I'd be willing to bet you've heard that negative news sells. If you’ve read any media coverage of home prices recently, you’ve probably seen this principle in action. I’m going to set the record straight and give you more context about what’s happening in our current market.

The graph below shows the percentage change in home values for each month last year. If you look at the green bars on the graph, you’ll notice that home prices were up most months last year. However, we see a decline in January 2023 and January 2024. That’s typically what the media calls attention to. But that’s not the full story—it’s just clickbait. 

In reality, despite what you might hear, home prices increased overall, and the two red bars in the graph are practically flat, which is almost insignificant. The big picture is clear: prices rose overall last year. This selective focus on negative data is a perfect example of how the media can influence our perception of the housing market. It is important to be critical and not be swayed by misleading headlines.

If you have questions about the pricing of your home or are considering buying, feel free to give me a call or text at (703) 216-4272, or you can also drop me an email. I’m here to provide a clear and unbiased perspective on our local real estate market.