The myth of bartering AI stock for real estate

In a recent listing (opens in new tab) for an apartment in Duboce Triangle, a seller offered to knock off a couple of million dollars in exchange for OpenAI or Anthropic stock. Over in Mill Valley, a real estate investor sought out Anthropic employees willing to trade their shares for his $8 million compound.   

While it may sound like a clever shortcut for employees — leveraging equity in AI companies before they go public to get ahead in a brutal housing market — local real estate and wealth management professionals say these barter deals are not happening. 

“We’re not seeing people actually offering stock,” said Blakely Hull, a Bay Area real estate broker. “Sure, there’s anomalies and exceptions to every rule, but by and large, we are seeing the majority of offers actually still financed.”…Read Full Article