Newsletter Stories

• U.S. home sales see modest gains in September
  According to Redfin’s Home Price Index, on a seasonally adjusted basis, U.S. home prices increased 0.25% month over month in September. Although home sale prices rose slightly from 0.21% the previous month, home sale growth is in line with the modest gains seen in the U.S. housing market. According to the report, home prices rose in […]
• Mortgage rates hold steady
  Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey showed that the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) is holding steady, averaging 7.40%. “The average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage remained unchanged this week,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s Chief Economist. As of Oct. 15, 2026, the FRM held steady at 7.40%, up from last year’s average of 6.27%. The 15-year FRM […]
• September AIA ABI drops to 44.7
  The American Institute of Architects (AIA) recently released the AIA/Deltek Architecture Billings Index (ABI) for September. The ABI score dropped to 44.7 from 47.2 in August. There is a slight silver lining in the continued decline: inquiries for new projects increased to 53.2. AIA reported a steady pipeline of future work, with backlogs stable. Multifamily residential and institutional […]
• The Discipline Behind Luxury Custom Homebuilding
  Creating a system that produces quality results Luxury custom homebuilding is no longer defined solely by expensive materials or larger homes. True luxury is the disciplined integration of design, construction, technology, craftsmanship and the client’s way of life.  My philosophy is that a custom home should be designed around the life that will unfold within […]
• B&D Interview: Ryan Perrone, President & Founder of Nautilus Homes
  Perrone discusses Nautilus Homes’ evolution as a custom homebuilder Builder and Developer: Nautilus Homes originally built its reputation through smaller projects, with a focus on craftsmanship over scale. How did this approach influence your building philosophy in your current large-scale projects?  Ryan Perrone: In our early years, I was on every site, every day. That […]
• Fusing Sophisticated Design with Architectural Craftsmanship
  Nautilus Homes delivers custom excellence along Florida’s Gulf Coast As a child, Ryan Perrone would walk through job sites with his father and study his surroundings: what made a room feel right, how these details worked and, the biggest question: What made a home truly feel like it belonged to the people who lived there?  […]
• NAHB backs EPA and Army Corps rules proposal
  The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) requested that the Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers further clarify rules on tidal changes and droughts, supporting the supplemental Waters of the United States (WOTUS) proposal under the Clean Water Act. NAHB is in favor of changes to the final rules to give builders […]
• What the 2027 Colors of the Year say about the future of design
  For years, interior design leaned into clean, cool grays and sterile whites that were easy to style, but often left homes feeling cold and detached. Rather than staging spaces for resale, the industry noticed that homeowners want to invest in colors that activate the senses, honor natural materials and age gracefully over time. As we […]
• Manhattan home sells for $25 million, topping luxury market
  Manhattan scored its most expensive home sale last week. A penthouse on Park Avenue, which had been listed at $24,950,000 by Sotheby’s International Realty in January 2026, sold. Located close to Central Park, the triplex condo at 1110 Park Ave. is currently under contract. According to the Olshan Realty luxury market report for the week […]
• Upcoming kitchen designs for 2027
  It’s official: kitchen designs are going warmer in 2027. From darker wooden cabinetry to warm natural elements, next year is expected to move further away from sterile gray tones and sleek, refined interiors. Homeowners want spaces that emphasize warmth, functionality and personalization. Pantry and larder storage will remain a priority in 2027, but the inside […]