Living

Housing market stays strong in D.C.

Published

15 years ago

July 7, 2011

There’s good news and bad news in real estate these days, but if you’re in the immediate area around Washington, the news is mostly good.

The Case-Shiller Index, published by Standard & Poor’s and considered the most accurate report of home values both across the country and within 20 major metropolitan regions, showed Washington to be the strongest market in the U.S., with values increasing 3 percent from March to April and up 4 percent from April of last year. And, while values nationwide are down nearly 4 percent compared to April of last year, they were up from March .7 percent.

Thirteen of the 20 city areas tracked increased in value from last year (compared to only one — Washington — that had increased values as of the last report in December), but six areas showed the lowest values in four years, including Chicago, Miami, Tampa, Detroit, Las Vegas and Charlotte, N.C.

What does all this mean? It’s clearly a difficult fortune to read for the country as a whole, but as a D.C. Realtor, I can only see an optimistic outlook for our region. The combination here of a high median income, relatively low unemployment and a well-educated population makes for a strong market and will continue to do so in the future.

Also contributing to my rosy outlook on home values is the local data regarding the inventory of available housing, specifically the lack thereof. Delta Associates, an Alexandria firm that tracks new condominium inventory and new construction, reported that the inventory of upcoming and available new condominiums is only 3,629 units for the entire region, which is down from nearly 20,000 in 2007.

This drop of more than 80 percent has had, and will continue to have, a major impact on prices, as the simple laws of supply and demand dictate. To wit, while new condo prices for the metro-D.C. region dipped 2.4 percent since last year, Washington and Montgomery County saw increases of 1.8 and .8 percent, respectively. Inventory of resale housing is generally extremely low as well, to the bane of agents and buyers alike. In fact, I have personally had to negotiate multiple-offer situations in three of my last four transactions due to the low supply of and high demand for quality product.

One bit of bad news for all of us Washingtonians is the upcoming reduction in the loan limits that will be backed by the federal government. Since 2008, we have benefited from a temporary loan limit increase to $729,750 for loans that are guaranteed by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the Federal Housing Administration (FHA). In October, if Congress does not act to stop it, the limit will drop back to $625,500.

Many buyers, sellers and lenders are scrambling to act before the limit drops and many are fearful that due to the high cost of housing in the area, the limit decreases will have profound effects, especially on upper-end purchases. My hunch, however, is that it will impact only those purchases for which the extra $100,000 or so would have helped to get the loan to begin with. Purchases costing a million or more would require more than 25 percent down to get a government-backed loan, which is more than enough to qualify buyers for non-conforming (as in non-government-backed) loans with great rates anyway.

It’s only going to be the properties priced between $650,000 and $755,000 (roughly the loan limit plus the lowest downpayment possible of 3.5 percent) that will suffer and only those may have problems selling if the buyers available literally have no more than the very lowest downpayment required. That said, if you are a buyer in that price range and wish to put down a low downpayment, or if you’re a seller with a house in that range, you may wish to list before those limits take effect to ensure you have the most options, whether it’s options for houses you could afford or buyers who could afford your house.

To put a bit of icing on this bittersweet cake, I am pleased to report that interest rates continue to rest at truly unbelievable values, with 30-year fixed rates as low as 4 percent with no points (for a superconforming loan, nonetheless!) in the past month.

My clients are thrilled at the rates they’ve been offered recently, and when rates stay low, property values stay high. There are also a number of new loan programs available that offer even lower rates (some in the high twos) with a moderate level of risk with so-called “5/5 ARMs,” or adjustable rate mortgages that have reasonable increase limits, lifetime caps and only change once every five years, eliminating some anxiety about a yearly hike.

All in all, it’s great to be a Washingtonian these days, and not just for the amazing view of fireworks on the fourth of July.

David Bediz is a Realtor at Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage and a Principal of the Dwight and David Real Estate Group. He can be reached at 202-352-8456 or through DwightandDavid.com.

Real Estate

Introducing Next-Generation Assisted Living & Memory Support.

