Market Updates
The 2018 Playbook Is Back: What the Election Means for DMV Housing and Mortgage Rates
The 2018 Playbook Is Back: What the Election Means for DMV Housing and Mortgage Rates – By John Downs – Certified Mortgage Advisor Key Takeaways This fall’s setup looked a lot like 2018. After that midterm, mortgage rates fell about 30% over the next 10 months. DC housing has struggled since 2022, and mood has…
Read MoreDC HPAP Funding Is Open for FY27: $25.9 Million Available
DC HPAP Funding Is Open for FY27: $26 Million Available for Homebuyers By John Downs – Certified Mortgage Advisor WASHINGTON, DC — October 25, 2026 DC’s Home Purchase Assistance Program (HPAP) is funded again. The DC Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) now has a live funding dashboard for Fiscal Year 2027, which began…
Read MoreHow Far Does $25,000 Go When You’re Buying a House in DC?
How Far Does $25,000 Go When You’re Buying a House in DC? One buyer’s real ceiling went from $325,000 to $776,000 in a single email exchange. Same cash. No grant programs. Here is exactly how it happened. By John Downs – Certified Mortgage Advisor This started as an email exchange in August 2026 that is…
Read MoreNew Condo Loan Rules for 2026: What DC Area Buyers Need to Know Before August 3
New Condo Loan Rules for 2026: What DC Area Buyers Need to Know Before August 3 Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac just rewrote the condo approval playbook. The Limited Review is gone, small buildings get a huge break, and the changes start hitting loan applications on August 3, 2026. Here is what actually matters for…
Read MoreDMV Housing Market Update May 2026: Real Turn or Head Fake?
DMV Housing in 2026: Real Turn or Another Head Fake? DC and Montgomery County pendings just posted their first positive year-over-year numbers since 2022. Here is what the data is actually saying in this DC housing market update about whether this spring is different. By John Downs – Certified Mortgage Advisor Key Takeaways DC pending…
Read MoreAlert! 2026 Calvert County FHA Loan Limits Crash 55%
ALERT: Calvert County FHA Limits Crash 55% for 2026 (Did HUD Make a Mistake?) HUD just reclassified Calvert County out of the DC Metro zone, slashing FHA loan limits from $1.2M to $541k. Thousands of homebuyers could lose their financing overnight. By John Downs – Certified Mortgage Advisor Market Update: Calvert County | December 2025…
Read MoreDOGE Effect on the DC Housing Market
The Optimistic Realist For the past few years, we’ve all experienced the impact of high mortgage rates on our local housing market. Each year, analysts came out with an optimistic view—rates would improve, and transaction volume would follow. Only, it didn’t happen. To the surprise of many, rates remained elevated, but that didn’t stop housing…
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