Claude Labbe, ABR, e-Pro, GRI

From Business Week, yet another survey.

Certainly, every week, minimally, someone else releases more statistics. While I don't know where these stats are from, I'm not sure this set means much.

Arlington, VA did make the list, as Business Week's 18th fastest housing market in the country currently. Sure, but this data is only looking at one zip code. It shows a median price very close to $1million, with a 0.6% increase in price from one year ago. From my personal experience, I can show examples on both sides of this increase/decrease.

With regards to 100 days on the market, lets agree that's a problem. A well priced (not cheap, but realistic) will surely sell in much much less time than 100 days. Much less than even half of 100 days.

Data can be used to show anything; as for 18th fastest market, let's accept it and not be greedy. But if you are looking to sell your home in Arlington, you can beat these stats very easily and not be doing it by giving away your home. Give us a call, or drop us a note to understand how that can work.

Just published, though I'm not sure how the Washington Business Journal selected the neighborhoods. The metrics are listed, but why would Capital Riverfront or Brookland not be included? I'm in agreement with some, and not fully convinced of others. The thinking is aligned with Richard Florida, who is becoming the Jane Jacobs for our generation. Those identified are hot, be that in 2008 or a few years later if any or my arguments were to hold water.
The neighbhoods are:

District:

• Anacostia
• Fort Totten
• Hill East
• Poplar Point

Maryland

• Gaithersburg
• Greenbelt
• Laurel
• Landover
• Mount Rainier

Virginia

• Braddock Road
• Columbia Pike
• Occoquan
• Rosslyn

To maximize appreciation, find the disaster in a neighborhood of homes. Of course, further options include finding the neighborhood that will soon be the "it" place. Some of these hot spots have very good homes are reasonable prices.

When exactly does a Realtor® say it's not time to buy?

There's an ABC News clip here, with Donald Trump. Regardless of your views on his presentation, he is a smart businessperson, even with some mistakes which many point to.

Mr Trump says "the time to buy is now", and if you've been on the phone with me recently, you'll hear me speak of a number of reasons (excess inventory coupled with current-and-soon-to-be-gone interest rates) to get to the same conclusion: this is a great time to buy.

There are a number of caveats to that however, the biggest being the current financial condition of the seller and the location of the property. It is NOT the best time to buy in all 100% of cases; as the buyer, you need to understand that.

As the seller, you need to understand buyer motivations & positions.

Once again, Virginia nails the top position in Forbes list of "Best States for Business".

Maryland is #12, and DC...well, DC didn't get tabulated, though it would certainly be in the lower quadrants.

While I don't have much use for generic politicians, Virginia has had a number of pro-business people, including Mark Warner, who went to Richmond after some real work in the northern Virginia area.

Why does a Realtor® care to write about this? There's a strong causality between pro-business, income and home prices. Pure and simple. If I could wave my wand and solve the excess supply problem, we'd all be happier.

Continuing to search for options to keep everything neat & tidy, I came across another vendor that can help people sort everything. At times, this can be a relationship assist, as some people don't notice, while their husbands/wives/partners sure do notice the clutter. Someone I know works with professionals and helps them recapture time (and thus money) by having their workspace structured and organized.

Drive out to Tysons, or check out Capitol Closets.