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!

LUXURY IN 2026

Here are the "Top 10 wants" I am seeing and hearing from luxury buyers:

1. Curated: Customized and personal design that does not just mimic the trend of the day.

2. Cultured: Homes with some provenance, those difficult or impossible to replicate. In new construction, the provenance may be a particularly well-respected architect or builder.

3. Connected:  Technology that works simply and effectively, seamlessly. 

4. Conscious: Energy efficiency and the ability to operate off the grid in an emergency. Materials and systems that are respectful of the planet - green roofs, high efficiency systems, lower polluting materials.

5. Calming: Design that allows for unwinding, enjoying friends and family, and peace and quiet. Soothing spaces that are often connected to nature - views, integration of indoor and outdoor spaces and/or park access.

6. Constructive: Homes that are engineered for today with temperature and humidity levels that remain consistent throughout the day, night, and year. Well-engineered homes that can withstand weather-related elements.

7. Compartmentalization: Open floor plans that also provide comfortable, cocooning spaces with privacy.

8. Convenience:  Walkability and shorter commutes are a time-saving luxury....TIME is the last luxury.

9. Community:  Being surrounded or close to people with whom you might be comfortable sharing restaurants, shops, clubs, common amenities, etc, matters. 

10. Condition: A growing percent of ultra-luxe buyers want fully finished, high-quality craftsmanship and materials….and preferably new or pretty close to brand new. The desire for a lengthy, stressful, expensive renovation has waned dramatically in recent years - and this applies across the buyer spectrum.

real estate & the news

• The number of billionaires reached more than 3,000 in 2025, and collectively their fortunes increased by 16%, or $2.5 trillion. The world's billionaires’ wealth has surged by 81% since 2020. US median household net worth rose roughly 33% since 2020. (CNBC)

• The Federal Government may start to allow people to take money out of their 401(k)s to use that for a down payment to buy a home. Already, first-time homebuyers who hold Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) — retirement accounts that are not sponsored by an employer — can tap these funds up to $10,000 without penalty to buy, build or rebuild their first home. (CNBC)

• There are around 6.8 million construction workers in the US today: Around 30% are foreign-born, a little over 2 million.  Around 1.4-1.6 million are undocumented. Today, the industry is short 300,000 workers, according to the National Association of Homebuilders. Estimates put the national housing shortage somewhere between 1.5 million and 5 million homes. (NY TIMES)

At The vanguard

by the smithsonian

The National Museum of African American History and Culture’s new exhibit features more than 100 objects from the collections of five Historically Black Colleges and Universities (Clark Atlanta, Florida A&M, Jackson State, Texas Southern, Tuskegee) in a stunning display of how these institutions have shaped American education and culture through innovation, ingenuity, resistance and activism. More info here.

Lee Arrowood

Principal, Arrowood Advisory at Compass

M: 202.251.3175

O: 202.448.9002

lee.arrowood@compass.com

Consistently Ranked Among the Top Agents in the DMV