviction moratorium, and how a concept to turn shipping containers into affordable housing fell woefully short of its promises, leaving Reno nonprofits in the lurch. 

Bronze Winner:
Jeff Collins The Orange County Register/Southern California News Group, Collection includes: “Developers take different global warming directions,” “Rental assistance impasse angers tenants, landlords,” “Mid-income renters eyed by program” 

Honorable Mention:
Katherine Kallergis, The Real Deal, Collection includes: “Miami condo craze returns as developers look to seize the moment,” “South Florida real estate on climate change: ‘Que Sera, Sera’,” “Surfside condo collapse prompts industry changes”

Category 3: Best Collection of Work by an Individual Covering Commercial Real Estate

Gold Winner:
Daniel Geiger, 
Insider, Collection includes: “Skyscraper queen Darcy Stacom is the country's top real-estate broker. But staffers say she threw things at them, berated underlings, and made employees' lives miserable,” “Amazon’s warehouses now span the size of an entire city. A single brokerage is responsible for just about all of it,” “Brandon Turner makes millions selling real-estate investing dreams. Even he says you’ll lose money right now” 

Judges’ comment: Geiger’s collection reflects journalism at its best: meticulously reported stories that are delightful to read, with detail and insight that place the reader “in the room.” In “Skyscraper Queen,” he investigated the troublesome behavior of a top real estate broker and emerged with a fair but devastating story about workplace abuse. Another story profiles a colorful Instagram real estate guru for the millennial crowd but also questions his high fees. Geiger dives beneath the surface and writes in an easy style that’s pleasing to readers.

Silver Winner:
John Gittelsohn, Bloomberg News, 
Collection includes: “Billionaire N.Y. ‘Bottom Feeder’ Buys Malls as Others Run Away,” “Mall Values Plunge 60% After Reappraisals Triggered by Bad Debt,” “Sternlicht’s Starwood Gives Up on Malls After Plunge in Values” 

Judges’ comment: Gittelsohn’s collection included two big stories that other news organizations were forced to follow. In one, he crunched the data to report that shopping mall values had dropped 60% at the end of 2020. He was also ahead of the pack with his story that Starwood had sold much of its mall portfolio at a loss. The most entertaining of the three was a story about a “bottom feeder” who was buying malls at depressed prices. Superior reporting and solid writing underpin Gittelsohn’s work.

Bronze Winner:
Eli Segall, Las Vegas Review-Journal, 
Collection includes: “Burst of development could be coming to tiny Nevada town,” “A year after he died, Tony Hsieh’s estate still in flux,” “Resorts World set to make a splash, spur tourism on Strip”

Honorable Mention:
Kyle Campbell, PERE, 
Collection includes: “A Market That Brings Bad Press,” “Core (RE) defined,” “Mark Gabbay’s great realignment” 

Category 4: Best Regular or Syndicated Real Estate Column

Gold Winner:

Ronda Kaysen, The New York Times, Right at Home, “Buy My House, But I’m Taking the Toilet”

Judges’ comment: Who can resist reading about a seller who wants to take a toilet with her (the lid automatically opens when someone enters the bathroom)? Or one who wants to hold onto the sink where her daughter learned to brush her teeth 50 years ago? Kaysen effectively uses these seemingly crazy examples to illustrate, in a delightful way, how sellers were sitting in the catbird seat in 2021. She knows the importance of giving readers memorable, “show, don’t tell” details.

Silver Winner:

Jacob Passy, MarketWatch, The Big Move, “My Wife and I Have Nearly $600,000 in Our Investment Portfolio. Should We Buy a Home Outright or Get a Mortgage?”

Judges’ comment: Passy devotes an entire column to answering one compelling, timely question from a reader: Should a couple pay cash for a house? He weighs the pros and cons, not revealing his cards too quickly. It keeps the reader hooked. Then he explains that financial advisers suggest a best-of-both-worlds option: Buy the home outright to appeal to sellers and streamline the closing – and then apply for a cash-out refinance. Passy fills his column with useful, straightforward advice.

Bronze Winner:

Jon Gorey, Freelance Writer, The Boston Globe Magazine, Perspective, “Houses Made More Money Last Year than Many Full-Time Workers. Something Is Broken”

Honorable Mention:

Robyn A. Friedman, Freelance Writer, The Wall Street Journal, Jumbo Jungle, “Want to Lower Your Homeowners Insurance Premium? There Are Discounts for the Taking”

Category 5: Best Economic Analysis - Real Estate 

Gold Winner:
Randy Tucker, The Cincinnati Enquirer, 
“From redlining to rebirth: How one Cincinnati neighborhood is bouncing back from government-backed racist housing policies” 


Judges’ comment: Tucker focuses deeply on one Cincinnati neighborhood for this nuanced story about the modern-day impact of historic redlining in Black neighborhoods, with a twist. For example, a Black homeowner working in the yard of a renovated house is mistaken for the “help” preparing the house for white owners – by a group of Black neighborhood children. Black people with the ability to invest in the homes are returning to the neighborhood. Tucker’s story is well-written and a unique and important take on the issue. 

Silver Winner:
Cara Smith-Tenta, CoStar News, 
“Apartment Industry’s Supply-Chain Woes Worsen, With Delays Hitting Nationally”


Judges’ comment: Smith-Tenta’s engaging angle – following an order of apartment cabinets for a multi-family rehab – draw the reader into her story. Clear writing, strong data, and interesting anecdotes keep them there. From waiting for metal roof decks and window frames to the big jump in Trans-Pacific shipping costs ($25,000 compared with $4,000 “normally”), Smith-Tenta helps the reader understand what housing developers are up against. She also connects the dots to rising rent costs.

Bronze Winner:
Nicole Friedman, The Wall Street Journal, 
“The Pandemic Ignited a Housing Boom — but It’s Different From the Last One”

Honorable Mention:
Jason Hidalgo, Reno Gazette-Journal, 
“The Great Resignation: Why are employers in Reno, and nation, struggling to find workers?”

