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D.C. Retail Remains a Great Opportunity, If You Know Where to Look

by John Nelson

The Washington, D.C., commercial real estate market is intricate, shaped by broad economic trends and local dynamics. The recent federal government shutdown underscored ongoing challenges, intensifying uncertainty and slowing local transactions. Continued ambiguity around trade and tariff policies further complicates business planning, adding to the region’s cautious dealmaking environment. Anxiety affects the region’s key economic source: federal workers and contractors, who make up 40 percent of its economy. Since January 2025, federal job losses here have outpaced the national average, increasing the risk of a local slowdown. Despite the area’s wealth, ongoing job uncertainty should guide all investment and operational choices. The interplay between federal employment trends and local business activity means that investors and operators must remain vigilant, adapting strategies to respond to shifting workforce dynamics and consumer sentiment. Tale of two marketsThe D.C. retail market is split: downtown faces challenges due to office vacancies and low weekday traffic, while suburban and residential-heavy urban areas are thriving. Affluent spots in Northern Virginia and Suburban Maryland have the lowest vacancy rates thanks to stable local shoppers. These areas benefit from consistent foot traffic and resilient spending patterns, which help insulate them from broader economic volatility. From a capital markets perspective, …

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AcquisitionsDevelopmentDistrict of ColumbiaLeasing ActivityOfficeSoutheast

BXP Buys D.C. Office Building for $55M, Plans Redevelopment Following Sidley Austin Anchor Lease

by Abby Cox

WASHINGTON, D.C. — BXP has acquired 2100 M Street, a 300,000-square-foot office building located in the West End of Washington, D.C., for $55 million. The publicly traded, Boston-based office REIT plans to demolish the existing building and develop a new 320,000-square-foot office tower. BXP expects to commence construction of the project in 2028. Eastdil Secured represented the undisclosed seller in the transaction. Additionally, Sidley Austin LLP has signed a 240,000-square-foot lease to anchor the future trophy property, occupying 75 percent of the building. The global law firm will be situated on the fourth through 10th floors and is scheduled to move into its new space in 2031. Lou Christopher and Jordan Brainard of CBRE represented Sidley Austin in the lease transaction.

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District of ColumbiaFeaturesSoutheastSoutheast Feature Archive

BLS: U.S. Economy Adds 64,000 Jobs in November but Loses 105,000 in October

by John Nelson

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. economy has added 64,000 non-farm payroll jobs in November and lost 105,000 jobs in October, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The BLS included the October figures into the November report due to complications with the federal government shutdown, which lasted for 44 days in October and early November. The bureau, which also delayed the release of the consumer price index and producer price index in October, plans to release the December jobs report on Jan. 9, 2026. The November figure was higher than the 45,000 estimate from Dow Jones economists, according to CNBC. The news outlet also reported that the economists didn’t make an official estimate for the October report but were largely anticipating a drop in employment. In addition to the delayed report, the BLS also revised downward the employment figures for August, from a loss of 4,000 jobs to -26,000, and September, from 119,000 jobs to 108,000. The U.S. unemployment rate also ticked up 20 basis points from September to 4.6 percent in November, its highest level since September 2021. Federal government employment continued to decrease in November with a loss of 6,000 jobs. This follows a decline of …

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Affordable HousingCompany NewsDistrict of ColumbiaLeasing ActivityMultifamilySeniors HousingSoutheastStudent Housing

Justice Department, RealPage Settle Lawsuit Over Use of Revenue Management Software in Apartment Rental Pricing

by John Nelson

RICHARDSON, TEXAS AND WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Justice Department’s Antitrust Division has reached a settlement with RealPage Inc. as part of its ongoing enforcement against algorithmic coordination, information sharing and other anticompetitive practices in rental housing markets across the country, according to details disclosed in a North Carolina federal court on Monday. The proposed consent judgment, which still requires court approval before it can be implemented, would help restore free market competition in rental markets for millions of American renters, the Justice Department stated in a press release. “Competing companies must make independent pricing decisions, and with the rise of algorithmic and artificial intelligence tools, we will remain at the forefront of vigorous antitrust enforcement,” said Assistant Attorney General Abigail Slater of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. Headquartered in Richardson, Texas, RealPage is a provider of revenue management software and services for the conventional multifamily rental housing industry. In a civil antitrust claim filed in North Carolina in August 2024, the Justice Department and the attorneys general of eight states alleged that RealPage’s revenue management software relied on nonpublic, competitively sensitive information shared by landlords to set rental prices. The plaintiffs also alleged that RealPage’s software included features designed …

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District of Columbia

U.S. Economy Adds 119,000 Jobs in September, According to Delayed BLS Report

by John Nelson

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. economy has added 119,000 jobs in September, according to a report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The latest jobs data was delayed by more than six weeks due to the recently concluded shutdown of the federal government, which lasted 44 days. The September figure exceeded forecasts of 50,000 new jobs by Dow Jones economists, according to CNBC. The BLS will postpone the jobs report data for both October and November, with plans to release the two reports simultaneously on Dec. 16. The September jobs report was originally scheduled to release on Oct. 3; the October jobs report was scheduled for Nov. 7; and the November jobs data was set to debut on Dec. 5. In addition to the delays, the BLS has revised down the jobs data for July and August by a combined 33,000 jobs. The July jobs report was revised from 79,000 to 72,000 jobs, and the August report was downwardly revised from 22,000 jobs to -4,000 jobs. The unemployment rate also increased to 4.4 percent, which is the highest level for the rate since October 2021. For September, employment was led by the healthcare sector (+43,000), bars and restaurants …

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District of ColumbiaHealthcareHospitalityIndustrialLoansMultifamilyOfficeRetailSoutheast

