Top D.C. real estate stories (Week of April 24)

Two former Olympians now working in D.C. commercial real estate, a banner war in Southwest, high hopes for D.C.’s spring real estate market and more in this week’s top stories.

D.C. building bans balcony banners after residents use them to argue about politics | Washingtonian

The likely inspiration for this sudden order, according to one resident, was a rush of political banners in the past few months, starting with a “Trump: Make America Great Again” flag that appeared shortly after last November’s election.

D.C.’s missing middle | Urban Turf

Their income enables them to afford a monthly mortgage, although likely not a down payment, for a home.

This spring’s real estate market likely to be busier than last year’s | Curbed DC

Some of the factors that survey respondents said will contribute to a busier spring include an improved job market, more first-time homebuyers entering the market, more qualified buyers.

D.C. area tops the list for black, Latino homeownership rates, Trulia says | Washington Post

The D.C. area tops the list for the largest increase in black homeownership between 1990 and 2015, with a 9.6 percent rise.

7 former star athletes in D.C. commercial real estate | Bisnow

Commercial real estate is a competitive industry, and some of the top players in the DC market have backgrounds in high-level sports that set them up for high-stakes dealing.