Category 6: Best Interior Design Story

Gold Winner:

Michele Lerner, Freelance Writer, Mansion Global, “Homes That Heal”

 

Judges’ comment: Thorough reporting and “show, don’t tell” details elevate Lerner’s look at so-called biophilic design that blurs the boundaries between the indoors and the outdoors and makes people feel happier and less stressed. Lerner remembers to look to the future, quoting an expert who predicts that designers will move beyond the visual connection to nature in the future and incorporate more with sounds and smells. Even regular folks can go biophilic with potted plants.

Silver Winner:

Helena Madden, Robb Report, “Meet the Designers Using 3-D Printing to Create the Next Generation of Furniture”


Judges’ comment: Who knew? Madden tracks down the people who show how and why serious designers are using 3-D printing to make chairs, tables, and sculptures. The technology is a marvel, but Madden doesn’t write a puff piece. For example, she points out that 3-D printing uses a bioplastic called polylactic acid that’s made of corn starch instead of petroleum – which needs to be decomposed under high temperatures instead of in a landfill.

Bronze Winner:

Madeline Bilis, Apartment Therapy, “The Lasting Allure of the Banker’s Lamp”

Honorable Mention:  

Michelle Hofmann, Freelance Writer, Forbes, “Mattel Family’s Barbie Penthouse Lists for $10 Million in Los Angeles”

Category 7: Best Architecture Story  

Gold Winner:

Carolina A. Miranda, Los Angeles Times, “Pioneer of the L.A. look: Paul R. Williams wasn’t just ‘architect to the stars,’ he shaped the city”


Judges’ comment: In this important posthumous piece, Carolina Miranda introduces readers to Black architect Paul R. Williams, who designed homes for celebrities like Lucille Ball, as well as public housing agencies and a YMCA with a relief of Booker T. Washington. Her strong reporting includes architect Frank Escher comparing Williams’ ability to juggle architectural styles with musical sampling. Miranda skillfully captures the legacy of an under-recognized mega-talent in a city “where the codes that governed race were just loose enough to let a Black architect triumph.”

 

Silver Winner:

Scott Sowers, Freelance Writer, The Washington Post, “An original Sears ‘kit house’ is reassembled into a modern knockout”

Judges’ comment: Sowers artfully describes a family’s purchase and dramatic renovation of a 1922 house – one of more than 70,000 that Sears sold from a catalog between 1908 and 1940. He captures the history – and the twists and turns, including a burst pipe that floods the house early in the process and the many historic preservation requirements for the Arts and Crafts home in the historic Rock Creek Park area of Washington, D.C. Like the family (two physicians with a daughter), the reader gets a happy ending.

Bronze Winner:

Trevor Bach, The Real Deal, “Charles in Charge”

Honorable Mention:

Madeline Bilis, Apartment Therapy, “Protect Time Capsule Houses at All Costs”

SECTION 2: INDIVIDUAL AWARDS- DAILY OR WEEKLY NEWSPAPERS, PRINT OR DIGITAL, SINGLE BYLINE

Category 8: Best Residential Real Estate Story – Daily or Weekly Newspaper

Gold Winner:  
Jeff Collins. The Orange County Register/Southern California News Group, “Developers take different global warming directions”

Judges’ comment: Collins was able to break the global issue of climate change down to the local level by comparing two similarly sized housing projects in Los Angeles County, one aiming to be net-zero, offsetting all carbon emissions, and one that offset only 35% of its carbon emissions, with no intention to improve that statistic. Collins’ crisp writing clearly laid out a complex and technical topic for readers to understand. Illustrating the impact of this reporting, the second development later agreed to become net-zero.

Silver Winner:
Tim Grant, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette,
 “Battling an insurance company while making sense of how her sister died — and lived”

Bronze Winner:
Heidi Groover, The Seattle Times,
 “How to buy a house in the Seattle area’s red-hot 2021 real estate market”

Honorable Mention: 
Jon Gorey, Freelance Writer, The Boston Globe,
 “Wild about homes: As spring nears, nature’s real estate market heats up, too”

Category 9: Best Mortgage or Financial Real Estate Story – Daily or Weekly Newspaper

Gold Winner:
Jacob Adelman, The Philadelphia Inquirer, 
“Open Space, Closed Gates: How the ultrarich carved up a famed Main Line estate – and qualified for big tax breaks”

Judges’ comment: In this impactful story, Adelman draws attention to how big tax breaks in the form of conservation easements benefited wealthy buyers of newly developed homes on the old Androssan estate (the setting for “The Philadelphia Story”), with no public benefit whatsoever. The breaks were legal but, as Adelman skillfully explains, relied on excessively high appraisals to inflate their value. Meticulous unearthing of deeds and other filings underpin this powerfully reported story, but Adelman doesn’t forget to entertain the reader with the fascinating history of the estate. 

Silver Winner:
Jon Banister, Bisnow, 
“Nontraded REITs Have Raised Over $20B This Year and Are Shifting CRE Market Dynamics”

Judges’ comment: Banister serves his audience with this thoroughly reported story about a major trend in REIT investment – the growth of non-traded REITs that avoid the volatility of the public markets. In addition to big investment names like Blackstone and Starwood, Banister explains that small private investors are also driving the record-setting boom as baby boomers seek stable returns in their retirement years. Clear writing and an exploration of the impact of this trend made this story a stand-out.

Bronze Winner:
Arielle Kass, Crain’s Detroit Business, 
“Michigan cities use economic development tool to build houses”

Honorable Mention:
Jon Gorey, Freelance Writer, The Boston Globe, 
“The $0 down payment mortgage buyers overlook: USDA loans aren’t just for farmers”

Category 10: Best Commercial Real Estate Story – Daily or Weekly Newspaper

Gold Winner:  
Daniel Geiger, Insider, 
“Amazon’s warehouses now span the size of an entire city. A single brokerage is responsible for just about all of it”

Judges’ comment: Amazon’s huge warehouse expansion was big news at the height of the pandemic, but Geiger took it a step further by telling the story of the only brokerage that negotiates the deals. He goes beyond the nuts and bolts of the firm, KBC Advisors (which declined to be interviewed), and weaves the story of how the relationship began. One executive thinks KBC’s principal and Jeffrey Bezos must have been fraternity brothers – but not so. Geiger reveals the answer and more in this engaging story.

