diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 57a6abd7e..8374c13d2 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -479,7 +479,7 @@ multi-word ones.
 
 Bare `- [[Target]]` and prose `- Worth checking out [[Target]]` index as
 `links_to`. Full reference in the
-[docs](https://docs.basicmemory.com/getting-started/note-formatting/?utm_source=github&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=readme).
+[docs](https://docs.basicmemory.com/concepts/knowledge-format?utm_source=github&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=readme).
 
 ## MCP tools
 
@@ -525,7 +525,7 @@ basic-memory import memory-json
 
 Routing flags (`--local` / `--cloud`) force a target when you're in mixed
 mode. Full CLI reference in the
-[docs](https://docs.basicmemory.com/guides/cli-reference/?utm_source=github&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=readme).
+[docs](https://docs.basicmemory.com/reference/cli-reference?utm_source=github&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=readme).
 
 ## Auto-updates
 
diff --git a/docs/cloud-cli.md b/docs/cloud-cli.md
index ae93ed357..5ba501520 100644
--- a/docs/cloud-cli.md
+++ b/docs/cloud-cli.md
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ The transfer commands fall into two groups:
 Before using Basic Memory Cloud, you need:
 
 - **Active Subscription**: An active Basic Memory Cloud subscription is required to access cloud features
-- **Subscribe**: Visit [https://basicmemory.com/subscribe](https://basicmemory.com/subscribe) to sign up
+- **Subscribe**: Visit [https://basicmemory.com/pricing](https://basicmemory.com/pricing) to sign up
 - **Optional**: Cloud is optional. Local-first open-source usage continues without cloud.
 - **OSS Discount**: Use code `{{OSS_DISCOUNT_CODE}}` for 20% off for 3 months.
 
diff --git a/src/basic_memory/config.py b/src/basic_memory/config.py
index 14f74d8a9..61832c773 100644
--- a/src/basic_memory/config.py
+++ b/src/basic_memory/config.py
@@ -959,8 +959,13 @@ def load_config(self) -> BasicMemoryConfig:
                 # Then overlay with file data for fields that aren't set via env vars
                 # This ensures env vars take precedence
 
-                # Get env-based config fields that are actually set
-                env_config = BasicMemoryConfig()
+                # Get env-based config fields that are actually set.
+                # skip_initialization_sync=True keeps this probe side-effect-free:
+                # model_post_init won't seed a default project, and
+                # ensure_project_paths_exists won't mkdir. Pydantic Settings still
+                # reads env vars as field defaults, so env_dict reflects env-derived
+                # values without writing to the filesystem. See GH#1029.
+                env_config = BasicMemoryConfig(skip_initialization_sync=True)
                 env_dict = env_config.model_dump()
 
                 # Merge: file data as base, but only use it for fields not set by env
diff --git a/tests/test_config.py b/tests/test_config.py
index b6bc34913..1dbc22412 100644
--- a/tests/test_config.py
+++ b/tests/test_config.py
@@ -366,6 +366,58 @@ def test_config_file_without_default_project_key(self, config_home, monkeypatch)
         loaded = config_manager.load_config()
         assert loaded.default_project == "work"
 
+    def test_load_config_does_not_recreate_phantom_home_dir(
+        self, config_home, monkeypatch, tmp_path
+    ):
+        """Regression for GH#1029: load_config must not recreate ~/basic-memory.
+
+        When BASIC_MEMORY_HOME is unset, loading a config that already specifies
+        a user-chosen project path must not also seed the default ~/basic-memory
+        directory as a side effect of probing env vars.
+        """
+        import json
+        import basic_memory.config
+
+        # HOME is set by config_home; phantom lives at $HOME/basic-memory.
+        monkeypatch.delenv("BASIC_MEMORY_HOME", raising=False)
+        monkeypatch.delenv("BASIC_MEMORY_CLOUD_MODE", raising=False)
+
+        phantom = Path(os.environ["HOME"]) / "basic-memory"
+        user_project = config_home / "user" / "vault"
+        # Force the phantom path to live inside tmp_path so the test never touches
+        # the real $HOME (the user may have a real ~/basic-memory vault).
+        # We do this by repointing Path.home() to a fresh tmp dir.
+        phantom_home = tmp_path / "real_home"
+        phantom = phantom_home / "basic-memory"
+        monkeypatch.setattr(Path, "home", classmethod(lambda cls: phantom_home))
+
+        config_manager = ConfigManager()
+        config_manager.config_dir = config_home / ".basic-memory"
+        config_manager.config_file = config_manager.config_dir / "config.json"
+        config_manager.config_dir.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+
+        config_data = {
+            "projects": {"main": {"path": str(user_project), "mode": "local"}},
+            "default_project": "main",
+        }
+        config_manager.config_file.write_text(json.dumps(config_data, indent=2))
+        basic_memory.config._CONFIG_CACHE = None
+        basic_memory.config._CONFIG_MTIME = None
+        basic_memory.config._CONFIG_SIZE = None
+
+        assert not phantom.exists()
+
+        loaded = config_manager.load_config()
+
+        # User's project is preserved — never replaced by a phantom seed.
+        assert Path(loaded.projects["main"].path) == user_project
+        assert loaded.default_project == "main"
+        # The phantom ~/basic-memory dir must not have been created as a side effect.
+        assert not phantom.exists(), (
+            f"load_config recreated {phantom} as a side effect of probing env vars "
+            f"(see GH#1029)"
+        )
+
 
 class TestDataDirHelpers:
     """Module-level helpers that resolve the Basic Memory data directory."""