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Spring D.C., Rehoboth real estate markets ‘booming’
Experts say COVID fueling unprecedented demand
Experts are seeing 10 offers for every listing in D.C. as the spring real estate market is described as ‘on steroids.’
Michael Moore is a senior vice president for Compass Real Estate in D.C. and has worked as a D.C.-based Realtor for 30 years. Lee Ann Wilkinson is CEO for the Lee Ann Wilkinson Group associated with Berkshire Hathaway Home Services-Gallo Realty in the Rehoboth Beach, Del. shores area for 38 years selling real estate.
Both have told the Washington Blade that beginning in the late spring of 2020 and continuing now in the spring of 2021, they have never seen such a booming real estate market, with the demand for houses and condominiums wildly exceeding the supply.
“Well, it’s been a spring market on steroids,” Moore said. “I’ve never seen a spring market like this. Everybody is fighting for properties,” he said. And it’s not just Chevy Chase, Bethesda, and Alexandria. It seems to hit everywhere.”
Wilkinson, who has real estate offices in Rehoboth and nearby Lewes, Del., agreed with Moore and other Realtors that the far greater demand for properties than the available supply in their respective areas has created a seller’s market, requiring buyers to pay far higher prices than they originally expected.
“I’ll characterize it this way,” Wilkinson said when asked how she views the spring real estate market in her area.
“It’s next to impossible. It is so, so lopsided. Inventory is so low that there are 10 buyers for every one property that come on the market,” she said. “So, yeah, it’s the lowest inventory we’ve ever seen. And the buyers are off the chart. So, it’s very difficult.”
The difficulty, both Wilkinson and Moore said, is helping their clients who want to buy a house, or a condo navigate an almost never-before-seen frenzy of competition for the relatively few properties that come on the market.
“Areas that never saw multiple offers are now seeing multiple offers,” said Moore. “I’m seeing escalations in excess of 30 percent” in the selling price over and above the original asking price, he said. “Some properties are going 130 percent over their listing price.”
Moore, Wilkinson and two other Realtors with whom the Blade spoke about the current market all agree that the record low interest rates on home mortgages during the past year or two has played a major role in the growing number of home buyers.
But they and other observers of the real estate market have said the COVID pandemic appears to also have triggered a greater demand for home buying in what some are calling an unexpected development.
Moore and Wilkinson said the near total business shutdowns in the first few months of the pandemic last year did cause a small slowdown in the real estate market in both the D.C. area and the Delaware beach areas. But the two and others have said the market quickly picked up in late spring and early summer and through the remainder of 2020, with home sales and the demand for homes surpassing that of the previous year before the pandemic surfaced.
The upsurge in the market has continued into the spring of 2021, according to Moore, Wilkinson and others.
Some observers have said the fact that the pandemic forced a larger than ever number of people to work at home appears to have prompted many homeowners to consider continuing to work at home after the pandemic. In thinking of doing that, many have decided they need a larger home or a home in a different location. That apparently has sparked a new demand for home buying in addition to the low interest rates.
Wilkinson said that while the large demand has clearly put sellers at an advantage over home buyers, some potential sellers are discovering that while they stand to reap a handsome profit for the sale of their home, they cannot find another home to move into within a price range they can afford.
“We have sellers who were with their home and say, oh my goodness, we’re going to get all this money,” Wilkinson said. “And they get a contract and all of a sudden, they can’t find a house for themselves and then they want to back out of the sale because they don’t have anywhere to go,” she said. “It’s so unreal.”
Dual homeowners who decide to sell a second home at the beach or elsewhere and who choose to live full-time in their primary home are now in the best position to make a windfall profit on the sale of their second home, Realtors are saying.
Moore said the decision by the Internet sales giant Amazon to open its second national headquarters in the Crystal City and Pentagon City sections of Arlington, Va. appears to have had an immediate impact on the real estate market in that area two years ago when the announcement was made. He said the market could receive a boost in a few years, when the Amazon buildings now under construction are finished and hundreds more employees move to the area.