Silver Winner:
Andy Peters, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 
“Warehouses boost Atlanta economy, raise stress levels for neighbors”

Judges’ comment: Peters looks at the flip side of economic development when it comes to Amazon’s warehouse expansion: truck traffic and noise at all hours. Peters makes excellent use of numbers to back up the story – from the surge in online ordering and the square footage of fulfillment centers being built to the number of trucks and parking spaces. It’s that detail, and interviews with community members who want a say in whether the warehouses get built, that make the story. 

Bronze Winner:
Amanda Abrams, Freelance Writer, The Washington Post, 
“Black Developers Call for Reckoning in Real Estate”

Honorable Mention:
Mitchell Parton, San Antonio Business Journal, 
“Looking West”

SECTION III: INDIVIDUAL AWARDS – MAGAZINES – PRINT OR DIGITAL- SINGLE BYLINE

Category 11: Best Residential, Mortgage or Financial Real Estate Magazine Story – General Circulation   

Gold Winner:  

Michelle Hofmann, Freelance Writer, Forbes, “Jay Leno Opens Up About Buying a $13.5 Million Newport Mansion and Returning to Prime Time”

 

Judges’ comment: Part story and part Q&A, this piece is packed with wow-worthy details. Hofmann seemingly knows everything about Jay Leno before she asks him about his 15,861-square-foot chateau, which he bought fully furnished and which costs about $50,000 a month to maintain. What does the car buff drive at his Seafair mansion? He rents! The salty ocean air would rust his vehicles. The house boasts 13 bathrooms, and he has yet to flush them all. It’s a fascinating, fun read.

Silver Winner:

Jon Gorey, Freelance Writer, The Boston Globe Magazine, “Top Spots to Live”

 

Judges’ comment: City magazine readers crave in-depth service pieces on subjects like the best places to live, and Gorey delivers with panache. He uses quotes that are gems (“It’s not a town where you see lots of large, manicured lawns”). And of course, he covers bang for the buck in each neighborhood. The median home price in historic Beacon Hill is $1.5 million – but for the well-heeled buyer, it may be worth it for the history, character, and proximity to Boston Common and downtown.

Bronze Winner:

Aaron Elstein, Crain’s New York Business, “The City’s Rooftops Have Been Respites During the Pandemic”

Honorable Mention:

Kathryn Brenzel, The Real Deal, “The Social Housing Movement Picks Up Steam”

Category 12: Best Residential Real Estate Trade or B-to-B Magazine Story

Gold Winner: 

Trevor Bach, The Real Deal, “LA’s Gentleman Builder on Developing for the Ultra-Wealthy”

 

Judges’ comment: Bach, a thorough reporter with an eye for telling details, crafts a first-rate profile of Iranian-born builder Ardie Tavangarian. It’s not a puff piece: He notes a few non-fans, including Cher. He tries to connect with nature, changing a design to preserve a mature oak tree and creating warm “barefoot luxury.” Bach ends with Tavangarian showing off YouTube videos of his two most famous recent spec projects, which include a transparent car elevator. It’s a haunting scene for a memorable profile.

Silver Winner:

Maria Patterson, RISMedia, “Renaissance Man: How Morgan Carey Is Helping Brokers Fight Back Against VC-Backed Real Estate…and Win”

 

Judges’ comment: Imagine being the son of a dad who dies before you’re born and a mom who’s a blind street musician in abusive relationships, and then imagine being in foster care, running away, and becoming a father at 15. Patterson skillfully tells the story of Carey’s dramatic childhood and of his work with Renaissance Webmasters, which designs custom real estate websites with quality search-engine optimization features. It’s an inspiring tale, too.

Bronze Winner:

Marian McPherson, Inman, “How Pocket Listings Cast Aside Minority Homebuyers”

Honorable Mention:

Jon Gorey, Freelance Writer, Chicago Agent Magazine, “Is It Too Easy to Become a Real Estate Agent?”

Category 13: Best Commercial Real Estate Trade or B-to-B Magazine Story

Gold Winner:

Joe Lovinger, The Real Deal, “First We Take Manhattan: Inside Reuben Brothers’ NYC Shopping Spree”

 

Judges’ comment: It’s difficult to pull off a great story about two billionaire, octogenarian brothers who never appear on video or give interviews. But Lovinger does it. He uses numbers effectively, noting that since January 2020, the brothers put about $4 billion into the U.S. real estate market and snapped up assets along Madison and Fifth avenues. They control a $29 billion fortune. Wordsmith that he is, he notes, “Saying the Reubens have some cash available is like calling the ocean damp.” It’s a stylish, fascinating read.

 

Silver Winner:

Trevor Bach, The Real Deal, “Shaken, Not Stirred: Inside Millennium’s Battles at Hollywood Center”

 

Judges’ comment: Bach blends thorough reporting with engaging writing to pull off a fascinating look at a proposed high-rise development, the Hollywood Center, along what may well be an active earthquake fault line. Importantly, he gives the history and context, noting that a 1971 quake in northern Los Angeles lasted 60 seconds, killed 64 people – and spurred legislation. A dogged reporter, he tries to reach everyone for comment – and notes when they decline. It’s no puff piece – but it’s fair.

Bronze Winner:

Andrea Brambila, Inman, “Display of Confederate Flag Violates Hate Speech Ethics Policy: NAR”

Honorable Mention:

Jim Dalrymple II, Inman, “Redfin CEO, Zillow Pour Cold Water on TikToker’s iBuyer Theory” 

SECTION IV: INDIVIDUAL OR TEAM AWARDS – ONLINE PUBLICATIONS

Category 14: Best Online Residential, Mortgage or Financial Real Estate Story

Gold Winner (tie):
Ashley Murray and Joel Jacobs, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 
“Land bank fails to fight blight”

Judges’ comment: In this deeply reported and well-written story, Murray and Jacobs document how the city managed to do almost nothing in the seven years since trumpeting a new Land Bank that would buy up abandoned properties in underserved neighborhoods, clear their tax and other liabilities, and market them back to potential homeowners. Even with a $400,000 grant, only one vacant lot had been purchased and still sat idle. Maps help the reader visualize the scope of the problem, and interviews with community residents drive home the human impact. 

