It stopped snowing 45 hours ago.  Yes we got a record snow; I get that.  But tell me why none of the streets in my neighborhood are untouched?  In fact so few the roads are clear I can't help wondering - Where ARE the snowplows?  I keep hearing that they are out there - so where are they exactly?

Looks like a complete lack of planning and/or failure to execute a plan.

The Mayor had said Sunday at about 3pm that DC Public Schools would be open.  Funny - about 4 hours later he said the schools would be closed.  Well if you can't get the dang roads cleared and many of the sidewalks are not cleared how would you expect school kids to get to school?!

Well I am waiting for the snowplow.  Perhaps they will show up before the next storm due here in just over 24 hours.

WHAT IS GOING ON ?!?!

Here is the breakdown as of February 8th, 2010

The weather of the last several days is certainly going to slow the market down.  Current inventories are still much lower than in previous years.

Here are the number of homes on the market including the number of homes that were taken Off (EXPIRED) the market last week. 


 

Washington DC

Single Family:      Actives: 1335 (Down 21 from last week)        Expired: 50         Under Contract: 631 (Up 31)

Condos:              Actives: 1049 (Same as last week)               Expired: 37         Under Contract: 376 (Up 6)  

 

Arlington County

Single Family:      Actives: 295 (Up 5 from last week)               Expired: 5           Under Contract: 172 (Up 7)

Condos:               Actives: 455 (Up 5 from last week)              Expired: 17          Under Contract: 183 (Up 8)

 

Prince Georges County

Single Family:      Actives: 4007 (Down 18 from last week)         Expired: 97         Under Contract: 2445 (Down 45)

Condos:              Actives: 690 (Down 9 from last week)            Expired: 25         Under Contract: 159 (Up 1)

 

Montgomery County

Single Family:     Actives: 2154 (Down 46 from last week)        Expired: 49          Under Contract: 1594 (Up 44)

Condos:             Actives: 1044 (Up 5 from last week)             Expired: 24          Under Contract: 450 (Up 1)

 

It is important to see the number of homes taken "Off" the market.  While many of these homes will return to the marketplace a week or two; seeing a listing "expire" means that the seller and agent thought or expected the home to be sold by now.

Contact James Downing of the Downing Real Estate Group, LLC; if you are selling, buying or have questions!

Office: 202-469-6778  or  703-244-3971

Licensed in Washington DC, Virginia & Maryland.

Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Chevy Chase
5028 Wisconsin Ave NW  Suite 100 * Washington DC 20016

As a Mid-West Boy; I have limited patience for the failure of getting roads plowed.  However, I understand that in "the south"; I mean in DC - that dealing with a HUGE snow storm makes everyone a bit tense and it takes some time to catch up.

However.  I walked 1.5 miles to meet friends for Happy Hour (and some of the football game) and walked 1.5 miles home.  Pretty much through the heart of the city.  I saw EXACTLY ONE snowplow and saw ZERO clean roads.

Now a couple of the main roads, Massachusetts Ave, 17th Street and 16th Street were "kinda" plowed; but still very snow covered.  Where are the snow plows???

It stopped snowing 28 hours ago.  I have not seen a snowplow in my neighborhood in 35 hours.  There is about 9" of snow on my street; about 16" in the intersections.  The closet "main" road had about 4" on it.

The mayor says they are working hard to clear the streets.  Really?

Metro (or subway system) says they are still not going to open "Above-Ground" stations Monday.  Yes; 36 hours after it stops snowing - they can't get their act together.  What does Chicago do with the "el"?  They have a bunch more snow that DC !!!  

There will be "very limited" bus transportation.  Again - why?  Because the DC Government cannot clear the main roads - let alone the smaller side streets.

Maybe it's my Mid-West boy no-tolerance for snow on roads - maybe its just incompetence for a good city-wide plan.  Either way - I am snow bound in the Nations Capitol and hating it!

I have one property which is for rent and is advertised; along with the rest of my listings - on Craigs List.cr

Over the past week I have received a couple of calls from people who have been subjected to a Scammer whom is advertising this place for rent to literally 30% of the rent.

They use pictures of luxury condos/apartments in the city and when a perspective tenant emails them; they give a story about how they moved out of the country.  They of course ask for money to be sent and they will send the keys to them.

I actually had someone fall for this scam about a year ago.  The guy called me for the keys and I had no idea what he was talking about.  This guy had sent $800 overseas to "rent" this house.  Well this house wasn't for rent at all - and it sure would never rent for that little!

I have found these ads and had them removed; but no one has time to fight these scammers.

It is so important that we educate people the dangers of answering ads on craigs list and to make sure they know the ads are REAL.  I figure it starts with having a phone number!  Not a lot of scammers will give a phone number.

Either way - use caution when emailing a stranger - sending money - well just don't !

Contact James Downing of the Downing Real Estate Group, LLC; if you are selling, buying or have questions!

Office: 202-469-6778  or  703-244-3971

Licensed in Washington DC, Virginia & Maryland.

Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Chevy Chase
5028 Wisconsin Ave NW  Suite 100 * Washington DC 20016

My "Street" LOL - 20" and counting....

Riley in the street...

Crazy Snow Storm in DC.  I grew up in Michigan and can only think of something like this 2 or 3 times in my life!  Of course we are due for 5-8 more inches today...

