All About District of Columbia Real Estate

By Susan Isaacs, Realtor "The Momagent", Compass | Partnering with DOMO
(1313 14th St NW DC 20005)
As the Washington DC real estate market braces itself against higher interest rates, credit tightening, inventory shortages, recession fears and an upcoming election year, the DC Council is beginning the process of redrawing DC school boundaries.It's a term that raises the hackles of home owners and parents in a battle of access vs home values.Boundaries, Feeder Patterns And Resale ValueWhat's at stake?Boundary redraws can affect home values, school rankings and campus & community culture. The process can also effect a more equal quality of education for all DC students.What Are School Boundaries and Feeder Patterns? The DC Public Schools (DCPS) system consists mostly of neighborhood schools with specific geographic boundaries and include ‘feeder patterns’ that "feed" students directly ...
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By Susan Isaacs, Realtor "The Momagent", Compass | Partnering with DOMO
(1313 14th St NW DC 20005)
DC REAL ESTATE Private Exclusives: The Party You Weren't Invited To   “How did I miss that?” When you hear that properties are being bought and sold without ever coming on the market, does it feel like you missed a great private party because you weren't invited?  With inventory so tight in the Washington DC real estate market, you need every advantage possible. Being left out of a secret cache of inventory just isn't acceptable! Private Exclusives are off-market listings on the Compass network, available only through Compass agents. You won’t find them on public real estate search sites, or the MLS. A significant portion of DC real estate is being marketed and sold on private networks, and Compass has the largest and most sophisticated of them all. Fortunately, we can offer you an invi...
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By Susan Isaacs, Realtor "The Momagent", Compass | Partnering with DOMO
(1313 14th St NW DC 20005)
We're heading into spring 2023 in the DC real estate market, and everyone wants to know what to expect. Here's our take:Rates, Inflation & Recession, Oh My!2023 got off to a rocky start with uninspiring reports from the foreboding comments from Fed Chair Powell on March 7th:“If the totality of the data were to indicate that faster tightening is warranted, we would be prepared to increase the pace of rate hikes.”Read moreFinancial market reaction was swift and brutal. The major indexes dropped more than 1 percent and the two year Treasury note shot up to its highest market since 2007. Nasdaq lost 1.3 percent. Ouch.The CME FedWatch put a 61+% probability on the Fed raising rates by 50 basis points at the next FOMC meeting on March 22nd. But that didn't happen. Why?Bank failures. SVB and S...
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By Susan Isaacs, Realtor "The Momagent", Compass | Partnering with DOMO
(1313 14th St NW DC 20005)
Just released March CPI Report & latest inflation date - how they'll impact the Fed's decision on rate hikes.Read it at realestateinthedistrict.com
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By Dana Hollish Hill, REALTOR * Broker * Coach
(Hollish Hill Group, JPAR Stellar Living)
Wondering what's happening with real estate in Washington DC? Here are the numbers for January 2023.What's TrendingNotice that New Listings and Pending Sales are up this month over last month, but both are down compared to last year. Closed Sales are down from last month, and from last year. We often see a drop because of the winter holidays when people are busy and not buying homes in December. Winter PricingPrices are down from last year as well as from last month to this month. While we generally see lower prices in Washington DC in January and February, this year sales decreased quickly and the prices began dropping faster and later.IndicatorsThere are a lot more active listings this January compared to the 5-year January Average which will means buyers have a lot to choose from and...
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By Claude Labbe, Realty for Your Busy Life
(RLAH / @properties)
 [ This is the neighborhood in Washington, DC.  Everyone wants live here, or to come here to eat and enjoy the city.Logan Circle is the quintessential NW DC neighborhood.  It simply looks and feels right, without the attitude one finds with the usually older & more established NW neighborhoods.Penn Quarter, closer to downtown/ Penn. Ave., has the nightlife, clubs and Capital One Arena.Shaw is the place to be and the neighborhood has a great feel of new & old woven together.  Moving into the new year, thoughts turn to resolutions and goals for the new year.  Weather can affect housing and January numbers of sold vs. the previous month were about the same again for a total of 30 homes sold in January 2023. This month we are again below the 5 year average of 56. Moving forward to spring, w...
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By Claude Labbe, Realty for Your Busy Life
(RLAH / @properties)
Capitol Hill is also a neighborhood in Washington, a big village, split halfway across, half in the NE and half in the SE quadrant of Washington, DC.  Politicians work here, but people live here also.On the north side, an iconic landmark is Union Station, with some 40 million people annually, shown here to represent the local perspective. This is a true transportation hub, with Amtrak, suburban rail, intercity  bus and the Metro(subway) stations to converge. As of 2019, 2nd busiest station in the country.As of February 2016, the H Street Trolley now gets people from (almost) Union Station to past the 15th St Starburst.This view shows the station as you drive up in a cab, or Bikeshare or walk from Capitol Hill on left.  If you were there today, you'd see no cabs, and no people inside (or...