But according to Moore and other Realtors, the announcement two years ago that Amazon would move to the area prompted investors to “scoop up” large numbers of condo units and some smaller houses in that area as investment properties that they could sell for a profit in the next few years.
The Realtors with whom the Blade spoke said the prices now for a typical three-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bathroom house in a desirable neighborhood convenient to nearby amenities or a Metro station in the recent past were available from $900,000 to $1.1 million. But now almost no similar houses can be found for under $1 million and most are in the range of $1.2 million to $1.4 million or higher.
Two-bedroom condos in most D.C. areas are now selling for about $700,000, with one-bedroom condos going for between $500,000 and $600,000. Realtors say condos and houses can be found in some areas considered “emerging neighborhoods” at lower prices.
Robert Sanders, senior vice president of TTR-Sotheby’s International Realty in D.C., and Chuck Burger, a longtime Realtor with D.C.’s Coldwell Banker Realty office on Capitol Hill, each said it has become much harder for first-time buyers to find a house or condo that’s within a price range they can afford.
“I’m watching some of my buyers backing off now because the sellers have been commanding so much money and getting it that the buyers are afraid,” Sanders told the Blade. “You know, how are they going to get that out in the next couple of years? Are they going to be under water because they paid so much for it?” he said.
“So, I’m starting to see buyer fatigue, which sort of makes me a little nervous about that,” Sanders said. “But you know, even a market correction is good for everybody.”
By market correction, Sanders was referring to the term used by Realtors and economists for when an overheated market “corrects” itself when prices come down due to various reasons, including a rise in home mortgage interest rates. Going “under water” refers to when the value of someone’s house falls below the balance of the mortgage on the house.
Moore points out, however, that the D.C. area within the Beltway has historically been immune from severe market corrections. He notes that at the time of the steep real estate market decline in 2008 and 2009, where the home and condo market in places like Florida and other states dropped sharply, the D.C. area saw a slowing of the market increase but no decline in home values occurred.
“It was like we were we were totally unaffected by the real estate debacle that happened in 2008 and 2009,” Moore said. “So, what I think is going to happen here is that it will probably plateau a little bit. But I think we will always have property appreciation,” he said. “We’ve never had a correction which meant negative numbers.”
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Queer highlights of the 2026 Critics Choice Awards: Aunt Gladys, that ‘Heated Rivalry’ shoutout and more
Amy Madigan’s win in the supporting actress category puts her in serious contention to win the Oscar for ‘Weapons’
From Chelsea Handler shouting out Heated Rivalry in her opening monologue to Amy Madigan proving that horror performances can (and should) be taken seriously, the Critics Choice Awards provided plenty of iconic moments for queer movie fans to celebrate on the long road to Oscar night.
Handler kicked off the ceremony by recapping the biggest moments in pop culture last year, from Wicked: For Good to Sinners. She also made room to joke about the surprise hit TV sensation on everyone’s minds: “Shoutout to Heated Rivalry. Everyone loves it! Gay men love it, women love it, straight men who say they aren’t gay but work out at Equinox love it!”
The back-to-back wins for Jacob Elordi in Frankenstein and Amy Madigan in Weapons are notable, given the horror bias that awards voters typically have. Aunt Gladys instantly became a pop culture phenomenon within the LGBTQ+ community when Zach Cregger’s hit horror comedy released in August, but the thought that Madigan could be a serious awards contender for such a fun, out-there performance seemed improbable to most months ago. Now, considering the sheer amount of critics’ attention she’s received over the past month, there’s no denying she’s in the running for the Oscar.
“I really wasn’t expecting all of this because I thought people would like the movie, and I thought people would dig Gladys, but you love Gladys! I mean, it’s crazy,” Madigan said during her acceptance speech. “I get [sent] makeup tutorials and paintings. I even got one weird thing about how she’s a sex icon also, which I didn’t go too deep into that one.”
Over on the TV side, Rhea Seehorn won in the incredibly competitive best actress in a drama series category for her acclaimed performance as Carol in Pluribus, beating out the likes of Emmy winner Britt Lower for Severance, Carrie Coon for The White Lotus, and Bella Ramsey for The Last of Us. Pluribus, which was created by Breaking Bad’s showrunner Vince Gilligan, has been celebrated by audiences for its rich exploration of queer trauma and conversion therapy.
