Diana Braun Point of View

SpaceX, Montana Avenue, and My Favorite City in Germany

Newsletter · June 6, 2026

Dear Friends & Neighbors,

This week I found myself looking at two very different pieces of news and seeing the same trends.

A report landed yesterday from Capgemini, one of the most comprehensive looks at global wealth that exists. The global millionaire population grew by nearly 2 million people in 2025, with total wealth climbing to a record $98.3 trillion. The US led the world, adding 736,000 new millionaires in a single year. And the wealthiest among them quietly grew their real estate holdings from 17% to 20% of their portfolios between 2020 and 2025. People with that kind of wealth do not make moves like that without a reason.

Then there is the conversation surrounding the Space X IPO. SpaceX, headquartered in Texas with a major presence in Los Angeles, is reportedly targeting a $1.5 trillion IPO with June 12th as the date being discussed, which would make it the largest public offering in history. I have heard from SpaceX employees in the last few weeks holding pre-IPO portfolios in the range of $10 to $20 million. They are not wondering whether to buy. They are figuring out where.

After Facebook's IPO in 2012, homes in neighborhoods where employees lived appreciated roughly 21% in the year that followed. SpaceX employees most commonly live across coastal cities of the Westside and the South Bay.

The wave does not announce itself. But if you know where to look, you can see it coming.

Montana Avenue

If you have walked Montana lately you have noticed something is shifting, and I am very much here for it.

May brought two great openings almost back to back. Pop's Bagels, the cult-favorite that started as a pop-up with Zach Liporace baking one bagel at a time in a mini oven, moved into 912 Montana after five years in Brentwood. And Rolld arrived at 1307 Montana bringing an Australian-style grab-and-go sushi concept, hand rolls packed into little teal boxes with fish-shaped soy sauce bottles. Adorable and delicious.

Next up is The Win-Dow, opening June 9th at 930 Montana. The Venice-born stand that built a following on its $4.50 cheeseburgers is bringing its full menu north, including fried chicken sandwiches, grain bowls, milkshakes, and a weekend breakfast service. And Community Goods, everyone's favorite WeHo coffee spot, is quietly making its way to the neighborhood too.

Montana has always felt like it belongs to the people who actually live here. Which brings me to something worth mentioning: I currently have two listings just steps from this street. If you have been thinking about planting roots in this neighborhood, this is the moment!

My Hamburg Summer Guide

As many of you know, I grew up in Germany and travel back as often as I can. Next month I am heading to Hamburg, and I thought it was time to finally share a little guide to the city I love.

Hamburg surprises people. It is cooler, grittier, and more international than people expect from Germany. It has a waterfront energy that reminds me a little of home here on the Westside, and a design sensibility that feels quietly world class.

Where to Stay

There is only one answer for me and it is The Fontenay. A five-star hotel sitting on the tranquil shores of Lake Alster, it has earned three Michelin Keys and feels more like a sculpture than a building, designed by Hamburg architect Jan Störmer as three interlocking circles with a 27-meter atrium at its center. The rooftop spa has a 66-foot indoor-outdoor pool with panoramic views over the city, and the sixth floor bar offers a 320-degree view over Hamburg that I think about long after I leave. It is the kind of hotel that makes you want to cancel your plans and just stay in.

My Favorite Spot in the City

The Isemarkt is non-negotiable. Every Tuesday and Friday since 1949, the Isestrasse transforms into a kilometer-long market running underneath the elevated railway bridge of the U3 line, drawing around 6,000 visitors to the Eppendorf neighborhood. With 200 retail stalls it is one of Germany's largest and most beautiful outdoor markets, sheltered from the rain by the Hochbahn arches above, with everything from local farmers' produce to specialty delicatessen, fine olive oils, exotic spices, and fresh flowers. It is the kind of place that reminds you exactly why you love a city. Go on a Friday morning, take your time, and bring cash.

It is one of my favorite cities in the world. I hope it becomes one of yours too.

From the Westside to Hamburg, it is all the same thread: the places and people built with intention are always the ones worth staying for.

Talk soon!

xx. Diana

Westside Market Report

First Week of June 2026 | Single Family Homes

City Spotlight: Santa Monica

Inventory: 68

Median List Price: $4,297,000

Median Days on Market: 63

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