Editorial standards
How we source, verify, and write; how we stay independent; and how we fix mistakes. These are the standards our automated newsroom runs on, under human editorial oversight, non-negotiable.
How we report
Primary sources first. When we can reach the primary source (the filing, the dataset, the developer's release, the public record), we check facts against it and cite it. Our wire and data pages are built this way, directly from permit records, court and county records, SEC filings, and official data series.
Building on others' reporting. Much of our daily news starts with another outlet's reporting. When it does, we credit and link that outlet in the Sources block, check what we can against primary sources, and add our own analysis. When a single publication is listed as the source, that outlet did the original reporting.
Original writing. Our articles are written in our own words. We report facts and figures, but we do not copy, closely paraphrase, or mirror the structure of another outlet's article.
Accuracy. We do not knowingly publish invented facts, figures, or quotes. Our system is designed to hold back any figure it cannot trace to a source.
Quotes. We do not interview people. Any quote in our coverage comes from published reporting, a filing, or a public statement. We use at most one short direct quote per article. It is attributed to the person who said it and to the outlet or document where it appeared.
Court records and allegations. Much of our distress coverage comes from lawsuits, foreclosures, liens, and other public filings. We describe claims in those filings as allegations, not established facts, and we identify the court or record they come from. When we learn that a case has been dismissed, settled, or otherwise resolved, we update the story.
Sources are visible. Every article carries a Sources block linking to the originals. We send traffic to the original reporting and filings on purpose: attribution is part of the model.
Images. Every image on our articles and social posts is AI-generated from the headline, category, and market: these are illustrations, not photographs of the property or people in the story. We never scrape or hotlink images from other publications. The only exception is media explicitly distributed for press use, which we may use as supplied.
Market data. Masthead figures come from public sources and refresh automatically:
- 30-year fixed mortgage rate: from Freddie Mac's Primary Mortgage Market Survey.
- 10-year Treasury yield: from the U.S. Treasury daily par yield curve.
- Homebuilder-sector reading: from the iShares U.S. Home Construction ETF (ITB), a delayed quote.
Each figure reflects its most recent release, which may not be today's date. Masthead data is general information only, may be delayed or contain errors, and is not a recommendation to buy or sell any security. When we calculate something ourselves, we explain how, and we label estimates as estimates.
Automated newsroom. Stories are gathered, written, and published by a software system on a daily cycle, under editorial standards set by the publication's editorial desk. We do not present the newsroom as staffed by human reporters or editors, and stories are not reviewed by a human reporter or editor before they publish; we are transparent that it is automated. Automation sets our cadence; it does not lower the standard. Under standing policy, a story naming a private individual, valued at $50 million or more, alleging wrongdoing, or involving a private residence gets a human review before it runs. Every story, regardless of how it was produced, is held to the sourcing, verification, and correction rules on this page, and anything that cannot be verified does not run.
Tone. Professional, factual, confident. No hype adjectives and no editorializing about individuals.
Not advice. Our journalism, data, Deal Board, and tools are general information. They are not investment, legal, tax, lending, or real estate advice, and they are not a substitute for your own due diligence or a licensed professional.
Independence & ethics
What we cover. The American Developer covers US real estate development: the projects, the capital behind them, the policy that shapes them, and the data that explains them. We publish twice each weekday, in a morning and an evening edition. We select stories on what a developer, investor, or lender can act on: the size of the deal, whether it sets a precedent, whether it moves a market, and whether we can verify it. We do not publish a story to fill a slot. If a day is thin, the edition is short.
Coverage is not for sale. No one can pay to appear in our news coverage, to change how they appear, or to be left out. We do not accept payment, gifts, travel, or hospitality in exchange for coverage.
No advance approval. We do not share stories with their subjects before publication, and subjects do not approve them. We will check a specific fact with a source when accuracy calls for it. That is not the same as showing them the story.
Paid content is labeled and separate. Advertising, sponsorships, and partner content are clearly labeled as paid on our site, in our newsletters, and on social media. Paid content is produced by a separate team, outside the daily newsroom. Sponsors do not choose, review, or approve our news coverage.
Conflicts of interest. When The American Developer has a financial or business relationship with a company we write about, we disclose it in the story. This includes coverage of a developer who is also a client of an affiliated company under common ownership; we disclose that connection in the story rather than leave it to be found.
Corrections
Accuracy is the product. When we learn that a published article contains an error of fact, we correct it promptly and on the record.
How we correct. We fix the error in the article and add a dated correction note explaining what changed. Substantive corrections update the article's modified date. We do not quietly rewrite the record or remove stories to hide errors. We remove or restrict a story only when the law, a court order, or a serious legal, safety, or privacy concern requires it, and where practical we note the removal.
What counts as a correction. Errors of fact (a wrong figure, name, date, location, or characterization) are corrected with a note. Clarifications that add missing context are noted when they materially change how a story reads. Typographical fixes are made without a note.
Request a correction. If you believe an article is wrong, email hello@theamericandeveloper.com with the article's URL, the specific statement in question, and a source if you have one. We review every request and aim to respond within 5 business days.
Legal notices. Send formal demands for correction or retraction, and any other legal notices, to hello@theamericandeveloper.com with "Legal notice" in the subject line.
Last updated October 18, 2026. See also our privacy policy.