2011 definitely marks the recovery of DC real estate

[Anonymous]

Pricing to sell for today's market is how you get your house sold.

Unfortunately, for those who bought at the height, it means that they will take a major hit if they want to move. I encountered so many sellers who seemed to think that becasue they bought at the wrong time, that I should pay 50-100k moe than what the house is worth today. Sorry, just becasue you want to move to a bigger house does not mean I am willing to subisdize it. It sucks for people who need to relocate for a job, but otherwise, people need to ride out things in the space they are in. I think we got into this weird culture of house hopping with people moving up every few years when the market was different and now people think they need way more space than they do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You obviously didn't read the WSJ today about how our economy and job rgowth is going to stay flat and how housing prices actually are not getting better. Let's also not forget that QE2 is ending or just ended. Also, we have now reached a debt burden that is equal to 100% of our GDP, so as a nation we are getting fairly leveraged. I think we are in for bumpy stock and housing markets for years.

It's different here. In case you haven't noticed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:By all means, enjoy that DC ride.

Hey thanks!

Houses in our neighborhood (Capitol Hill) have been pretty rock solid from 2005 to present. Glad we bought where we did--enjoying that DC ride.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This rise in sales and prices is only in certain close and/or desireable neighborhoods. other areas, such as annandale and fairfax are still going down.

I completely disagree. We purchased this past winter in Annandale (22003) and houses in our neighborhood (Canterbury Woods) are still selling for comparable or more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pricing to sell for today's market is how you get your house sold.

Unfortunately, for those who bought at the height, it means that they will take a major hit if they want to move. I encountered so many sellers who seemed to think that becasue they bought at the wrong time, that I should pay 50-100k moe than what the house is worth today. Sorry, just becasue you want to move to a bigger house does not mean I am willing to subisdize it. It sucks for people who need to relocate for a job, but otherwise, people need to ride out things in the space they are in. I think we got into this weird culture of house hopping with people moving up every few years when the market was different and now people think they need way more space than they do.

This is true - I guy I work with, who has one kid, another on the way, and no plans for more was lamenting the fact that he couldn't buy a 7 BR house in the ares he was looking, and had to settle for a 4 BR. Expectations are way out of wack.

[Anonymous]

7 bedrooms? Insane but completely believable. I always wonder about those giant houses in Ashburn and Germantown and outer Prince George's and who needs that much space. I know so many 2 parent, 2 kid, 1 pet families who live in 5 and 6br houses, which is nuts. Imagine what they are paying to heat and cool those places!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pricing to sell for today's market is how you get your house sold.

Unfortunately, for those who bought at the height, it means that they will take a major hit if they want to move. I encountered so many sellers who seemed to think that becasue they bought at the wrong time, that I should pay 50-100k moe than what the house is worth today. Sorry, just becasue you want to move to a bigger house does not mean I am willing to subisdize it. It sucks for people who need to relocate for a job, but otherwise, people need to ride out things in the space they are in. I think we got into this weird culture of house hopping with people moving up every few years when the market was different and now people think they need way more space than they do.

This is true - I guy I work with, who has one kid, another on the way, and no plans for more was lamenting the fact that he couldn't buy a 7 BR house in the ares he was looking, and had to settle for a 4 BR. Expectations are way out of wack.

This place will be a flop-house for migrant workers in less than a decade years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You obviously didn't read the WSJ today about how our economy and job rgowth is going to stay flat and how housing prices actually are not getting better. Let's also not forget that QE2 is ending or just ended. Also, we have now reached a debt burden that is equal to 100% of our GDP, so as a nation we are getting fairly leveraged. I think we are in for bumpy stock and housing markets for years.

It's different here. In case you haven't noticed.

Sure. Because no one in DC ever needs a loan so who cares what happens in our economy. And we all have miraculous stock portfolios that are immune to market upheaval, just because we live in the DC metro area. Yes, folks, you heard it here first: someone on DCUM saw a few well-priced houses in her neighborhood go quickly, so we all can party like it's 2006! Don't worry, be happy!

BTW, the prices in my very desirable neighborhood ARE flat, but what do I know? A house in Fairfax is certainly more relevant to the housing market than what is going on in Chevy Chase.

[Anonymous]

The government cutbacks are coming.

2011 Recovery.....*snicker!*

[Anonymous]

BTW, the prices in my very desirable neighborhood ARE flat, but what do I know? A house in Fairfax is certainly more relevant to the housing market than what is going on in Chevy Chase.

Pardon, but what does this even mean?

[Anonymous]

There has never been a downturn in the micro-area where I live (the part of CC DC that is between Connecticut and Wisconsin, literally steps from Metro). I keep waiting for the other shoe to fall. One thing I notice is that people seem to price their homes smartly when they go on the market. Good job, agents! and my totally unscientific theory as to why sellers aren't super-greedy is that, with few exceptions, the sellers are loooong time owners who stand to make a ton of money no matter what because they bought in 1978.

So they don't hold out and shoot themselves in the foot for that extra $125,000 -- because they're going to clear $800,000 on the sale. Not kidding.

An example of what I'm talking about, which sold in a few days: http://www.sawbuck.com/property/DC_Metro/Washington,DC/Chevy_Chase/8544248-3753-Jenifer-Street-NW

[Anonymous]

PP here re Annandale - depends on your school district a bit.

[Anonymous]

I live in Penn Quarter and we're enjoying our ride. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Realtors truly are the laziest people on the planet.

OUCH!!!!! Not a realtor but my brother is and let me tell you - lazy is the last thing he is! He works damn hard, reallllllly hard. Not too many jobs exist where you work for free, and in the end only hope to get paid - if the deal goes through. you should give it a try, you might change your line of thinking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Realtors truly are the laziest people on the planet.

OUCH!!!!! Not a realtor but my brother is and let me tell you - lazy is the last thing he is! He works damn hard, reallllllly hard. Not too many jobs exist where you work for free, and in the end only hope to get paid - if the deal goes through. you should give it a try, you might change your line of thinking.

They are a cartel.