The Koitz Group's Blog: Bethesda Real Estate

| Bethesda Real Estate Sales Report (20817 Zip Code) |

A series of reports that looks into the Washington DC area real estate market through examining micro-markets. This market report centers on data from the northwest Bethesda area (zip code 20817) in January 2007 and January 2008. This affluent and large enclave of homes in Bethesda includes a diverse variety of more “modest” homes and luxury estates. Some of the more recognized subdivisions in this area include Bannockburn, Burning Tree, and Avenel. Here's a review and breakdown:

Bethesda Maryland Single Family Homes (Zip Code 20817)

    Jan. 2007 Jan. 2008 Number of Homes Sold 25 … Read Full Post

So maybe I just want to prove myself right…but less than a week after Super Bowl (and that was an amazing Super Bowl!!), the real estate market in the Washington DC Metropolitan Area seems to be picking up. Regular readers will already know about my theory about “Super Bowl Sunday to Mother’s Day.” Just a quick recap: I have seen evidence over past years that this time period defines our busiest market.

And, here we are…into the very beginning of that market and I have to tell you what happened to me today. I had an appointment to show a Bethesda property at 11am this morning. Because I wanted to drive by a couple of new listings, I got to the house a little early. As I sat and waited for my clients, three couples (with agents) went thru the… Read Full Post

It had to happen….the pendulum needed to swing. It turned out that it just didn’t make sense to suggest that you could “buy” a home with no money down…especially if you didn’t have great credit…more especially if you were doing an “interest only” loan and REALLY especially if you also got “cash back” at closing. Why anyone thought this was a good idea is a question we all need to be asking ourselves. The only people who consistently benefited were the loan officers who made money each time one of these questionable loans was placed. 

So, we need to return to the good old days, when you saved some money in order to buy a home and when you cleaned up any credit issues prior to buying a home. But the restrictions currently being placed on the loan market…

Read Full Post