Headlines: Despite cold weather, DC area housing market heating up
Here’s a look at what’s happening in real estate in and around the District of Columbia.
DC-area housing market is on a roll
Typically, January is one of the slowest months of the year. But last month, according to analytics firm RealEstate Business Intelligence (RBI), a subsidiary of Rockville-based multiple-listing service MRIS, the market showed across-the-board progress. -Washington Post
Washington home prices reach highest January level in 7 years
The median price of a house or a condo that sold in the Washington metro region last month was $385,000, the highest January median price since 2007 and up 4.1 percent from a year earlier. Condo prices led the gain, up 4.7 percent. -Washington Business Journal
Where zoning commissioners stand on DC’s proposed pop-up rule
The Zoning Commission is strongly divided on a proposed rule aimed at stopping residential pop-ups in DC. But if commissioners’ opinions hold steady, the rule is likely to be implemented on a divided vote. -DC Urban Turf
Bowser Administration scraps downtown museum plans
Last month, administration officials said that five projects that had been awarded under Mayor Vince Gray were under review and could be opened to new bids. Among them was the Institute for Contemporary Expression, the highly anticipated museum from art collector Dani Levinas. -Washington City Paper
Your transit map could look like this if Maryland builds the purple and red lines
Within ten years, you could be able to take trains from West Baltimore to Tysons Corner in Virginia, or go from Bethesda to Fells Point along the Baltimore waterfront without detouring through downtown DC. If, that is, Maryland still builds the planned Purple and Baltimore Red light rail lines. -Greater Greater Washington
Demand for government-backed FHA loans spikes
Mortgage activity took a slight breather last week, but applications for government-backed loans went on a tear after the government insurer of home loans lowered annual insurance premiums by half a percentage point. -CNBC