Jean Smart was Hack’s only win of the night, as Hannah Einbinder couldn’t repeat her Emmy victory in the supporting actress in a comedy series category against Janelle James, who nabbed a trophy for Abbott Elementary. Hacks lost the best comedy series award to The Studio, as it did at the Emmys in September. And in the limited series category, Erin Doherty repeated her Emmy success in supporting actress, joining in yet another Adolescence awards sweep.
As Oscar fans speculate on what these Critics Choice wins mean for future ceremonies, we have next week’s Golden Globes ceremony to look forward to on Jan. 11.
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Looking back at the 10 biggest A&E stories of 2025
‘Wicked,’ Lady Gaga’s new era, ‘Sexy’ Bailey and more
Although 2025 was a year marked by countless attacks on trans rights and political setbacks, the year also saw brilliant queer artists continuing to create art. From Cannes and Sundance Award winners now vying for Oscar consideration to pop icons entering new stages of their careers, queer people persevered to tell their stories through different media.
With the state of the world so uncertain, perhaps there’s no more vital time to celebrate our wins, as seen through some of this year’s top pop culture moments. While there’s no collection of 10 stories that fully encompass “the most important” news, here are some events that got the gays going:
10. ‘Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo’ wins big at Cannes
The Cannes Film Festival has become a crucial start for films hoping to make their way to the Oscars, and first-time director Diego Céspedes won the top Un Certain Regard prize for his intimate western “The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo.” The film is set in the ‘80s and is intended as an allegory for the AIDS epidemic. Seeing a film that unpacks vital queer history win one of the most coveted awards at Cannes has been a huge point of pride in the independent filmmaking community.
Since the film bowed at Cannes, it has been selected as Chile’s Oscar entry in the Best International Feature race. Speaking with The Blade during the film’s AFI Fest run in October, Céspedes said: At first, I was kind of scared to have this campaign position in the times that we’re living [in] here. But at the same time, I think the Oscars mean a huge platform — a huge platform for art and politics.”
9. ‘The Last of Us’ returns for an even gayer season 2
While the first season of The Last of Us gave us one of TV’s most heartbreaking queer love stories in the episode “Long, Long Time,” Season 2 doubled down on its commitment to queer storytelling with the blossoming relationship between Ellie (Bella Ramsey) and Dina (Isabela Merced). The show expanded on the pair’s relationship in the original video game, making it perhaps the central dynamic to the entire season. That unfortunately came with more homophobic backlash on the internet, but those who checked out all the episodes saw a tender relationship form amid the show’s post-apocalyptic, often violent backdrop. For their performance, Ramsey was once again nominated for an Emmy, but Merced deserved just as much awards attention.
8. ‘Emilia Pérez’ sparks controversy
Jacques Audiard’s genre-bending trans musical “Emilia Pérez” proved to be an awards season juggernaut this time last year, winning the Golden Globe for Best Musical/Comedy. But when the lead star Karla Sofia Gascón’s racist, sexist, and homophobic old tweets resurfaced, the film’s Oscar campaign became a tough sell, especially after Netflix had tried so hard to sell Emilia Pérez as the “progressive” film to vote for. Mind you, the film had already received significant backlash from LGBTQ+ audiences and the Mexican community for its stereotypical and reductive portrayals, but the Gascón controversy made what was originally just social media backlash impossible to ignore. The only person who seemed to come out of the whole debacle unscathed was Zoe Saldaña, who won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress over Ariana Grande.
7. ‘Sorry, Baby’ establishes Eva Victor as major talent
Back in January at the Sundance Film Festival, Eva Victor (known by many for her brand of sketch comedy) premiered their directorial debut “Sorry, Baby” to rave reviews, even winning the Waldo Salt Screening Award. Victor shadowed Jane Schoenbrun on the set of “I Saw the TV Glow,” and seeing Victor come into their own and establish such a strong voice immediately made them one of independent cinema’s most exciting new voices. A memorable scene in the film sees the main character, Agnes (played by Victor), struggling to check a box for male or female, just one example of how naturally queerness is woven into the fabric of the story.
