These were The Real Deal staff’s favorite stories of 2025
In-depth profiles, ICE impacts and juicy investigations filled our pages
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Development
South Florida
Vlad Doronin joins Oak Row on record $520M deal for waterfront Miami assemblage
Developers bought site for hotel and branded condos, adding to crowded pipeline
Commercial
South Florida
Miami’s biggest hotel deals of the year were $200M teardowns
Terra, Fortune International, Nahla Capital, Blackstone and Süzer Group were among top buyers of hospitality properties
Commercial
South Florida
Miami real estate consultant who taught ethics charged with embezzlement
Andreina Monserratte allegedly stole $90K from home inspection firm
Commercial
New York
Slate seals deal on Stewart Hotel acquisition for $255M
David Schwartz, Breaking Ground plan 579-unit conversion
Development
New York
Don’t “upsize” broken program for vacant units — fix it
Here’s how the city can get empty rent-stabilized apartments online
Development
New York
Nathan Berman, InterVest smash conversion financing record
Partners land $779M for 1,568-unit project at 111 Wall Street
Residential
National
Zeckendorf's Downtown Manhattan bet is paying off
Plus, COPA passes, NYC casinos get official go-ahead and more national real estate news this week
Brand Studio
Steven Bailey gives agents a behind-the-scenes look at how Roadway Moving delivers for their clients
Making you look like a rock star for your most important clients
Politics
New York
Adams mulls COPA veto
City Hall says Adams is reviewing next steps
Lenders and borrowers tussle over personal guarantees on distressed deals
At contract signings, the guarantee is a gambit. On delinquent loans, it might be the only thing left of value.
Up-and-coming commercial brokers love LinkedIn. Does it bring in deals?
Insights and reflection fuel connection on #REtwit’s buttoned-up alter ego
How WeWork became Amazon’s real estate fixer
From coworking giant to office matchmaker in an uncertain market
In NYC’s world of rent-regulated distress, Greg Corbin makes bankruptcy palatable to lenders
With foreclosure slow and credit bids low, he pitches the promise of courts’ fix-it powers
Any tenant who pays rent “should have his head examined”
Leon Goldenberg sounds off on housing court, HSTPA
NYC’s top deals: Flatiron co-op trades between attorneys for $4M
TRD reports top transactions for Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2025
Inside Lennar’s housing empire in south Miami-Dade
Amid South Florida’s boom, firm pushes an immovable development boundary
Mapping the players in Trump’s Palm Beach orbit
TRD's guide to the Mar-a-Lago galaxy
Ranking the top resi players in Miami
Top producers see opportunity in high-dollar deals despite slowing sales
“Mathematical truism”: Inside private credit’s increasing role in South Florida real estate
As the market slowed in the past three years, financings kept closing and not much changed –– except the lenders
Florida lawmaker proposes path to dissolving HOAs. It “wouldn’t work,” experts say
Legislation filed ahead of 2026 session calls for specific court to handle only association cases
Cirrus’ $77M credit bid wins distressed downtown Miami development site
Holiday Inn property entitled for 82-story mixed-use tower
Videos
Kent Swig on how his family built it's billion-dollar dynasty, talks marriage to Liz Macklowe & more
How Brooklyn's abandoned waterfront in DUMBO became one of its hottest neighborhoods
The moving partner agents can trust | Brand Studio
From Industrial Waterfront to DUMBO: How the Neighborhood Was Made
Top 5 US cities people are leaving #shorts
Christie’s International Real Estate Group, the Michelin Star of real estate | Brand Studio
Tishman Speyer exec’s husband found guilty of murder | TRD News
Supercar style meets luxury living in North Bay Village | Brand Studio
AI-powered real estate insights, on demand | TRD Forum
Can Opendoor become Amazon for real estate?
Meet Anchin's family business succession experts | The Real Deal Brand Studio
Luxury concierge service across the five boroughs | Brand Studio
Netflix’s $72B bid for Warner Bros puts 100M sf of studio real estate in play
Sam Nazarian & Felix Bendersky on Miami trends, churns and next hot spots | TRD Forum
Erik Conover sentenced: Luxury real estate YouTuber facing up to 10-years #shorts
The untold story of Patrick Carroll #shorts
Top agents Danny Hertzberg and Sarah Desamours on unicorn listings & the next era of Miami luxury
Miami’s next office bet: Ryan Holtzman & Eric Brody on flight to quality, which towers win & more
Kevin Maloney and Jay Roberts on how Miami projects pencil out #shorts
State signs off on three casinos for NYC | TRD News
With his reality show on pause, who is Josh Flagg?
