United States: Real Estate

U.S. battery energy storage installations reached record highs in Q1 2026, while California pushes forward with ambitious offshore wind plans and major solar-plus-storage projects secure billions in financing. Despite federal headwinds, state officials and industry leaders remain committed to renewable energy targets, with significant developments spanning from California's Central Valley to New York's community solar initiatives.

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Idaho's 2026 fire season brings heightened wildfire risk due to below-normal snowpack, early melt, and drought conditions. Developers face a complex regulatory landscape where wildfire readiness affects site selection, building materials, emergency access, insurance availability, and long-term project feasibility. Understanding how to navigate fire district requirements, subdivision ordinances, and insurance constraints before breaking ground can determine whether a development project succeeds or stalls.

On May 26, 2026, the state of New York adopted an amendment to the Environmental Conservation Law establishing a new exemption from the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) for housing and certain public works projects.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has fundamentally altered its enforcement approach to emotional support animals under the Fair Housing Act...

In 2026, the Trump administration and Congress have emphasized expanding access to homeownership for individuals and families, with a particular focus on limiting the role of large institutional investors...

Governor Kathy Hochul's proposed reforms to New York's Environmental Quality Review Act aim to accelerate housing and infrastructure development through strict timelines and expanded exemptions. How will these changes, which closely mirror recent California amendments and federal NEPA reforms, balance the need for expedited construction with existing environmental and land use protections? The enacted budget provisions establish new exemptions for housing projects and infrastructure while preserving other r

Construction projects often involve verbal directives that deviate from plans and specifications, creating significant liability risks for subcontractors when defects emerge years later. Without written documentation of field instructions and approvals, subcontractors may find themselves defending claims for work they performed exactly as directed, facing disputes where memory and credibility become the only evidence.

On this episode of Real Smart, Spencer Kallick sits down with Dan Palmieri and Nick Angelich of Sierra Ridge Capital to discuss launching a real estate investment platform in today’s uncertain market.