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Commentary, opinion & news on real estate-related topics by Washington DC real estate expert Susan Isaacs of Compass.
HOUSING REPORT CARD: WASHINGTON DC
Report card on the state of housing in Washington DC January 2025 through October 2025
NEW PET REGS FOR DISTRICT RENTALS
By Susan Isaacs The Act puts the leash on rental companies who discriminate against specific breeds and sizes of dogs, and curbs pet fees and "pet rent," too. DC Council member Robert White sponsored the bill to “reduce housing barriers to pets” and increase access to...
DC RENTAL ACT PASSED ON FIRST VOTE
The D.C. council passed the RENTAL Act by a vote of 10-2. Here’s what it means for landlords, investors, and tenants.
MORTGAGE RATES POST-FED CUT
Following September 16th Fed cut to the benchmark rate, mortgage rates didn’t respond as many thought they would.
CASE-SHILLER HOME PRICE INDEX JULY
Home prices post smallest increase in nearly two years, Case-Shiller index says. A break for buyers after decades of price increases? That depends...If you’ve spent the past few years watching home prices climb and mortgage rates soar, you’re probably wondering if now...
THE TAX BILL AND REAL ESTATE
By Susan IsaacsFirst-time homebuyers receive no grants or tax credits to ease the cost of entry into homeownership. Indirect benefits (like SALT and mortgage deductions) go to existing, and typically higher-income homeowners. The BBB doesn't help most of America's...
GSE PRIVATIZED PROFITS, SOCIALIZED LOSSES
Privatizing Fannie And Freddie Means Big Profits For Wall Street, Higher Mortgage Fees And Risk For ConsumersPlans to extricate GSEs Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac from conservatorship have resurfaced with the second Trump administration. The medthods and merits are being...
HOW TO PRICE YOUR DC HOME THIS MAY
The DC Real Estate Market Is Changing. That Means Sellers Should, Too.You're ready to move on, and you want to sell your Washington DC home quickly... at the highest possible price. But what is that number? Recent data shows that quite a few sellers are having trouble...
TRUMP TARIFFS: POTENTIAL IMPACT TO THE REAL ESTATE MARKET
February Came In With New Tariffs. And Then...Optimism for the U.S. housing market fell like a load of bricks on in the first week of February when President Trump hit Canada, China, and Mexico with tariffs. After discussions between the parties, a 30 day stay was...
JOB LOSSES AND TARIFFS IMPACT DC’S REAL ESTATE MARKET
The U.S. real estate market is no stranger to economic fluctuations, but the latest tariff hikes, job losses and economic market volatility are combining to create a new set of challenges. Homebuyers and sellers, builders, investors, and policymakers are scrambling to...
DC BUDGET CUT IMPLICATIONS
Mayor Says Bill Means $1B In Budget Cuts The Associated Press reports that President Trump has asked the House of Representatives to take up the DC funding ‘fix’ that the Senate passed "and get it done IMMEDIATELY.” The Senate bill would restore a $1.1 billion cut to...
DC LOT BUILDING RESTRICTIONS
DC Building Lot Occupancy + GARIn Washington DC, residential zones restrict the building percentage of your lot in a number of ways. Maximum Lot Occupancy This is the percentage of your property that can be covered by buildings. It is typically 40% - 60%. Research the...
NEW DC BILL TAKES AIM AT HPRB AUTHORITY
Housing Capacity Preservation Amendment Act of 2025New Bill Seeks to Limit HPRB Authority in Historic DistrictsWard 1 Councilmember Brianne Nadeau and co-sponsors Anita Bonds, Christina Henderson and Kenyan McDuffie have introduced a bill intended to limit the HPRB's...
2025 DC CONSTRUCTION LAW CHANGES
2025 Changes To Construction Permitting And Historic Preservation FinesTwo amendments to DC's construction code are forthcoming in the District of Columbia.Protecting Adjacent And Adjoining Property Owners From Construction Damage Amendment ActThe amendments,...
