a&e features
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.”
a&e features
Queery: Meet artist, performer John Levengood
Modern creative talks nightlife, coming out, and his personal queer heroes
John Levengood (he/him) describes himself as a modern creative with a wide‑ranging toolkit. He blends music, technology, civic duty, and a sharp sense of wit into a cohesive artistic identity. Known primarily as a recording artist and performer, he’s also a self‑taught music producer and software engineer who embodies a generation of creators who build their own lanes rather than wait for one to appear.
Levengood, 32, who is single and identifies as gay and queer, is best known as a recording artist who has performed at Pride festivals across the country, including the main stages of World Pride DC, Central Arkansas Pride, and Charlotte Pride.
“Locally in the DMV, I’m known for turning heads at nightlife venues with my eye-catching sense of style. When I go out, I don’t try to blend in. I hope I inspire people to be themselves and have the courage to stand out,” he says.
He’s also known for hosting karaoke at Freddie’s Beach Bar in Arlington, Va., on Thursday nights. “I like to create a space where people feel comfortable expressing themselves, building community, and showcasing their talents.”
He also creates social media content from my performances and do interviews at LGBTQ+ bars and theatres in the DMV. Follow the Arlington resident @johnlevengood.
How long have you been out and who was the hardest person to tell?
I have been fully out of the closet since 2019. My parents were the hardest people to tell because my family has always been my rock and at the time I couldn’t imagine a world without them. Their reactions were extremely positive and supportive so I had nothing to fear all along.
I remember sitting on the couch with my mom, dad, and sister in our hotel room in New Orleans during our winter vacation and being so nervous to tell them. After I finally mustered up the nerve and made the proclamation, I realized my dad had already fallen asleep on the couch. My mom promised to tell him when he woke up.
Who’s your LGBTQ hero?
My LGBTQ heroes are Harvey Milk for paving the way for gays in politics and Elton John for being a pioneer for the fabulous and authentic. My local heroes in the DMV are Howard Hicks, manager of Green Lantern, and Tony Rivenbark, manager of Freddie’s Beach Bar. Both of them are essential to creating spaces where I’ve felt welcome and safe since moving to the DMV.
What’s Washington’s best nightspot, past or present?
Trade tops the list for me because of the dance floor and outdoor space. It’s so nice to get a break from the music every once and a while to be able to have a conversation.
We live in challenging times. How do you cope?
I’m still figuring this out. What is working right now is writing music and spending time with family and friends. I’ve also been spending less time on social media going to the gym at least three times a week.
What streaming show are you binging?
After “Traitors” Season 4 ended, I was in a bit of a show hole, but “Stumble” has me in a laughing loop right now. The writing is so witty.
What do you wish you’d known at 18?
At 18, I wish I would have known how liberating it is to come out of the closet. It would have been nice to know some winning lottery numbers as well.
What are your friends messaging about in your most recent group chat?
We are planning our next trip to New York City. If you can believe it, I visited NYC for the first time in 2025 for Pride and I’ve been back every quarter since. Growing up in the country, I was subconsciously primed to be scared of the city. But my mind has been blown. I can’t wait to go back.
Why Washington?
It’s the closest metropolitan area to my family, but not too close. I love the museums, the diversity, the history, and the proximity to the beach and mountains. It’s also nice to live in a city with public transportation.
Aging RFK Stadium has come down, but the RFK grounds are still getting lit up. Welcome back to the stage Project GLOW, D.C.’s homegrown electronic festival, on May 30-31. Back for its fifth year on these musically inclined acres, Project GLOW returns with an even more diverse lineup, and one that continues to celebrate LGBTQ antecedents, attendees, and acts.
Project GLOW 2026 headliners include house and techno star Mau P, progressive house legend Eric Prydz, hard-techno favorite Sara Landry, and bass acts Excision b2b Sullivan King, among the lineup of trance, bass, house, techno, dubstep, and others for the fifth anniversary year.
President & CEO Pete Kalamoutsos — born and raised in D.C. — founded Club GLOW in 1999. In 2020, GLOW entered into a partnership with global entertainment company Insomniac Events to produce live events like Project GLOW, which kicked off in 2022.
As in past years, Project GLOW not only makes space, but is intentionally inclusive of the LGBTQ community, one of its most dedicated fan bases. The festival’s LGBTQ-focused Secret Garden stage blooms again — a more intimate dance area that stands on the strength of DJs and musicians who draw from the LGBTQ community. D.C.’s LGBTQ nightlife mastermind Ed Bailey is the creative mind behind Secret Garden again. He joined Project GLOW in 2023.
“Kalamoustos says that “he’s proud of his partnership with Ed Bailey, along with Capital Pride and [nightlife producer] Jake Resnikow. It’s amazing to collaborate with Bailey at the Secret Garden stage, especially after the curated lineup we worked on at Pride last year.”
The Secret Garden will be a bit different from other stages: Eternal (“At the Eternal stage, time stands still. Lose yourself in the dance of past, present, and future, surrendering to the eternal rhythm of the universe”) and Pulse (“Feel the rhythm of the beat pulse through your veins as the heartbeat of the crowd synchronizes into one. Here, every moment vibrates with life as it guides you through a new dimension of euphoria”). The Secret Garden stage is in the round, surrounded by 16 shipping containers. The containers play canvas to muralists from around the world, who are coming in to paint them in a vibrant garden-style vibe. “We gave this stage some extra love with this layout,” K says, “ we finally cracked the code.”
K says that this will be the biggest lineup yet for the Secret Garden, featuring Nicole Moudaber b2b Chasewest, Riordan b2b Bullet Tooth, Ranger Trucco, Cassian, Eli & Fur, Cosmic Gate and Hayla. The stage is also the largest yet, featuring an expanded dance floor and 360-degree viewing.
