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A BUSY WEEK IN REAL ESTATE - FROM DC TO BALTIMORE!Two cities, two multifamily investment properties, and two different s...
10/15/2026

A BUSY WEEK IN REAL ESTATE - FROM DC TO BALTIMORE!

Two cities, two multifamily investment properties, and two different sides of the transaction!

I'm excited to share that I recently helped my clients settle on a $1.2 million, four-unit investment property at 2139 Newport Place NW in Washington, DC, in a fantastic location near Dupont Circle and George Washington University.

My buyers are thrilled with their purchase and are looking forward to making improvements to the property. Two of the four one-bedroom apartments are currently vacant, and they plan to renovate those units before making them available for rent.

A special thank-you to Christian Barrero of Horvath & Tremblay, who represented the sellers. I appreciated his professionalism and cooperation throughout the transaction!

Meanwhile, in Baltimore, my listing of another multifamily investment property at 1031 Edmondson Avenue just went under contract following negotiations. There's still work to be done before settlement, but it's great to see another transaction moving forward!

Whether it's helping buyers find their next home, assisting sellers in achieving their goals, or guiding investors through the purchase and sale of income-producing properties, I enjoy the variety of opportunities real estate provides.

Thinking about buying, selling, or investing in Maryland, DC, or Virginia? I'd welcome the opportunity to help!

Not every home improvement project has to be about resale value.That's something I've been reminded of lately while doin...
09/24/2026

Not every home improvement project has to be about resale value.

That's something I've been reminded of lately while doing some work on my own house. I'm hoping to post some before-and-after photos once everything is finished - partly to show the transformation and partly to show that I actually take some of my own advice!

Of course, it's smart to think about how improvements may affect the value of your home. But if you're planning to stay for a while, there's also value in making your home a place you enjoy living in.

The interesting question is where those two things overlap - improvements that make a home more enjoyable now while also making it more appealing to a future buyer.

That's a conversation I have with clients pretty regularly. Kitchens and bathrooms get a lot of attention, but curb appeal, landscaping, paint, flooring, lighting and relatively modest updates can sometimes make a surprisingly big difference in how a home presents.

If you're considering a project and wondering how it might affect resale value, I'm always happy to give you my perspective - even if selling isn't anywhere on your immediate horizon.

The Fed raised interest rates today — actually about a half hour ago.But what does that mean for mortgage rates?Not nece...
09/16/2026

The Fed raised interest rates today — actually about a half hour ago.

But what does that mean for mortgage rates?

Not necessarily what you might think.

The Federal Reserve raised its short-term target rate by 0.25%, bringing the target range to 3.75%–4.00%.

But mortgage rates don't simply move up or down by the same amount as the Fed's rate.

Mortgage rates are more closely influenced by longer-term bond yields — particularly the 10-year Treasury — along with market expectations and other economic factors.

So while the Fed's decision matters, the headline Fed rate isn't the whole mortgage-rate story.

And for buyers, that's important.

A higher mortgage rate doesn't necessarily mean there is only one way to structure a purchase. Depending on the buyer's circumstances, there may be other financing strategies worth considering:

• 5/1 ARMs — which can offer a lower initial rate for buyers whose plans and risk tolerance make an adjustable-rate mortgage appropriate. I'm currently seeing 5/1 ARM rates around 6%, compared with about 7% for a 30-year fixed.

• Rate buydowns — either temporary or permanent, sometimes negotiated as part of the transaction.

• Maryland Mortgage Program options — which may provide competitive financing and assistance with down payment and closing costs for eligible buyers. There are also programs specifically for eligible first-time buyers who are teachers or first responders that offer a 0.50% rate reduction from the standard MMP First Time Advantage 5% product.

• Other loan structures and incentives — depending on the property, lender and buyer's individual situation.

None of these options is right for everyone, and a lower initial rate doesn't necessarily mean a lower overall cost.

But that's the point:

The mortgage rate is only one part of the financing conversation.

When rates are higher, it can be even more important to look at the available options and structure the financing around the buyer's particular situation.

There's more than one way to approach today's market.

DOES YOUR HOME REALLY NEED TO BE PERFECT BEFORE YOU SELL?One of the things I hear from homeowners all the time is:“We'd ...
08/27/2026

DOES YOUR HOME REALLY NEED TO BE PERFECT BEFORE YOU SELL?

One of the things I hear from homeowners all the time is:

“We'd like to sell, but there's still so much we need to do first.”

The good news? Your home doesn't have to be perfect to sell.

In fact, one of the most important parts of my job is helping homeowners figure out which improvements are worth making — and which ones aren't.

A fresh coat of paint might make sense. Replacing a perfectly functional kitchen just because it's a little dated? Probably not.

The same goes for landscaping, flooring, bathrooms and all those little projects you've been noticing around the house.

The goal isn't to spend as much as possible getting your home ready. It's to spend strategically, where the investment is likely to make a meaningful difference to buyers.

Sometimes the best advice I can give a seller is: “Don't do that. Save your money — and price the house accordingly.” I say that all the time!

If you're thinking about selling sometime in the next year or two, it's never too early to have that conversation. Knowing what not to do can be just as valuable as knowing what to do.