Now Available in Tysons: Kokua at The Mather

Published

24 hours ago

May 28, 2026

Autos

A magical Mercedes

S-Class continues to define what luxury really means

Published

6 days ago

May 23, 2026

Joe Phillips

Mercedes S-Class

At my stage of life — “somewhere between 40 and death,” as the iconic line goes in the musical “Mame” — I want some pampering. A lot of pampering.

Luckily, for anyone who constantly craves a soothing spa, steam room or sauna, there’s the completely updated Mercedes S-Class. This flagship sedan is now so full of glitz, glamour, and gee-whiz gadgetry, it gives new meaning to the term “auto erotica.”

Does this make the S-Class a “gay” ride? For me, any vehicle that pushes my buttons like this one is a Kinsey 6.

MERCEDES S-CLASS

$122,000 (est.)

MPG: 21 city/31 highway

0 to 60 mph: 4.3 seconds

Trunk space: 19 cu. ft.

PROS: Exceptional comfort. Ultra-quiet cabin. Cutting-edge safety.

CONS: Price climbs fast. Tech learning curve. Sportier competitors.

The S-Class continues to define what luxury really means, with a bolder silhouette, larger grille, and striking, next-gen LED headlights. There’s also an optional illuminated Mercedes star on the hood. Overall, nearly 2,700 parts are new or improved, so more than 50 percent of this vehicle has been updated. An extreme makeover, to be sure.

At the same time, this latest S-Class leans harder into intelligence and electrification than ever before. Under the hood, a range of turbocharged inline-six and V8 engines — paired with mild-hybrid systems — deliver power in a way that seems almost edited for smoothness. Braking is solid and strong, too, but never abrupt. All the engineering is fine-tuned and intentional.

Yes, the top-of-the line S580 version is more expensive, almost $140,000. But it’s also blisteringly fast, zipping from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.9 seconds. That’s as lickety-split swift as a Lamborghini Revuelto supercar, which has a starting MSRP of $610,000 and can easily exceed — yowza! — $800,000.

Colors? There are 150 to choose from for the exterior and 400 for the interior. You can even customize the illuminated door sills, interior stitching and wheel accents.

And the ride quality? Sublime. Adaptive air suspension reads the road constantly, leveling out imperfections before they even register. Rear-axle steering enhances maneuverability, making this full-sized sedan feel surprisingly nimble in tight spaces. On the highway, the S-Class simply glides like a private yacht on the calmest of seas — extremely quiet, composed and completely unbothered.

Whenever you slide inside, the cabin immediately sets the tone. A massive OLED digital display — the same high-def technology used for cinematic viewing and gaming monitors — anchors the dashboard, running the latest MBUX infotainment interface. Highly customizable, this software allows for advanced voice commands that feel natural, not forced. And an augmented-reality navigation system takes your route and overlays it onto live camera feeds. It’s intuitive — mostly, as there is a learning curve for all this cutting-edge gear. Overall, though, such amenities make older setups feel like dial-up internet.

A Burmester surround-sound stereo is available in 3D or 4D, with up to 31 speakers, 1,690 watts and tactile transducers in the seats that vibrate and pulse with the music. Those seats are, of course, extremely comfortable. And the seatbelts? These are now heated.

Let’s not forget the latest cabin air-filtration system, which can remove ultra-fine particles to deliver air quality that rivals medical environments. Clean air, yes, but even this seems like a special treat. It’s like being swaddled in couture, not ready-to-wear.

And lastly, there’s the rear-seat area, which — to be honest — is where the S-Class really shines. Executive packages offer multi-contour reclining seats with rapid heating and ventilating, heated armrests and massage functions. You can opt for a footrest, which ups the glam factor to give you a calf massage. Dual 13.1-inch display screens come with their own remote controls. There’s also a video-conferencing feature, to help transform the rear cabin into a fully connected mobile office. For me, it feels less “back seat” and more “private lounge.”

Even in fiction, high-tech luxury carries weight. Tony Stark helped cement the idea that state-of-the art vehicles can be aspirational, not just practical. The magical S-Class fits right into that narrative — minus the flying suit (for now).

Advice

I’m a 64-year-old single gay man and I hate my life

How can I turn things around before it’s too late?

Published

7 days ago

May 22, 2026

Michael Radkowsky

I’m officially old, maybe even nearing the finish line and I’m getting bitter.

