Letter from the Founder

Dear reader,

Nico here.

I am the co-founder and CEO of Aligre, and I want to personally welcome you to our journey to improve real estate guidance. We are the new kids on the block, and we're here with a simple yet powerful idea:

You deserve better real estate guidance.

At Aligre, we believe in objective insights. We believe that advice is at its best when it benefits those who receive it more than those who give it, and we are passionately creating a world where everyone has the knowledge and tools to know what is best for them.

We resist biased advice and persuasive opinions by building objective tools for informed decision-making. The tools we build are based on data, and they are based on you. They are built to answer the age-old question: Is it a good time to buy a house? Is it a good time to sell one?

My first attempt, and the problem I couldn't shake.

Before Aligre, I started an online real estate brokerage, with the aim of disrupting the entire industry. We were building some very cool technology but not getting much traction. I had this burning desire to improve real estate guidance, but for whatever reason people just didn’t quite understand how we were different.

Then finally it hit me: They were yawning because we weren't different.

The Realization: We weren't different.

We were just another brokerage (albeit online) in an ocean full of them. That realization showed me that building a better brokerage wasn't the solution: Not being a brokerage at all was. It was this "a-ha" moment when I realized that to change an industry, you can't be a part of it.

So, we asked ourselves: What problems do agents and brokerages solve for people? What needs do they fill? And do agents and brokerages solve that need as effectively in 2026, as they did in 1908? This is when the National Association of Real Estate Exchanges was founded. In 2026, doesn't technology deserve a seat at the table?

In 2026, the system is stuck.

There was a time when real estate agents and lenders were the solution to the problem. In 2026, we know they have become a part of the problem. This isn't because they are bad, or don't have a role in the process; it's because they can't provide objective guidance that considers your entire financial picture. It is impossible for anyone to be both the advisor and service provider when the transaction itself is what's monetized.

Why Aligre exists.

At Aligre, this is why we exist: to create a separation between church and state, to carry the mantle of independent advisor, and to be the objective, comprehensive source of information when deciding whether it's a good time to buy or sell a home.

The problems with real estate guidance today.

Here are the problems with today's real estate guidance that we seek to solve:

Bias: Lenders and agents make money when a person decides to do something.

Fragmented: People are left to piece together guidance from Agents, lenders, YouTube, and blogs into a cohesive plan.

Shallow: None of the experts have a complete picture of your finances. For example, taxation plays a significant role in real estate, but agents and lenders don't address it.

What we're building for you.

This is why we founded Aligre: To be the objective and comprehensive source of information. We do this by linking to your financials, understanding your goals, and monitoring current and future scenarios, 24/7. Whatever information you seek, we have or are building the tools to provide it.

Our biggest value isn't the tools

As excited as I am to show you these tools, however, they are not our biggest value to you. Our biggest value is our objectivity. The premise and promise that our guidance is always and will always be in your best interest. This is my commitment to you. We do this by being a subscription service, which decouples us from the transaction (If there even is one- We'll tell you when it's best to wait).

We refuse to monetize your decisions

We do not monetize your decisions; we don't make money when you buy or sell. In fact, we are so committed to this ideal of objectivity that we will never sell your information to a lender or an agent. Lots of companies (we see you, Zillow) make money by selling consumer data to real estate professionals, but that runs counter to the values on which we founded our company.

If we were to make money from a lender or an agent when you bought or sold a home, it would call into question the objectivity of our guidance, and you'd be right to question whose side we were on. We don't do that and we never will. This is revenue that others will gladly take, but money that we proudly refuse. We don't do this because we have deep pockets; we do it because we have deep principles.

Real estate is personal, not one-size-fits-all.

Real estate is personal. It's as individual as taxes. But the industry and the media try to treat it as if there's a one-size-fits-all answer for all of us to the question, "Is it a good time to buy or sell?". The reality is that a great time to sell for your neighbor could be a terrible time for you.

123 Main st could be a great investment for person A, and a crippling purchase for person B. This is because there are dozens of variables that factor into whether it is a good time to buy or sell, and the industry at large largely ignores or fails to address them. This is information we believe everyone should see, and they should be able to do so quickly, simply, and in one place, 24/7. That is aligre.com.

The Promise at the Heart of Aligre

At the heart of our company, is a belief in access to better information. This is access that people deserve, and access that we're working tirelessly to create. At Aligre, we can't promise to predict the future, but we can promise to help project yours.

Where We're Going Next

Thank you for taking some time to read about Aligre. The site you see today is our beginning, but it is not where we will end. We are launching in Colorado in the spring of 2026, and with any luck we will continue to grow our reach to serve the entire US. We hope to see you alongside us on this journey, because while an idea may start with one, the power to change an industry lies within many. I know we're going to do it, together.

For now, I'll leave you with this: If you've ever wondered if you can, if you've ever wondered if you should… Aligre, is for you.

—

Nico Lang, CEO & Co-Founder, Aligre