DC’S NEW RENTAL LEGISLATION
Mayor Muriel Bowser put forward the Rebalancing Expectations for Neighbors, Tenants and Landlords Act of 2025 on Feb. 12, 2025. This legislation, dubbed "The Rental Act," is intended to protect DC's existing affordable housing supply and support the production of new...
MULTIFAMILY ARBITRAGE IN WASHINGTON DC
Multifamily Arbitrage: What Is It? Multifamily arbitrage is leveraging inefficiencies in the pricing, financing, or management of multifamily properties to generate higher returns than traditional real estate investing. It involves buying, repositioning, or...
COST TO DC OF FEDERAL JOB LOSSES
The District of Columbia could lose 40,000 federal jobs over the next several years, a 21% reduction according to the city's CFO Glen Lee.Forecast Significantly RevisedOn February 28th, DC revised its revenue forecast for the District of Columbia Budget and Financial...
PROJECT 2025 POLICIES AND THE HOUSING MARKET
With all the cuts to government agencies like HUD, CFPB and GSA, what impact is the Project 2025 mandate having on the housing market?The Project 2025 MandateTrump may be sitting in the Oval Office, but Project 2025 is dictating policy. The playbook Trump insisted...
ALEXANDRIA SHORT TERM RENTAL RESTRICTIONS
Does Alexandria Virginia Restrict Short Term Rentals?Yes. While Alexandria City doesn't ban short term rentals, there are rules that predated the 2025 update: Short-term rental registry. This was est. in 2018. Insurance registration requires hosts to provide emergency...
GINNIE MAE UNDER THREAT
Doge Cuts Threaten The Mortgage Market (Again) Cuts to staff at Ginnie Mae, the tiny agency that helps lower mortgage loan rates by allowing banks to bundle mortgages into government-guaranteed bonds, is at risk due to Trump-Doge cuts. Small in size, with only 270...
DC AREA RESOURCES FOR FEDERAL JOB LOSS
Since inaguration day 2025, upwards of 4,000 workers in the District of Columbia have filed for unemployment insurance due to the federal government's firing blitz. Suddenly losing a job can be a traumatic experience. Sharing of resources can be helpful during this...
RETHINKING THE NEUTRAL RATE
Understanding the "Neutral" Interest Rate and Its Impact on Mortgage RatesWhy the Fed Thinks The Neutral Rate Is Higher Than Most Think It Is Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell just told Congress that he believes the "neutral" interest rate, which is the rate that...
JOB LOSS IMPACT TO DC REAL ESTATE
Job Loss Numbers Mount As Workforce Reduction ContinuesSince Donald Trump's inauguration on January 20, 2025, the U.S. has undergone a purge of federal agencies and jobs. The scope of workforce reduction is evolving, and its full impact will take months--even...
MORTGAGE RATES TICK DOWN
Mortgage Rates Move LowerAfter weeks of stagnant mortgage interest rates just above 7%, home buyers are getting a little relief today as rates dropped into the high six percentile. The ten year Treasury Yield dropped -0.089 this morning to 4.424. Rates are determined...
ATTORNEY OPINION LETTERS: TITLE INSURANCE ALTERNATIVE?
What Is An Attorney Opinion Letter?An AOL is a document prepared by a real estate attorney that provides a professional assessment of a property's title. While it can confirm ownership and identify potential issues, it does not provide financial protection against...
“GOLDEN” OR “GILDED” AND WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?
He loves gold. In all its forms. And grand visions. So it's not surprising that Trump has adopted the phrase "Golden Age." But what does that really mean?The terms "Golden Age" and "Gilded Age" are often used interchangably, but they refer to two entirely different...
TREASURY YIELD DROP
This morning a broad U.S. stock market sell-off in pre-market trading triggered a steep decline in bond yields. As Bloomberg reports, this pushed debt instrument prices to their highest levels since the beginning of 2025. The 10-year Treasury bonds yield fell to...
IS HOUSING AN ASSET OR COMMODITY?
From Shelter To Asset And Commodity Housing transitioned from being viewed as shelter to an asset, then a commodity as a result of broadened financialization of the housing market. Homes were increasingly seen as investment vehicles for wealth generation, leading to...
