Why Now is Good Time to Build

Who We Are
👩‍💼 Elizabeth DiSalvo
Founder of Trillium Architects
I’ve been a residential architect for nearly 40 years. In 2004, I founded Trillium Architects with one goal: to design beautiful, healthy, and energy-efficient custom homes.
• 100+ new homes and 300+ major renovations designed across Fairfield, Westchester, Litchfield counties, northern New Jersey, and beyond.
• Decades of experience navigating the highs and lows of the construction industry in this region.
• Our clients are smart, carefuful investors. And in today’s market, building now offers three compelling advantages.
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1. The Construction Industry Is in a Slump
The residential construction market in our region is currently slow, especially compared to the COVID-era boom.
• During COVID:
o Skyrocketing labor costs
o Long delays due to material shortages
o Projects cost more and took longer
• Now:
o Work pipelines are drying up
o Contractors and subcontractors are becoming hungry for work
o Labor prices are flat
o Schedules are more realistic
o It takes about 6-12 months to plan for a new build. Fall is the perfect time to get construction going in the good weather of the next year.

👉 For savvy homeowners, this creates opportunity. Like investing in the stock market, the best time to build is when prices are low and demand is down.
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2. The Money Hurdles Aren’t as High as They Seem
Yes, interest rates and tariffs are headline issues—but they don’t impact everyone equally.
Interest Rates
• Interest rates just dropped and more are predicted to follow in 2025
• If you’re building with cash, interest rates don’t affect you.
• Cash buyers gain the edge with:
o Better pricing
o Better contractor attention
o Faster schedules
Tariffs
• While tariffs are in play, they’ve been lower than expected (15–25% instead of the threatened 50%).
• At Trillium, we’re skilled at workarounds:
o Windows: We’ve sourced high-performance alternatives (European wood windows, upgraded American products) that bypass tariffs while maintaining performance.
o Insulation & HVAC: Our deep green-building network connects us with innovators bringing cutting-edge U.S. products to market.
👉 With creativity and innovation, we can design homes that avoid 95% of tariff impacts.
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3. The Local Housing Market Is Still Strong
Demand for housing in the Tri-State region remains high.
• There aren’t enough homes available.
• Properties sell quickly, often over asking price.
• The pandemic accelerated remote work—people now want to live in areas like Fairfield and Westchester for the schools, culture, restaurants, and easy access to NYC.
As one Greenwich realtor recently noted:
“In a town where demand continues to outpace supply, it is no surprise that this home was swiftly snapped up, epitomizing Greenwich’s current market trends.”
👉 With construction prices flattening and real estate values holding strong, building or renovating now is a great idea.
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Bonus: Affordable & Multifamily Housing
A unique opportunity exists in the affordable/multifamily sector:
• States are mandating more housing supply.
• Towns are under pressure to approve projects quickly.
• Federal and state funding is available for transit-oriented and affordable housing developments.
👉 If you’re interested in diversifying your investments, now is an excellent time to consider multifamily housing.
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Bottom Line
• Contractors are more available and affordable.
• Cash buyers have leverage.
• Housing demand in our region remains strong.
Now is not just a good time—it may be the best time in years to build a custom home in the NYC Tri-State area.