Gold Winner (tie):
Daniel Geiger and Alex Nicoll, Insider, 
“The wild story of a real-estate magnate’s quest to make his own cryptocurrency backed by $6 billion in gold he says is buried near Las Vegas”

Judges’ comment: While others were breathlessly reporting news of New York real estate magnate Ken Swig’s headline-grabbing plan to launch a new cryptocurrency, backed by gold buried near Las Vegas, Geiger and Nicoll dug deeper to discover the project’s shady ties to one of the key players. Piece by piece, in clearly written detail, the reporters show how unlikely it was that the project would succeed, as the head of the gold mining company had been sanctioned for soliciting money for a phony COVID cure. The story was a great read.

Silver Winner:
Daniel Geiger, Alex Nicoll, and Taylor Borden, Insider, 
“Want to buy a home right now? You might have to outbid a $50 billion private equity firm first”

Judges’ comment: The reporters took a major national trend and, focusing on one Cincinnati suburb, showed how homebuyers were being iced out of the single-family home market by private equity firm Cerberus. By searching property records and cold-calling brokers, the reporters tracked down families who, in one case, had bid more for a property but lost out to Cerberus’s all-cash offer. The data points are persuasive, and the story is well-written. 

Bronze Winner:
Erin Einhorn and Aaron Mondry, 
NBCnews.com (in collaboration with Outlier Media), “The ‘fake landlord’ scam destroys lives in Detroit. But culprits rarely face consequences”

Honorable Mention:
Jacob Passy, MarketWatch, 
“An inflation storm is coming for the U.S. housing market”

Category 15: Best Online Commercial Real Estate Story

Gold Winner:
Andria Cheng, CoStar News, 
“How Lower Manhattan, 20 Years After the Sept. 11 Attacks, Became a 24/7 Neighborhood”

Judges’ comment: Cheng tells a powerful story of rebirth and redemption, with a real estate angle, 20 years after the September 11 terrorist attacks. Deep reporting netted important details, such as a top broker’s “special sauce” marketing pitch: Lower Manhattan offers a less-than-15-minute commute from places where young people live, such as Brooklyn. New tenants like Spotify and Condé Nast are also where young people want to work. The piece is well-written and includes a helpful schematic that shows the new post-9/11 downtown landscape. 

Silver Winner:
Randyl Drummer, CoStar News, 
“Here’s How the Pandemic Is Changing ‘Act of God’ Clauses in Real Estate Contracts”

Judges’ comment: In this thoroughly reported story, Drummer writes about commercial tenants’ mad scramble to add health crises to the list of catastrophic events included in their leases’ “Act of God” clauses. He uses data judiciously to illustrate the story and talks to a wide variety of attorneys, for both landlords and tenants. It’s a story with lots of unknowns, and Drummer did his readers a service by exploring them all, including the latest rulings from judges.

Bronze Winner:
Marissa Luck, CoStar News, 
“Policies to Postpone Evictions During the Pandemic Sound Simple. They’re Not”

Honorable Mention:
Cara Smith-Tenta, CoStar News, 
“Evanston Historic Reparations Plan Aims to Forge New Path Amid Concerns”

Category 16: Best Real Estate E-Newsletter

Gold Winner:
Jack Flemming, Los Angeles Times, Real Estate Newsletter, November 6, December 4, December 18, 2021, Issues

Judges’ comment: Flemming starts each newsletter with a swift-moving introduction that weaves together all the stories with a punch of personality. Stories are summarized succinctly yet robustly, providing larger context as well as highlighting eye-popping statistics. For example, news that California’s home sale price record was broken with a $177 million purchase is accompanied with a list of what else that money could have bought: 354,000 PlayStation 5 consoles, any of 700 private islands listed for sale online, or Solandge, a 279-foot-long super yacht. 

Silver Winner:
Eileen McEleney Woods, The Boston Globe, Address, September 17, 2021, Issue

Judges’ comment: Woods’ intro is snappy, conversational and isn’t afraid to have some fun. For example, in writing about record prices for homes and condos in August, she invokes Green Day’s ‘Wake me up when September ends.’ The blurbs written for the newsletters’ stories follow in the same vein. For a story headlined “For Under $650,000, a Two-Bedroom in the Former Charleston Chew Factory,” Woods adds, “There isn't any nougat, but there are exposed bricks, pipes, and beams.”

Bronze Winner:
Ashley Fahey, The Business Journals,
 The National Observer: Real Estate Edition, September 29, 2021

SECTION V: INDIVIDUAL OR TEAM AWARDS – ONLINE OR BROADCAST – COMMERCIAL OR RESIDENTIAL

Category 17: Best Audio Real Estate Report – Online or Broadcast – Podcast or Radio – local, network, subscription or internet channels

Gold Winner:
Miriam Hall and Mike Phillips, Bisnow, 
“Needless Construction and Architectural Arrogance: Climate Crisis and the Future of Work”

Judges’ comment: This highly produced podcast takes full advantage of the medium of audio: music transitions, natural sound breaks, and shifting narration between the two anchors. It creates the illusion of movement and keeps the listener engaged, as does the thorough exploration of the climate impact of work-from-home versus in-office work. Clear sound bites from multiple interviews, snappy writing, and “I didn’t know that” tidbits (for example, erecting new net-zero buildings is more climate-polluting than refurbishing an old building), made this podcast the clear winner.

Silver Winner:
Emily Myers, Brick Underground, 
“Finding a deal as NYC landlords pull concessions and raise rents”

Judges’ comment: Brick Underground knows its audience and serves it well with this podcast guiding renters through the post-pandemic rebound in New York City’s rental market. Myers keeps the 30-minute podcast moving with succinct, focused questions and sharp follow-ups to elicit the most helpful advice from a top rental broker in the city. Renters should never pay more than a 1-month security deposit, for example, or base their decision on an online video walk-through. The podcast is well-produced and technically clean to boot. 