A closer look at the “Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles” star and his family's empire
Measure ULA drives developers out of LA
Apartment permits fall for third straight year
“This is bullshit”: LA City Council member says Bass has “botched” wildfire recovery
Request to approve $8M for AECOM recovery contract draws concerns, criticism from ad hoc committee
Irvine Co dumps last downtown San Diego office tower
John and Payton Saca purchased One American Plaza for $120M, less than half of what Donald Bren’s company paid for it two decades ago
A year after blaze, Palisades developer wants to secede
Elaine Culotti’s rebuild plan starts with leaving LA
Trader Joe’s grabs Santa Monica Rite Aid for $22M
Grocer buys former drugstore for SoCal push as Rite Aid boxes sell
Ranking the top Chicago agents of 2025
Chicago’s top agents navigated slim inventory, hot luxury market
Chicago's top resi firms ride consolidation wave: rankings
Compass’ acquisition of @properties and bid for Anywhere Real Estate forcing brokerages to prove their value
Why is it so expensive to build affordable housing?
As the price to build affordable housing outpaces market-rate developments, policy makers and private investors search for solutions
Jim Letchinger gears up for his largest project yet
Can the turnaround of troubled Lincoln Yards also grease Chicago’s stalled megaproject motor?
Chicago hotel owners pitch self-tax to boost conventions, tourism
Proposed 1.5% surcharge would fund marketing and incentives, as city fights for big shows
Mars eyes big Fulton Market office space after $36B Kellanova buy
Candy giant circles building at 400 North Aberdeen, as it expands in Chicago
Where’s the most competitive neighborhood in San Francisco?
Home prices go up, but some parts of the city fare better than others in new report
San Francisco’s luxury rental market goes “absolutely insane”
Bidding wars, limited inventory push prices up, even downtown
How once-sleepy Sunset became SF’s most competitive neighborhood
“White-collar surfers,” sunshine, serious bidding wars come to coast
Optimistic developers commit to revitalizing one of California’s most challenged cities
In Oakland, one investor’s misery is another’s opportunity
Bay Area construction jobs aren’t rebounding
Permitting reforms pile up, but labor data shows cranes still scarce
Contentious Safeway housing plan clears key labor hurdle in San Francisco
Align says deal forces city’s hand to approve 1.8K-unit project under state law
A Texas broker known for discretion tried out online virality. Will it lead to sales?
Erwin Nicholas II built a business doing private transactions with Texas sports stars
What does Bill Ackman see in Howard Hughes Holdings?
The hedge funder thinks cash thrown off from master-planned communities could be put to better use
Dallas landlord Harwood quietly offloads 1M SF of Uptown office to TPG
Developer’s namesake district has been crumbling since facing first of three recent foreclosures in January
Dallas
“Value-add” investor faces foreclosure on $383M in multifamily loans
Dallas-based landlord stands to lose more than 2,000 units across 12 properties
Dallas
East Texas buyer scoops up Shops at Legacy North for $78M
Sale of Plano mixed-use project caps strong year for DFW retail investment
Houston
Ferguson Family Partners plans an open-air retail, restaurant, and entertainment development in Richmond
Ferguson Family Partners plans an open-air retail, restaurant, and entertainment development in Richmond
Freddie Mac finds its next CEO
Kenny Smith arrives at critical time for mortgage provider
Sonder’s 190 leasehold interests up for sale
Offers for shuttered hospitality operator’s portfolio expected to close by February
These were residential real estate’s top stories of 2025
Mergers, court battles and a new mayor sparked headlines
Nine-figure deals power luxury hotel market to strong 2025 finish
Plus, Mark Nussbaum names names, Fed cuts interest rates and more national real estate news this week.
Washington D.C.
