Matt Cheney - Realtor

Interest rates matter.

They are just not the entire equation. 💯

A home purchase is a much bigger decision than one number on a mortgage quote.

📌Price matters.
📌Terms matter.
📌Inventory matters.
📌Negotiating leverage matters.
📌How long you expect to own the home matters.

And most importantly, the purchase has to make sense within your broader financial picture and the life you are trying to build.

Waiting for the “perfect” interest rate can also mean waiting into a different pricing or competitive environment.

The better question is not simply:

What is the rate?

It is:

Does this particular purchase make sense for me right now?

That is the conversation I would rather have.

If you are considering a move in Washington, Bethesda or McLean, call or message me. We can look at the numbers, the current market, and whether the opportunity makes sense.

Matt Cheney
Cheney & Co. at Compass
202.465.0707
Georgetown | Bethesda | McLean

Congratulations to our clients, the sellers and the new home owners on the successful sale and purchase of their custom-built Palisades home designed and constructed by acclaimed Washington builder Jim Gibson.

✨SOLD at $1,790,000✨

📍4561 MacArthur Blvd NW, Washington, DC 20007

South Lake Tahoe Luxury. Listed by Mark Salmon, this iconic alpine retreat is our Compass Luxury listing highlight this week.

Gunbarrel Lodge is a true titan among Tahoe's most exclusive estates. Sprawling across 15 private acres directly adjacent to Heavenly Ski Resort, this is the only ski-in/ski-out residence on the California side of the mountain.

Offering panoramic lake and mountain views and nearly 17,000 square feet of refined mountain living across two structures, offering 17 bedrooms and 18 baths, each appointed with sophisticated comfort and style.

Entertainment options span from a fully-loaded game lounge with multiple TVs, billiards, shuffleboard, and poker tables, to a tiered home theater and a 500-square-foot indoor pool suite, complete with steam room, sauna, and fireplace.

✨Offered at: $18,500,000✨

📍1639 Sherman Way, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150

Link to listing details in comments.

Listing courtesy of:
Mark Salmon | Compass
M: 530-318-7637

We have more inventory! This time last year the total number of homes for sale was 1.2K+ units lower than today. If you are looking to buy, get out there and pay most attention to the houses that have been "sitting".

They will sell and the buyers who see the value or make a deal will be rewarded. 💪

Twenty-three years in Washington real estate. More than 1,000 transactions. A lot of houses, negotiations, market cycles and, most importantly, a lot of people who trusted me to help them make some very big decisions.

I am proud to be recognized by Washingtonian as a 2026 Real Estate Industry Icon.

This business has changed quite a bit since I started. The fundamentals have not: know your market, tell people the truth, work hard, and take care of your clients.

I am grateful to the clients, colleagues, friends, and team who have been part of those 23 years.

Still plenty of work ahead. 💪

The Capital Core Market Update September 2026:

Fall🍂 is here and we are entering what experts call the prime time for buyers. The active listings have jumped (19.07%) since last month’s report. Meanwhile these listings are averaging 82 days on the market. Down 13 days from August's numbers.

📑Contracts jumped too (16.45%) from last month's report, with their days on market again little changed from the previous month’s report (48 days total).

📊Our lagging indicator, the August sales compared with July sales numbers, shows sales were down dramatically (-24.5%), sold prices were up a little (1.70%), while days on the market increased to a 44-day average, and sellers’ leverage on their asking prices decreased again from the previous month (98.5%).

👉Our take: The traditional fall inventory surge arrived but absorption has been slower than industry professionals liked and expected. Buyers are experiencing shock from mortgage rate increases, coupled with local residents paying close attention to the mid-term elections. As folks adjust their expectations and acceptance of longer term elevated mortgage rates and gain more certainty post-election, we anticipate they will return to their housing needs.

McLean Luxury. Listed by Anne DiBenedetto, this luxurious Award-Winning estate in McLean is our Compass Luxury listing highlight this week.

This completely custom residence backs up to over 20+ acres of community parkland and offers 5 bedrooms, 5 full and 3 half baths, expansive windows, walls of glass, chef’s kitchen with premium appliances, butlers pantry/ prep kitchen, beautifully designed screened porch with fireplace, intimate media room, luxurious primary suite, expansive lower level with custom bar & gym, and fully equipped workshop.

✨Offered at: $5,299,000✨

📍1200 Jossie Ln, McLean, VA 22102

Link to listing details in comments.

Listing courtesy of:
Anne DiBenedetto | Compass
M: 703-615-1897

Interesting development this week: Our new listings are down (-18%) from last week. Yes, last week saw a nice jump up but based upon recent past one would expect last weeks surge to level off, not drop off, now that we are into the fall selling season.

There is good news for the buyers who have been on the sidelines: There are homes for sale. What is your take on what is happening in the real estate market? We would love to hear your thoughts. 💪