District of Columbia Archives - REBusinessOnline

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

John Nelson — Mon, 22 Dec 2025 14:33:27 +0000

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

Abby Cox — Fri, 19 Dec 2025 15:40:19 +0000

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

John Nelson — Tue, 16 Dec 2025 12:24:00 +0000

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

John Nelson — Tue, 25 Nov 2025 16:01:44 +0000

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

John Nelson — Thu, 20 Nov 2025 15:50:30 +0000

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

John Nelson — Thu, 06 Nov 2025 15:04:30 +0000

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

Abby Cox — Mon, 08 Sep 2025 14:30:00 +0000

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

John Nelson — Tue, 05 Aug 2025 11:50:00 +0000

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

Abby Cox — Mon, 04 Aug 2025 14:32:00 +0000

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

John Nelson — Wed, 23 Jul 2025 14:05:38 +0000

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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HGI Provides $38.3M Refinancing for Office Building in D.C.’s East End

John Nelson — Wed, 16 Jul 2025 15:16:21 +0000

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Affiliates of Harbor Group International LLC (HGI) have provided a $38.3 million loan for the refinancing of a 12-story office building located at 1250 Eye St. in Washington, D.C.’s East End district. The borrower is Kairos Investment Management Co., which purchased the 180,000-square-foot property in 2023. Kairos plans to use the loan proceeds to refinance existing debt and fund ongoing renovations and enhancements of the property, while also supporting leasing activity. These enhancements will include a new amenity suite on the 12th floor that Gensler designed that will feature an elevated hospitality lounge, conference center, bar/kitchen and terrace. Renovations include move-in ready office spaces and upgrades to commons areas including the lobby, fitness center, bike room and parking/valet services.

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Why Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac Believe the Wind Is at Their Back

John Nelson — Tue, 15 Jul 2025 11:45:00 +0000

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are adopting a more pro-business approach when it comes to closing multifamily loans in 2025 than in recent years, when sources say they were more selective. The two government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs) combined to produce 33 percent more multifamily loans in first-quarter 2025 compared with first-quarter 2024. “There is definitely a ‘volume on’ mindset at both shops,” says Landon Litty, director of agency sales at BWE. “This is a real positive for borrowers.” For Fannie Mae, the volume of multifamily loans totaled $11.8 billion in the first quarter of 2025, compared with $10.1 billion in the first quarter of 2024. Meanwhile, Freddie Mac produced approximately $15 billion in multifamily loans in the first quarter, financing around 144,000 rental units, well above the approximately $10 billion produced in first-quarter 2024. “The first quarter of 2025 has been dynamic, with real-time adjustments to meet market needs while maintaining a focus on soundness,” says a spokesperson at Freddie Mac Multifamily. Other sources attest that the GSEs are focusing on their sponsors more so than in previous years. T.J. Edwards, chief production officer for the multifamily finance division at Walker & Dunlop, says the agencies are proactively vetting first-time borrowers…

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CPC Arranges $26.7M in Construction Financing for Affordable Housing Rehabilitation Project in D.C.

Abby Cox — Fri, 11 Jul 2025 13:30:07 +0000

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Community Preservation Corp. (CPC) has arranged $26.7 million in construction financing for the rehabilitation and expansion of Townley Court, a 45-unit affordable housing community located in the Glover Park neighborhood of Washington, D.C. DC Green Bank and J.P. Morgan provided $15.7 million in combined financing for the project, while additional financing included $5.2 million from Amazon and $5.8 million from American Housing. Additionally, CPC Mortgage Co. originated a $15.7 million Freddie Mac loan under a Targeted Affordable Housing (TAH) forward commitment. The financing will fund renovations to the apartment’s 45 existing units, with plans to build an additional seven units, as well as solar panels, electric vehicle charging stations and energy-efficient building upgrades. The eco-friendly improvements are estimated to cut both the building’s utility costs and greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 10 percent, while also meeting the Enterprise Green Communities certification upon completion of the renovation. Completion is targeted for September 2026.

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SRS Brokers $3M Sale of D.C. Restaurant Leased to Pupatella Neapolitan Pizza

John Nelson — Thu, 03 Jul 2025 13:28:46 +0000

WASHINGTON, D.C. — SRS Real Estate Partners has brokered the nearly $3 million sale of a restaurant property located at 301 Massachusetts Ave. in Washington, D.C.’s Capitol Hill neighborhood. Pupatella Neapolitan Pizza has occupied the 4,154-square-foot restaurant since fall 2024 on a triple-net lease. Rick Fernandez and Andrew Fallon of SRS represented the seller, a private owner based in New York City, in the transaction. The buyer was a local private investor. Both parties requested anonymity. Sandy Spring Bank provided an undisclosed amount of acquisition financing to the buyer. The restaurant was recently renovated and features 1,500 square feet of outdoor patio space.

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U.S. Economy Adds 147,000 Jobs in June, Surpassing Expectations from Economists

John Nelson — Thu, 03 Jul 2025 13:27:19 +0000

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. economy added 147,000 jobs in June, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The monthly figure surpasses the estimated 110,000 jobs by Dow Jones economists, according to CNBC. The total also contrasts ADP’s report yesterday that the private sector lost 33,000 jobs in June, which CNBC reported was a surprise to economists who were forecasting an increase of 100,000 jobs. While surpassing expectations, the June total is on target with the average 146,000 jobs added over the prior 12 months, according to the BLS. The leading employment sector this past month was government, which added 73,000 jobs. State governments added 47,000 jobs, mostly in education (+40,000), and local governments added 23,000 jobs. Job losses continued at the federal level as 7,000 jobs were lost in June. Other sectors that saw job gains in June included healthcare (+39,000) and social assistance (+19,000). Employment changed little in most other fields, including construction, manufacturing, retail trade, transportation and warehousing, professional and business services and leisure and hospitality. The BLS also reported that the unemployment rate changed little at 4.1 percent, which marks 13 consecutive months where the unemployment rate has landed between 4 and 4.2 percent.…

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Garfield, Broad Creek Capital Acquire 285,000 SF Office Building in D.C.

