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LUXURY TRENDS | OCTOBER 2025 | CHRIS DOUCET

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Compass Luxury National Collections Email - Oct 2025

COMPASS LUXURY COLLECTION

October’s Most Remarkable Estates

October unveils a collection of extraordinary homes where architecture, history, and landscape meet in rare harmony. In New York’s Hudson Valley, Mill Farm spans more than 2,000 protected acres, its storied Mill House set directly on a flowing stream that once powered its hydro turbine mill. In Telluride, Dream Catcher is carved into sandstone cliffs, a retreat of glass and native rock overlooking the valley below. And in New Hampshire, Knollwood stands as a Georgian masterpiece once visited by presidents and writers alike, surrounded by gardens and mountain views that stretch for miles. Together they define the season’s most exceptional living, each residence a testament to craftsmanship, legacy, and enduring design.

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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

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WYOMING

INTERNATIONAL

View All Luxury Properties

Chris Doucet


Founding Partner in Seattle

M: 206.819.4663

chris.doucet@compass.com

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.
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OCTOBER KING COUNTY MARKET WATCH NW | CHRIS DOUCET

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October 22nd Weekly King County Market Watch NW marketingcenter--

The Pros and Cons of Building a Custom Home

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SOURCE: Realty Times

Right now, many would-be homebuyers are facing a predicament, which is that there is a limited inventory of properties available. That might be one reason to consider building a custom home, but there are others.

There are downsides to think about at the same time. Whether the pros outweigh the cons depends on your unique situations and preferences, but the following are some of the upsides and downsides to at least make sure you’re aware of before making a decision.

The Pros of Building a Custom Home

When you’re thinking about building a custom home, the following are some of the upsides.

You Can Get Exactly What You Want

When you buy an existing home, undoubtedly, there are some things you’re going to have to settle on. You may be able to change them or update them later, but you’re more than likely not going to get precisely what you’re looking for.

When you build a custom home, you get what you want in every detail. You can design the space in a way that’s going to work for your lifestyle and your taste. At the same time, you have to be careful that this doesn’t turn into a home that’s so specific that you’ll be unlikely to sell it in the future.

You Can Customize Your Location

When you opt to build a custom home, you’re not just getting all the things you want in the house itself. You’re also getting the ability to choose where you want to build. For example, maybe you love the idea of buying land where you’ll have no neighbors around you, or you can have a beautiful view.

You’ll Have Less Maintenance

If you buy an existing home, you’re almost always spending at least some of your free time and money on maintaining it and making repairs.

When you have a brand new home, you can save thousands on maintenance each year. You’re not going to spend your weekends making repairs, and you’re free to do other things.

Of course, you’ll still have some upkeep you’re responsible for, like maintaining the lawn, but a lot less so if you bought an existing and especially an older home.

The Cons of Building a Custom Home

It’s not all upsides when it comes to building the home of your dreams. Downsides to think about include:

It’s Expensive

Building a custom home will cost more money than getting a comparable existing home in almost all cases. You’re going to have to work with a builder, and labor will be around 40% of your total costs. Along with labor, you’ll be paying for permits, design fees and of course the building materials. You can lower your costs somewhat depending on the materials and finishes you choose, but it’s tough to get labor costs much lower than what you’re quoted initially.  

Construction Loans Are Challenging

When you build a home, you may need a construction loan. Construction loans typically require a 20% down payment, and lenders consider them higher risk, which is the reason for that.

You’ll provide the lender not only with the documents you would typically when getting a traditional mortgage, but you’ll also have to provide plans for your project, estimated costs, and information about land value. You’ll have to give the lender a signed contract with the plans for your project, specs and the timeline for construction.

Building Can Take a Long Time

Finally, another downside that you’ll need to think about carefully is that building a custom home can take a long time. It will take at least three months to build a small, simple house. If you’re building a bigger home, you can count on it taking a year or more in some cases. Many delays can occur along the way, ranging from weather conditions to having trouble making decisions on certain things.

SOURCE: Realty Times

Don’t Let Unrealistic Pricing Cost You Your Move

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SOURCE: KCM

These days, you’re going to want to get your price right when you get ready to sell your house. Honestly, it’s more important than ever. Why? While you may want to list high just to see what happens, that’s a plan that can easily backfire, and it’s going to cost you in today’s market.

And the risk isn’t just missing out on offers, it’s missing out on the move you needed to make in the first place.

The Real Pitfall of Overpricing

Many homeowners remember what their neighbor’s house sold for a few years ago, and they want to chase that same sky-high number. The problem is, that was a different market.

Today, there are more homes for sale. Buyers have more options to choose from. They don’t have to get into bidding wars where they offer way over asking just to compete. Now they can come in at, or even below, list price. And if you’re not open to that, they’ll move on. Lisa Sturtevant, Chief Economist at Bright MLS, explains:

“Buyers will have more leverage in many, but not all, markets. Sellers will need to adjust price expectations to reflect the transitioning market.”

But here’s the good news. You still have one big advantage as a seller. According to the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), home values went up by a staggering 54% over the last 5 years. So, even if you compromise just a little bit on your sale price today, odds are you’ll still come out way ahead.

The challenge? Most sellers aren’t thinking about it that way. They’re stuck on what a neighbor got months or years ago – and that’s a costly mistake.

Overpricing Can Stall Your Whole Move

Here’s what happens. A seller lists too high. Buyers stay away. No offers come in. The house sits. And suddenly, that seller is facing a tough decision. Do they cut the price? Stick it out? Or give up altogether?

Unfortunately, a late price cut may not be enough. Buyers often see that as a red flag that something’s wrong with the house. That’s why some sellers are opting to just pull their listing off the market entirely.

In a recent survey from John Burns Research and Consulting (JBREC) and Keeping Current Matters (KCM) over half of agents (54%) say there are more homes being taken off the market than usual.

And the top reasons for that? According to the agents, homeowners didn’t get any offers they felt were fair. The survey from JBREC and KCM explains it like this:

“Sellers holding onto high price expectations is the leading reason they are delisting their homes.”

BrightMLS data backs this up:

“. . . sellers are delisting after having their home on the market and finding they are not getting the price they hoped for.”

It’s more proof pricing too high does more than turn buyers away, it puts your whole move at risk. Because if no one looks at your home or makes an offer, how are you going to sell it?

The Secret To Making Your Move Happen

If you’re selling to relocate for a job, need more space for your growing family, or have to be closer to your relatives as they age, you can’t afford to get stuck. You need a pricing strategy that helps you move forward – and that starts with the right agent.

The sellers who are winning right now are the ones working with experienced local agents who know the current market and aren’t afraid to have honest conversations about price.

And it’s paying off. In the right price range and condition, homes are still selling fast, sometimes even with multiple offers.

Bottom Line

Pricing your house for today’s market isn’t just about getting it sold. It’s about making sure your move doesn’t stall before it starts.

Talk to an agent about what buyers are really paying right now in your area, and how to price your home to match.


SOURCE: KCM

October King County Market Watch NW | Chris Doucet

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October King County Market Watch NW | Chris Doucet marketingcenter--