News & Trends
Insight Into a Wild Week: An Interview with Dr. Stephen Fuller
In an effort to make sense of all that has gone on in the financial world this week, UrbanTurf interviewed Stephen Fuller, the Director of the Center for Regional Analysis at George Mason University’s School of Public Policy, for his thoughts on how the turmoil on Wall Street will affect the local housing market. » More
Is Adams Morgan More Dangerous than Anacostia?
Once the center of DC's nightlife scene, Adams Morgan has begun to develop a new, much more dangerous reputation over the past year. The statistics for robberies and assaults in the neighborhood have gotten alarmingly high in the past 12 months which may lead prospective home buyers to think twice before purchasing in this once hip zip code. » More
Is Now the Best Time to Buy in DC?
It is a buyer’s market out there for home buyers, and the data is there to prove it in DC. The median sales price for a home in DC in August 2007 was $460,000. One year later, it is just over $400,000. The average price per square foot for a home on the market in 2007 was $420. Today it is about $389. This week, Washington City Paper featured a home that is listed at twenty percent less than it was in 2006. So, does all this mean that you should buy a home tomorrow? » More
Buying at the Beach: Can Your Fantasy Become a Reality?
There is perhaps no better feeling than hopping into your car on a Friday afternoon in the summer with the knowledge that your empty beach house is a few hours away. However, for most this is fantasy, not reality. Even though prices have been dropping for about a year in beach communities close to DC, buying a vacation home is still an undertaking that requires a large chunk of money and a good deal of thought and research. » More
Shell Houses: Baltimore’s Investment Properties
If you have seen the Baltimore-based drama The Wire, then you are familiar with “shell houses.” However, these run-down properties are more than just cinematic backdrops. They have tremendous investment potential if you have cash on hand and time to fix them up. » More
Tips About Buying A Foreclosed Property
When prospective buyers scan property listings looking for a new home, they usually skip right over the foreclosure section. The general perception is that foreclosed properties are in such poor shape that they are not even worth looking at. However, foreclosures can be very good buys if the right property comes along. Buyers just need to be willing to put in some work. » More
DC Makes List of Most Attractive Cities for Foreign Investors
Forbes, a magazine famous for its rankings of the power and luxury, recently came out with its list of the top U.S. markets for international real estate investors. In somewhat of a surprise, DC came in second behind New York City. » More
DC Ranked 7th Most Walkable City in the US
Washingtonians should not fret too much about the area’s rising gas prices considering that DC recently made WalkScore.com’s list of most walkable cities in the country. DC ranked seventh on a list topped by San Francisco and New York. » More
The Foreclosure Crisis, Part I: How To Avoid It
A few years ago, foreclosure was not something that immediately crossed people's minds when purchasing their first home. Unfortunately, in the current housing market, it is becoming an unpleasant reality for many new home owners. » More
Solar Powered Condos: The Wave of the Future?
As energy prices escalate at an astonishing rate, homes that come with alternative energy components are becoming increasingly attractive options for buyers. The "first solar powered condos" in DC at 1337 Harvard Street are the beginning of a building trend that we may see a lot more of in the coming years. » More
