Fall is in full swing in the DC area. In addition to helping a few of my clients buy and sell their homes, this last month I celebrated a friend’s wedding and spent a day in Annapolis celebrating a friend’s big milestone: a long-awaited and well-deserved Green Card!
If you are based in the DC area, one of the things I am looking forward to is my Fall Festival Event at Cox Farms on Saturday, October 11. If you have not already signed up to go, I hope that you will join me! You can sign up here for your free ticket.
In this month’s newsletter I’ve pulled together some more real estate and local content that I hope you will love. Here’s what you will find in this month's newsletter:
How to Get Involved in DC’s Real Estate Planning Process
Fall Spotlight: 3 Great Hikes to Take Advantage of the Season
What I've Been Reading
DC Metro Area Real Estate Market Data
Neighborhood Spotlight: Takoma Park, MD
As always, if there is anything I can help you with, whether buying or selling or real estate advice, I would love to talk more! Also, if there are topics you would like to see in upcoming newsletters let me know!
Best,
Hannah
As clients and friends you are an important part of my life and my business at District Roots. As a thank you, I am hosting a Special Fall Event on Saturday, October 11, 2025 at the Cox Farm Fall Festival in Centerville, VA! I'll be there from 10AM - 3PM, but you can come at any time! We'll have a private pavilion with snacks, and you can spend the day taking in the Fall Festival activities like a harvest market, music, slides, hayrides, and more!
The best part? I have free tickets for those of you who sign up in advance! This gets you free admission into the Fall Festival and you can join me at the private pavilion for fall treats! Bring your friends, family, kids, or others you think would enjoy this time! But sign up soon!
When most people think about buying or selling a home, they picture open houses, mortgage rates, staging tips, or closing timelines. But there’s a larger, quieter force shaping our neighborhoods, and ultimately our home values, that too often flies under the radar: city planning and zoning. Decisions about what gets built, where, and when have a huge influence on our neighborhoods, home values, and housing affordability.
In Washington, DC, the planning process determines whether a parking lot becomes apartments, whether a commercial strip stays low-rise or gets upzoned for mixed-use, and whether we add more housing near Metro stations or keep things just as they are. Understanding how this process works, and how to participate, can be empowering.
The Push and Pull of Growth
One of the most common themes in DC’s real estate world is the classic YIMBY vs. NIMBY showdown.
“YIMBY” — short for Yes In My Backyard — is the rallying cry of people who want more housing options and higher density, especially near transit hubs. YIMBY advocates argue that if we build more homes — whether apartments, condos, or alley dwellings — we can make housing more affordable and keep more people in the city.
On the other side are the “NIMBYs” — Not In My Backyard — who often push back against new development, worried about parking, traffic, or the changing character of their neighborhood.
Both perspectives matter, and both are alive and well in DC. You’ll see this play out in heated public meetings, advisory neighborhood commission (ANC) debates, and on community listservs. For homebuyers, these discussions can foreshadow where a neighborhood is headed. For sellers, they can be a selling point (“a new Metro station is coming!”) or a caution flag (“neighbors are fighting that new apartment building”).
Planning in Washington, DC: Real-Life Examples
Planning issues aren’t abstract — they play out in very real, very public ways across the city. Here are a few recent examples you may have seen in the news:
RFK Stadium & the “Plaza District” Project – The redevelopment of the RFK site into a new NFL stadium and mixed-use neighborhood was pitched promising to bring 6,000 new housing units, 30 % affordable. But zoning hurdles and procedural delays have already pushed the project timeline years into the future, even though the ink isn’t yet dry on the deal.
McMillan Sand Filtration Site (“Reservoir District”) – After years of lawsuits and neighborhood battles, the project is finally moving forward with parks, housing, and retail. Of course not everyone is happy, but it’s a prime example of how persistence and compromise can ultimately create a mostly win-win.
Each of these cases shows how passionate neighbors — on both sides — can shape the outcome of major projects.
