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 aaron@outliermedia.org.

Detroit plans to spend more on home repair, but it’s not enough Mayor Mary Sheffield’s proposed budget includes an increase in home repair funding — but it doesn’t come close to what’s needed.

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:

RealT: Crypto landlord’s real estate model in Detroit is collapsing Crypto landlord RealT stopped paying its investors and owes millions of dollars to the City of Detroit.

And our latest article on RealT detailing the company's financial woes:

outliermedia.org/realt-crypto...

Hearing Entitled: Tokenization and the Future of Securities: Modernizing Our Capital Markets YouTube video by GOPFinancialServices

Here's the hearing. Relevant section takes place around the 3 hour and 21 minute mark.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=glX2...

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"

Home insurance: Detroit owners stuck in catch-22 for home repair Detroit homeowners can’t fix homes without insurance. But they can’t get insurance without repairs.

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...

RealT: Crypto landlord’s real estate model in Detroit is collapsing Crypto landlord RealT stopped paying its investors and owes millions of dollars to the City of Detroit.

Not sure what this means strategically or the broader implications of the case. But it is a very noteworthy development!

More info here:
outliermedia.org/realt-crypto...

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.

A graphic reads “92% of participating ProPublica Guild members voted YES to authorize our bargaining committee to call for a strike.” The “92%” is very large. A ProPublica Guild logo is under the text.

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

University of Michigan buys possible data center site on Huron River, informs Ypsilanti Township supervisor via text University of Michigan buys 124 acres on the Huron River for a potential $1.2 billion data center, notifies township supervisor with text.

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...

From the Detroit community on Reddit Explore this post and more from the Detroit community

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 ⬇️

RealT: Crypto landlord’s real estate model in Detroit is collapsing Crypto landlord RealT stopped paying its investors and owes millions of dollars to the City of Detroit.

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:

Two Literal Crypto Bros Built a Real Estate Empire. Then the Homes Started to Fall Apart 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.

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...

RealT: Crypto landlord’s real estate model in Detroit is collapsing Crypto landlord RealT stopped paying its investors and owes millions of dollars to the City of Detroit.

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...

Detroiters have until March 31 to pay 2023 property taxes If you’re behind on Detroit property taxes from 2023, you have until March 31 to pay.

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.

two men presenting in a panel about housing journalism, at the NICAR conference

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.

No foreclosures for these Detroit properties that owe back taxes. Why? The Wayne County treasurer’s office said it has “no set policy” for letting Detroit properties with back taxes avoid foreclosure.

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...

Beyond Repair: Detroit home repair crisis Beyond Repair examines what it would take to address Detroit’s home repair needs — and what the city loses if nothing changes.

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

I Am The God Of Your Children. I Am The Final Parent. Hi, friends! Today, I’d like to talk to the grown-ups. I know it’s not easy raising children. Looking after little ones is a lot of work, and sometimes you just need a moment to breathe. So you plop y...

Too real.

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

Home repair: Detroiters need urgent help fixing their houses These longtime Detroiters have held onto family homes in Islandview for decades. Will they get help with home repair before it’s too late?

This is part two in @outliermedia.org's series on home repair. Read part one here:

outliermedia.org/home-repair-...

Home repair programs lacking in Detroit with estimated $1B need Available funding doesn’t come close to meeting Detroit repair needs, and no city-run programs are accepting applications.

“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-...

Home repair programs lacking in Detroit with estimated $1B need Available funding doesn’t come close to meeting Detroit repair needs, and no city-run programs are accepting applications.

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:

Image inviting attendants to the NICAR 2026 conference to participate in Juan Pablo Garnham's panel

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

What we know about Detroit police calls to CPB at traffic stops Detroit police officers coordinated with Border Patrol more often than the department acknowledged.

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...

☑️ Fact-checking Eric Sabree We’re fact-checking the Wayne County Treasurer about his claims of repaying nearly $4 million to eligible Detroiters.

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

outliermedia.org/newsletter/f...

Detroit Housing Commission sells off homes for residents to buy The Detroit Housing Commission is selling its single-family homes to tenants. Will they qualify?

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:

Detroit Housing Commission sells off homes for residents to buy The Detroit Housing Commission is selling its single-family homes to tenants. Will they qualify?

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...