Karin Kaye and Rick Watkins, Realtors

01/14/2026

🏡 Virginia Housing Community Heroes Grant — $10,000!

Teachers, school staff, first responders, law enforcement, healthcare workers, and military (including retirees!) may qualify for a $10,000 grant to help with down payment + closing costs (with an eligible Virginia Housing home loan).

To to see if you qualify? Send me a message — I’m happy to help you get started. 💙

To the people who keep our community running every day — thank you!!

09/27/2025

Just listed in Falls Church City! Open Saturday and Sunday 1-4.

💛 Why I love living in Falls Church City 💛

If you haven’t explored all that Falls Church has to offer, you’re missing out! Our Little City is full of hidden gems and big charm:

🌳 Outdoors – Walk, bike, or jog the W&OD Trail, or relax at one of our many parks and playgrounds.

🍅 Farmers Market – Fresh produce, baked goods, and friendly faces every weekend.

🍜 Eden Center – Hands down, some of the best Vietnamese food (and shopping!) you’ll find anywhere.

🎶 Live Music & Arts – Catch a concert at The State Theatre or discover local talent at ArtSpace Falls Church, our community’s hub for exhibits and performances.

🏛️ History – From Cherry Hill Farmhouse to Tinner Hill, our city has deep roots worth exploring.

🍷 Founders Row – A fresh destination with restaurants, cafés, and shops—perfect for a night out or a casual stroll.

Falls Church is the perfect mix of small-town warmth and big-city access. Just minutes from D.C., but with its own unique heartbeat—and I love calling it home.

✨ Next time you’re looking for something fun to do, check out what’s right here in our backyard!

For sale: 4 bed, 3 bath, 2,145 SQFT house. Located in the charming Greenway Downs subdivision in Falls Church City! This delightful Cape Cod has warmth a... $959,950.

09/16/2025

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Contract activity for September 7 - 13, 2025 in the Metro DC area was down 7.9% compared to the same seven-day period last year.

Key Takeaways:
· None of the six jurisdictions we track had an increase in the number of newly ratified contracts. The “best” area was Loudoun County, which was unchanged from last year.
· We were a bit surprised at these results, because mortgage interest rates fell to their lowest level so far this year.
· However, there was a total of 1,085 newly ratified contracts last week, and that’s a 22.7% jump from the week prior. Maybe the lower rates made a difference after all.

Why it Matters
· The psychology of the market is . . . interesting. It almost seems like lots of would-be buyers have hit the “pause” button, waiting to see what the Federal Reserve does later this week.
· The mortgage market largely expects a 25 basis point cut, so if that comes to pass we don’t expect mortgage rates to change much. A larger cut might move the needle a little lower, and that would be welcome news.
· Last week homes going under contract took an average of 38 days to sell, while last year the number was 30 days.

05/26/2025

04/08/2025

Just like the temperature, the spring real estate market is heating up in our region, and buyers are anxious to get in on the action. Limited inventory still favors sellers, but there are strong signs that more homes will continue to be added, allowing buyers a better chance of finding a home that meets their needs.

In the spring market, homes tend to go under contract about 10-15% faster, likely influenced by a combination of better weather that makes it easier to show houses and the fact that there are more buyers in the Spring.

Sellers who are preparing to list soon should expect some negotiation from buyers who see, maybe, not "bargains" but "opportunities" with more homes to choose from. Buyer activity was relatively stronger in the D.C. area market than in other parts of the Mid-Atlantic region last week, with pending sales activity the strongest in the local markets where listing activity has increased the most.

Questions about what to expect this Spring? Let's talk! Comment "learn more" and I'll be in touch!

04/08/2025

Contract activity for March 30 – April 5, 2025, in the Metro DC area was up 26.2% compared to the same seven-day period last year.

Key Takeaways:
· That 26.2% increase is, by far, the best weekly increase this year, and all six jurisdictions we track also posted increases. That’s the first time this year we’ve seen that.
· But this great performance does come with an asterisk. This seven-day period last year included all of Easter Weekend and much of spring break for schools, and contract activity is always slower during that time. There was no holiday or vacation impact in this week’s numbers.
· We add an additional asterisk. With 1,224 new contracts last week, the market fell a little short of the 1,240 contracts the previous week and the 1,257 contracts the week before that. This is the time of year we expect to see modest week-over-week increases.

Why it Matters:
· With the first quarter of 2025 in the books, it is abundantly clear that the move-up market is faring pretty well, while the first-time buyer market is struggling under the affordability challenge.
· The jurisdiction with the highest median sales price – Loudoun County – has seen total new contract activity rise 8.1% year-to-date, while the area with lowest median sales price – Prince George’s County – is off 14%.

04/02/2025

Spring has sprung and April is in full swing! What's your favorite way to celebrate the season?

04/01/2025

According to the National Association of Insurance Companies (NAIC), flooding is the most frequent and expensive natural disaster in the United States. Learn how to protect your home with flood insurance.

https://corcoranmce.com/2025/03/18/post-47929

03/31/2025

Contract activity for March 23 - 29, 2025, in the Metro DC area was up6.1%compared to the sameseven-dayperiod last year.

Key Takeaways:
·That 6.1% increase is not only the best weekly increase this year, and four of the six jurisdictions we track also posted increases. That’s the first time this year we’ve seen that.
·As we noted consistently over the last several weeks, there must be something in the water in Loudoun County. It was the leader again last week with a very healthy41.6% jumpin the number of newly ratified contracts, and the only one of the six jurisdictions tracked with ayear-to-date increase in the number of newly ratified contracts, now up 4.6%.
·We add a cautionary note – with 1,240 new contracts this week, the market fell a little short of the 1,257 contracts the previous week. This is the time of year we expect to see modest week-over-week increases.

Why it Matters:
·The market is heading – slowly – in the right direction after a rough start to the year.
·Whathasbeen consistent is the performance of more expensive properties relative to entry-level priced homes. Year-to-date contract activity for homes priced over $750,000 is up 25.2%, while activity below that threshold is down 3.3%.

03/29/2025

It’s time to shake off the last chill of winter and celebrate the beauty of spring! Check out our list of April events around Washington, DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia. From garden expos to street festivals and markets, there is plenty to choose from this month.