Why It Matters for Buyers
If you’re in the market to buy, planning can be your early warning system, or your golden opportunity. A proposed zoning change that allows more density might mean more restaurants and shops coming soon with the attendant traffic woes. A new transit stop could make a neighborhood suddenly more convenient, and more expensive.
By keeping tabs on projects under review, you can spot which areas are poised for growth before the market fully catches on. That knowledge could help you buy into an up-and-coming neighborhood before prices jump.
Why It Matters for Sellers
For sellers, understanding the planning landscape can be a powerful marketing tool. If your property sits in an area slated for upzoning or major redevelopment, that could make it more attractive to buyers. On the flip side, if there’s vocal opposition or projects are languishing, buyers may hesitate. Being able to explain what’s coming, and when, helps you position your property with confidence.
How to Get Involved
You don’t have to be a policy wonk to make your voice heard. In DC, even a single well-timed comment can shape how projects unfold. Here’s how you can plug in:
Attend local Advisory Neighborhood Commission meetings – These hyper-local bodies are often the first to weigh in on proposed projects. Many also have newsletters where you can stay up to date on local happenings.
Submit written testimony or comments – You can comment online or provide a short statement at a hearing on zoning cases or Comprehensive Plan updates, even a short paragraph counts.
Join community conversations – Civic associations and neighborhood listservs are often where early debates start to play out.
Follow the DC Office of Zoning and Office of Planning – Zoning hearings, active cases, and Comprehensive Plan amendments are posted online by the DC Office of Zoning and the Office of Planning.
Ask your councilmember’s office – They can tell you what’s “in play” in your ward and how to weigh in.
The Bottom Line
Planning may sound dry, but it’s really about shaping the future of our city, who gets to live here, how our neighborhoods grow, and what kinds of opportunities are created. Whether you’re hoping to buy, preparing to sell, or just want to get involved in your neighborhood, showing up matters.
Even small gestures – a comment at a hearing, a thoughtful email to your ANC, or sharing a planning notice with your neighbors – can have an outsized impact.
DC is a city of engaged residents, and its future is written not just in zoning codes, but in the conversations we choose to have about what we build, and for whom.
Fall hiking season is here, and there are so many great places to enjoy it, particularly in the Shenandoah area in VA just outside of Washington, DC! Here are three great hike ideas that you can take advantage of. For more fall ideas, check my free Washington, DC fall guide. If you have other hikes that you love, I would love to hear them!
Old Rag Mountain Circuit Trail (9.4 mile loop)
The most popular and most strenuous hike on Old Rag, this loop is one of the best on the East Coast, but the elevation and rock scramble at the summit are not for the faint of heart. Recommend going counterclockwise so that you end the hike on the fire road.
Old Rag Mountain is a two-hour drive from DC. Park at the Old Rag ranger station (unless you are hiking Barry Hollow) or at one of the overflow parking lots.
Before you go, you MUST purchase an Old Rag day-trip ticket ($2) online. There is no cell service at the trailhead, so have a copy of the confirmation code with you. Separately, you must also have a National Park entrance pass. You can purchase one at the rangers station or online. If you want to see Old Rag but not do the full circuit trail you can also do the Barry Hollow Hike (5.4 mile out-and-back) or the Robertson Mountain Trail (7.8 mile loop) in the area.
White Oak Canyon: Lower White Oak Falls (4.6 miles out-and-back)
One of Virginia’s great waterfall hikes! This is an out and back hike so you return the way you came). If you want to up the intensity of the hike you can continue on to the Upper White Oak Falls for a 7 mile out-and-back strenuous hike. The White Oak Canyon Trail Head is about 2 hours from DC. You must have a National Park entrance pass to access this area, and you should be able to purchase this at the rangers station near the trail head or online.
This hike takes you on a popular loop at Sky Meadows State Park: up the Gap Run Trail to the North Ridge Trail, then down the South Ridge Trail, bringing you through woods, meadows, and with views of the surrounding hills. It can get steep in some areas, but it is just one of the many hikes and trails at the popular Sky Meadows State Park. For a shorter walk with great views you can hike the Piedmont Overlook Trail to the Lower Piedmont Overlook (.5 mile round trip) or the Upper Piedmont Overlook (1 mile round trip). The park is about 1.5 hours from DC, and you will need to pay a park access fee.