Bronze Winner:
Isabella Farr, The Real Deal, 
“The Attraction of the Hudson Valley”

Honorable Mention:
Suzannah Cavanaugh, The Real Deal, 
“Surfside Part One: The Causes and the Condo Market”

Category 18: Best Video Real Estate Report Online or Broadcast – Streaming or Television – local, network, subscription or internet channels

Gold Winner:
Faith Jessie, Newsday, 
“Restoring an 1834 mansion in Oyster Bay, and uncovering its surprising history”

Judges’ comment: Jessie hooks the viewer with video of the stunningly renovated mansion and the Black family living in it, juxtaposed with before photos of a home that didn’t look salvageable. As the story unfolds, we learn that the house was once owned by Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. and, before that, a prominent New York abolitionist. Then the punch line – the original owner kept slaves. Jessie does a masterful job weaving the sound, pictures, and words together to reveal the true story and the new owners’ pride in transforming the ugly past.

SECTION VI: INDIVIDUAL OR TEAM AWARDS – ALL MEDIA

Category 19: Best Breaking Real Estate News Story

Gold Winner:
Lidia Dinkova and Katherine Kallergis, The Real Deal,
 “150 missing in deadly Surfside condo collapse:  Here's what we know”

Judges’ comment: In the immediate aftermath of the Surfside condo collapse, Dinkova and Kallergis began to ask the question all journalism seeks to answer: Why? Reporting the story from all angles, they kept readers up to date on the growing number of casualties while also beginning to explore how the collapse could have happened in the first place. By interviewing experts, they delved into the building’s history as well as explored the possibility that nearby construction could have been a factor.

Silver Winner:  
Andrea Brambila, Inman
, “Justice Department withdraws from settlement with the National Association of Realtors”

Judges’ comment: On the same day the U.S. Department of Justice announced it was pulling out of a settlement with the National Association of Realtors, Brambila reported and wrote a story that went beyond a news-ticker headline. Not only did the story include the latest developments in the saga, but it also outlined the history of the lawsuit, highlighted what the settlement would have required of NAR, and provided context for what this meant to buyers and sellers. 

Bronze Winner: 
Jason Hidalgo, Reno Gazette-Journal,
 “Washoe Assessor Mike Clark accused of harassment, banned from county offices through TPO”

Honorable Mention:
Andy Peters, Greg Bluestein, Matt Kempner, and J. Scott Trubey, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, “Rivian electric vehicle plant may be coming to Georgia”

Category 20: Best Investigative Report or Investigative Series – Real Estate

Platinum Winner:

Sarah Blaskey, Nicholas Nehamas, Aaron Leibowitz, Ben Conarck, Linda Robertson, Andres Viglucci, Sohail Al-Jamea, Rachel Handley, David Newcomb, Aaron Albright, and Connie Ogle, The Miami Herald, “Disaster in Surfside”

Judges’ comment: Miami Herald reporters utilized their proximity to the 40-year-old high-rise condo that collapsed in Surfside, Florida.  An online interactive called “House of Cards” reconstructs the disaster, beginning with the parking area and pool deck caving in, using photos, videos, call records, building plans and interviews with eyewitnesses and engineers. A second piece tells the stories of the victims (with a photo of each one, ages one to 92), even giving their apartment numbers and showing their units on a map.

Gold Winner:

Jeff Collins, The Orange County Register/Southern California News Group, “Rental Assistance Impasse Angers Tenants, Landlords”

Judges’ comment: Collins tracks down real people whose pandemic-related job losses caused them to be on the brink of homelessness – sometimes because of confusing paperwork for emergency relief and bureaucratic delays in processing it, and sometimes because of language barriers or internet challenges. He skillfully weaves in the numbers ($5.2 billion of rental assistance available in California) and even adds a helpful service box on how to apply for aid.

 

Silver Winner: 

Joel Jacobs and Ashley Murray, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, “Housing Misery – Pittsburgh public housing plagued by crumbling buildings, failed inspections,” “’Stop this nightmare now’: Pittsburgh mayoral candidates, residents demand improvements to public housing conditions,” “Housing Authority acknowledges breakdowns revealed by PG investigation, defends practices”

Judges’ comment: This investigation showed that more than half the city’s low-income public housing developments had failed their inspections – and led, finally, to overdue fixes. The Housing Authority started fixing leaky sewage pipes, broken toilets, widespread mold and rotted cabinets. A picture is worth a thousand words, of course, and a photo of a mushroom growing from a ceiling (taken in May 2019, pre-COVID delays) seemed to be the ultimate “show, don’t tell” example. A powerful piece that prompted action. 

Bronze Winner: 

Spencer Woodman and Margot Gibbs, International Consortium of Investigative Journalists and Peter Whoriskey, The Washington Post, “How a Billion-Dollar Housing Bet Upended a Tennessee Neighborhood”

Honorable Mention:

Jacob Adelman, The Philadelphia Inquirer, “Big Philly Builder Catches the Feds’ Eye” 

Category 21: Best Multi-Platform Package or Series – Real Estate 

Gold Winner:

Ben Muessig, Terry Castleman, Andrea Chang, Laurence Darmiento, Sam Dean, Suhauna Hussain, Andrew Khouri, Hugo Martín, Samantha Masunaga, Genaro Molina, Steve Saldivar, Sonja Sharp, Doug Smith, Roger Vincent, Ronald D. White, Jerome Adamstein, Steve Appleford, J.R. Lizarraga, Robert Meeks, Casey Miller, Ryan Murphy, Swetha Kannan, Albert Lee, Los Angeles Times, “A Year of Change on Pico Boulevard”

 

Judges’ comment: For this visually arresting package, the journalists literally travel the length of Pico Boulevard, from Santa Monica to downtown Los Angeles, photographing and talking to shop owners along the way. How did they adapt to the restrictions that started on March 15, 2020? It’s not all gloom and doom: The owner of a cannabis dispensary flourishes as his delivery business triples. The journalists take full advantage of the video and photo capabilities.

