Washington D.C.

Rent Affordability by Tier: High Rents Aren’t a Problem If You Earn Enough to Afford them

As growth in rents outpaces growth in incomes, rent affordability (the share of the typical American’s income that goes to rent) has steadily deteriorated over the past five years – from a historic average of 26 percent, to roughly 30 percent currently. But focusing only on medians can sometimes hide more than it reveals. In this case, there are sharply different trends at the top and at the bottom of the market.

Aaron Terrazas • Aug 31 2016

Urban Ascendant: Home Values in and Around Washington, D.C.

The housing market in and around Washington, D.C., has fundamentally transformed over the past decade. Perhaps more than any other U.S. market, the nation’s capital sharply illustrates the extent of urban renaissance experienced in many cities nationwide, and the diverging post-Recession fortunes of the nation’s urban and suburban communities.

Aaron Terrazas • Aug 17 2016

Q2 2016 Market Report: Tight Inventory Leads to a Need for Speed

It’s well known that a lack of homes for sale is limiting home buyers’ choices this home shopping season. But this inventory shortage is also contributing to another home buying hurdle – along with limited options, buyers also have increasingly limited time to make a decision on a home purchase.

Svenja Gudell • Jul 21 2016

Q1 2016 Breakeven Horizon: Buying Looks Increasingly Attractive as Both Rents and Home Values Tick Up

Rising rents, low interest rates and strong expected home value growth make buying a home instead of renting it an increasingly attractive financial option for those who can afford to do so.

Aaron Terrazas • Jun 14 2016

Young and Old, America’s Wealthy Are Concentrated in America’s Capital

The nation’s highest concentration of young and wealthy residents can be found in fabulous… Arlington, Virginia.

• Mar 16 2016

January Market Report: Low Inventory Limiting Options for Buyers Nationwide

For months, the story in the national housing market has been about the differences in housing market performance in various local markets – some markets are super hot, some a little more sedate and some still struggling to recover – depending on local economic fundamentals. But if there’s one constant across almost every market nationwide, it’s lack of inventory.

Svenja Gudell • Feb 23 2016

Q4 2015 Breakeven Horizon: Buying a Home Pays Off for Most – But Not All – After Just Two Years

A longstanding combination of healthy home value growth and low mortgage interest rates, combined with robust growth in rents, is helping to keep the buy vs. rent equation tilted heavily towards buying in most areas for those planning on staying in their homes for longer than just a few years.

Skylar Olsen • Feb 03 2016