LUXURY TRENDS | AUGUST 2025 | CHRIS DOUCET

in , , , , ,
Compass Luxury National Collections Email - August 2025

COMPASS LUXURY COLLECTION

Homes That Defined The Summer

This August brings a curated collection of estates where heritage and modernity meet. In Miami’s prestigious Ponce-Davis, a gated estate unfolds across nearly 42,000 square feet of lush grounds, blending grand formal living with resort-style outdoor retreats. Massachusetts offers a storied seaside escape, while along Lake Michigan a newly built sanctuary pairs panoramic views with private beachfront. On Fifth Avenue, a rare duplex frames Central Park in its finest light. Each home tells a story of setting and scale, inviting life at its most refined. Together they capture the spirit of summer living in extraordinary form. These are addresses destined to be remembered.

View Featured Property

ARIZONA

CALIFORNIA

COLORADO

CONNECTICUT

DELAWARE

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

FLORIDA

GEORGIA

HAWAII

IDAHO

ILLINOIS

INDIANA

KANSAS

LOUISIANA

MAINE

MARYLAND

MASSACHUSETTS

MINNESOTA

MISSOURI

NEVADA

NEW HAMPSHIRE

NEW JERSEY

NEW YORK

NORTH CAROLINA

PENNSYLVANIA

RHODE ISLAND

SOUTH CAROLINA

TENNESEE

TEXAS

VIRGINIA

WASHINGTON

WISCONSIN

WYOMING

INTERNATIONAL

View All Luxury Properties
Compass is a licensed real estate broker. All material is intended for informational purposes only and is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, condition, sale, or withdrawal without notice. No statement is made as to the accuracy of any description or measurements (including square footage). This is not intended to solicit property already listed. No financial or legal advice provided. Equal Housing Opportunity. Photos may be virtually staged or digitally enhanced and may not reflect actual property conditions.
marketingcenter--

Is It Better To Buy Now or Wait for Lower Mortgage Rates? Here’s the Tradeoff

in

Mortgage rates are still a hot topic – and for good reason. After the most recent jobs report came out weaker than expected, the bond market reacted almost instantly. And, as a result, in early August mortgage rates dropped to their lowest point so far this year (6.55%).

While that may not sound like a big deal, pretty much every buyer has been waiting for rates to fall. And even a seemingly small drop like this reignites the hope we’re finally going to see rates trending down. But what’s realistic to expect?

According to the latest forecasts, rates aren’t expected to fall dramatically anytime soon. Most experts project they’ll stay somewhere in the mid-to-low 6% range through 2026

In other words, no big changes are expected. But small shifts, like the one we just saw, are still likely. 

Each time there’s changing economic news, there’s a chance mortgage rates will react. And with so many reports coming out this week, we’ll get a better feeling of where the economy and inflation are headed – and how rates will respond.

What Rate Would Get Buyers Moving Again?

The magic number most buyers seem to be watching for is 6%. And it’s not just a psychological benchmark; it has real impact. A recent report from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) says if rates reach 6%:

  • 5.5 million more households could afford the median-priced home

  • And roughly 550,000 people would buy a home within 12 to 18 months

That’s a lot of pent-up demand just waiting for the green light. And if you look back at the graph above, you’ll see Fannie Mae thinks we’ll hit that threshold next year. That raises an important question: Does it really make sense to wait for lower rates?

Because here’s the tradeoff. If you’re waiting for 6%, you need to realize a lot of other people are too. And when rates do continue to inch down and more buyers jump into the market all at once, you could face more competition, fewer choices, and higher home prices. NAR explains it like this:

“Home buyers wishing for lower mortgage interest rates may eventually get their wish, but for now, they’ll have to decide whether it’s better to wait or jump into the market.”

Consider the unique window that exists right now:

  • Inventory is up = more choices

  • Price growth has slowed down = more realistic pricing

  • You may have more room to negotiate = you could get a better deal

These are all opportunities that will go away if rates fall and demand surges. That’s why NAR says:

“Buyers who are holding out for lower mortgage rates may be missing a key opening in the market.”