 

Silver Winner:
Taylor Borden, Laura Grace Tarpley, Hillary Hoffower, Natasha Solo-Lyons, Andy Kiersz, and Sawyer Click, Insider, “The Road to Home: Our Comprehensive Guide to Buying Your First House”

 

Judges’ comment: This series of how-to pieces is comprehensive and helpful. The writers know readers want specific dollar figures, so they always give them. They also use interactive features, including a quiz, “Should You Buy a House?” Plug in the number of bedrooms, annual income, monthly debt payments, credit score and county and state – and get a “yes” or “no” with a detailed explanation. It’s service journalism at its finest.

Bronze Winner:

Nikie Johnson and Jeff Collins, The Orange County Register/Southern California News Group, California Report Card “A Housing Hole Deepens in State” 

Honorable Mention:

Hana R. Alberts, James Rodriguez, Kelsey Neubauer, and Perri Ormont Blumberg, Insider, “10 People Who Relocated During the Pandemic Share the Sheer Joys and Utter Disappointments of Their Big Moves”

 

Category 22: Best International Real Estate Story

Gold Winner:

Mike Phillips, Bisnow, “How the World’s Most Expensive Apartment Building Became a Lightning Rod for How We Feel About the Super Rich”

 

Judges’ comment: For its 10-year anniversary, the world’s most expensive apartment building, London’s One Hyde Park, gets a detail-filled, in-depth examination by Phillips. At one point, 2,500 workers were at the construction site. The rich Russian buyers are fewer in number these days after the 2018 poisoning of Sergei and Yulia Skripal led the UK to remove some of their visas. It’s a thoroughly reported gem.

Silver Winner:

Ari Altstedter, Bloomberg News, “In Posh Toronto, Building Just One House Sparks Fierce Backlash”

 

Judges’ comment: Altstedter hooks the reader from the first sentence: “A proposal to turn one house into two is all it took to transform the quiet Toronto neighborhood of St. Andrew-Windfields into a battlefield.” With charts, statistics and anecdotes, he shows how the number of affordable houses isn’t keeping up with the number of immigrants. It’s a compelling tale of housing dysfunction in a country with a booming population.

Bronze Winner:

Rachelle Younglai and Greg Mercer, The Globe and Mail, “Chinese Developer DDI Bet Big on Canadian Commercial Real Estate and Failed”

Honorable Mention:

Robyn A. Friedman, Freelance Writer, The Wall Street Journal, “Citizenship-by-Investment: How to Buy a Home That Could Come With a Foreign Passport or Residency Permit” 

 

Honorable Mention:

David Thame, Bisnow, “Dark Days for London’s Transport Infrastructure: Why Property Needs to Wake Up”

 

 

SECTION VII: TEAM AWARDS – ALL MEDIA, MULTIPLE BYLINES

Category 23: Best Team Report – Real Estate

Gold Winner:

Casey Sullivan and Daniel Geiger, Insider, “Jon Gray Is the Future of Blackstone. 50 Insiders Reveal How the Superinvestor Consolidated Power, Elbowed Out Rivals, and Is Remaking the Firm in His Golden-Boy Image”

 

Judges’ comment: For this riveting profile of Jon Gray, the No. 2 billionaire at private-equity behemoth Blackstone, Sullivan and Geiger interviewed more than 50 people. As a result, they can vividly recount multiple scenes – like Gray heading straight from a Trans-Atlantic overnight flight to a breakfast with CEO Stephen Schwarzman and dating app founder Whitney Wolfe Herd. (Of course, they also interviewed Herd, who praises Gray’s humility and “genuine interest” in getting to know her.) It’s a reporting tour de force.

 

Silver Winner:

Daniel Geiger, Alex Nicoll, James Rodriguez, Taylor Borden, Hana R. Alberts, Al Yoon, Heather Schiltz, Britney Nguyen, Rachel DuRose, Natasha Solo-Lyons and Meghan Morris, Insider, “Zillow Insiders are Blaming an Internal Initiative Called Project Ketchup for the Company’s Home-Flipping Failures,” “Inside Zillow’s 2 Weeks from Hell,” “Zillow CEO Rich Barton Might Be Reeling from Its iBuying Fiasco, but Don’t Count Him Out.  He’s Probably Already Planning the Next Thing,” “Zillow Is Selling Hundreds of Homes in Places Such as Atlanta, Phoenix, and Houston.  An Insider Analysis Found Almost Two-Thirds Were Listed for Less Than It Paid,” “The Trouble with Zestimates,” “Inside Zillow as Waves of Layoffs Leave Employees Reeling,” “How a Secretive Plan to Grow Zillow’s Home-Flipping Business Angered the Contractors That Were Essential to Its Success”

 

Judges’ comment: In this multipart series on Zillow’s much hyped, and ultimately disastrous, foray into insta-buying and flipping, Insider journalists retrace many missteps. In theory, Zillow Offers would quickly make modest improvements on homes it buys using an algorithm and would relist them to fetch a profit, collecting even more money by offering mortgage and insurance services. Easier said than done. Extensive reporting (despite Zillow declining to talk) pays off.

Bronze Winner:

Ethan Rothstein, Miriam Hall, Jon Banister, Dees Stribling and Bianca Barragán, Bisnow, “Special Report: New Analysis Shows Uneven Progress Toward Diversity at CRE’s Biggest Firms”

Honorable Mention:

Helena Madden, Rachel Cormack, Abby Montanez and Tori Latham, Robb Report, “From Alabama to Wyoming: The Most Expensive Home for Sale in Every State”

 

SECTION VIII: INDIVIDUAL OR TEAM AWARDS – (Award recognizes the work of the publication and its editor(s) – digital or print)

Category 24: Best Design, Home or Shelter Magazine

Gold Winner:

Mark Moffa, Unique Homes, “Special 50th Anniversary Issue 2021” 

 

Judges’ comment: Unique Homes knows what its audience wants to read about - luxurious houses on private islands, ranches, and the Plaza Hotel.  The editors reveal that a cover of Tommy Hilfiger’s penthouse at the home of Eloise may be their favorite from the past 50 years.  The ads get as much space as the editorial content, but it’s a good bet that readers don’t mind. They, too, showcase luxurious, multimillion-dollar properties. It’s all a guilty pleasure.

