Real Estate Agents Debunk Claims of Mass Home Listings in D.C. Area Following Federal Worker Firings
Social media posts have falsely suggested that thousands of homes are being listed for sale in the Washington, D.C., area due to the recent firing of federal employees. However, real estate professionals say these claims are inaccurate.
Ayana Brickhouse of Compass Real Estate urged people not to believe the misinformation, stating that the housing market remains consistent for this time of year. Some posts claim over 4,200 homes were recently listed on Zillow, signaling a mass exodus from the region, but experts say this is not true.
Fake maps circulating online, appearing to be from Zillow and Redfin, falsely display numerous home listings in D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. Brickhouse pointed out inconsistencies in the data, such as listings with unrealistically low prices.
Christina Mai, another licensed real estate agent, explained that one widely shared Zillow map actually reflects properties sold over an extended period rather than recent listings. Bright MLS, the official property sales database for the mid-Atlantic region, reported that new listings between February 3 and February 16, 2025, remained steady compared to the same period last year.
Mai believes the misleading posts were likely designed as clickbait. She noted that while the market is seeing an early spring uptick, it is driven by pent-up demand and more stable interest rates, not a sudden flood of listings due to job losses.
WTOP has contacted Zillow for comment on the matter.
