Good stuff you missed

A Tale of Two Growth Strategies in Two Cities: Cary, North Carolina vs. Glendale, California, a tale of two growth strategies. Over the past four years, I have spent time visiting family in North Carolina. Two areas stand out to me, Cary, just outside Raleigh, and Clayton, about forty minutes away and more rural. Both are growing, but it is Cary’s Old Town downtown redevelopment that has caught my eye. Clayton is focused on middle class single family homes for sale and for rent, with a boom in commercial to handle growth. It is a clear contrast to how growth is handled here in Southern California.

Read the full comparison

October 2025 Monthly Letter: Dear Community Reader, August and September wrapped up with a whirlwind, and I didn’t even have a chance to catch my breath. My daughter turned 26, and I spent 10 days in North Carolina babysitting my great-niece, catching up with my mom, and exploring Cary. I couldn’t help but notice how differently significant developments are planned compared to California. I’ll share more in my blog post: California vs. North Carolina: How Are We Handling Growth and Green Space? While we’re talking about growth, a lot is happening here at home. Glendale has already designated all Montrose parking lots, as well as some near Glendale College, as surplus land. Still, the community remains unhappy about the City Council’s plan, especially after a councilmember quipped at a community meeting, if we love the lots so much, we should buy them, a remark many took to mean they’re for sale at the right price.

Open the monthly letter

Affordable Housing at Luxury Prices: The Real Cost of Building Under ULA (Part Two): If you missed Part One, start there for how ULA is calculated and the $12M sale example.
From Revenue to Results — Since April 2023, Measure ULA has generated over $780 million. In July 2025, the City approved an FY 2025–26 expenditure plan of $424.8 million across 11 programs. That leaves more than $300 million still unallocated in the House LA Fund for future award rounds. It’s typical for multi year programs to stage spending, yet it’s fair to ask, if this is a housing emergency, why isn’t more of the money already at work?

Dive into Part Two

September Markets at a Glance 2025: Robbyn Battles presents September Markets at a Glance. As a lifelong La Crescenta, Montrose and Glendale area resident and a Realtor with more than 35 years of experience, I track what truly moves our local markets so homeowners, buyers and sellers can make smart, confident decisions. This month I’m focusing on five communities, La Cañada Flintridge, La Crescenta Montrose, Sunland Tujunga, Shadow Hills and Glendale 91208, comparing September to August activity, with a special eye on pending sales as the most reliable forward looking indicator. Inventory shifts, list price strategy, price per square foot and days on market all tell a story. Which neighborhood is gaining momentum and which is cooling, who has the advantage, buyer or seller, and where are prices likely to head next? Let’s dig in.

See the charts and takeaways

Three Years Later, Is the Mansion Tax Working?: Understanding Measure ULA and why it matters. When voters passed Measure ULA in 2022, nicknamed the Mansion Tax, it reshaped how real estate transactions over five million are taxed in the City of Los Angeles. The measure officially went into effect on April 1, 2023. Nearly three years later, it is time for an update on how ULA actually works, what it was supposed to accomplish, and why it remains one of the most hotly debated measures in Los Angeles real estate and development circles. It is important to remember, ULA does not just apply to luxury homes. It affects any property type, residential, commercial, industrial, or income property, that sells for five million or more.

Read the ULA explainer

Coming up this week: a new Sparr Heights listing preview, a deeper look at whether all of these affordable housing unit counts are delivering real affordability, a new true story from my work with senior homeowners, and a round up of good news in the community. If you follow Glendale, La Crescenta and Montrose planning, market nuance, and on the ground stories, this week will be worth saving.

Spotlight: Montrose Duplex Opportunity — Live here, earn here. Montrose Duplex $950,000 — 4117 Ocean View Boulevard. If you have been waiting for a way to live in Montrose with income to offset your payment, or you want your first investment, this is it. Please stop focusing on curb or lack of curb appeal, that is an easy fix. Look at the location and the price. It is priced under many three bedroom options in La Crescenta Montrose right now, and the rental income potential can change the math in a very good way. Opportunity, lifestyle and numbers, all on one property.

All of my weekly posts are created to help you understand our community, our policies and our market so you can make informed decisions when you are ready to buy or sell in La Crescenta, Montrose, Glendale, La Cañada and nearby.