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Upscale Turkish restaurant exterior with a red brick and wood facade on Redmond Drive in McLean, Virginia on a late-October evening, tall windows glowing with warm amber light, autumn trees with gold leaves along the sidewalk, and a deep blue twilight sky
Community Spotlight October 27, 2026

Kazan Restaurant: McLean Community Spotlight

Kazan Restaurant is a 4.4-star family-run Turkish restaurant at 6813 Redmond Drive in McLean, VA, serving authentic Ottoman cuisine since 1980.

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Red brick colonial home with a white-columned portico on a tree-lined street in Fairfax County, Virginia on a late-October afternoon, red and gold maples over the lawn, a discreet real estate sign near the front walk, and warm low sun raking across the facade
Market Updates October 26, 2026

How Long Does It Take To Sell a Home in Fairfax County VA?

How long does it take to sell a home in Fairfax County VA? Fairfax homes average 26 days on market (NVAR, Sept 2026). Price, prep, and community decide the rest.

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Tree-lined street of brick rowhouses in Washington DC on a crisp late-October morning, red and gold autumn foliage over the facades, warm low sun on white marble front steps, with the Washington Monument faintly visible on the horizon
Buyer Tips October 22, 2026

How Much Are Property Taxes in the DMV?

How much are property taxes in the DMV? 2026 rates: DC $0.85, Montgomery County near $1.03, Fairfax $1.1225, Arlington $1.033. What buyers and sellers should budget.

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Wide view of the Marine Corps Marathon finish area in the Rosslyn neighborhood of Arlington, Virginia on a late-October morning, distant runners crossing Route 110 near the Pentagon in golden low sunlight, the Marine Corps War Memorial on its grassy hill, and autumn trees in red and orange
Weekend Guide October 21, 2026

What To Do This Weekend in the DMV

Things to do this weekend in the DMV: the Marine Corps Marathon finishes in Rosslyn, Beck and Jerry Seinfeld headline The Anthem, and the Mount Vernon Fall Harvest Festival runs Oct 23-25.

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Classic two-story brick bike shop storefront on Q Street NW in the Logan Circle neighborhood of Washington DC on a bright late-October morning, display windows full of bicycles, a bike rack on the sidewalk, Victorian rowhouses behind, and a cyclist riding past under gold autumn trees
Community Spotlight October 20, 2026

Conte's Bike Shop: Logan Circle DC Community Spotlight

Conte's Bike Shop is a 4.8-star family-owned bike shop at 1412 Q Street NW in Logan Circle, DC, serving riders since 1957 with sales and repairs.

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Navy Yard waterfront along the Anacostia River in Washington DC on an October afternoon, modern condo towers rising behind The Yards Park, with Nationals Park's curved roofline in the distance
Market Updates October 19, 2026

The Navy Yard DC Real Estate Market in 2026

Navy Yard DC real estate market in 2026: condos near a $510K median, ZIP 20003 up 9.1%, inventory climbing 40%. What to know from Claude Labbe.

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Classic brick rowhouses on a tree-lined street in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Washington DC on a crisp mid-October morning, red and gold maples overhead, warm light on white marble stoops, and the US Capitol dome faintly visible at the end of the block
Market Updates October 16, 2026

The Capitol Hill DC Real Estate Market in 2026

Capitol Hill DC real estate market in 2026: median sale price near $925K (Redfin), ZIP 20003 at $872,500 in August, up 9.1%. What to know from Claude Labbe.

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Historic brick college football stadium on Howard University's campus in Washington DC on a golden mid-October afternoon, red and gold autumn maples around the concourse, distant crowds in the stands, and fall banners ahead of homecoming weekend
Weekend Guide October 14, 2026

What To Do This Weekend in the DMV

Things to do this weekend in the DMV: Howard University Homecoming vs Morehouse, SOFI TUKKER and Steve Lacy at The Anthem, and fall fun Oct 16-18.

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Brick storefront of Sidamo Coffee and Tea on H Street NE in Washington DC at late autumn dusk, dark wood-framed windows glowing warm, an outdoor chalkboard sign, bistro chairs on the sidewalk, and the DC streetcar track running along the corridor
Community Spotlight October 13, 2026

Sidamo Coffee & Tea: H Street DC Community Spotlight

Sidamo Coffee and Tea is a 4.5-star Ethiopian coffeehouse at 417 H Street NE in Washington DC, family-run since 2006 with in-house roasted beans.

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Classic brick rowhouses on a tree-lined street in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Washington DC on a crisp mid-October morning, red and gold maples overhead, a real estate sign in one front yard, and the US Capitol dome faintly visible at the end of the block
Market Updates October 12, 2026

Is Now a Good Time To Buy a House in Washington DC?

Is now a good time to buy a house in Washington DC? Inventory is at a seven-year high, prices are leveling, and mortgage rates near 7.3%. The October 2026 buyer playbook.

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Tree-lined block of 19th-century brick rowhouses in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington DC on a crisp October morning, red and gold autumn leaves overhead, warm light raking across the facades, and the Washington Monument faintly visible at the end of the street
Market Updates October 9, 2026

The Georgetown DC Real Estate Market in 2026

Georgetown DC real estate in 2026: median sale price near $1.7M, up 7.6% year over year. Thin inventory and 37 days on market. What to know from Claude Labbe.

