Top 5 Real Estate Headlines in First Half of 2011

by Tony Hain on July 8, 2011

We have reached the midway point of the year. Today, we want to look back over the first six months and give you what we believe were the five items that have had the biggest impact on the real estate industry so far this year. The Government Wants Out of the Mortgage Business From the [...]

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Shortage Alert: Spring Market and Beyond

April 14, 2011

Spring has sprung and sprung big. In our Fall Market Preview, we noted that the fundamentals were in place for price appreciation and a seller’s market.  Buyers remained cautious, but six months later we are seeing multiple offers across the city.   Now, we’re not back in the heady days of 2005, but the shortage [...]

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Values up 3.6% in Washington; Down 3.1% across U.S.

March 30, 2011

The Washington region continues to defy national real estate trends.  This week, Case Shiller released data showing January year over year price declines in 18 of the top 20 U.S. cities.  Washington was up 3.6%. Perspective:  Last January the federal government was offering an $8,000 tax credit to purchasers—in effect boosting values.  Now that the [...]

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Will DC Market “Double Dip”?

January 26, 2011

Just as the general economy begins to show signs of recovery, the real estate news of the week is that home prices declined in 19 of the top 20 metro areas from October to November, including Washington which declined .1 percent according to the Case-Shiller index.  However, Washington home prices were up 3.5% from a [...]

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Examiner: Modern Homes Appeal to Smaller Group of Buyers

January 9, 2011

“Real estate agents find there is a small but dedicated cadre of buyers who are looking for modern and contemporary homes in the metro area rather than the usual Colonial-style fare favored by most shoppers.” …..”There is an area just north of U Street … bound by Florida and U, where theres a little pocket [...]

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State of the Mortgage Market

January 6, 2011

Finding a mortgage if you have less than stellar credit became increasingly difficult in the past two years.  Even borrowers with perfect credit are jumping through paper trail hoops to borrow or refinance.  Changes are coming and the implications may affect the entire housing market. What Happened? Deregulation and computerized underwriting systems made loan application [...]

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Most Americans say it is “good time” to buy a house

October 27, 2010

What do Americans think about housing in the current climate?  Two studies offer similar results. A Washington Post poll found that 61 percent of Americans believe it is a “good time” to buy a house. For all you political junkies, that’s true across the political spectrum: Republicans (70 percent), Democrats (61 percent) and independents (59 [...]

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D.C. property taxes among lowest in nation

October 2, 2010

When compared to rates paid by homeowners in all 50 states, property taxes as a percentage of property value in the District are among the lowest in the nation.  According to Washington Business Journal, our region ranks considerably higher when based on the dollar amount of property tax bills, reflecting higher property values here. In the District, [...]

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Fall Market Preview

September 9, 2010

How’s the market? The answer may surprise you. The fact is that It’s an unusual market in DC and more complex than is being reported. Media stories continue to cover the national trends—foreclosures, 12 month supplies of inventory and an economy and housing market that has come to a screeching halt. That doesn’t match the [...]

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Beware Changes to DC Property Tax Enforcement

August 26, 2010

It’s no secret local governments are looking to increase revenues and trim budgets.  In what is likely a grab at more cash, the DC Government has made it more challenging to get and keep your Homestead Property Tax Deduction.  This is the reduced tax rate that owner occupants receive and that the settlement company likely [...]

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