Sandy Chee, Realtor

Take a look at this weekend's open house guide! For more information on these homes, visit https://corcoranmce.com/properties/sale.

Thinking about selling your home this year? Before scheduling photos or putting a sign in the yard, there are a few things we always recommend doing first.

A little preparation upfront, like decluttering, tackling small projects, and figuring out which updates are actually worth it, can make a big difference later on.

And here’s the thing: preparing your home for the market isn’t about making it perfect. It’s about helping it show well, photograph well, and putting you in the best position possible from day one.

If selling is on your mind this year, send us a message before you start spending money on projects. Sometimes a quick conversation can save you time, stress, and unnecessary expenses!

Last week’s market slowdown appears to have been more about timing than demand. After a holiday weekend and less-than-ideal weather, activity across the region returned to a more familiar pattern.

📈 Total contract activity was essentially flat year-over-year, increasing just 0.8% across the region (1,133 → 1,142 contracts).

Five of six major jurisdictions posted gains or remained steady, suggesting buyers are still active — just moving at a more measured pace.

A few takeaways from this week:
• Prince William County led regional growth at +9.4%
• Loudoun and Northern Virginia posted modest gains
• Washington, DC was the only market with a notable decline
• Average days on market remained relatively stable at 37.4 days

The takeaway? Normal is back.

The market isn’t surging, but it isn’t slowing dramatically either — we continue to see steady, sustainable activity across much of the region.