 

Category 25: Best Residential Real Estate Trade Magazine

Gold Winner:

Stuart Elliott, Hiten Samtani and Danielle Balbi, The Real Deal, February 2021

 

Judges’ comment: The editors and writers know how to craft a high-quality, must-read national real estate magazine. The recipe: Mix a cover on the Compass CEO with a piece on one in four Fifth Avenue storefronts being vacant with a piece on a developer who borrowed a CIA tactic and blasted the Barney song to roust a homeless encampment (and then apologized). They toss in two pages of “in their words” (a spec developer, who got $94 million instead of $250 million, laments, “I needed a billionaire to buy that house”). They also write strong heds and deks (“A Reckoning on Rent: Tenants Owe Landlords $57 billion. What Happens When They Don’t Pay?”) A+.

Silver Winner:

James Kleimann, HousingWire, October/November 2021

 

Judges’ comment: HousingWire delivers what matters to its readers, including a feature on the acting director (now director) of the Federal Housing Finance Agency and her plans for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and write-ups on the 50 “Vanguard winners” who are leaders in housing and mortgage finance. They answer one of two questions: What has been your secret to success? What’s the best advice you’ve ever received? (“Treat others as you wish to be treated.”) The coverage is useful and inspiring.

Bronze Winner:
Suzann D. Silverman, Jessica Fiur and the editorial team, Commercial Property Executive and Multi-Housing News: Mid-Year Guide 2021

Honorable Mention:

Matthew Power and Alan Naditz, Green Builder, May/June 2021

Category 26: Best Commercial Real Estate Trade Magazine

Gold Winner:

Stuart Elliott, Hiten Samtani and Greg Dool, The Real Deal, December 2021 National issue

 

Judges’ comment: As Stuart Elliott says in his “Succession”-themed editor’s note, real estate is owned by dynasties – the Kushners, the Tishmans, the LeFraks. With polished, detail-rich, juicy profiles and pieces about the industry’s movers and shakers, The Real Deal distinguishes itself as best in class. It’s never boring. The magazine artfully manages to combine vital information for industry professionals (a story on where the top candidates in New York’s gubernatorial race stand on real estate for example) with humor and exuberance. To wit, the quotes page includes this doozy: “Ya sex is cool, but have you ever done a massive cash out refi?”

Silver Winner:

Neil Pierson, Jeff Bond, and Jeffrey Sabourin, Scotsman Guide - December 2021 Commercial Edition

Judges’ comment: This resource for “mortgage originators” shares valuable information about everything from money-saving clean-energy loans to smaller cities as the new home-renovation stars and Singapore as one of the top four sources of foreign investment into U.S. commercial real estate. Who knew? A short, fascinating “this month in history” item looks at December 1933, when the 21st amendment repealed the 18th amendment that mandated alcohol prohibition – and real estate markets improved as restaurants and taverns raced to secure new space. The magazine contains a surprising number of gems.

Bronze Winner:

Matthew Valley, Jeff Shaw, Jane Adler, and Eric Taub, Seniors Housing Business, August-September 2021

Honorable Mention:

Jessica Fiur, Suzann D. Silverman, and the editorial team, Commercial Property Executive, June 1, 2021 

 

Category 27: Best Real Estate Newsletter

Gold Winner:
Katherine Feser, Houston Chronicle,
 Prime Property, December 2021

Judges’ comment: Instead of inundating the reader, the well-organized Prime Property newsletter outlines the week’s top story overall, then breaks down the top residential and top commercial stories from the Chronicle before ending with recent real estate transactions. But the highlight is the “stat you can cite,” which pulls out a fun fact (and the news surrounding it) that’s easy to share around the water cooler … or while waiting for everyone to join a Zoom meeting.

Silver Winner:  
Kathryn Brenzel and Joe Lovinger, The Real Deal,
 The Daily Dirt, November 2021

Judges’ comment: This quick-hitting daily newsletter gives readers what they need to know in a crisp and concise manner that’s still chock-full of information. While most of the newsletter’s real estate is dedicated to a robust summary of the lede story, the tidbits under eye-catching labels such as “closing time” and “breaking ground” lay out the facts about recent residential and commercial closings and permit applications in New York. The newsletter finishes off with other need-to-know real estate news reported by and credited to other outlets.

Bronze Winner:
Glenn Demby, Commercial Lease Law Insider, June 2021
 

Category 28: Best Newspaper Real Estate or Home Section

Gold Winner:
Heather Halberstadt, The Wall Street Journal, Mansion, September 3, 2021 

Judges’ comment: Mansion continues to deliver the high quality its readers have come to expect. Well-reported stories about the recovery of California wine country after devastating fires and the conversion of B&Bs into family homes are bolstered by breathtaking photography, and the section is designed as beautifully as some of the homes featured within its pages.

Silver Winner:
Eileen McEleney Woods, The Boston Globe, Address,
 September 19, 2021

Judges’ comment: The Fall House Hunt issue of Address is geared toward helping homebuyers, from home tours (check out that handy checklist), to home improvement how-tos, to interior design once you’ve found “the one.” The section also features more hard-hitting stories such as a dive into real estate terms that are outdated and rooted in racist culture, as well as an exploration of how far listing photos can be altered.

Bronze Winner:
Lois Weiss, Steve Cuozzo, Zachary Kussin, Adam Bonislawski and Christopher Cameron, New York Post,
 Commercial Real Estate Section, April 20, 2021

Category 29: Best Real Estate Web Site


Gold Winner:

Jennifer White Karp, Emily Myers, Austin Havens-Bowen, Kelly Kreth, Evelyn Battaglia, and Mimi O'Connor, Brick Underground, “The Buyer’s and Renter’s Guide to NYC’s Public and Private Elementary Schools,” February 25, 2021

Judges’ comments: Brick Underground is a one-stop shop for anyone who is living or looking to live in New York. Articles are clearly labeled according to one’s living situation — “the search,” “live,” “improve,” “small spaces,” “roommates + landlords,” etc. — directing readers exactly where to click. How-to guides for buying, selling, renting and renovating are comprehensive and well-organized. Overall, the website design is interesting and informative, inviting scrollers to stop and read all the stories that apply to them.