John Nelson — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 14:56:51 +0000

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A partnership between Garfield Investments and Broad Creek Capital has acquired a 285,000-square-foot, eight-story office building located at 300 M St. SE in Washington, D.C.’s Navy Yard district. The seller and sales price were not disclosed. Bradley Allen of Eastdil brokered the transaction. Situated two blocks from the Navy Yard Metro Station and opposite the Washington Navy Yard, the property was 53 percent leased at the time of sale to tenants including defense firms and subcontractors of the U.S. Navy. The office building includes a 7,000-square-foot conference facility, fitness center, 24-hour security and 304 underground parking spaces. Garfield and Broad Creek have selected Greg Tomasso of Avison Young to handle leasing at 300 M.

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JRK Property Holdings Acquires Two Apartment Communities in Los Angeles, Washington, D.C. for $315M

Abby Cox — Fri, 27 Jun 2025 11:45:00 +0000

LOS ANGELES AND WASHINGTON, D.C. — Los Angeles-based JRK Property Holdings has acquired two apartment communities totaling 684 units, Chase Knolls in Los Angeles and WestEnd25 in Washington, D.C., in two separate transactions for a combined total of $315 million. Located on 14 acres in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Sherman Oaks, Chase Knolls is a 401-unit garden-style community that encompasses nearly two city blocks. The property was originally built in 1949 to include 260 Art Deco-inspired apartment homes across 19 one- and two-story residential buildings. In 2021, a new clubhouse and resort-style swimming pool were integrated into the community, along with 141 new units that were constructed to occupy six additional residential buildings. JRK also plans to make further enhancements to the complex to improve the community amenities and common areas. According to Cushman & Wakefield, which marketed the property for sale on behalf of the undisclosed seller, Chase Knolls is one of only 12 apartment communities exceeding 100 units built in Sherman Oaks over the past 75 years, a testament to the significant development hurdles in the area, such as limited land and high barriers to entry. The second property, WestEnd25, is a 283-unit high-rise apartment community that…

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Shorenstein Purchases 901 K Street Office Building in D.C.’s East End

John Nelson — Tue, 24 Jun 2025 14:24:30 +0000

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Shorenstein Investment Advisers has purchased 901 K Street, a 219,956-square-foot trophy office building in Washington, D.C.’s East End submarket. The seller and sales price were not disclosed, but multiple media outlets report that Carr Properties sold the office building for $84 million. Tenants at 901 K Street include Microsoft, Baker Donelson and ViaSat. Shorenstein has selected Eli Barnes, Jonathan Wellborn and Will Stern of Avison Young to lease 901 K Street. Shorenstein plans to enhance the office building’s amenity offerings with a new conference facility and tenant lounge. Other amenities include a rooftop terrace with a catering kitchen for events, fitness center and a 222-space parking garage.

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Walker & Dunlop Arranges $106.3M Refinancing for Apartment Community in Washington, D.C.

Hayden Spiess — Thu, 19 Jun 2025 11:03:00 +0000

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Walker & Dunlop has arranged $106.3 million loan for the refinancing of Agora, an apartment community located in Washington, D.C. The borrower is locally based owner-operator WC Smith. Completed in 2018, Agora totals 334 units across 11 stories. The community marks the second phase of the larger development known as The Collective, which totals 1,138 apartments in the Capitol Riverfront neighborhood. The Collective also includes Park Chelsea, a 429-unit community, and The Garrett, which features 373 apartments and 5,000 square feet of coworking space. Amenities at The Collective include a Whole Foods Market, fitness center, spa rooms and an indoor golf simulator. The development is located within walking distance of Nationals Park, Audi Field and the Navy Yard. “Agora is a standout asset within their exceptional portfolio, and the swift rate lock, secured within 24 hours of the signed application, demonstrates our dedication to providing timely, customized solutions that ensure the best possible outcomes for our clients, says Connor Locke, managing director of multifamily finance at Walker & Dunlop. Walker & Dunlop also arranged financing for the other two phases of The Collective. In 2024, the firm originated more than $30 billion in debt financing. — Hayden Spiess

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ADEA to Relocate D.C. Headquarters to District Center

Abby Cox — Mon, 16 Jun 2025 15:13:48 +0000

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The American Dental Education Association (ADEA) has signed a lease to relocate to the District Center at 555 12th St. NW in Washington, D.C. ADEA will occupy approximately 30,000 square feet, which is half of the fourth floor, beginning in the first quarter of 2026. ADEA’s headquarters is currently located at the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) at 655 K St. NW in D.C. Andy Eichberg, Matt Pacinelli and John Klinke of Stream Realty Partners represented the landlord in the lease transaction. Susan Thomas and Thomas Brown of CBRE represented ADEA. District Center, owned by a joint venture between MetLife Investment Management and Norges Bank Investment Management, offers 850,000 square feet of office space and is 95 percent leased, with up to 6,500 square feet still available for lease. Amenities at the property include an atrium lounge, fitness center with group and personal training options, lockers, showers, ample bicycle storage and a rooftop sky lounge that spans 3,391 square feet with outdoor terraces. Retail and restaurant tenants at the center include Ristorante TOSCA, Celadon Spa & Salon, Saks OFF Fifth, Nordstrom Rack and Potbelly Sandwich Shop.

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