2025: THE DC REAL ESTATE GUIDE
2024 really left us hanging. The plan for a steady course of 2025 federal rate reductions is is being derailed by certain Trump administration's policy plans. The FOMC says it now expects only two quarter-point reductions. The mortgage industry is out of lockstep with...
THE SEARCH FOR VALUABLE DC REAL ESTATE INFORMATION
You deserve a lot more information on your upcoming real estate transaction than your search engine is offering. A real estate search should begin with an assessment of your needs, your local market, financing options, agency representation, and information on local...
DESPERATELY SEEKING R STAR
r* Defined The neutral rate of interest, aka r-star, or r*, is the real short-term interest rate that: Prevails when the economy is at full employment and stable inflation Exists when monetary policy isn't stimulated or restrained by monetary policy Is the 'natural...
PANTHEON MACROECONOMICS GRIM 2025 Report
GDP and employment growth is predicted to continue deceleration in the new year due to tariff increased and the new administration's deportation plans. In its 2025 U.S. report, Pantheon's Samuel Tombs, head of the U.S. economic team, says; "a post-election bounce in...
FANNIE MAE ADJUSTS FORECASTS
Fannie Mae has revised its forecasts for mortgage interest rates and housing sales for 2025 through 2026.The Government Sponsored Enterprise (GSE) lowered its expectations for existing home sales to 4% next year, from its previous forecast of 11%. Fannie Mae's...
FINANCIAL DEREGULATION AND CONSUMERS
Trump is taking another swing at Wall Street deregulation in his second term, with the CFPB, SEC, FDIC and Federal Reserve squarely in his sights. But does the American public really want a return to the greed, corruption and deceit that led to the 2008 market crash? What Deregulation: Trump 2.0 might look like in the mortgage lending and real estate markets.
ELECTION IMPACTS ON DC REAL ESTATE
In November, voters messaged that they’re fed up with the high cost of living in the U.S. But the government they voted for is likely to worsen high prices, elevated interest rates and unaffordable housing if a number of planned policies are implemented.
DC AG KO’s TITLE JVs
Four DC title companies negotiate settlements with the Ofice of the Attorney General (OAG) after actions were brought against them for violating the DC anti-inducement provision that applies to title insurance, as well as unfair and deceptive trade practice prohibited...
CHANGES TO DC HOME TOURING
DC Metro home buyers entering or re-entering the market this fall will find that mortgage interest rate cuts and broker compensation mandates aren't the only changes they'll encounter in the home purchase process for the foreseeable future. New rules for touring homes...
DC HOME SUPPLY AT 10 YR HIGH
Inventory Rose, Prices Rose, But Many DC Buyers Sat The June Market OutInventory used to be the driver of high home prices in Washington DC's real estate market. Now, inventory has risen to a 10 year high, but inflation, high interest rates, tighter credit conditions...
DC DETACHED HOME SALES SURGE
While Other Home Types Fell In Value, DC's Detached Home Values Soared Washington DC condos fell 2.9% in value this May from the previous month, and even slid nearly 3% from April of 2023, when housing activity dropped like a rock as mortgage interest rates hit hearly...
NVAR RELEASES NEW FORMS
Why should home buyers and sellers care about the new form release by the Northern Virginia Assoc. of Realtors? Because they outline new rules that will apply to all residential real estate transactions in the area.
Author
Skilled Realtor® Susan Isaacs is a 20+ year residential real estate and new construction veteran with expertise in buyer and seller representation, investor representation, new homes, relocation and exchanges. Licensed in the District of Columbia and Virginia since 2006.
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Disclaimer: Blog content is offered for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial or legal advice. Home buyers and sellers must always perform their won due diligence and seek counsel from licensed professionals such as CPAs and attorneys when making choices relating to a real estate transaction. We do not endorse individual service providers and citations should not be considered endorsements. Statements, projections and quotations are sourced from reliable news and research providers and are believed to be accurate, but not guaranteed. Posts on this site are solely the work of the author and not Compass or any team affiliated with the author or Compass.