Most recently, Victor was nominated for a Golden Globe for her performance in the film, and she’s represented in a category alongside Jennifer Lawrence (“Die My Love”), Jessie Buckley (“Hamnet”), Julia Roberts (“After the Hunt”), Renate Reinsve (“Sentimental Value”) and Tessa Thompson (“Hedda”). The film also received four Independent Spirit Award nominations overall.
6. Paul Reubens comes out in posthumous doc
While Paul Reubens never publicly came out as gay before passing away in 2023, the two-part documentary “Pee-wee as Himself” premiered back in May on HBO Max, giving the legendary comedian a chance to posthumously open up to the world. Directed by Matt Wolf, the documentary explores how Reubens found his alter ego Pee-Wee Herman and why he kept his private life private.
The documentary won an Emmy in the Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special category and remains one of the most critically acclaimed titles of the year with a 100% Rotten Tomatoes score. Also worth noting, the National Geographic documentary Sally told the posthumous coming out story of Sally Ride through the help of her long-time partner, Tam O’Shaughnessy.
5. Lady Gaga releases ‘Mayhem’
Lady Gaga entered a new phase of her musical career with the release of Mayhem, her seventh album to date. From the frenzy-inducing pop hit Abracadabra to the memorable Bruno Mars duet featured on “Die With a Smile,” seeing Gaga return to her roots and make an album for the most die-hard of fans was especially rewarding after the underwhelming film releases of “House of Gucci” and “Joker: Folie à Deux.” Gaga has been touring with The Mayhem Ball since July, her first arena tour since 2018. She even extended her tour into 2026 with more North American dates, so the party isn’t stopping anytime soon. And Gaga is even set to make an appearance next May in “The Devil Wears Prada 2.”
4. Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande perform at the Oscars
While “Wicked: For Good” didn’t quite reach the heights of the first film, we will forever have Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande’s breathtaking live performance that opened the 97th Academy Awards. The pair sang a rendition of “Over the Rainbow,” “Home,” and “Defying Gravity,” paying proper homage to the original 1939 “Wizard of Oz.” Even non-Wicked fans can’t deny how magical and brilliantly staged this performance was. With both Erivo and Grande up for acting Oscars last year, they’re hoping to repeat success and make history with consecutive nominations. Either way, let’s hope there’s another live performance in the making, especially with two new original songs (The Girl in the Bubble and No Place Like Home) in the mix.
3. Indya Moore speaks out against Ryan Murphy
Indya Moore has consistently used social media as a platform for activism, and in September, posted a 30-minute Instagram live speaking out against “Pose” co-creator Ryan Murphy. Moore claimed that Murphy wasn’t being a true activist for trans people. “Ryan Murphy, we need you to do more. You need to address the racism, the violence, and the targeting of people on your productions, Ryan Murphy. You do need to make sure trans people are paid equally. Yes, Janet did the right thing,” Moore said. Murphy was also back in the headlines this year for the critically panned “All’s Fair” and the controversial “Monster: The Ed Gein Story” starring Laurie Metcalf and Charlie Hunnam.
2. Cole Escola wins Tony for Best Leading Actor
Few pop culture moments this year brought us together more than Cole Escola winning a Tony award for “Oh, Mary!” the Broadway show they created, wrote and starred in (we love a triple threat!) Escola made history by becoming the first nonbinary person to win a Tony in the leading actor category, and seeing them excitedly rush to the stage wearing a Bernadette Peters-inspired gown instantly became a viral social media moment.
The cherry on top of Escola’s major moment is the recent news that they are writing a Miss Piggy movie with Jennifer Lawrence and Emma Stone producing — news that also broke the internet for the better. We cannot wait!
1. Jonathan Bailey makes gay history as ‘Sexiest Man Alive’
The same year as his on-screen roles in blockbusters “Jurassic World Rebirth” and “Wicked: For Good,” Jonathan Bailey made history as the first openly gay man to be named People magazine’s “Sexiest Man Alive.” The fact that it took 40 years for an openly gay man to earn the title is a signifier of how far we still have to go with queer representation, and seeing Bailey celebrated is just one small step in the right direction.