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Outdoor beer and food festival on Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington DC on a mid-October afternoon, festival tents and tasting booths lining the closed street between 3rd and 7th Streets, string lights and bunting overhead, the US Capitol dome at the end of the avenue
Weekend Guide October 7, 2026

What To Do This Weekend in the DMV

Things to do this weekend in the DMV: Snallygaster on Pennsylvania Avenue NW, USWNT vs Spain at Audi Field, Pike Fest in Arlington, and more Oct 9-11.

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Bright French artisan bakery storefront on Bethesda Avenue in downtown Bethesda, Maryland on a crisp October morning, a glass window full of fresh baguettes and pastries under a green awning, with pedestrians on the tree-lined sidewalk
Community Spotlight October 6, 2026

Fresh Baguette: Bethesda Community Spotlight

Fresh Baguette is a 4.5-star French artisan bakery at 4919 Bethesda Ave in Bethesda, MD, open daily since 2013. Claude Labbe's Community Spotlight.

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Tree-lined residential street in Washington DC on a crisp October morning, red and gold autumn foliage over classic brick rowhouses, warm low light raking across the facades, with the Washington Monument and US Capitol dome faintly visible on the horizon
Market Updates October 5, 2026

Washington DC Real Estate Market Update: October 2026

Washington DC real estate in October 2026: August sales fell 9.2% year over year, inventory climbed 17.6% on the Virginia side, and mortgage rates reached 7.28%. Buyer and seller takeaways from Claude Labbe.

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Classic brick rowhouses on a tree-lined street in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Washington DC in early October, golden late-afternoon light on the facades, red and gold maples overhead, and a distant glimpse of the US Capitol dome
Market Updates October 1, 2026

Do You Need a Realtor To Sell a House in DC?

Do you need a realtor to sell a house in DC? It is legal, but the data and DC rules make a strong case for help. Claude Labbe explains what sellers face.

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Oktoberfest celebration at The Wharf on the Southwest Waterfront in Washington DC on a golden early-October afternoon, blue and white bunting and Bavarian-style flags strung between lamp posts, wooden tables with pretzels and beer steins along District Pier, the Potomac River and Washington Monument on the skyline
Weekend Guide September 30, 2026

What To Do This Weekend in the DMV

Things to do this weekend in the DMV: Olivia Rodrigo at Capital One Arena, the Takoma Park Street Festival, and Oktoberfest at The Wharf, Oct 2-4.

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Modern brick-and-glass storefront of Silver Branch Brewing Company's biergarten in Downtown Silver Spring, Maryland at golden hour, with wooden tables and string lights on the sidewalk and the Silver Spring Metro station and downtown towers in the background
Community Spotlight September 29, 2026

Silver Branch Brewing Company: Silver Spring Community Spotlight

Silver Branch Brewing Company is a 4.6-star craft brewery and biergarten at 8401 Colesville Rd in Silver Spring, MD, next to the Red Line Metro, open since 2019.

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A leafy residential street in Arlington, Virginia on a crisp late-September morning, brick and white-frame single-family homes with porches behind trees showing the first autumn color, a real estate sign in one front yard, and golden light raking across the street
Market Updates September 28, 2026

Selling a Home in Arlington, VA in 2026: A Complete Guide

Selling a home in Arlington VA in 2026? Median sale price $849,000, up 6.4% year over year (NVAR). Pricing, timing, neighborhoods, and the sale process from Claude Labbe.

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Brick rowhouses on a tree-lined street in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Washington DC in early autumn with red and gold maples, warm late-afternoon light, and a For Sale sign in front of one home
Market Updates September 25, 2026

How Much Is My House Worth in Washington DC? A 2026 Home Value Guide for the DMV

How much is my house worth in Washington DC? The DC median sale price is about $684,000 (Redfin). Here is how to get an accurate home value estimate in the DMV.

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Colorful Fiesta DC celebration on Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington DC with Latin American flags and bunting strung between lamp posts, musicians marching and dancers in bright traditional costume with the US Capitol dome in the background on a warm late-September morning
Weekend Guide September 23, 2026

What To Do This Weekend in the DMV

Things to do this weekend in the DMV: Fiesta DC, Gorillaz at Capital One Arena, All Things Go at Merriweather Post Pavilion, Clarendon Day in Arlington, and more Sept 25-27.

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Claude Labbe, REALTOR with Douglas Elliman

About Your Agent

Claude Labbe

REALTOR with Douglas Elliman

I help accomplished, time-constrained buyers, sellers, and investors make real estate decisions with clarity, discretion, and thoughtful execution across Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia. With 24 years in real estate, I bring practical, data-driven guidance to every relationship.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

How often is new content published on this blog?
Claude publishes new articles regularly, typically every 1-2 weeks, covering market insights, selling strategies, and practical guidance for the DC Metro area.
What topics does this blog cover?
The blog covers DC Metro real estate market trends, selling strategy, buyer guidance, relocation advice, Community Spotlight features on local businesses, and practical real estate knowledge. Categories include Market Updates, Buyer Tips, Weekend Guide, and Community Spotlight.
Can I request a specific topic?
Yes. Claude welcomes suggestions for future articles. If there is a specific question or topic you would like covered, contact Claude directly and he will consider it for a future post.
Who writes the blog posts?
All articles are written by Claude Labbe, drawing on 24 years of real estate experience in the DC Metro area. The content reflects his practical, data-driven approach to real estate.
How do I stay updated on new posts?
You can visit the blog page to see the latest articles, or contact Claude to be notified when new content is published.

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