Shafiq Hirani CCIMReal Estate Advisor, REMAX Distinctive · Real Estate Advisor at RE/MAX Distinctive Commercial | Washington, DC | Your Guide To Profitable Real Estate Ventures

DC Rents Are FINALLY Stabilizing: Here's What Owners Need to Know! #shorts

4 Jul 2026 · 1 min

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1:23

In this July 2026 Washington, DC market briefing, Shafiq Hirani, MBA, CCIM, presents the latest rental‑market data and offers actionable guidance for property owners. He notes that the annual rent decline has narrowed from -4.2% to -3.5%, indicating a floor forming beneath the market. Citywide median rent stands at $2,133, with 1‑bedrooms at $2,108 and 2‑bedrooms at $2,165. Month‑over‑month rents rose 1.0% in June, matching the prior month’s pace, signaling a stable peak leasing season. Although year‑over‑year rents remain down 3.5%, this is an improvement over the previous -4.2% drop, suggesting a faster recovery than correction. Hirani advises owners not to overreact to the monthly increase nor be discouraged by the annual dip; both metrics tell the same recovery story. He recommends underwriting lease renewals based on the ongoing upward trend rather than last year’s depressed comparable rents.

Chapters

Here's the number that should actually change how you run your building this month. The annual decline just shrank from -4.2% to -3.5%. That's not noise, that's the floor coming up underneath you. I'm Shafiq Hirani, MBA, CCIM, and this is your July DC market briefing. Quick ask before we dive in: if you find these breakdowns useful, hit like and subscribe so more owners like you can find this channel. Now let's get into it. Let's start with where we stand. Citywide median rent across all bedroom sizes, $2,133. A 1-bedroom runs $2,108. A 2-bedroom, $2,165. Month over month, rents rose 1.0% in June. That's the same pace as last month, which tells you peak leasing season is doing exactly what it's supposed to do. Year over year, rents are still down 3.5%, but that's an improvement from last month's negative 4.2%. The market is recovering faster than it's correcting. Here's the owner lens on that. Don't get excited about the monthly number and don't get discouraged by the annual number. Both are telling you the same story from different angles. The market took a hit and it's climbing out of it. Underwrite your renewals against that climb, not against last year's panic comps.