Across all stages, K says that his goal for the fifth anniversary is “More art and fan interactive experience, more like a festival, strive to be like a Tomorrowland, as budget grows to add more experience.” Last year’s Project GLOW alone drew 40,000 attendees over two days.
K, however, was not satisfied with one festival this spring. GLOW recently announced a “pop-up” one-day event. Teaming up with Black Book Records, GLOW is set to throw a first-of-its-kind dance-music takeover of Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., headlined by electronic music star Chris Lake. Set for April 18, this euphoric block party will feature bass and vibes blocks from the White House. Organizers expect as many as 10,000 fans to attend. Beyond music, there will be food, activations, and plenty of other activities taking place around 6th St and Pennsylvania Ave NW – a location familiar to many in the LGBTQ community, as this sits squarely inside the blocks of the Capital Pride party that takes place in DC every June.
Over the past two decades, Club GLOW has produced thousands of events, from club nights to large-scale festivals including Project GLOW, Moonrise Festival, and more. Club GLOW also operates Echostage.
a&e features
New book celebrates 1970s dance music icons
‘A Night at the Disco’ features interviews with Donna Summer, Debbie Harry, more
If you’re a fan of 1970s-era dance music, don’t miss the irresistible new book by Christian John Wikane and Alice Harris, “A Night at the Disco,” which revisits more than 90 interviews conducted with some of the biggest names in pop culture.
“A Night at the Disco” (ACC Art Books) was published on March 24, and distributed by Simon & Schuster. It celebrates more than 100 artists who sparked a phenomenon in dance music from 1970-1979 and features excerpts from interviews with everyone from Donna Summer to Debbie Harry.
Lost City Books (2467 18th St., N.W.) will welcome author Christian John Wikane for a book signing and conversation about “A Night at the Disco” on Thursday, April 16 at 6 p.m. Details at lostcitybookstore.com. Bird in Hand Coffee & Books in Baltimore (11 E. 33rd St.) )will also host a Q&A with the author on Wednesday, April 15 at 6 p.m. Details at theivybookshop.com.
Below is an excerpt from “A Night at the Disco.”
“I’ll let in anyone who looks like they’ll make things fun.” Steve Rubell is guiding a New York Times reporter through Studio 54 as resident DJ Richie Kaczor dazzles the crowd with records by CHIC, Odyssey, and T-Connection. “Disco, that’s where the happy people go,” The Trammps sing as dancers spin and twirl underneath tubes of flashing lights. Seven months since Rubell and co-owner Ian Schrager opened Studio 54 in April 1977, it’s welcomed untold numbers of “happy people” … at least those lucky enough to pass through the doors.
“We were part of the chosen few,” says André De Shields, who immortalized the title role in The Wiz on Broadway at the time. “We could show up at Studio 54 and the doorman at the velvet stanchion would look over everyone and point to us from The Wiz to come in, that kind of thing.” As the lead vocalist in the GRAMMY-nominated Dr. Buzzard’s Original Savannah Band, whose debut modernized big band sophistication for the discothèques, Cory Daye had carte blanche in the club. “The energy was like a New Year’s Eve party every night,” she says. “I would go up to the mezzanine and watch the mechanical light pillars go up and down, metallic confetti falling from the ceiling, the spoon and the moon. I was so fascinated and enamored by it.
“When a certain song came on, the people would just rush to the dance floor. There was no contact dancing — the hustle was pretty much on its way out — but it was just an amazing experience to see all the cultures together. It was a fusion of cultures, which described my life and my band, so I was right at home there.”
“Studio 54 was the place,” adds Linda Clifford. “Crazy parties. If you could think it, you would see it. It was like a circus. Just an amazing place to be. I worked 54 so many times. It was like a second home to me. The people there treated me so well. The crowd always seemed to enjoy my show. I always had a good time with them. That was the most important thing: making sure that they had fun.”
Well before Studio 54 opened, disco had become a business juggernaut. “A four billion dollar market and still growing,” Billboard announced in February 1977, with dance music offering more variety than ever. “There is no longer a single, readily identifiable disco beat, but a kaleidoscope of sounds that are melodic and danceable,” Tom Moulton told the magazine. In the clubs, records by veteran artists like Stevie Wonder and the Bee Gees were mixed in with a range of new acts like Grace Jones, Boney M., and The Ritchie Family, while everyone from ABBA to Marvin Gaye scored number one pop hits with songs that had club-centric storylines.
Beyond the charts, disco itself remained as idiosyncratic as ever, especially on several productions by Laurin Rinder and W. Michael Lewis, whose studio creations, El Coco (“Let’s Get It Together,” “Cocomotion”) and Le Pamplemousse (“Le Spank”), joined their own “Lust” from Seven Deadly Sins (1977) among the most tantalizing releases on AVI Records. Rinder & Lewis also produced acts for the newly hatched Butterfly Records in Los Angeles, where Saint Tropez (“On a Rien à Perdre”) and Tuxedo Junction (“Moonlight Serenade”) reflected the duo’s high gloss sound, spanning everything from European sophistication to a more literal translation of the ’40s sensibilities popularized by Dr. Buzzard’s Original Savannah Band.
12-inch singles had also grown as the preferred format to approximate the club music experience at home. Nearly a year after Atlantic Records introduced its series of promotional 12-inch singles for DJs, New York-based Salsoul Records released the industry’s first commercially available 12-inch single, “Ten Percent” by Double Exposure, in May 1976. A year later, T.K. Records was the first label to certify a gold record for a 12-inch single when Peter Brown’s “Do You Wanna Get Funky With Me” tallied one million sales.— Christian John Wikane
(From “A Night at the Disco” by Alice Harris & Christian John Wikane. Published by ACC Art Books.)
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