Bottom Line

Rates aren't expected to hit 6% this year. But when they do, you’ll have to deal with more competition as other buyers jump back in. If you want less pressure and more negotiating power, that opportunity is already here – and it might not last for long. It all depends on what happens in the economy next.

SOURCE: Keeping Current Matters

6 Tips to Make Your Home Look More Expensive

in

SOURCE: Realty Times

Does your new home fit into your budget, but not your design wishes? Everyone wants to keep up with the Joneses, but not everyone can afford the price tag. Don’t worry, with the tips below you can make your home look expensive without spending big bucks to do so. It just takes a little creativity and a bit of elbow grease, but you can create the home of dreams.

Moulding

Moulding is an easy ways to take your walls from drab to fab without looking gaudy. You can choose a more ornate, Victorian style moulding, or go for a simple piece of wood framing, as was popular in Craftsmen homes of the 1920’s and 1930’s.

Whichever you choose, paint your moulding and walls the same color to provide a cohesive look to your home, and consider splurging to hire professional to help you out. A licensed handyman can not only repair existing moulding in your home, but can also help you add new moulding. A professional can make the new moulding look seamless, like it has always been a staple part of your homes character.

Accessories

Whether you are going for a minimalist or eclectic look, your accessories can provide both interest and elegance to your home.  Things like candles and fresh flowers can bring add points of interest to your home as can throw pillows and blankets.

Get creative and DIY items that can be pricey in stores, such as making throw pillows from fabric scraps instead of spending a lot of money at Target. You can also make your own wreaths, or reupholster chairs to give them a new look.

Save your money for investment pieces, like large artwork that can instantly become a focal point to your rooms. Of course, save money when you can by thrifting these too.

  1. Mix Up Your Textures

Experts say a design that is too matchy-matchy – excessively color-coordinated, in other words – can actually make it look less expensive. Instead you should mix and match different textures throughout your home that can help to enliven multiple senses at a time. A faux-fur throw on top of a leather couch, for example, as well as velvety pillows and knit rugs. Each of these items can provide beauty to your home on its own, but when put them together it will give the feeling of a well-thought out and unique space.

Let Someone’s Trash Be Your Treasure

One of the easiest ways to add a bit of class and character to your home is to choose antiques and vintage pieces to put side-by-side with your newer décor. This might seem like and expensive option, since a vintage headboard can cost several hundred dollars or more online, but that doesn’t have to be the case. You just have to know where to look.

Check out your local thrift stores and garage sales to get the best deals on vintage furniture. Many people just want them out of their homes, without considering their value. You can advantage of these pieces, repaint them, or just refinish them to former glory. Your home will instantly look more cultured, and you will help keep items out of the landfill as well!

Make Your Own Built-Ins

I love looking through Zillow, picking out my favorite homes and imagining my family inside of them. One thing I always look for first is built-ins. There is just something about them that screams class to me, and I am dead set that my dream home will have them. If your home doesn’t though, you can improvise. Just make them yourself.

Ikeas hacks are all over the internet, and the one that most often catches my eye are DIY built-ins using Ikea bookshelves. The Billy Bookcase comes in several different heights and colors, making it versatile for your home. Add a bit of moulding to make them truly blend in, and it will look like they have always been there.

You Shouldn’t Judge a Book by Its Cover, but Many People Do

A person’s opinion of your home does not start when they walk through your door. It starts when they are standing on your sidewalk. Keep your yard tidy and pruned, your lawn mowed, and your walkway clean and clear of cracks if possible.

Raised garden beds are pretty to the eye and can help you save money if you fill them with herbs and vegetables. And perennial flowers, such as tulips and peonies, only need to be planted once but will make your garden beautiful year after year.

You do not have to own a million dollar listing to make your home and inviting and expensive looking place for you and your family to enjoy. Even the smallest budgets can have a big impact with a bit of planning and work ethic. Roll up your sleeves and get to work, your only limit is your own imagination!

SOURCE: Realty Times

LUXURY TRENDS | JULY 2025 | CHRIS DOUCET

in , , ,
Luxury Trends | June 2025 marketingcenter--