Andrew Kohn

And they all need a place to stay...

http://dcist.com/2009/05/college_grads_moving_to_dc_in_drove.php

"Hey, great news for those of you who have found yourselves un- or underemployed in this rough economy ... thousands of recent college graduates are moving to Washington to compete with you for jobs and housing! And they're willing to work for nothing and overpay to live in rooms the size of closets! Hooray! We kid (a little, anyway), naturally. Of course we want to welcome these youngsters and encourage the continued growth of our city. Besides, as the Examiner notes in its article: "the market was significantly better for those with at least a couple of years of experience, or a master’s degree." So suck it, graduates!"

I don't know if I agree with this - although it's a big city and some areas are more bargain-like than others. (Is FORBES consumed with making lists these days - seems like there is a new one every other day!)

http://www.welovedc.com/2009/05/15/dc-a-bargain/

"According to a new list put out by Forbes.com, Washington, DC is the third-best ‘bargain’ city, behind Phoenix, AZ and Austin, TX. The list is a look at the country’s 50 largest metro areas among four data points: average salary for workers with a college degree, annual unemployment statistics, cost of living and the Housing Opportunity Index (a measure of the number of homes sold in an area that would be affordable to an average income family of that region)..."

Interesting...Check out the VA statistics as well.

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/housingcomplex/2009/05/14/is-dc-area-real-estate-inventory-dropping/

April Inventory (Condo-Townhouses):

April Inventory (Single Family Homes)

I got a call the other day from a friend with a real estate question. I'm happy to talk to friends and discuss all things real estate. Only, these friends already have a Realtor. The short version of their problem was this: they found a house by themselves that they love and signed no exclusive agreement with their agent. In the end they didn't want to offend their agent, a very close friend, by purchasing the house without her help. I'm not a hateful person, but if you've decided to go with another agent, I'm then not going to be your secret real estate coach, giving behind the scenes advice about how to cope with the person you've actually hired.

In the end, I simply gave a few scenarios and was happy to let them make the decision. Does any one have some advice on how to handle friends (not very close ones) who want to ask you all their questions while working with another individual? I'm happy to tell them to work with their agent and that I'm available if they choose at the end of their current contract.

http://dcmud.blogspot.com/2009/05/condos-get-affordable-and-green-in.html

"Prices at Cardozo Court will start at $175,000 and, once completed,the development will join two other two other District-sponsored, brand-new, affordable residential developments: Somerset Development’s Hubbard Place redevelopment at 3500 14^th Street, NW and Jubilee Inc.’s refurbished Ontario Court apartments at 2525 Ontario Road, NW in Adams Morgan."