Yesterday I was reading a couple of different blogs as well as a news article about folks who have Tweeted things they probably shouldn't have. Things can come back and bite you.

When email became popular; many people would catch themselves sending out an email which was fueled by anger, frustration or perhaps a few too many happy hour beverages.  These emails they would regret; but if they were just between two people; a delete button and a apology often made things better.

Then came texting in anger or "drunk texting"; in which people would text people messages that were not appropriate.  While these messages can be BAD and damaging - it's not like the whole world sees them.  

Well welcome to the world of Twitter.

For those of us who do TWEET - we need to be especially careful what we TWEET.  I was once in a bit of a TWEET-fight with someone who had made bad comments about a company which I supported.  The TWEETs flew back and forth and were seen by many.

Unlike a scorching email fight or a text tiff - a Twitter War is for everyone to see.... and it doesn't go away.  It's like fighting with your significant other in the middle of Times Square and having someone videotape it.  It's there for all to see.

In fact in this instance - a few representatives from the company whom was "bashed" took notice and were none to pleased to find out this person had been trash talking them (especially because they sometimes hired him for projects).  Hmm... I wonder if they hired him again?

Tweets as well as Facebook posts are OUT THERE.  Be careful what you say and what you do.   If you don't want to see it on the Front Page of the New York Times - don't say it or do it.

Love comes and goes... a Tweet is forever ... (or at least long enough for everyone on the planet to read it).

Contact James Downing of the Downing Real Estate Group, LLC; if you are selling, buying or have questions!

Office: 202-469-6778  or  703-244-3971

Licensed in Washington DC, Virginia & Maryland.

Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Chevy Chase
5028 Wisconsin Ave NW  Suite 100 * Washington DC 20016

It's a TwoFer....

Contact James Downing of the Downing Real Estate Group, LLC; if you are selling, buying or have questions!

Office: 202-469-6778  or  703-244-3971

Licensed in Washington DC, Virginia & Maryland.

Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Chevy Chase
5028 Wisconsin Ave NW  Suite 100 * Washington DC 20016

***News Flash***  The economy is still troubled.  

No matter what "spin" is put on it by our Washington Pundits; the economy is still struggling.  However; there are many locations in Washington DC; where the home prices are NOT as affected as many parts of the country.

In the District of Columbia, as well as parts of Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax and Montgomery County MD; have some neighborhoods that homes are 

selling - and selling fast.

Now I have been seeing a trend of agents putting on listings which are UNDER-PRICED.  Under-priced? Is there such a thing in THIS MARKET?  YES.

Now, don't get me wrong - we still have many homes which are overpriced; or in poor condition which need repair (and lower pricing).  The key is WHERE is the home -the old saying LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION; and Property CONDITION.

The best properties in the best locations ARE getting multiple offers and sold quickly.  In fact there are a great many properties that have been sold within a week - or less.  A sign to me; is that it was UNDER-PRICED.

My belief is that there are many listing agents looking for a quick sale.  These agents (like most of us); have spent the last couple of years beating up sellers to lower the price, lower price, lower the price.  WE need to STOP and look at THE TREND.  Currently the number of condos on the market in DC is the lowest it has been in FOUR YEARS; and Single Family are at the lowest point in THREE YEARS.

A great debate has gone on for years and that is: Who sets the market price of a home?  

-The Buyers right?  

-Well what about the Appraisers?  They set the price for the bank giving the loan; they base this on the most recent sales.

-What about the Real Estate Agents?  They "advise,coach,twist the arm of" the seller to SET the price in the first place.

Pricing is a very tricky game of balance; but one thing that absolutely affect pricing is INVENTORY (we know is lower and trending DOWN) and What EVERYONE else sets their pricing at.

In a future post; I will talk about how an "Overly-Motivated Seller" with a very-low price will affect the market - and his neighbors.  For now; when you set the price - LOOK AT THE TRENDS; along with the comparable sales and your competing listings.

Contact James Downing of the Downing Real Estate Group, LLC; if you are selling, buying or have questions!

Office: 202-469-6778  or  703-244-3971

Licensed in Washington DC, Virginia & Maryland.

Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Chevy Chase
5028 Wisconsin Ave NW  Suite 100 * Washington DC 20016

Here are the Properties that sold in this Washington DC Neighborhood:  January 2010

*This area includes parts of NW DC, Between K and U Street/Florida Ave and 16th to 23rd Street.

Contact James Downing of the Downing Real Estate Group, LLC; if you are selling, buying or have questions!

Office: 202-469-6778  or  703-244-3971

Licensed in Washington DC, Virginia & Maryland.

Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Chevy Chase
5028 Wisconsin Ave NW  Suite 100 * Washington DC 20016

Here are the Properties that sold in this Washington DC Neighborhood:  January 2010

This area boarders U Street / Florida Ave to the North; 16th Street to the West; H street to the South and 4th Street to the East.

View Larger Map

Contact James Downing of the Downing Real Estate Group, LLC; if you are selling, buying or have questions!

Office: 202-469-6778  or  703-244-3971

Licensed in Washington DC, Virginia & Maryland.

Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Chevy Chase
5028 Wisconsin Ave NW  Suite 100 * Washington DC 20016