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oncerns about federal job cuts leading to a surge in homeowners deciding to sell are valid, as evidenced by the 20% jump in new listings in the D.C. area during the week ending Feb. 22. However, weekly data from regional listing service Bright MLS will provide more insight into the effects of these changes than traditional monthly reports.

    While the increase in new listings is notable, it's essential to consider that the numbers are based on small totals. For instance, a 200% jump in Virginia's Manassas Park City was driven by just six new listings, and a 50% jump in nearby Fairfax City was based on nine new listings.

    The outer suburbs saw the largest increase in new listings, while areas closer to D.C., such as Arlington and Alexandria, remained stable. This could be a sign that federal workers who are required to commute into D.C. may decide to sell their homes further out and move closer in due to new return-to-the-office mandates.

    Another yellow flag is the 7.5% of active listings with price drops, indicating some sellers' uncertainty about the market's direction. However, this could also be an opportunity for would-be buyers, as more homes on the market and modest pullbacks in price gains are welcome in the D.C. area market.

    The number of home showings by real estate agents increased 21% during the week ending Feb. 22, with over 25,000 showings. This suggests that while some buyers may be reacting to federal workforce changes, there are still many active buyers waiting for opportunities in the market. Almost 1,400 homes went under contract during this period, a 1.1% increase from the previous week, with Fairfax County accounting for 255 pending sales and an 8.5% jump from the previous week.