Silver Winner:
Pete Catapano, Mansion Global, January 1, 2021

Judges’ comments: Leaning on breathtaking images of luxury real estate listings, Mansion Global’s website is certainly eye-catching, but if one has the will to stop flipping through the photos, many of the accompanying stories go beyond what the photos can show, intertwining news with additional description of the properties and their histories. Mansion Global also keeps its finger on the pulse of the global real estate market with stories like “Remote Working Continues to Fuel U.K. Housing Market” and “Developers Were Behind Half of the Luxury Sales in Manhattan Last Week.”

Bronze Winner:
Stuart Elliot, Hiten Samtani, and Greg Dool, 
TheRealDeal.com, March 8, 2021 

Honorable Mention: 
Jessica Fiur, Suzann D. Silverman, and the editorial team, Multi-Housing News, September 1, 2021

NAREE University Series on Data Reporting Debuts with More to Come

NAREE University Live’s Excel for Journalists Workshop, Part 1 — which ran last Friday, August 26 — was recorded so all NAREE members can access it on demand in the Members Only section of NAREE.org and click on Webinar Recordings. NAREE Members, if you don’t have the password to the Members Only section, please email mdkimball@naree.org.

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Data Reporting Doesn’t Have to be as Daunting as It Sounds

Register Now for NAREE University’s three-part Data Analysis Series for Real Estate Journalists.

Learn how to up your game in three, one-hour sessions that include Q & A.

Workshop Leader: Charles Minshew, Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Moderator: NAREE President Eileen McEleney Woods, Boston Globe

You can join live on Zoom for Part 1 and Part 2, and meet in person in Atlanta at the NAREE Conference for Part 3.

Click here to save your Zoom spot. Zoom sessions are complimentary to NAREE members. NAREE’s in-person workshop is included in your #NAREE2022 conference registration fee. Register here for NAREE’s full conference Oct 11-14 in Atlanta.

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NAREE Has Extended the Deadline to Enter the 72nd Annual Real Estate Journalism Contest to March 7

Enter NAREE’s Real Estate Journalism Contest on www.naree.org/jcontest by March 7, 2021 by 11:59 p.m EST.

This prestigious contest is open to all bona fide freelance and staff reporters, columnists, editors and producers covering commercial and residential real estate.

Both NAREE’s Platinum Award and NAREE's Kenneth R. Harney Award for Best Consumer Education Reporting will recognize the work of individual journalists with $1,000 prizes.

Named after the late Washington Post Writers Group columnist, the Harney award, funded by the Harney family, was created to recognize consumer watchdog and enterprise reporting.

NAREE’s competition also recognizes excellence in investigative reporting, breaking news and international real estate coverage.

Consider Category 21 for a series or any story packages on multiple platforms.

NAREE’s Best Freelance Collection award comes with a $500 prize. The Best Young Journalist Award winner and Gold Award winners will be awarded $250 prizes.

Enter stories on mortgages, sustainable development, affordable housing, green luxe, office buildings, and other real estate topics.

Winners will be announced at NAREE’s Real Estate Journalism Conference this fall (extract date TBA).

The faculty of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University judges the NAREE journalism contest.

All professional journalists writing for bona fide independent news outlets, both NAREE members and non-members, may enter.

Contest entrants report on all aspects real estate. NAREE's journalism awards have something for everyone — print, online and/or broadcast journalists covering residential, commercial, financial and economic real estate news, and home and design features.

Competition categories, including Best Column, Best Economic Analysis and Best Collection of Work, are among categories open to both residential and commercial journalists. Work with more than one byline can be entered in Best Team Report and many other categories.

Click here to view all categories.

Click here to enter.

Call for Entries: NAREE's 72nd Annual Real Estate Journalism Competition Module opens Feb. 1

New this year: More categories for teams of journalists and those writing for weekly newspapers; separate categories recognizing audio reports and video reports; Category 21 zeroes in on multi-platform packages

January 28, 2022

Deadline: Enter on www.naree.org between Feb 1 and March 1, 2022, 11:59 p.m. EST. NAREE’s journalism competition is for work published or aired in 2021.

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Keynote NAREE Conference Conversation

Monica Richardson was disturbed when she first previewed a press release about her selection as the Miami Herald’s new executive editor.

The headline said the Herald, winner of at least 22 Pulitzer Prizes, had just named its “first Black executive editor" in its 117-year history.

It seemed denigrating. She’s more than just “the first Black executive editor.”

“I have skills,” the 31-year news veteran said during a keynote conversation with Washington Post Real Estate Editor Dion Haynes at NAREE’s 2021 conference Dec. 8 in Miami.

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NAREE Miami Conference Takeaways and Links Include Story Fodder for Build to Rent, Digital Nomads, Social Justice Issues in Real Estate

NAREE Miami Conference Takeaways and Links Include Story Fodder for  Build to Rent, Digital Nomads, Social Justice Issues in Real Estate

I’m starting to panic.

My panel on the Surfside condo tower collapse is about to begin, and one of the speakers is missing.

David Haber, a construction and condo association lawyer, was supposed to meet us in the green room, but hadn’t turned up. I called his administrative assistant.

"Where’s David?" I asked.

She couldn’t tell me. She couldn’t reach him either.

So, I walked into the conference room, ready to go on without him. That’s when I saw Haber, standing by the stage.

“I was inside,” Haber said. “I was listening to the conference. It’s really interesting.”

Such was the nature of this year’s NAREE conference, real estate journalism’s first in-person gathering in 2 1/2 years. I noticed that soon after their panels ended, many of our industry speakers joined the audience and stuck around to hear what other speakers were saying.

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