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2020 Housing Market and Economic Trends

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Now that we’re almost 2 months into 2020, you may be wondering what the remainder of the year will hold for the economy and the housing market specifically. Let’s start with the economy as a whole–and don’t worry, it appears things are looking up! Stocks picked up right where they left off in 2019 by touching all-time highs. And Bonds, which also performed well in 2019, continue to hover near three-year highs, keeping home loan rates near 3-year lows.

Here we present three economic trends to watch for the remainder of the year:

Don’t fight the Fed. As the saying goes, there doesn’t appear to be any chance of a Fed rate hike in 2020. The economy is strong, but not too strong. Plus, the Fed is fighting disinflation, so a rate hike would counter those efforts. Moreover, it’s a presidential election year and the Fed has historically tried it’s best to avoid any monetary policy moves in those years.
Bottom line: good for Stocks and less good for Bonds.

Stock gains. Post-World War II, Stocks on average have gained 10.1% in presidential election years where the incumbent is up for re-election. It’s tough to fight that trend, even with Stocks soaring in 2019. Bottom line: Stocks are set to finish 2020 higher.
$1,000,000,000,000. That was what the U.S. spent in holiday retail shopping in 2019. That massive record highlights the strength of the U.S. consumer who makes up 70% of the U.S. economy.

What can we gather from these trends? That absent a Black Swan event or unforeseen negative surprise, 2020 is shaping up to be a great year for the U.S. economy, with the labor market strong, wages rising, inflation muted, and interest rates low.

Moving on to the housing market, it looks like 2020 should be an interesting year for residential real estate. Because predicting housing market trends can be challenging, we examined combined projections from the most trusted entities in the industry to bring you as accurate a forecast as possible. We review mortgage rates, home sales, and home prices–and the predictions for 2020 may surprise you.

Looking to Buy an Investment Property in the DC area? Consider the I-270 Life Sciences Corridor!

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Depending on how closely you follow development in DC and the surrounding area, you may have heard of the I-270 life sciences corridor: a 37 mile stretch of life sciences companies along I-270 that snakes from Bethesda through Rockville, Gaithersburg, Germantown, and Clarksburg. The corridor spans two counties (Montgomery and Frederick) and hosts 140 companies and counting that employee over 19,000 people between them.

One reason that buying a property along the corridor is a smart move? There are more massive developments underway that will bring plenty more jobs and plenty more employees in need of housing! Read on for some information about several of the largest planned developments.

Put Love in Your Life – Adopt a Dog or Cat!

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Adopt a Dog or a Cat

Adopt a dog or cat and put love in your life! I just adopted a standard poodle from a rescue organization and I am feeling the love! There is so much emphasis in February to design the perfect romantic Valentine’s Day. Of course it is fun to sip champagne and eat chocolates, but it’s only an evening. True love is what we all are after – in one form or another. Maybe this is the year to find that true love in the eyes of a rescued pet!

Romantic Things to Do in the DC Area

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romantic activities in Washington DC for children

February is here, which means many are scrambling to make plans for Valentine’s Day. If you are looking for some romantic things to do in the DC area, we have a few suggestions. While we recognize some people have a strong distaste for Valentine’s Day and choose not to acknowledge it, others enjoy the opportunity to spend some time with their loved one, or at the very least view the day as a good excuse to eat chocolate.

If you’re one of those people who enjoys celebrating Valentine’s Day, we’ve compiled a list of romantic things to do in the DC area. If you fall into the first category and wish that February 14th were just a normal day, then feel free to stop reading here (but consider treating yourself to some Valentine’s candy–that’s harmless!)

Neighborhood Spotlight: Alexandria

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Let’s get one thing out of the way: we recognize that Alexandria isn’t exactly a neighborhood. With a population of around 150,000 and around 200 independent restaurants and boutiques, Alexandria is better described as a small city. Nonetheless, we chose to feature it because it’s chock full of things to do and comes with some major perks for residents. For starters, living in Alexandria means an easy commute whether you work in DC or Northern Virginia! Alexandria offers easy metro access and it’s a hop, skip, and a jump to Reagan National airport for those who travel frequently. And, if you’re moving to the area to join the ranks at Amazon’s new HQ2, Alexandria is a perfect spot to call home–close to Arlington but with arguably more charm!

Even if you aren’t looking to move in 2020, this small city is most certainly worth a visit for both DMV locals and out of town visitors alike. Don’t take our word for it–Alexandria was named a Top 3 Best Small City in the U.S. by the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards in 2019! Read on for our guide to this lovely and historic town.

Tips for a Healthy Home in 2020

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Here are 6 tips for a healthy home. With the start of the new year, we all have lots of goals for self improvement – read more, eat more healthily, exercise more, stress less. To go along with that self improvement effort, try these tips for a healthy home in 2020. After all, shouldn’t the place that you spend the bulk of your time be healthy too?

FHA Loan Limits Increase for 2020

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The first step in buying a new home is to get your finances in order. Many first time homebuyers turn to FHA financing because the down payment is only 3.5% of the loan amount and it is available to borrowers with lower credit scores. The FHA loan limits were announced on December 3, 2019 for the following year.

All About Westbard Mews

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Are you looking for an elegant but affordable home close to Bethesda and Northwest Washington? Do you need to get out to Dulles Airport easily? Do you want to be able to lock your front door and travel for a few weeks or months and not worry about who is going to shovel your front steps when it snows or mow your grass in summer? Check out Westbard Mews – the perfect community for empty nesters or small families that want to spend more time living life than maintaining a home.

How Long Can This Economic Recovery Last?

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How long can this economic recovery last? Earlier this year, there was lots of talk about a recession or at least an economic slow down coming by the end of the year. Here we are in mid December 2019 – and the stock market is booming and unemployment rates are at record lows. The economy is currently experiencing the longest recovery in our nation’s history.

Neighborhood Spotlight: Rockville

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For our first Neighborhood Spotlight featuring a community outside of DC city limits, we chose Rockville, Maryland. Rockville is one of the most populous towns in Montgomery County, and although it’s a fairly easy half hour drive into Washington, Rockville offers plenty of things to do, drink, and eat in its own right! We’ve compiled some recommendations below for locals and visitors alike–as our list will prove to you, there’s really no need to fight Beltway traffic to have a good time!