The data war is here, and local MLS boards are losing because they still think they're in the cooperation business. Local boards had the freedom to be cooperative because, for decades, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) guarded our data from non-members like a dragon resting on a pile of gold and the cost of access was [...]
Real Estate 101: Dedicated Lands Explainer
I write these explainers to help me stay fresh on real estate areas I don’t get a chance to consistently work on but find fascinating. This explainer deals with how cities get parks and green [...]
Give Me a P… for Property Tax
Lots happening in February for property owners including the tax bill. Second installment was mailed February 1, 2026, and if it seems a little more than normal you own a traditional home; if it seems a lot more than normal you own one of Piedmont’s “Large [...]
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN @REALTYTIMES.COM FEB 27 2026
January 9, 2026, Compass closed its $1.6 billion acquisition of Anywhere Real Estate, merging the nation's two largest brokerages into a single entity with 340,000 agents under one technology platform
This deal moves far beyond simple agent count or brand recognition. It represents [...]
THIS ARTICLE ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED FEBRUARY 2026 FOR INMAN SELECT: https://www.inman.com/author/america-foy/
The Housing Crisis Gets Political
Housing affordability isn't just a financial issue anymore. It's a political one that I’m predicting will motivate congressional races in ways our congressional representatives can't [...]
THIS ARTICLE ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED NOVEMBER 2025 FOR INMAN SELECT: https://www.inman.com/author/america-foy/
Recently, I joined the ranks, 55 this year, of what some consider senior citizens. In addition to getting discounts at some major retailers and the chain where I get my haircut, I really started paying attention to [...]
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED FEB 2026 @REALTIMES.COM
The days of agents teasing writing offers "all cash, no contingencies, five days close" are, almost, officially over.
Starting March 1, 2026, every all-cash residential real estate purchase flowing through a legal entity (any type of corp) or trust will require reporting to the Financial Crimes [...]
The Significance of Infrastructure
As some of you may remember Piedmont, an Aquarius, just had its 119th birthday last month and the department of public works (DPW) has been quietly “glowing up” the infrastructure throughout 2025 for the celebration—like Rome in the lead up to Jubilee year but in Alameda [...]
Call the Landscaper or The Bear Gets Teeth
Every July 4th, Smokey Bear rides the fire truck down Highland telling us only we can prevent wildfires; last year, Piedmont started acting like it believes him. January 1, 2026, Smokey got [...]
The Long and Winding (Moraga Avenue) to Affordable Housing
Imagine if you will a middle school classroom, warm, smells of chalk, sunny. Young teacher, looks up from their desk, smiles, and says, “Affordable housing… Piedmont… hot button issue. [...]
