Washington DC Luxury Homes: 2026 Market Guide
As of September 2026, the Washington DC luxury market is active but selective: the top 5 percent of DC-area sales start at $1.9 million, and Georgetown’s median sale price is $1.70 million. A guide to neighborhoods, prices and what buyers should know.
There is a particular kind of freedom that comes with land.
13717 Martin Rd in Brandywine, Maryland is a fully renovated four-bedroom home on 14.18 agriculturally zoned acres in Prince George's County, with a 7-stall barn, a natural stream, and room to farm, ride, or retreat within reach of Washington DC.
Money From Somewhere Else: Why a record price tells us less than it seems
Washington DC's record $680,000 median sale price in May 2026 measures scarcity more than strength, argues Marc Cashin of FORWARD at Corcoran McEnearney. Much of the high end runs on money from outside the region, while move-up buyers in Bethesda and McLean stay locked in place. The fix is building new housing.
Washington Stopped Building the First Rung
Washington DC housing permits fell from 25,899 units in 2021 to 13,589 in 2025, and the District permitted just 1,372 multifamily units last year. Marc Cashin of FORWARD at Corcoran McEnearney explains how rate lock and missing starter homes are shrinking the pool of buyers across DC, Arlington and the region.
What a Machine Was Never Going to Do
Where should AI stop in real estate? At FORWARD at Corcoran McEnearney, Marc Cashin automates process: comps, transaction management, listing operations and market monitoring across DC, Maryland and Virginia. Judgment stays with people: pricing strategy, when to reduce, which offer will close, and who to call before a property is listed.
The Buyer No AI Model Can See: Inside Washington’s All-Cash 32%
32% of luxury home sales in the DC area closed all cash last quarter, against 17% of the market overall. Marc Cashin of FORWARD at Corcoran McEnearney explains why many of those buyers, from contracting principals to diplomats and private equity partners, are invisible to AI models and public data until after they close.
Are DC Luxury Condos Really Outperforming Single-Family?
Yes, for now. In July 2026 the T3 Home Demand Index put DC Metro luxury condos at 109 and luxury single-family at 96, a 13-point spread. Marc Cashin of FORWARD at Corcoran McEnearney explains why condo buyers in the West End, Dupont Circle and Capitol Hill are still acting, and where single-family sellers are losing leverage.
The DC Market Is Normalizing, Not Softening. Here Is the Difference.
Is the DC housing market softening? Marc Cashin of FORWARD at Corcoran McEnearney says no. The T3 Home Demand Index fell to 85 in July 2026 from an unusually high 99 a year earlier, but DC home sales are up 10.3% and homes average 49 days on market. That is normalization, and a window for buyers.
Washington DC is the Most Underpriced Capital in the World. That Won’t Last.
Prime Washington DC real estate trades at a steep discount to London, Paris, Singapore and other world capitals on price per square foot. Marc Cashin of FORWARD at Corcoran McEnearney explains why the $2M to $5M segment in Georgetown, Kalorama, McLean, Chevy Chase, Bethesda and Old Town Alexandria still offers unusual value.
Friction Is Not a Crisis. What the Headlines Get Wrong About DC Real Estate Right Now.
Is the DC housing market crashing? No. One in four DMV contracts fell through in Q1 2026, the highest rate since 2021, and inventory is up, but premium homes in Georgetown, McLean, Bethesda and Chevy Chase are still selling. Marc Cashin of FORWARD at Corcoran McEnearney explains why this is a correction, not a crash.
Depth Beats Scale. Every Time.
Why choose a local DC real estate team over a national brokerage? Marc Cashin of FORWARD at Corcoran McEnearney argues that Washington rewards depth: Georgetown pricing logic, Kalorama co-op boards and off-market sellers live in local relationships, not national databases. FORWARD works only in the DMV, with an in-house team for every step.
How the DC Real Estate Market Is Repricing Reality
The DC housing market entered spring 2026 more disciplined, not weaker. Homes going under contract in Washington averaged 87 days on market, up from 85 a year earlier. Marc Cashin of FORWARD at Corcoran McEnearney explains why buyers now have room to negotiate and why sellers need precise pricing and preparation.
The AI Gap in Real Estate Is About to Get Much Wider
82% of real estate agents now use AI daily, and Marc Cashin of FORWARD at Corcoran McEnearney argues that widens the gap between agents rather than closing it. FORWARD uses AI trained on its own systems and data to price, compare and advise clients in real time, including on new development condos in Northeast DC.
As New York Capital Repositions, Washington Is Emerging as a Strategic Bet
Why are New York buyers looking at Washington DC? Marc Cashin of FORWARD at Corcoran McEnearney explains that DC is a proximity play for buyers tied to regulation, defense and capital markets. Luxury starts near $1.5 million in the DC metro versus just over $3 million in New York, buying roughly twice the space.
Everyone’s Talking About Manhattan Real Estate. Here’s Why We’re Talking About Our Backyard.
While New York debates tax and housing policy, Washington's luxury market has split into two tracks. Marc Cashin of FORWARD at Corcoran McEnearney reports steady demand in Georgetown, Potomac and McLean, faster sales in Arlington and Alexandria, and slower, more negotiated deals in Bethesda, Chevy Chase and DC condos in 2026.
If the Brokerage Is an Aircraft Carrier, Be a Fighter Jet.
Why is FORWARD at Corcoran McEnearney built as a small team? Founder and CEO Marc Cashin compares big brokerages to aircraft carriers and FORWARD to a fighter jet: eight people, one standard, shared data and real-time strategy, so every client gets the same preparation and fast decisions in the Washington DC market.
The Two-Speed Housing Market
Is the housing market slowing or still rising? Both, says Marc Cashin of FORWARD at Corcoran McEnearney. The market has split into two speeds: well priced homes in strong Washington DC submarkets still draw competing offers, while misaligned listings sit longer as rate lock keeps inventory tight and buyers grow more selective.
AI Is Not the Advantage. Leadership Is.
Marc Cashin, Founder and CEO of FORWARD at Corcoran McEnearney, argues that in 2026 the advantage belongs to the most intentional leader, not the most technical one. FORWARD uses AI across its systems with a human in the loop, so agents decide when to automate and when to talk, from pricing to positioning.
The Power of Scale: The Real Reasons Agents Join Teams
Why do real estate agents join teams? Marc Cashin of FORWARD at Corcoran McEnearney says the best agents join for leverage, not safety: proven systems, help turning existing networks into referrals, full operational support, and a brand that earns trust at higher price points in Washington DC. FORWARD does not buy leads.
The Housing Market Isn’t Broken. It’s Frozen.
Washington's housing market isn't broken. It's frozen. Marc Cashin of FORWARD at Corcoran McEnearney explains why DC inventory stays tight, why homeowners are holding, and why mobility will return in waves, not gradually.