Both were three-bedroom rowhouses south of Monument, priced within a few thousand of each other. Each had multiple offers by the first Sunday. If you are watching the Fan, have your lender letter ready before the open house, not after.
There were eleven active listings on Monday, down from twenty in June. The ones that remain are mostly on the north side near Chimborazo. Fewer choices, but sellers there are still taking inspections seriously.
That puts a monthly payment on a $330,000 condo close to the same number. For buyers who plan to stay three years or more, the math has quietly flipped. Ask me for the building-by-building HOA list.
Most houses south of Forest Hill Avenue were built between 1925 and 1950. Expect original hardwoods, small kitchens, and sloped lots toward the river. Budget for a kitchen, and check the grading on the back yard.
Three Museum District listings dropped their asking price by 3 to 5 percent this month. None had sat longer than five weeks. Sellers who priced for last spring are adjusting quickly, which is good news for patient buyers.
Homes within a five-minute walk of MacArthur sold for about 8 percent more per square foot this year. The rest of Bellevue is quieter and a little cheaper. Both are worth a Saturday walk.
Lenders reprice daily, and Monday quotes often carry the weekend's caution. It is a small thing, but two clients saved an eighth of a point this summer by waiting a day. Ask for the quote in writing with the date on it.
Fall is busy for the good ones. If you are making offers, I can hold a tentative slot with one of the three I trust. It costs nothing to cancel and saves days in the contract period.
Rear parking pads add real value and are rarely mentioned in listings. Some are deeded, some are informal, and a few are shared. I check the plat on every Fan house before we write an offer.
If yours looks high, compare it to two or three recent sales on your block. The appeal window is short. I am happy to pull the comps for you at no charge.
