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Commentary, opinion & news on real estate-related topics by Washington DC real estate expert Susan Isaacs of Compass.
MORTGAGE RATES MATTER. RESILIENCE MATTERS MORE.
The past 18 months, we’ve seen extraordinary events reshape the DC housing market in ways few people anticipated. What we’ve learned.
WHY HOUSING STARTS HAVE FALLEN
Housing starts aren’t falling because we have ample supply, but because builders can’t deliver homes at affordable prices.
CPI, JOBS AND RATES: THE FED’S DILEMMA
New Fed Chair Kevin Wash walks the tightrope between cuts and hikes at the June FOMC meeting.
JOB CUTS AND HOUSING IN THE DMV
A look at the impact job cuts by the Trump administration have had on the DC Metro region and its housing market.
WALL STREET SAYS REAL ESTATE IS FINE. TELL THAT TO EVERYONE ELSE.
Real Estate market numbers look good on paper according to Wall Street. If you’re a 32-year-old trying to buy your first home, not so much.
DC REAL ESTATE MARKET 2026: REDFIN’S FORECAST AND WHAT LOCAL BUYERS SHOULD KNOW
A new housing forecast from Redfin says America’s housing market favors buyers, but their advantage is finally starting to shrink. This statement refers to the national real estate market, but in the District of Columbia, the term "buyer advantage' seems like an urban...
VIRGINIA OKS ADUs ON ALL SINGLE FAMILY LOTS
Virginia’s approach to housing is about to change in a big way, but many homeowners aren’t aware of just how sweeping these changes will be. With the passage of Senate Bill 531 in April 2024, every locality in the state will soon be required to allow accessory...
THE NEW CONDO FINANCING CHECKLIST
Fannie Mae has released the first in a series of changes to conventional financing approvals for condominiums and they, combined with DC's poorly-drafted B 26-0495 bill making its way to a city council vote, may cross condos off DC home buyers' lists. Last week I...
PEPCO SHUTOFF PAUSE AND DATA CENTERS
The DC Council just passed a bill pausing Pepco shutoffs, but what’s the reason behind the recent rate hikes causing them?
EXPLORING LAND-BASED PROPERTY TAX: A PROPOSAL
Taxing land instead of structures could significantly alter the U.S. housing landscape.
DC COUNCIL TO VOTE ON BILL HARMFUL TO CONDO OWNERS
The DC Council’s Housing Committee will vote on Bill B26-0495 which would amend the DC Condo Act. This bill harms condo owners.
CONDO RESET: FANNIE AND FREDDIE POLICY CHANGES
A seismic change is about to upend condo lending. Fannie and Freddie announce new guidelines that could fracture the market.
HOUSING AFFORDABILITY WON’T BE SOLVED BY BUILDING MORE, FASTER
Building more homes and building them faster is not the solution to America’s housing affordability problem.
TRUMP’S FRIDAY HOUSING POLICY DUMP II
Trump’s answer to the Senate and House housing bills in the form of two executive orders. Here’s our breakdown.
TRUMP’S FRIDAY HOUSING POLICY DUMP
Trump’s answer to the two housing bills from the Senate and House comes i the form of two executive orders. Here’s the breakdown.
DC YO-YO LAWS: AIRBNB EDITION
DC yo-yo laws. Don’t like them? Wait a minute, they’ll change, just like the weather. This time it’s short-term (Airbnb) rentals. On–then off–now on again?
The 21ST CENTURY ROAD AND YOU
Here’s how the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act could play out in the D.C. market.
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.
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...
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.