Here are just a few of the national real estate numbers we are tracking for you now. For more info contact us.
Category: DC real estate
The Wethman Group’s Real Estate News – March 2018
March 2018
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JUST LISTED: 1414 Belmont Rd NW #102 Washington DC
The spring market is here, and we’re excited about our newest listing in DC! This modern condo is located at 1414 Belmont Rd N at the Solea in bustling Columbia Height neighborhood.
Details on the unit:
A spacious studio that lives like a one bedroom!
The unit features 670 sq feet of living space, 12 ft ceilings, gleaming wide plank, bamboo hardwood floors and fresh paint throughout.
Ideal layout with plenty of space for a bedroom and living area.
Updated kitchen with granite countertops and newer cabinets.
Spacious foyer perfect for an office nook.
Walk-in closet with custom shelving.
Expansive bathroom with large vanity, shower/tub, and tiled floor. Stacked washer and dryer in unit.
The front door opens to a private and secured courtyard with outdoor furniture.
Reserved parking spot, just steps from your front door.
The building was built in 2008, is pet-friendly, and offers a low condo fee.
Ideal location, just 1 Block to Meridian Hill Park- 4 blocks to Metro- Mins to 14th St, U St, and Columbia Heights!
Plenty of retail & restaurants nearby: Busboys & Poets Kapnos, Provision no 14, Marvin, Policy and more!
This unit is unique because it’s almost twice the size of other studios and features convenient access right off the private courtyard. Other studios in the building have sold for $280K-$330K, depending on their size and updated. One bedroom units in the building have sold for $390K-$420K, depending on their size and amenities.
This unit is being listed for $389,900. Please contact us for a private showing!
The Wethman Group’s Real Estate News – February 2018
February 2018
MARKET UPDATE
The groundhog may have seen his shadow, but in the real estate market Spring is coming early! While working with our buyer clients, we are seeing bustling open houses around the DC Metro area and crowded showing appointments. Driving some of the clustering at listings is near historically low inventory levels. January saw the 21st consecutive month of decline in year-over-year inventories and active listings are down 15% from January last year.
Median price in our area reached the highest median January price in a decade ($399,900), though we saw a seasonal dip of 5% from the median sales price in December. Closed sales and pending contracts remained flat, meaning buyers are biting on a bigger percentage of homes on the market right now to make up for the lack of inventory. Buyers, let us help you gear up to move on YOUR house when it hits the market. Having your financing and game plan ready is essential this year.
If you have been thinking about selling, now is the time. Every year buyers come out before the sellers, and the inventory this year is particularly lacking. Contact us now, to talk about how to make your property shine in this early spring market, or how to utilize coming soon marketing to get buyers interested in your property before you are even ready to move!
UPCOMING EVENTS
WG Perks Escape Room Event
We are hosting our first Client Appreciation Event of the year, Sunday, March 11th at DC’s top-rated escape room experience. We’ll solve puzzles to escape from rooms with themes like Friday the 13th and Runaway Subway, and save some time to mingle after. Clients should have received your invite last week. Contact us if you haven’t. RSVP soon (and no later than March 1)! Space is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Special thanks to our sponsors Vince Coyle Team at MVB Mortgage and Steve Milwicz at Atlantic Insurance Group.
First Time Home Buyer Webinar
We are taking out popular First Time Home Buyer Classes online, hosting a webinar Wednesday, February 21st at 7pm. The class covers deciding to buy, financing, your home search, and trends in the local market, among other topics. If you want a refresher before diving into the Spring market, join us for this free class! Feel free to send your friends who are thinking about buying this year, too. Register here for details.
As always, if you or someone you know has a real estate need, please reach out. We are here to help!
The Wethman Group
This Month In Real Estate February 2018
Here are just a few of the national real estate numbers we are tracking for you now. For more info contact us.
SOLD: 1701 16th St NW Washington DC
Congrats to our client for selling her one bedroom coop in DC!
Spacious and bright top floor 1 bedroom unit located in the historic Chastleton in Dupont Circle!
Completely updated and move in ready.
Open floor plan with high ceilings, separate office nook, kitchen with granite counters and stainless steel appliances, plus custom closets, crown molding, new windows.
Hardwood floors throughout.
Large bedroom with plenty of closet space.
Washer and dryer in unit!
Surround sound speakers, receiver, and 2 flat screen TVs convey.
Building amenities include a 24-hour front desk with an onsite manager, fitness center, bike storage, ballroom, common courtyard with a grill, and a breathtaking rooftop terrace.
Rental storage and rental parking usually available.
Monthly co-op fee includes property taxes, building maintenance, plus cable with HBO, high-speed internet, trash removal, heat, and water. Owner pays only electric!
One of the most sought-after locations in DC! Located just minutes from Dupont Circle Metro, Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, Ted’s Bulletin, El Centro, & lots more!
