Susan Isaacs, Realtor®
Professionally, I look for logic + upside in every situation. I’m focused on market conditions & data, highly skilled at pricing homes, and an informative, straight-forward communicator.
Utilizing The Best Resources
Off-market properties represent a growing percentage of Washington DC inventory. Compass created the largest and most sophisticated off-market regional network in the nation. It offers a distinct advantage, providing buyers with thousands of off-market listings across the brokerages under the Compass umbrella as part of its Three Phase Marketing Plan.
Compass Collections is a fun and efficient collaborative digital workspace that displays listings based only on your personal criteria. You’ll see the freshest on and off-market opportunities, and have the ability to exchange notes on each with your agent. You can set your feeds to deliver to your email every day, week or month as you prefer. Set up tours, request showings and CMAs; it’s all at your fingertips in a visually appealing format.
What Clients Say About Susan
Caren
Multiple Transactions | Single Family & Condo
“While other agents said, “This is what you need to do;” The Isaacs Team said, “We can do this for you!” Our process was smooth and quick, and they designed a strategy and negotiated a sale well above our asking price; and a purchase price below asking – both in the same market.”
Kiran
Investment Buyer | Single Family Home
“I was searching for an investment house in DC, although I live in NYC. Covid made it impossible to travel back and forth, so I was dependent on Susan’s advice, acumen and efficiency. She was superb and… well, exactly right every single time. She understood what I was looking for. She told me when a house was worth pursuing and when it was not. She was absolutely frank and responded within minutes. When the right house came up, she pursued it with such perfect strategy and timing, that I was left breathlessly impressed. The perfect jewel house is mine.The most extraordinary thing is that Susan is STILL helping me with innumerable matters even after the sale. I simply can’t believe my luck in finding The Isaacs Team. Work with them if you can. You won’t regret it.”
Patrick
First Time Buyer | New Construction
“Susan responded to our inquiry immediately and took the time to get to know us and what we were looking for in a new home, while also thoroughly explaining the process and what we should expect. As we started the process of purchasing a new construction condo, Susan became our biggest advocate. She helped us deal with the condo developer to make sure that our concerns were addressed and they asked the questions that we didn’t know we should be asking.”
WHEN IS IT TIME TO BUY?
Timing the market. It’s a strategy investors employ. Buy when the market is down, build cash flow and equity, leverage, then sell at the top of the cycle or hold until value peaks. But that’s not the way the housing market works for most people. We live in our homes. And life happens.
We move because of major life events, such as marriage or divorce, expanding our families, job changes, proximity to family, and aging. The timing isn’t always favorable. And that’s okay.
Waiting for dramatically lower mortgage rates is more like hope than a strategy. Most forecasts expect rates to remain in roughly today’s range for the foreseeable future, with the possibility they move higher before they move lower.
Timing isn’t all about mortgage rates. The truth is, home price is more important. The mortgage rate you obtain today may not be the mortgage rate you have forever, but your purchase price becomes the foundation of every future financial decision you make.Real estate has never been just about houses. It’s about financial decisions, public policy, neighborhoods, timing, risk, and often it’s the biggest investment a family will ever make.
An advantageous purchase price is often determined by when you buy rather than how you negotiate. Historically, DC is a seller’s market. Bidding wars were the norm from 2004–2006 and 2013–early 2022. But the market has shifted significantly since interest rates began to rise and prices escalated beyond affordability bars. Inventory has increased, homes are generally taking longer to sell, and many sellers have become more willing to negotiate on price and terms. In many segments of the market, particularly condominiums, prices have softened.
History also suggests that markets move in cycles. Periods of slower demand and increased inventory usually create better buying opportunities than highly competitive markets where buyers waive contingencies and bid well above asking price. Professional investors understand this. Rather than waiting for optimism to return, they often purchase when competition is lower, sellers have fewer offers, and prices better reflect current market conditions. Their goal isn’t to predict the exact bottom of the market, it’s to acquire quality assets at reasonable values.
That doesn’t mean everyone should buy today. A home should fit your finances, your lifestyle and your long-term plans. But if you’re financially prepared and planning to own for several years, a softer market can provide opportunities that may not exist once demand strengthens again.
Whether you’re buying your first home or your tenth, it’s important to:
- Understand the market
- Evaluate neighborhoods and properties objectively
- Develop a smart search strategy
- Compare the financial tradeoffs of different homes
- Negotiate price and terms effectively
- Navigate inspections, financing, and closing with skill
I provide valuable insight into current market conditions, outstanding search and property evaluation tools, and proven strategies that help you successfully transition to your next step in life.
Let’s talk!