Project in historically Black DC neighborhood lands financing
$99M package will go towards first phase of fully affordable complex in Barry Farm
Seattle
Griffis Residential picks up Shoreline apartments for $113M
Stockbridge offloads 330-unit property once proposed for housing by convicted developer
Let them renovate: Louis XIV-linked château near Versailles hits market for $23M
44-acre estate lists for first time in nearly eight decades, needs $2M in repairs
Cheers! Sapporo to sell real estate holdings to KKR, PAG
$3B-plus deal includes Tokyo brewery, retail destinations
Trump admin propose $112B Gaza rebuild
Real estate minds envision luxury resorts in destroyed Palestinian territory
The Setai splashes in the Caribbean with St. Maarten debut
The Miami Beach-based hotel brand is building a 205-key hotel with private villas
Canada’s top pension eyes $2B industrial buying spree
CPPIB teams up with Dream Industrial as logistics bets outshine broader real estate
San Diego
UCSF bites on $767M for twin Mission Bay buildings from Alexandria
School of Dentistry plans to relocate by end of decade
Los Angeles
Calabasas home values jump 59% in Q3, outpace LA County market
Upscale enclave also outperforms San Marino, Beverly Hills
New York
Here are the details on 80 Clarkson’s offering plan
Luxury tower from Zeckendorf Development and Atlas Capital Group projects $2.2B sellout
Chicago
Jameson Sotheby’s leads on average sale price size in Cook County in 2025
Meanwhile, @properties slid into second place with average deal size of $733,000
Los Angeles
Focus on TRD Data: Priciest Home Sales in Santa Monica in 2025
National
Which markets are most affected by Sonder’s liquidation sale?
STR operator’s 189 leases with top markets New Orleans, Nashville and Philly
National
Sun Belt rental vacancy rates climb
Meanwhile, rental vacancy rates in the Midwest, Northeast fall year over year
New York
Any tenant who pays rent “should have his head examined”
Leon Goldenberg sounds off on housing court, HSTPA
New York
NYC’s top deals: Flatiron co-op trades between attorneys for $4M
TRD reports top transactions for Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2025
South Florida
Florida lawmaker proposes path to dissolving HOAs. It “wouldn’t work,” experts say
Legislation filed ahead of 2026 session calls for specific court to handle only association cases
International
Let them renovate: Louis XIV-linked château near Versailles hits market for $23M
44-acre estate lists for first time in nearly eight decades, needs $2M in repairs
Tri-State
Shelter Island estate targets local record with $18M ask
Sale at listing price would easily set market benchmark
Chicago
Sellers of record Winnetka estate surface as buyers of $15M Kenilworth lakefront mansion
Jeffrey and Ashley Quicksilver downsize after $33M sale
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New York
NYC’s top deals: Flatiron co-op trades between attorneys for $4M
TRD reports top transactions for Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2025
Dallas
East Texas buyer scoops up Shops at Legacy North for $78M
Sale of Plano mixed-use project caps strong year for DFW retail investment
Chicago
Mars eyes big Fulton Market office space after $36B Kellanova buy
Candy giant circles building at 400 North Aberdeen, as it expands in Chicago
International
Cheers! Sapporo to sell real estate holdings to KKR, PAG
$3B-plus deal includes Tokyo brewery, retail destinations
Los Angeles
Trader Joe’s grabs Santa Monica Rite Aid for $22M
Grocer buys former drugstore for SoCal push as Rite Aid boxes sell
Los Angeles
LA's 10 biggest retail deals of 2025 nearly double, approach $1B
Macerich’s Lakewood Center fetches 31% more than 2024’s priciest sale
New York
Any tenant who pays rent “should have his head examined”
Leon Goldenberg sounds off on housing court, HSTPA
Houston
Ferguson Family Partners plans an open-air retail, restaurant, and entertainment development in Richmond
Ferguson Family Partners plans an open-air retail, restaurant, and entertainment development in Richmond
San Francisco
Bay Area construction jobs aren’t rebounding
Permitting reforms pile up, but labor data shows cranes still scarce
New York
BXP dangles $25M bonus to CEO
Owen Thomas’ mission: Double the stock price by 2030
South Florida
Cirrus’ $77M credit bid wins distressed downtown Miami development site
Holiday Inn property entitled for 82-story mixed-use tower
Austin
Austin suburb dangles 10-day permits to lure jobs, capital
Fast-growing Hutto targets industrial and commercial projects