RealT co-founder Jean-Marc Jacobson says his crypto real estate company plans to sell its entire Detroit property portfolio as mounting financial and legal troubles push it toward insolvency. The latest from @amondry.bsky.social: outliermedia.org/realt-crypto...

Latest on RealT: A cofounder recently told investors that the crypto real estate company would enter "voluntary liquidation" of all its properties -- it sold shares for around 700 in Detroit. outliermedia.org/realt-crypto...

A group convened to help shape regulations for data centers is drawing criticism from environmental advocates who say the process favored industry voices, happened largely out of public view — and could lead to policies that prioritize data centers over Detroiters. outliermedia.org/data-center-...

Who gets a say in shaping Detroit’s data centers? Environmental advocates say a working group shaping future data center regulations favored industry voices over residents. Outlier found that just one environmental and community advocate was invited. The latest from @amondry.bsky.social:

Let us know if you've got any election questions!

Had an interview on @wdet.bsky.social's The Metro yesterday talking about why so few landlords are compliant with the city's rental ordinance, as well the general state of rental housing in Detroit. Great questions from @thenomadicheart.bsky.social! wdet.org/2026/06/09/t...

It would be funny if the judge used AI to write the order blasting attorneys' use of AI. www.404media.co/judge-learns...

This is Faliesha Walker. The Detroiter said she almost certainly would have been evicted if she hadn’t gotten legal help. A new report says Detroit’s right to counsel program has kept thousands of people from losing their homes. But its funding is running out. Latest from @amondry.bsky.social:

Detroit’s right to counsel program has provided thousands of Detroiters with free legal representation in eviction court since 2022, allowing them to stay in their homes longer and push for repairs. But the program will soon run out of money. Can it be saved? outliermedia.org/right-to-cou...

Billion 👏 Dollar 👏 Bills 👏 Yall 👏🤑 RSVP here: outliermedia.org/listings/eve...

What a shame. www.bridgedetroit.com/cooley-high-...

I'll be helping out at this event breaking down the city's budget with @outliermedia.org and @bridgedet313.bsky.social. Come and join us. Should be fun and informative!

Quick shoutout to Detroit's data team. The Open Data Portal remains an amazing resource, and the update to the parcel viewer is great! baseunits.detroitmi.gov/map?layer=pa...

Detroit updated its rental ordinance to bring more landlords to bring more landlords into compliance. A year and a half later, just 4% more properties are legally allowed to operate a rental. outliermedia.org/detroit-rent...

In 2024, the city updated its rental ordinance to make compliance easier for landlords. Back then, 10% of Detroit rentals had a certificate of compliance. Today, 14% have one. Why? Landlords say it’s because compliance is still difficult to achieve. The latest from @amondry.bsky.social:

Another instance of the Wayne County refusing to answer basic questions about its operations. People who had their property foreclosed between 2015-2020 are getting checks from the auction proceeds -- for less than they were expecting. Why? The county won't say. outliermedia.org/wayne-county...

Detroit movie buffs, let’s see if you actually deserve the title. 🍿 No Googling. Senate Theater trivia thread below. Comment your score. 1. What year did the Senate Theater open? A) 1955 B) 1963 C) 1926 D) 1941

This couple thought they knew what they were getting into when they bought an Indian Village home in 2024. They expected repairs. They didn’t expect a $45K tax bill. That kind of sticker shock is becoming more common in Detroit’s housing market. The latest from @amondry.bsky.social:

In Michigan, property tax increases are capped until a home changes owners. Once it sells, taxes can jump sharply. The city’s rising home values are making those tax jumps far more expensive. Some new homebuyers are getting tax bills for $10K -- or more. outliermedia.org/detroit-high...

A $45k property tax bill is bonkers - definitely not going to help more people transition to homeownership. Great reporting as usual by @amondry.bsky.social and @outliermedia.org outliermedia.org/detroit-high...

I'll be hosting a Michigan movie-themed trivia next month! Questions will be about movie made by or starring Michiganders or set or filmed in Michigan. Join us at the Senate Theater on May 19! @outliermedia.org outliermedia.org/listings/eve...

Big news in city's lawsuit against RealT: The two sides have agreed for a third-party to take over control of the crypto real estate company's extensive Detroit portfolio until at least the end of October. outliermedia.org/realt-detroi...

@outliermedia.org is reporting on DTE electric rate hikes and shutoffs. If you’ve experienced difficulty with affordability, billing or shutoff and would be willing to talk to a reporter, please reach out to me at [email protected] or text Detroit to 67485*.

Have you or someone you know struggled to buy or sell a home because the transaction would cause the property taxes to skyrocket? I want to talk to you. Send me a message here or [email protected].

Mayor Mary Sheffield plans to spend $6.5 million on home repair. But it doesn’t come close to what’s needed, leaving many Detroiters living in unsafe conditions. Here’s what you need to know, from @brianarice.bsky.social:

Surreal moment: Rashida Tlaib brought up my reporting on RealT in a congressional hearing on tokenization! "The only reason we know about RealT is not because of our oversight work in Congress, but ... from local reporting in our city by a nonprofit news organization called @outliermedia.org"

Detroiters are caught in a home repair catch-22: In order to get loans they need to fix up their homes, they need homeowners insurance. But in order to get homeowners insurance, they need to fix up their homes. outliermedia.org/home-insuran...