Other units in The Chastleton have sold for $194K up to $618K depending on size, updates and number of bedrooms & baths. Most one bedroom and one bath units in 2017 sold for between $269k and $425K. Our unit was a larger one bedroom with 712 sq ft and sold for $389K.
If you have questions about the DC market or pricing for your home, please contact us for a free consultation!
The Wethman Group’s Real Estate News – January 2018
January 2018
In the News
Local Market Update
December was busier than normal for sellers and buyers!
In the DC area, the market remains hot. There were 695 sales, which topped the December average of 673 homes sold. Pending sales and active listings were also higher than previous years. The month’s supply dipped to just below 1.5 months of inventory! Most homes were on the market 18 days or less.
In the Northern Virginia area, there were 2,599 sales in December which is lower than the five-year average. This is similar to the number of sales the same period in 2016. Pending and active listings were lower than previous December averages, but more homes were sold throughout the entire year compared to volume in 2016. The month’s supply also dipped to 1.4 months (from a 2.0 average) confirming that there is less inventory for buyers. The average days on market also decreased in most counties compared to sales in December 2016. The market is still strong in most counties.
Thinking about selling your home in 2018? Don’t wait for Spring! The serious buyers start looking as early as February, and we typically see higher prices and multiple offers for our sellers *very* early in the season! Contact us to get a free consultation for your home and updated market analysis of your neighborhood.
 ( Data & graph from SmartCharts by Showingtime)
Tax Law Update & Market Impact
The tax bill is now final and is largely the same as what was in the combined bill coming out of committee. A brief refresher:
– The bill allows a “pass through” deduction of 20% of income to an LLCs, S-Corps, and partnerships for income up to $315,000 (phases out completely at $415,000). Details are still being studied by CPAs everywhere, but this could be a good tax-saving opportunity for owners of rental properties.
– The bill allows mortgage interest on the first $750,000 of debt to be deducted.
– Itemizers can deduct a combined state and local tax PLUS property taxes but CAPS the combined deduction at $10,000.
– The “2 out of 5 years” exclusion on capital gains on the sale of a primary residence remains.
In our area, we don’t expect to see a significant impact on the immediate real estate market as a result of the tax bill. While homeowners with mortgages > $750k will certainly be impacted, it’s not likely to cause large numbers to change their home buying or selling decisions. The cap on SALT deductions has a larger impact on more home owners locally, but the increase in the standard deduction, combined with lower rates overall, makes it unlikely that most home owners will see a change significant enough to impact the buying and selling (at least until the individual cuts sunset down the road). Of course there are always exceptions, but in general, I do not expect a big shift in our market currently. We’re already seeing a lot of buyers and sellers getting ready for spring, and while they’re all curious about the new law’s impact, we’re just not seeing it change anyone’s plans yet.
The law *will* eventually have an impact on first time buyers, who will see less of a tax advantage, or no advantage at all, to buying vs renting. Of course there are other incentives, financial and otherwise, to owning, so buyers won’t disappear, but it may take longer for it to make financial sense for first time buyers, which will slow down their entry into the market and have a ripple effect upwards.
Client Appreciation Program and Events
WG PERKS Client Appreciation Program Launch
 We are always looking for ways to show our clients how much we value you! We are excited to roll out a new Client Appreciation Program for 2018: WG Perks! As part of the program we will continue to offer our moving truck, client appreciation events, and loaner library, and have added for 2018 free office services (copies, faxes, and notary service), new loaner library equipment, and monthly drawings for some great prizes! If you are a client and did not receive your invitation to participate, please email us at wgperks@wethmangroup.com. WG PERKS LOANER LIBRARY ADDITIONS:You probably know we have a free moving truck, but we’ve also now added 2 warming buffets, a large coffee urn, and a 4 foot table, available for your short-term use. Need to take down those holiday lights? Ask us about our 22′ ladder! Just email us at wgperks@wethmangroup.comto reserve an item for pickup.First Time Home Buyer Classes – Coming Soon ONLINE!
 In 2018 we are taking out popular First Time Home Buyer Classes online! Beginning in February, we will be offering a free online webinar that covers: deciding to buy, financing, your home search, and trends in the local market, among other topics. Register here and we will keep you in the loop when the dates are set, or forward this to a friend who is thinking about starting their search!As always, if you or someone you know has a real estate need please reach out. We’re here to help!
The Wethman Group
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This Month In Real Estate January 2018
Here are just a few of the national real estate numbers we are tracking for you now. For more info contact us.
SOLD! 1140 23rd St #508 Washington, DC
Congrats to our clients, Emily and Dan for selling their condo in West End! They had a 1 bedroom/1 bath unit at The Gibson with a courtyard view.
The unit featured over 750+ sq ft, with a bright living area, cozy bedroom with balcony access and renovated the bathroom.
Units at the Gibson are priced from $370K for 1 bedroom/1bath, up to $735K for a two bedroom, two bath unit with a garage parking space.
