THE WEEK IN REVIEW

Welcome to my weekly newsletter featuring a personal note on the ever-evolving world of real estate along with a few newsworthy updates. Enjoy!

ITALIAN STANDARDS

I had the pleasure of beginning 2026 in Italy - spending time in both Florence and Rome. We explored a ton and had the privilege of touring new-to-me ancient sites like Hadrian's Villa, the Ara Pacis and Nero's Domus Aurea.

We also did a lot of observing. Seeing it is the New Year, and I've always disliked "resolutions" (failure seems built in), I thought instead about standards, namely Italian standards - for showing up, and for honoring your city and heritage.

Here are a few Italian standards that struck me as important.

Wear Pants. I mean it. Italians do NOT wear leggings except at the gym. Thank heaven for the lack of a Lululemon brigade. Italians turn out from their morning caffè to their evening passeggiata having made an effort - a scarf, a smart jacket, and real pants!

Restore, restore, restore. All around Rome, I saw more scaffolding and construction work than ever. And I loved that Romans enclose their work sites with sheathing emblazoned with a simple phrase: CAPUT MUNDI. The ancient phrase "capital of the world" is a concise statement of Roman sentiment for their place in the world and the architectural legacy that is theirs to preserve.

Walk. Rome is huge. Florence is relatively small. The historic centers of both are a mess of crazy drivers and tiny cars parked in impossible spots. No matter as Italians walk like their life depends on it. And it does. Young, old, with dogs, with strollers. On family Sundays and workdays, walking is a way of life and it shows.

Socialize. As one who enjoys good wine and good food, I have been known to bemoan the seriously sober, abstinence movement in the US... but this trip drove home why. Wine and food are the backdrop to connection and congregation, something Italians do particularly well. I fear that hyper "connectivity" to screens and smart watches make us less connected to the humans so essential to our well being.

Now back to the spring market in DC, which, is off to a rollicking start! Happy 2026. I hope it's a year of high standards.

real estate & the news

• Florida retirees are becoming much wealthier:  In Collier County, which includes Naples, newcomers from New York, the top feeder state for that county, had average adjusted gross incomes of $401,000 while, for those from No. 2 Illinois, the average was $726,000. In Miami-Dade County, the share of million-dollar-plus single-family home sales jumped to 25% in 2025 through November, from 8% in 2019 (Miami Association of Realtors)

• Weary of ‘smart’ everything, Americans are craving stylish ‘analog rooms’ free of digital distractions—and designers are making them a growing trend. (WSJ)

• What was the most effective cure for high housing inflation? Intense construction in several areas around the US, and this cure accelerated between 2021-2025.....but because building anything takes so long, the impact of this is only now being felt in consumer rents that are seeing more incentives and price adjustments. (WSJ)

• Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac may be instructed by the Federal Government to purchase $200 billion in mortgage bonds (in a $13 trillion market) to bring down housing costs in the hopes of driving mortgage rates down to help make the cost of buying/owning a home more affordable. The 10-year treasury dipped 0.6% on this news. (CNBC)

  
  

Time by luxmuralis

at the national cathedral

This one-of-a-kind experience invites you to explore humanity’s relationship with the concept of time through breathtaking visuals, evocative soundscapes, and thought-provoking storytelling. You’ll traverse wormholes, stand at the dawn of the universe, and witness the birth of our planet — all inside one of D.C.’s most iconic landmarks.  See the Cathedral nave like never before, as Time by Luxmuralis transforms sacred architecture into a living canvas of vivid projections and original music. Join us on a dazzling journey of color, story, and sound. For ticket information, click here.

Lee Arrowood

Principal, Arrowood Advisory at Compass

M: 202.251.3175

O: 202.448.9002

lee.arrowood@compass.com

+$173M Sold In 2023

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