Dear Friends,

If this pandemic has taught us anything it’s that the place we call home is more important to us than ever. A heightened desire for a comfortable, welcoming space — and low interest rates — fueled an unusually active summer market. In fact, pending August home sales in the DC region rose nearly 25% year-over-year while home prices reached a decade high for the month.

Fall’s arrival reminds me of my childhood and that bittersweet transition from carefree summer to the excitement of a new school year. I vividly recall the thrill of carefully choosing a new outfit for the first day of school; seeing friends for the first time in months; resuming a daily routine of classes, sports and events; and embracing the cooler weather. If I close my eyes, sometimes I can almost smell a crisp fall evening — bundled up, packed in the stands, cheering for the home team at a Friday night football game. Even today, this time of year evokes for me the promise of new beginnings.

Of course, everything has changed this fall for our kids because of the coronavirus. My daughter just started middle school and, like many children in our area, for the foreseeable future she’ll experience her new school, teachers and classmates 100% virtually. As you can imagine, this has caused some anxious moments in our house. In my heart I believe our kids are incredibly resilient and they will adjust and thrive while rising to the challenges we are all presented with. That said, not all parents have the luxury of working from home to be with their kids during school hours, many families depend on the meals our school districts provide and not everyone has access to a computer and broadband internet. Especially now, the inequities seem even greater. How do we ensure kids are not left behind? There are no easy answers but my hope is when the pandemic recedes our efforts to level the playing field for all children will only increase.  

Yes, “home” is made up of the four walls that surround you but perhaps even more so home is really the communities in which we live. Now, more than ever, it’s a great time to support local organizations. The Bethesda Chevy Chase H.S. Educational Foundation  is one of my favorites that is doing impactful work in our communities.

Best regards, Lauren

Meet Jen and Gabriel.  They were first time home buyers moving out of the city. We had a tight deadline as they are expecting their first baby this Fall. ...

7613 DENTON ROAD | BETHESDA, MARYLAND
Offered at $2,645,000

New construction by Sandy Spring Builders in Edgemoor!  This beautiful, high-end modern home will be completed by the end of September. 5 bedrooms, 5-1/2 baths, elevator, outdoor fireplace & grill, steps to Bethesda and access to The Edgemoor Club.

 

555 West End Avenue, The Library
New York, New York, 10024
$10,500,000

A converted former school in the heart of New York City would be just the motivation our kids would all need to conquer the on-line school year. Check out The Library!