BREAKING: Detroit filed a petition to withhold all RealT properties that are subject to tax foreclosure. The judge over seeing its lawsuit granted it. More than 300 RealT properties were at risk of foreclosure for 2023 tax debt.

1/ Today, we overwhelmingly voted to authorize a STRIKE as we fight for a fair contract with @propublica.org.

As a public university, U of M is exempt from local zoning requirements — meaning the project does not require township approval. planetdetroit.org/2026/03/univ...

Got a question about home repair in Detroit? @kobylevin.bsky.social, @brianarice.bsky.social and I will be doing an AMA in the r/Detroit subreddit today at 2pm. Ask a question, chat with us. Hope to see you there! www.reddit.com/r/Detroit/co...

This is a jaw-dropping story of how big money financializes our economy at the working class’s expense. But it’s also a story of resistance. @amondry.bsky.social’s reporting for nonprofit @outliermedia.org on RealT sparked the city of Detroit’s lawsuit—and drew him the ire of the company’s CEO ⬇️

Is the end near for RealT? Here are the facts: It stopped weekly payouts to investors. It owes millions of dollars in unpaid taxes, bills and tickets. And many of its Detroit properties could be pushed into tax foreclosure. So what happens now? @amondry.bsky.social's latest:

In 2019, two Canadian brothers blew into Detroit with an irresistible pitch: For $50, almost anyone could become a property owner. When houses decayed and the city intervened, the blame games began. www.wired.com/story/crypto...

Things are not looking great for RealT, the crypto real estate company facing a lawsuit from Detroit. Among its many problems, more than 300 properties could get foreclosed at the end of March and its property management company has just a skeleton crew. outliermedia.org/realt-crypto...

Behind on property taxes from 2023? You have until March 31 to pay — or sign up for a payment plan — to avoid foreclosure. Here’s what homeowners need to know, from @amondry.bsky.social.

Back from #NICAR26 feeling energized! Thanks to @ire.org for having the @evictionlab.bsky.social back. And big shoutout to @outliermedia.org’s @amondry.bsky.social for sharing his experience in Detroit. Want the slides or tipsheet? Reply below, and I’ll send them.

What do a property speculator, scrapyard operator and former owner of the Packard Plant have in common? They all have tax debt going back years on multiple Detroit properties that should have put them in foreclosure. But it didn't, and the county isn't saying why. outliermedia.org/detroit-wayn...

Reporters Koby Levin (@kobylevin.bsky.social) and Briana Rice (@brianarice.bsky.social) discussed our reporting series, Beyond Repair, documenting Detroit's home repair crisis on @wxyzdetroit.bsky.social today! Check it out 💛 🤍: www.youtube.com/watch?v=27cw...

Then, check out the series 😉: outliermedia.org/beyond-repair/

Too real. theonion.com/i-am-the-god...

“We want to believe that this can be solved in a year or two,” said Heather Zygmontowicz, the city’s senior housing advisor. “But the fact of the matter is that this is a crisis that was created over decades.” outliermedia.org/home-repair-...

There are no city-run home repair programs accepting applications. But thousands of Detroiters can't afford essential home repairs. The problem is so widespread that the total cost across the city likely exceeds $1 billion. Where will the money come from? The latest from @amondry.bsky.social:

Are you coming to the #NICAR26 conference? Join @amondry.bsky.social and me for a conversation about how to report on housing and homelessness challenges! More info here: schedules.ire.org/nicar-2026/#... @ire.org

Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison suspended two officers for coordinating with Border Patrol in violation of department policy. He said he “intends to terminate them." Our public records request showed two more instances of officers calling immigration agents, with @kobylevin.bsky.social:

Just now discovering that the entire Curbed archive when it was at Vox is now gone, only now available via the wayback machine. What a shame. www.archpaper.com/2026/02/curb...

This fact-check by @kobylevin.bsky.social in the intro of Outlier's morning newsletter of treasurer Eric Sabree is 🔥. outliermedia.org/newsletter/f...

The Detroit Housing Commission is selling its 197 single-family homes and giving residents priority to buy them, with philanthropic funds to support the first 10 home purchases. But it’s unlikely every tenant who wants to buy their home will qualify, even with assistance. From @amondry.bsky.social:

DHC is offering tenants a unique opportunity: Become an owner of one of the 195 homes in its portfolio. It's also offering current residents grants for at least 20% of the purchase price. It's a once-in-a-lifetime deal for many tenants — if they can qualify. outliermedia.org/detroit-hous...

Perry Columbus, an Iraq War veteran, thought he’d won an important victory in his dispute with the Detroit Land Bank Authority last year. It was instead only a reprieve. “This situation has been as stressful as when I was in Iraq,” Columbus said. outliermedia.org/detroit-land...