I love, love, love the concept of this shop in NYC’s West Village. The idea of mending and transforming beloved pieces – in this case clothing – rather than throwing it away reminds me of the Japanese art of kintsugi.
Curious about how the housing market shifts from month to month? In this section I share insights about shifts in the market so you can make informed decisions about where you live. If you are interested in how things are changing week to week, you can also take a look at the weekly updates provided by Bright MLS in theirWeekly Greater DC Area Housing Market Update for a deeper level of detail, but note that the data fluctuates more as you zoom into specific cities.
Washington DC Metro Area Housing Data
Data Provided by Bright MLS, as of September 5, 2025
Based on the latest data fromAugust 2025 sales, here are a few key trends we're seeing in the greater DC area market compared to 2024:
Buyers are taking advantage of lower rates and more inventory in the Washington, DC area market. In August, there were 4,264 closed sales across the region, which was 2.0% lower than a year ago. However, buyers were active in August, putting contracts on 4,217 homes, which was a 2.9% uptick from last August.
New listings were down 2.7% year-over-year, and inventory is growing more slowly, but buyers in August took advantage of easing mortgage rates and more leverage with sellers.
The median sold price increased 2.1% compared to a year ago. In August the median sold price was $625,000. Price growth has been slowing since the beginning of the year, and in August, median sold prices were down year-over-year in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties.
The pace of the market has slowed considerably over the past few months. The median days on market in August was 19, which is nine days slower than last August.
Overall, the Washington, DC area housing market has slowed but it has not stalled out. Uncertainty surrounding federal government layoffs and budget cuts have made prospective buyers and sellers more cautious. Slightly lower rates and slower home price appreciation, or even year-over-year declines, should bring more buyers out this fall though sales activity is likely to remain relatively subdued.
Remember: these trends are averaged for the DC metro region, so what is happening on your street may be different. If you are interested in seeing the latest data for a specific neighborhood or zip code, don't hesitate to reach out! I'm happy to have a conversation about what these market trends mean for your current home's value or your future home search. Send me an email if you'd like to schedule a time to chat or want to be sent more information about what's going on in your neighborhood.
Source: Bright MLS
Just across the DC line sits Takoma Park, Maryland, a neighborhood that feels like a small town but keeps you close to everything the city offers. Known for its leafy streets, historic homes, and vibrant sense of community, Takoma Park has a personality all its own.
The neighborhood prides itself on its progressive, quirky vibe, with community events like the annual Takoma Park Folk Festival and the quirky Fourth of July parade bringing everyone together. You’ll also find a lively farmers market every Sunday, perfect for picking up local produce or chatting with neighbors over fresh pastries, and a walkable main street shopping area with local restaurants, gift shops, and bookstores.
Foodies and coffee lovers are in luck: you’ll find beloved local spots like Cielo Rojo for upscale Mexican fare and Takoma Beverage Company for your morning latte. With the Takoma Metro station on the Red Line, commuting to downtown DC, Silver Spring, or beyond is quick and convenient.
Shopping and Dining in Takoma Park
Takoma Park is a favorite for those who value community spirit, walkability, and a slower pace without giving up access to city life. Whether you’re drawn to the Saturday yoga in the park, the co-op grocery store, or simply waving to neighbors on your evening walk, Takoma Park offers a truly welcoming place to call home.
Housing here ranges from charming Victorian homes and 1920s bungalows to co-ops and condos near the Metro. The architecture reflects the neighborhood’s history, and many homes sit on larger lots with mature trees. Single family homes can range from the mid-$700s to $1.7m or more, while condos can be found starting in the $200s to mid $400s.
If you are considering a move to Takoma Park or anywhere in the region I would love to talk more!
WHY I WORK BY REFERRAL
Relationships are more important than transactions, so thank you for trusting me with your real estate needs. I would be honored to extend the same dedicated service I provide to my clients to your friends, neighbors, and colleagues. Thanks for connecting us via email or by sharing my website.
