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:

• Skyrocketing labor costs

• Long delays due to material shortages

• Projects cost more and took longer

         

Now:

• Work pipelines are drying up

• Contractors and subcontractors are becoming hungry for work

• Labor prices are flat

• Schedules are more realistic

• 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.

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Interest Rates

• Interest rates just dropped and more are predicted to follow 

• If you’re building with cash, interest rates don’t affect you.

• Cash buyers gain the edge with:

  •        Better pricing

  •        Better contractor attention

  •        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:

• Windows: We’ve sourced high-performance alternatives (European wood windows, upgraded American products)                 that bypass tariffs while maintaining performance.

•  Insulation & HVAC: Our deep green-building network connects us with innovators bringing cutting-edge U.S.                           products to market.

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👉 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.

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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.”

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👉 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.

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👉 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.​

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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.