Dear Michael,

I’m a 64-year-old single gay man and I hate my life.

I’ve never had a relationship that lasted more than a few months. I can’t say why. I don’t think I’m defective. I wasn’t unattractive when I was younger (still not bad looking), I think I’m an interesting person to spend time with, but everything always seemed to fizzle out.

Thankfully, I missed AIDS because I came out after people knew what to do. Sometimes I wonder if fear of contracting the virus metastasized into a fear of getting close. I don’t know. I don’t think I’ve consciously kept people away. Consciously I have wanted someone to share my life with, very much.

With my 65th birthday and official senior citizen status approaching, I’ve been taking stock of my life and am coming to the hard realization that I’m never going to find that elusive partner.

I don’t go out anymore because people look right through me, except the ones who have a fetish for older guys. No one’s actually interested in me as me, a unique person rather than what they see on the surface.

I’m tired of my coupled friends. They’re always talking about “we.” Yes, I have become resentful that they have what I want and will never get. I know that’s not admirable but it’s how I feel, secretly, and I am sick of feeling like this when I am around them. So why be around them?

And I’m tired of my friends who are focused on sex all the time. It just all feels like a waste of time. I don’t get anything from a hookup anymore, they’ve been feeling increasingly meaningless. I feel like I’m someone’s momentary opportunity to get off, rather than any kind of real connection.

I’m just sick of the whole chase I’ve been doing for the last 40+ years.

I’m realizing that the whole thing has been pointless, a quest for a partner who is never going to materialize and a lot of diversions along the way that have added up to a despairing feeling that I’ve wasted my life trying to get something that will never happen.

Gay life hasn’t been so gay for me. And I’m officially old, maybe even nearing the finish line. Yes, if you haven’t noticed, I’m getting bitter.

What do I do with this dead end?

Michael replies:

How about looking for a different road to go down?

I’m not going to challenge your belief that you aren’t going to find a partner. I think it’s possible that you could, because there are other guys out there, in your age range, who are looking. But you have no guarantee, especially if you have decided to take it off the table.

So what else can you do with your life? How can you make your remaining time on this earth well-lived?

From your letter, it’s clear what you don’t want to do: Look for a boyfriend, hook up, or spend time with your current friends. Surely there must be more possibilities for your life than those options.

So my advice is to figure out some things you care about and start doing them. Travel? Volunteering? Getting a companion animal? Taking classes? Finding a new career? Those are just a few of the ideas I can come up with, but I don’t know you. What ideas can you generate, that you suspect you’d like to pursue?

In other words, start putting one foot in front of the other and go in some new directions that intrigue you enough to explore.

Sitting around feeling miserable does not help you to get anywhere. It keeps you feeling miserable. Sitting around waiting to feel better does not lead you to feel better. What would help you get to a better place would be to start taking action on your own behalf. Always keep in mind that while you are alive, with your faculties intact, you do have the choice to take this step, over and over and over again.

If you give yourself something (or some things) worthwhile to put your focus on, and do your best to shift your focus there whenever you notice that you are lamenting, I’m hopeful you will create a more fulfilling and meaningful life.

I’m also hopeful that if you are spending time doing things that you actually enjoy and that enrich your life, you may find more satisfying companionship than you are experiencing with your current friend group. (And yes, this could include a romantic relationship if you decide to be open to this possibility.)

A brief reply in an advice column can point you in the right direction, but it is likely not enough to sustain and motivate you through a major life overhaul.

Therefore, I suggest that you find a therapist to help you figure out how to move forward and what to move toward; and also to grieve, and put to rest as best you can, the loss of the life you hoped you would have.

I know that transcending the loss of a huge lifelong dream may seem impossible. But working toward this, as best you are able, would help you.

Relatedly, one more thing that I hope you can address with a therapist is your bitterness. I do understand why you feel so bitter, and I also think that it is torquing your life in a downhill direction.

Michael Radkowsky, Psy.D. is a licensed psychologist who works with couples and individuals in D.C., Maryland, Virginia, and New York. He can be found online at michaelradkowsky.com. All identifying information has been changed for reasons of confidentiality. Have a question? Send it to [email protected].