09/18/2026
The Fall Glow is Here
Fall arrived a little early this year, or at least it feels that way. The mornings have a bite to them, the afternoon light has gone gold and low, and the firs across the Puget Sound are starting to show off in their own quiet way.
It is one of my favorite stretches of the year, and if you are thinking about buying or selling, it is worth understanding what this season actually means for real estate.
Fall is not the frantic sprint of spring or the vacation-paced lull of summer. The buyers still out looking in September and October tend to be serious. They are not casually browsing between weekend trips; they have a reason to move, whether that is a job change, a growing family, or a decision they put off all summer. For sellers, that often means fewer showings but stronger, more qualified conversations. For buyers, it means less competition and more room to negotiate, especially with inventory having climbed steadily across the region this year.
It is also, frankly, a beautiful time to see a home. Golden light through changing leaves does more for curb appeal than most staging budgets, and a home that feels warm and gathered in the fall often makes a stronger first impression than it does in the flat light of August.
All of which brings me to the news I am most excited to share this month. I have just listed one of the most extraordinary properties of my career: a 1922 lakefront estate on Gravelly Lake in Lakewood, designed by Kirtland Cutter, the architect behind some of the most significant buildings in the Pacific Northwest.
Set on 3.07 private acres, the main home offers 6,431 square feet and the kind of craftsmanship that simply is not built anymore: herringbone tiger oak flooring, an antique French marble mantle, and hand-blocked wallpaper original to the home's early years. The kitchen has been thoughtfully updated with antique European cupboards, and a daylight basement adds laundry and media space without disturbing the home's historic character. The grounds include a detached three-car garage, a guest house with its own kitchen, living room, bedroom, and bath, a boathouse and dock, a lakeside fire pit and patio with fireplace, and even an additional buildable waterfront parcel. It is offered at $2,599,950, and I have put together a full site with photos and details at lakesteilacoomestate.com.
I will let the home's history speak for itself in the story below. Whatever this fall holds for you, whether that is watching from the sidelines, preparing your own home to list, or beginning a search of your own, I would be glad to help however I can.
Wishing you a wonderful start to autumn.
Sincerely,
Brad