MBA: Commercial, Multifamily Loan Originations Increased 36 Percent in Third Quarter from 2024

by John Nelson

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The volume for commercial and multifamily mortgage loan originations closed in the third quarter of 2025 was 36 percent higher compared to a year earlier, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Quarterly Survey of Commercial/Multifamily Mortgage Bankers Originations report. The third-quarter production also represents an 18 percent increase from the previous quarter. The MBA reports that loan originations have now risen for five consecutive quarters on both a quarterly and annual basis. Among property types, there was an 181 percent year-over-year increase in the dollar volume of loans for office properties, 100 percent increase for retail properties, 66 percent increase for hotels, 27 percent increase for multifamily properties and a 5 percent increase for industrial properties. Originations for healthcare properties decreased 43 percent compared to the third quarter of 2024. “While some sectors, such as healthcare and industrial, saw slower activity, overall volumes reflected improving sentiment as property values stabilized and loans reaching maturity were refinanced,” says Reggie Booker, MBA’s associate vice president of commercial/multifamily research. Among capital sources, there was a 52 percent year-over-year increase in loans by depositories lenders (i.e. banks), 40 percent increase in loans by government sponsored enterprises (Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac) …

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August Jobs Report Chart
District of ColumbiaSoutheast

US Hiring Slows to 22,000 Jobs in August, June Revised to Negative Job Growth

by Abby Cox

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. economy added a meek 22,000 jobs in August, falling short of the 75,000 figure projected by Dow Jones economists, according to CNBC. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the report showed a marked slowdown from the July increase of 79,000, which was revised up by 6,000. Revisions also showed a net loss of 13,000 jobs in June, after the former estimate was lowered by 27,000. June is now the first month of recorded negative job growth since December 2020. Both the unemployment rate, which sits at 4.3 percent, and the number of unemployed people, which sits at 7.4 million, demonstrated a slight increase per August’s report. August’s payroll count was the first since President Donald Trump fired former BLS Commissioner, Erika McEntarfer, following the release of the July jobs report. Although total nonfarm payroll employment has shown little change since April, a job gain in healthcare was partially offset by losses in federal government, as well as mining, quarrying and oil-and-gas extraction. Federal government employment declined in August by 15,000 jobs and is down by 97,000 since reaching a peak in January. Additionally, employment in mining, quarrying and oil-and-gas extraction fell by 6,000, …

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AcquisitionsCompany NewsDistrict of ColumbiaGeorgiaMarylandMultifamilySoutheastTop StoriesVirginia

Elme Communities Agrees to Sell Multifamily Portfolio to Cortland for $1.6B as Part of Liquidation Plan

by John Nelson

BETHESDA, MD. AND ATLANTA — Elme Communities (NYSE: ELME), a Maryland-based multifamily owner-operator that previously operated as WashREIT, has entered into a purchase and sale agreement with an affiliate of Cortland Partners, an Atlanta-based multifamily investment and management firm. Under the terms of the transaction, Elme would sell 19 apartment communities to Cortland for $1.6 billion in an all-cash deal. “We are pleased to have reached an agreement with Cortland that recognizes the greater value of these 19 Elme communities and their long-term potential when coupled with Cortland’s economies of scale,” says Paul McDermott, president and CEO of Elme. “We believe Cortland will be an excellent steward of the properties and that this sale will facilitate a seamless transition of ownership, enabling continuity of operations for our residents and community teams.” Steven DeFrancis, CEO of Cortland, said that the portfolio will grow the company’s presence in the Washington, D.C., region and in its home state of Georgia.  “We’re excited to welcome these communities into the Cortland family and deliver the exceptional living experience residents have come to expect from our brand,” says DeFrancis. The properties include: Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and Jones Lang LaSalle Securities LLC are acting as …

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July Jobs Report
District of ColumbiaSoutheast

U.S. Economy Adds 73,000 Jobs in July, Previous Months’ Numbers Revised Down Significantly

by Abby Cox

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has reported that U.S. employment growth totaled 73,000 in July, falling below the 100,000 figure projected by Dow Jones economists, according to CNBC. May and June totals were also significantly revised downwards by a combined 258,000 from previous months’ totals. The BLS revised May job growth down from +144,000 to +19,000, and June from +147,000 to +14,000. The unemployment rate rose slightly to 4.2 percent, and the number of unemployed people — at 7.2 million — also showed little change from June. Nearly all job growth in July came from the healthcare and social assistance sectors, accounting for roughly 94 percent of the gains. Healthcare contributed 55,000 jobs, including increases in ambulatory healthcare services (+34,000) and hospitals (+16,000). Social assistance employment provided 18,000 jobs, reflecting continued growth in individuals and family services (+21,000). Retail added nearly 16,000 jobs, while the financial sector was increase by 15,000 jobs. Meanwhile, federal government employment continued to decline in July (-12,000) and is down by 84,000 since reaching a peak in January before Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) began reallocating job scopes and duties. There was little change in employment over the …

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AcquisitionsDistrict of ColumbiaOfficeSoutheast

In-Rel Properties Acquires 130,000 SF Office Building in D.C.

by John Nelson

WASHINGTON, D.C. — In-Rel Properties, a real estate investment and management firm based in Lake Worth Beach, Fla., has purchased a nearly 130,000-square-foot office building located at 2033 K St. NW in Washington, D.C.’s Golden Triangle district. The seller and sales price were not disclosed. In-Rel has tapped Carroll Cavanagh, Dimitri Hajimihalis and Emily Eppolito of CBRE to spearhead the leasing campaign at 2033 K Street. Renovated in 2019, the eight-story office building features a new lobby, fitness facility and conference center. In-Rel plans to install “town hall” speculative suites on the second and third floors to boost occupancy at the office building, which has a block of up to 60,000 square feet of contiguous space available for lease.

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