Evers & Co. Real Estate President Donna Evers Reports on Latest Washington, D.C. Residential Housing Market Indicators, Offers Tips for Selling a Home Over the Holidays

Washington, D.C. – There are three key indicators affected during housing market change: volume of sales, inventory and price, according to Donna Evers, president and broker of the largest woman-owned and- operated residential real estate firm in the Washington Metro area. In her most recent monthly report on the close-in Washington, D.C. area residential real estate market, Evers highlighted that the dollar volume of sales—the indicator she finds most influential—has been higher than 2008 for the fourth consecutive month, since June 2009. Inventory, the second factor, has hovered at a very low four months’ supply for the past six months, which is much stronger than 2008’s average of 7.2 months. Price is the final factor to respond to a changing market, and while September 2009 prices saw a 5.6 percent decline from September 2008, the gap continues to shrink from month to month.

"Considering we saw the low point of a 16.3 percent price decline in April 2009, it is positive news that the decline is shrinking each month,” said Donna Evers. "While it may take another four to six months for prices to even out, we should continue to see the decline slow.”

Along with a changing market, home sellers also will face the typically slow time of selling a home over the holidays. If you are putting your home on the marketing now through January, Evers recommends some key tips to keep in mind:

Tips for Selling A Home Over the Holidays (Halloween through the New Year):

Clutter is Clutter: Resist the urge to over-decorate if selling your home anytime between Halloween and the New Year. Buyers want to envision themselves in their new home at all times of the year, so excessive decorations can be viewed as distracting.

Mind the Time: If decorations are a holiday must for the family, put up tasteful selections a day or two before the holiday and take down immediately afterward.

Be A Good Neighbor: Hope your neighbors don’t cloud their yards with blow-up pumpkins or flashy lights that may be neglected and give buyers a false "shoddy” impression of an otherwise lovely neighborhood.

Beat Holiday Weather: When holidays are accompanied by excessive leaves or snow, make sure to tidy the yard, gutters, front stoop, and driveway. Remember, curb appeal is your home’s first impression!

* Statistics are taken from the Metropolitan Information System for three areas: Washington, D.C., Montgomery Country, Maryland; and Fairfax County, Arlington, Alexandria and Falls Church in Virginia.