FALL HOME SELLING? AUGUST IS THE TIME TO START PREPARING 🏡Summer may still be blazing, but fall is just around the corne...
08/13/2026

FALL HOME SELLING? AUGUST IS THE TIME TO START PREPARING 🏡

Summer may still be blazing, but fall is just around the corner—and fall is typically one of the stronger times of year for real estate.

If you're considering selling your home this fall, you don't need to put it on the market tomorrow. But August is a great time to start preparing.

Here are three things you can do now:

🏡 TAKE CARE OF THE LITTLE THINGS
That dripping faucet, loose railing, tired landscaping or paint touch-up is much easier to deal with now than right before you're preparing for photos and showings.

🏡 START DECLUTTERING
You don't have to make your home look like a model home. But removing excess furniture and personal items can make rooms feel larger and help buyers focus on the space.

🏡 GET A REALISTIC IDEA OF YOUR HOME'S VALUE
Online estimates can be a starting point, but they can't see your home's updates, condition, lot or location. Those details can make a significant difference in what a home is worth in Olney and throughout Montgomery County.

And even if you're thinking about selling next year, it's not too early to start planning. One thing many homeowners overlook is taking exterior photos while the landscaping is green and looking its best.

If you're curious what your home could sell for in today's market—or just want to start planning for a future move—I'm happy to have a conversation with you.

Lee Friedman | Northrop Realty

Mid-July is always an interesting pocket in the DMV real estate market. Still summer, but school schedules are starting ...
07/22/2026

Mid-July is always an interesting pocket in the DMV real estate market. Still summer, but school schedules are starting to influence decisions for many families.

While some people are away on vacation, serious buyers and sellers are still making moves behind the scenes.

This week has included client meetings and appointments across Montgomery County, Prince George’s County, DC, and Virginia - helping clients understand their options and prepare for what comes next.

Real estate is rarely just about the transaction. It’s about having the right information, strategy, and guidance at the right time.

My approach:
CLEAR & CALM.
STRATEGY OVER HYPE.
PREPARATION OVER PRESSURE.

One of the most common questions I hear from homeowners is:“Has my home’s value changed as much as the headlines suggest...
07/02/2026

One of the most common questions I hear from homeowners is:

“Has my home’s value changed as much as the headlines suggest?”

The short answer: it depends far more on your specific home than on the headlines.

In today’s market, even within the same neighborhood, two similar homes can have noticeably different outcomes based on condition, updates, timing, and what buyers are prioritizing right now.

That’s why broad national or even regional trends don’t always reflect what’s happening on your street.

If you’re curious what that looks like for your home, I’m always happy to provide a current, no-pressure market analysis.

Sometimes the real story is more nuanced than what you’re seeing in the news.

When people who have bought and sold multiple homes across the DMV tell me they enter a transaction with high expectatio...
06/25/2026

When people who have bought and sold multiple homes across the DMV tell me they enter a transaction with high expectations, I completely respect that benchmark.

To me, being a real estate advisor isn't about the transaction itself— it’s about providing genuine advocacy, handling the contract details with total precision, and making sure my clients actually feel heard and protected from start to finish.

Thank you so much, Janee, for trusting me to guide your recent DC purchase to a smooth, calm settlement! It was an absolute pleasure working with you.



—

Lee Friedman, REALTOR®
Northrop Realty
LeeFriedman.NorthropRealty.com
Cell: (301) 787-8954

WHAT THE FED'S JUNE MEETING MEANS FOR DMV REAL ESTATE Yesterday afternoon, the Federal Reserve concluded its highly anti...
06/18/2026

WHAT THE FED'S JUNE MEETING MEANS FOR DMV REAL ESTATE

Yesterday afternoon, the Federal Reserve concluded its highly anticipated June meeting under its new Chair. As expected, they voted unanimously to hold the benchmark interest rate steady at 3.5% to 3.75%.

However, the underlying data sent a surprisingly hawkish signal to the housing market: due to lingering inflation risks driven by recent energy shocks and global volatility, the Fed’s updated projections actually flipped. The vast majority of policymakers now anticipate a potential rate hike later this year rather than the sweeping cuts consumers were hoping to see.

THE SILVER LINING FOR DMV BUYERS THIS WEEKEND:

Despite the Fed’s tough tone, mortgage rates actually responded with a modest pullback. Freddie Mac just released their weekly data this morning showing that the 30-year fixed rate dipped to an average of 6.47% (down from 6.52% last week).

My guiding principle is simple: STRATEGY OVER HYPE. PREPARATION OVER PRESSURE. In a hyper-local market like ours where premium inventory is incredibly tight, trying to "time the market" based on macro guesswork isn't a strategy - meticulous preparation is.

Whether you are looking to define clear net-equity targets ahead of a summer sale or you need a forensic review of your contract levers to win a competitive purchase with legal-grade precision, I am here to help you cut through the market noise.

Feel free to message me directly or call my cell to map out your own strategic roadmap! Have an incredible Thursday, everyone!

Lee Friedman, REALTOR®
Northrop Realty
Office: (410) 531-0321 | Cell: (301) 787-8954 [email protected] See less

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Silver Spring, MD
20910

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+13017878954

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