Morning Real Estate Review

Builders woo buyers with smaller floor plans (Washington Post)  Builders are finally stepping away from McMansions as recession-era buyers focus on practicality, affordability.


Lehman buys remaining stake in Archstone (Reuters)  Lehman pays $1.58 billion for the last chunk of the apartment giant.

Rents higher near White House, Capitol (Washington Post) Shockingly, a Costar report says that rents are higher near the centers of power.   Rents seem to be at even more of a premium during the Obama administration than they have during previous presidencies.

Texas steakhouse to sign on as first retail tenant in CityCenter project (Washington Post) The Dallas-based restaurant group will take 17,000 s.f., though a lease has not yet been signed.

Housing prices showing signs of stability (Wall Street Journal) As affordability has steadily improved, numerous housing indicators show that prices are starting to trend upward in pockets throughout the United States.

Morning Real Estate Review

April shows homes sales and prices up (MarketWatch)  With more homes sales in April than last April, and a 10% jump in the median sales price over last year, the April numbers show a surprising upswing to the housing market.  March 2012 numbers had been mixed, so the numbers don't yet constitute a trend.

Mayor Gray seeks eateries for southeast DC (Washington Times)  The District hopes for a restaurant pavilion in St. Elizabeths' east campus.

Tough financing leads developers into the arms of the government and tax-exempt bonds (Housing Finance) Developers waiting - and waiting - for FHA to approve loans, turn to low-income housing tax credits (LIHTCs), and low-income housing, to get the job done.

Why classical architecture makes little sense for DC (Washington Post) Classicists decry modernism throughout DC too quickly, but they might have a point with the proposed Eisenhower memorial.

Morning Real Estate Review

Options that add value to homes (Washington Times) Overbuilding your home doesn't pay in the resale market, but upgrades that bring your house closer to the median value are worth doing before the sale.

Columbia gets a new downtown in $100 million development (Baltimore Sun)  Howard Hughes Corp and Kettler plan to start next year on a 380-unit complex.

Home prices could bottom out next year (HousingWire)  Fitch estimates that prices could drop another 7.8% nationwide before hitting bottom in 2013.

Realtors descend on Washington to lobby for interests (US News) 10,000 reportedly rallied on the Mall yesterday to lobby for pro-housing legislation.

Morning Real Estate Review

One more (ridiculous) look at height limits (Washington Post)  Architects take a serious look at height limits, the public gets its bloomers in a twist thinking about (gasp!) change.

Southwest DC community turns 50 (Washington Post)  The visually appalling development has its supporters, dated appearances notwithstanding.

Obama urges Congress to help homeowners (Washington Times) President calls on Congress to make it easier for homeowners to refinance their mortgages.


Alexandria approves redevelopment plan (Washington Post) Alexandria council approves Beauregard area plan, extracting tens of millions from developers for affordable housing and infrastructure upgrades.