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By Claude Labbe, Realty for Your Busy Life
(RLAH / @properties)
Capitol Hill is not only a political idea, it is also a big village, a neighborhood split halfway across, half in the NE and half in the SE quadrant of Washington, DC.  Politicians work here, but people live here also.On the south side of this neighborhood is Barracks Row, and the ever growing and popular Navy Yard with the Nationals Park neighborhood.  Let's consider that we will return to some level of foot traffic here in the summer of 2022, even if not 2019 levels yet.The Navy Yard has very good Metro access, and is also home to baseball's Nationals Park. This neighborhood has also become the 'it' neighborhood, growing faster than any other in the past year.  All the residential growth has fueled demand for lots of new neighborhood amenities, which brings more people.  It certainly ...
Comments 2
By Claude Labbe, Realty for Your Busy Life
(RLAH / @properties)
This quote is getting older, but even more relevant in 2022. Councilmember Charles Allen was quoted in the Washington City Paper (8/21/2O15) saying "Southwest is an absolutely incredible neighborhood.  It's a neighborhood that has so many things: Metro stations, water access, parks & greenspaces, small and big residential buildings.  A lot of people just didn't realize it was there".Audi Field, home of DC United Soccer, as well as PNHoffman's The Wharf will ensure a lot more people find this neighborhood.This view shows the opening day, which was a good day, albeit with opening issues. DC United has upped it's game this season with a few team additions, surely to benefit a stronger team.   A total of 12 homes were sold in January 2023, identical to the previous month and just about the ...
Comments 2
By Claude Labbe, Realty for Your Busy Life
(RLAH / @properties)
 [ This is the neighborhood in Washington, DC.  Everyone wants live here, or to come here to eat and enjoy the city.Logan Circle is the quintessential NW DC neighborhood.  It simply looks and feels right, without the attitude one finds with the usually older & more established NW neighborhoods.Penn Quarter, closer to downtown/ Penn. Ave., has the nightlife, clubs and Capital One Arena.Shaw is the place to be and the neighborhood has a great feel of new & old woven together.  The end of the year provides a lull as everyone spends time with friends and family.  And numbers of sold vs. the previous month were about the same, for a total of 34 homes sold in December 2022. This month we are again below the 5 year average of 56. After the first of the year we should hopefully start to see num...
Comments 4
By Claude Labbe, Realty for Your Busy Life
(RLAH / @properties)
Capitol Hill is also a neighborhood in Washington, a big village, split halfway across, half in the NE and half in the SE quadrant of Washington, DC.  Politicians work here, but people live here also.On the north side, an iconic landmark is Union Station, with some 40 million people annually, shown here to represent the local perspective. This is a true transportation hub, with Amtrak, suburban rail, intercity  bus and the Metro(subway) stations to converge. As of 2019, 2nd busiest station in the country.As of February 2016, the H Street Trolley now gets people from (almost) Union Station to past the 15th St Starburst.This view shows the station as you drive up in a cab, or Bikeshare or walk from Capitol Hill on left.  If you were there today, you'd see no cabs, and no people inside (or...
Comments 2
By Claude Labbe, Realty for Your Busy Life
(RLAH / @properties)
Capitol Hill is not only a political idea, it is also a big village, a neighborhood split halfway across, half in the NE and half in the SE quadrant of Washington, DC.  Politicians work here, but people live here also.On the south side of this neighborhood is Barracks Row, and the ever growing and popular Navy Yard with the Nationals Park neighborhood.  Let's consider that we will return to some level of foot traffic here in the summer of 2022, even if not 2019 levels yet.The Navy Yard has very good Metro access, and is also home to baseball's Nationals Park. This neighborhood has also become the 'it' neighborhood, growing faster than any other in the past year.  All the residential growth has fueled demand for lots of new neighborhood amenities, which brings more people.  It certainly ...
Comments 1
By Claude Labbe, Realty for Your Busy Life
(RLAH / @properties)
This quote is getting older, but even more relevant in 2022. Councilmember Charles Allen was quoted in the Washington City Paper (8/21/2O15) saying "Southwest is an absolutely incredible neighborhood.  It's a neighborhood that has so many things: Metro stations, water access, parks & greenspaces, small and big residential buildings.  A lot of people just didn't realize it was there".Audi Field, home of DC United Soccer, as well as PNHoffman's The Wharf will ensure a lot more people find this neighborhood.This view shows the opening day, which was a good day, albeit with opening issues. DC United has upped it's game this season with a few team additions, surely to benefit a stronger team.   A total of 12 homes were sold in December 2022, a precipitous drop from the previous month and bel...
Comments 1
By Andrea Bedard, Fluent in Real Estate & German, M.A. ABR ASP CIPS
(Thompson Company, REALTORS® 240.593.2860)
On Christmas Day we ventured into the city to see the national Christmas tree. While the crowds were squeezing in to get a good shot in front of the White House, this REALTOR® was much more interested in the block of historic mid-19th century rowhomes on Jackson Place, right across the street. No. 708 is my favorite. The Trowbridge House was built as a residence for William P. Trowbridge, a mechanical engineer, military officer, and naturalist in 1859. Among its stand-out features are a stunning bracketed cornice, a slate mansard roof (in fact, an add-on 30 years later to go with the times), the gorgeous front door with its sandstone surround, and - just like its neighbors on the block - a characteristic three-bay design. No. 708 was used as a government office building for decades unti...
