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ashington, DC's real estate market is experiencing a sudden surge in listings, with some netizens speculating that it may be a sign of an impending crash. Social media users have been sharing images and data showing a massive increase in homes being put up for sale in the area.

    According to one user, over 4,271 houses were listed in just 14 days, prompting the ominous comment: "The rats are running away." Another user blamed Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) for the exodus, citing a picture showing 14,825 reported listings. The user likened it to "rats fleeing a sinking ship."

    Data from Zillow reveals a staggering increase in new listings over the past few weeks: 201 homes in seven days, 378 in 14 days, and 706 in 30 days, with a total of 1,198 listings in 90 days. This volume is being questioned as typical for this season.

    A senior analyst from the Centre for Security Policy noted that over 500 houses are currently on sale for over $1 million, while some have even reached eight-figure prices. Hindustan Times verified these claims by checking Zillow, finding approximately 2,400 homes listed in the Washington, DC area alone.

    Grok, an AI chatbot from xAI, weighed in on the situation, suggesting that DOGE's scrutiny of federal contracts and potential job cuts may be contributing to the exodus. The chatbot also pointed out that uncertainty around federal employment and the end of work-from-home policies could be pushing federal workers to relocate, increasing listings.

    This phenomenon appears to be influenced by both typical market behavior and unique circumstances related to federal employment changes and government policies.