“There’s so many people that want to do brilliant stuff who feel like they can’t,” he told PEOPLE, “and I know the LGBT sector is under immense threat at the moment. So it’s been amazing to meet people who have the expertise and see potential that I could have only dreamed of.” In 2024, Bailey founded the charity titled The Shameless Fund, which raises money for LGBTQ+ organizations.
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Your guide to D.C.’s queer New Year’s Eve parties
Ring in 2026 with drag, leather, Champagne, and more
With Christmas in the rear view mirror, we can turn our attention to ringing in a much-anticipated New Year with a slew of local LGBTQ parties. Here’s what’s on tap.
Pitchers
This spacious Adams Morgan bar is hosting the “Pitchers’ Perfect New Year’s Eve.” There will be a midnight Champagne toast, the ball drop on the big screens, and no cover, all night long. The bar doesn’t close until 4 a.m., and the kitchen will be open late (though not until close). All five floors will be open for the party, and party favors are promised.
Trade
D.C.’s hottest bar/club combo is leaning into the Shark motif with its NYE party, “Feeding Frenzy.” The party is a “glitterati-infused Naughty-cal New Year’s Even in the Shark Tank, where the boats are churning and the sharks are circling.” Trade also boasts no cover charge, with doors opening at 5 p.m. and the aforementioned Shark Tank opening at 9 p.m.. Four DJs will be spread across the two spaces; midnight hostess is played by Vagenesis and the two sea sirens sensuously calling are Anathema and Justin Williams.
Number Nine
While Trade will have two DJs as part of one party, Number Nine will host two separate parties, one on each floor. The first floor is classic Number Nine, a more casual-style event with the countdown on TVs and a Champagne midnight toast. There will be no cover and doors open at 5 p.m. Upstairs will be hosted by Capital Sapphics for its second annual NYE gathering. Tickets (about $50) include a midnight Champagne toast, curated drink menu, sapphic DJ set by Rijak, and tarot readings by Yooji.
Crush
Crush will kick off NYE with a free drag bingo at 8 p.m. for the early birds. Post-bingo, there will be a cover for the rest of the evening, featuring two DJs. The cover ($20 limited pre-sale that includes line skip until 11 p.m.; $25 at the door after 9 p.m.) includes one free N/A or Crush, a Champagne toast, and party favors (“the legal kind”). More details on Eventbrite.
Bunker
This subterranean lair is hosting a NYE party entitled “Frosted & Fur: Aspen After Dark New Year’s Eve Celebration.” Arriety from Rupaul Season 15 is set to host, with International DJ Alex Lo. Doors open at 9 p.m. and close at 3 p.m.; there is a midnight Champagne toast. Cover is $25, plus an optional $99 all-you-can-drink package.
District Eagle
This leather-focused bar is hosting “Bulge” for its NYE party. Each District Eagle floor will have its own music and vibe. Doors run from 7 p.m.-3 a.m. and cover is $15. There will be a Champagne toast at midnight, as well as drink specials during the event.
Kiki, Shakiki
Kiki and its new sister bar program Shakiki (in the old Shakers space) will have the same type of party on New Year’s Eve. Both bars open their doors at 5 p.m. and stay open until closing time. Both will offer a Champagne toast at midnight. At Kiki, DJ Vodkatrina will play; at Shakiki, it’ll be DJ Alex Love. Kiki keeps the party going on New Year’s Day, opening at 2 p.m., to celebrate Kiki’s fourth anniversary. There will be a drag show at 6 p.m. and an early 2000s dance party 4-8 p.m.
Spark
This bar and its new menu of alcoholic and twin N/A drinks will host a NYE party with music by DJ Emerald Fox. Given this menu, there will be a complimentary toast at midnight, guests can choose either sparkling wine with or without alcohol. No cover, but Spark is also offering optional wristbands at the door for $35 open bar 11 p.m.-1 a.m. (mid-shelf liquor & all NA drinks).
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