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By Susan Isaacs, Realtor "The Momagent", Compass | Partnering with DOMO
(1313 14th St NW DC 20005)
The 2023 DC Real Estate Market vs 2008 The 2023 DC Real Estate Market Isn't a Throwback To 2008 There's nothing like a year of drastic mortgage interest rate hikes on top of breathtaking price increases to bring back bad memories of the 2008 real estate market crash, and its subsequent fallout, which lasted half a decade or more for many in the U.S. 2022: Year-over-year CPI peaked at 9.1% in June, and monthly readings since have steadily declined. After bottoming out at 2.65% in January of 2021, mortgage rates peaked in October 2022 at just over 7% and since have adjusted down, currently averaging in the high 5% to mid-6% range.  It was the sudden, dramatic increases made by Fed Chair Powell that have most concerned U.S. consumers, 41% of whom say they now fear a housing crash in the ne...
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By Claude Labbe, Realty for Your Busy Life
(RLAH / @properties)
 [ This is the neighborhood in Washington, DC.  Everyone wants live here, or to come here to eat and enjoy the city.Logan Circle is the quintessential NW DC neighborhood.  It simply looks and feels right, without the attitude one finds with the usually older & more established NW neighborhoods.Penn Quarter, closer to downtown/ Penn. Ave., has the nightlife, clubs and Capital One Arena.Shaw is the place to be and the neighborhood has a great feel of new & old woven together.  This time of year we typically see a lull in the housing market and this month is no exception.  And just like last month, we saw a drop in numbers sold vs. the previous month, for a total of 33 homes sold in November 2022. This month we are again below the 5 year average of 53. After the first of the year we should...
Comments 3
By Claude Labbe, Realty for Your Busy Life
(RLAH / @properties)
Capitol Hill is also a neighborhood in Washington, a big village, split halfway across, half in the NE and half in the SE quadrant of Washington, DC.  Politicians work here, but people live here also.On the north side, an iconic landmark is Union Station, with some 40 million people annually, shown here to represent the local perspective. This is a true transportation hub, with Amtrak, suburban rail, intercity  bus and the Metro(subway) stations to converge. As of 2019, 2nd busiest station in the country.As of February 2016, the H Street Trolley now gets people from (almost) Union Station to past the 15th St Starburst.This view shows the station as you drive up in a cab, or Bikeshare or walk from Capitol Hill on left.  If you were there today, you'd see no cabs, and no people inside (or...
Comments 2
By Claude Labbe, Realty for Your Busy Life
(RLAH / @properties)
Capitol Hill is not only a political idea, it is also a big village, a neighborhood split halfway across, half in the NE and half in the SE quadrant of Washington, DC.  Politicians work here, but people live here also.On the south side of this neighborhood is Barracks Row, and the ever growing and popular Navy Yard with the Nationals Park neighborhood.  Let's consider that we will return to some level of foot traffic here in the summer of 2022, even if not 2019 levels yet.The Navy Yard has very good Metro access, and is also home to baseball's Nationals Park. This neighborhood has also become the 'it' neighborhood, growing faster than any other in the past year.  All the residential growth has fueled demand for lots of new neighborhood amenities, which brings more people.  It certainly ...
Comments 2
By Claude Labbe, Realty for Your Busy Life
(RLAH / @properties)
This quote is getting older, but even more relevant in 2022. Councilmember Charles Allen was quoted in the Washington City Paper (8/21/2O15) saying "Southwest is an absolutely incredible neighborhood.  It's a neighborhood that has so many things: Metro stations, water access, parks & greenspaces, small and big residential buildings.  A lot of people just didn't realize it was there".Audi Field, home of DC United Soccer, as well as PNHoffman's The Wharf will ensure a lot more people find this neighborhood.This view shows the opening day, which was a good day, albeit with opening issues. DC United has upped it's game this season with a few team additions, surely to benefit a stronger team.   A total of 21 homes were sold in November 2022, more than the previous month and above the 5 year ...
Comments 2
By Andrea Bedard, Fluent in Real Estate & German, M.A. ABR ASP CIPS
(Thompson Company, REALTORS® 240.593.2860)
the other night in DC#nofilter♥ It's always been the vintage, the old house charm and the original details that I adore the most, that draw me in, make my [REALTOR®] heart flutter, and prompt me to pause, to listen, and then to retell their stories. I specialize in finding and marketing charming homes that are unique and rich in character, or history, or both. I believe in preservation, second chances, saving the pink bathrooms, and front porch living. In this series I highlight charming homes that I am listing to find just the right buyer for or I am admiring with my special clients; or that have simply caught my eye while exploring the [historic] communities of Maryland and [far] beyond. Adore charming homes as much as I do? Then I'd love it if you'd follow me on Instagram, @onceupona...
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