The Gibson condominium is a well-maintained building with new elevators and roof.
The building also offers front desk concierge service, a party room, and rooftop deck!
The building is located in a thriving area, just minutes to Trader Joe’s, Equinox, Soulcycle, Sweetgreen, Whole Foods, Rock Creek Park, Starbucks, and much more.
Quick access to four metro stops, K St, Georgetown University campus, Dupont Circle and downtown DC.
This unit was listed for $375K and sold for $370K.
Contact us today for pricing and market trends in your neighborhood!
The Wethman Group’s Real Estate News – December
December 2017
Greetings! |
In the News
- Local Market Update
- Tax Bill Update
- Fed Increases Rate
- New Loan Limits
Local Market Update:
November was a busy month for sellers and buyers! While we are approaching a slower time of year, serious buyers are still out looking, in hopes of taking advantage of lower interest rates.
There is about 11% less inventory on the market, compared to November 2016, with the majority of the difference tied to a decrease in available detached/single family homes. Sales are about the same for townhouses, condos, and coops. Almost all areas are experiencing fewer days on market, compared to the same period in 2016. The average days on market for sellers in November/December can take a bit longer than the spring, but serious buyers are still out looking!
The average sales price has increased about 7.5%. This is good news for owners, even if their home takes a bit longer to sell.
As expected, the fed increased short-term rates for the 3rd time in 2017, but left their rate outlook unchanged for the upcoming years. Interest rates were hovering around 4.25% earlier this year, but have remained lower this Fall at around 4%.
Thinking about selling your home in 2018? Don’t wait for Spring! The serious buyers start looking as early as February, and we typically see higher prices and multiple offers for our sellers *very* early in the season! Contact us today to get a free consultation for your home and updated market analysis of your neighborhood!
( Data & graph from SmartCharts by Showingtime)
Fed Rate Increase
As expected, the Fed raised interest rates. Mortgage (long term) rates came DOWN in the first 2 days following the increase because the increase was expected, and indicates the markets are taking cues from the Fed, but with the economy improving in jobs and tamed inflation (so far), we can expect steadily rising rates in 2018.
Tax Bill Update
As you may know, both the House and Senate passed different versions of the tax bill, and the bill has now emerged from committee with some compromises. We’ll have more extensive commentary if and when the final bill passes, but here are the key real estate-related provisions to date:
– The bill allows a “pass through” deduction of 20% of income to an LLCs, S-Corps, and partnerships for income up to $315,000 (phases out completely at $415,000). It appears that if you own rental real estate in an LLC, then 20% of the income (up to the limit) could be tax exempt. Maybe it’s time to buy that rental property?! (This part of the bill remains under intense scrutiny and may face adjustments before passing.)
– The reconciled bill allows mortgage interest on the first $750,000 of debt to be deducted. (This is a compromise from the House limit of $500,000 and Senate version of the current $1,000,000).
– Both versions increase the standard deduction and eliminate personal exemptions. This means that for many homeowners, it will no longer make sense to itemize on Schedule A, especially since the state and local tax deduction is also capped (currently at a combined $10,000), further limiting the tax advantage that homeowners typically enjoy over renters. The reconciled bill allows homeowners to deduct a combined state and local tax PLUS property taxes but CAPS the combined deduction at $10,000.
– Both versions had altered the “2 out of 5 years” rule for tax free gains upon the sale of a principal residence. But the reconciled version does NOT have any amendments to this part of the tax code. So the capital gains exclusion of $250,000 for singles and $500,000 for couples filing jointly, if you’ve lived in the property 2 out of the last 5 years, appears to remain intact for now.
Stay tuned!
New Loan Limits
The conventional conforming loans limits have been increased for 2018, making it easier to get an affordable mortgage at a slightly higher price. For the DC metro area, our loan limits are $453,100 and $679,650(significant increases from the previous $424,100 and $636,150.)
Client Appreciation Program and Events
As always, we’re so appreciative our all of our clients and their referrals! We loved seeing everyone at our Thanksgiving Pie Day party and our Breakfast at the Movies with Santa.
Stay tuned for more details about our new “Wethman Group Perks” program launching in 2018!
LOANER PROGRAM ADDITIONS: You probably know we have a free moving truck, but we’ve also now added 2 warming buffets, a large coffee urn, and a 4 foot table, available for your short-term use. Yard full of leaves? We have a leaf blower and shredder, too. Need to clean the gutters? Ask us about our ladder! Just email us to reserve an item for pickup.First Time Home Buyer Classes – Coming Soon ONLINE!
In 2018 we are taking out popular First Time Home Buyer Classes online! Beginning in February, we will be offering a free online webinar that covers: deciding to buy, financing, your home search, and trends in the local market, among other topics. Register here and we will keep you in the loop when the dates are set, or forward this to a friend who is thinking about starting their search!As always, if you or someone you know has a real estate need please reach out. We’re here to help!
The Wethman Group