Stunning top to bottom renovation of this charming light filled and spacious 3,200 sq ft. 5 bedroom 4.5 bath Federal in the heart of Georgetown. Every detail has been thoughtfully attended to from the high ceilings, custom finishes, designer lighting, wide plank wood flooring and captivating floorplan. All new electrical, plumbing, all chimneys relined, new roof, new windows, new flooring throughout, all new bathrooms and kitchen. The main level offers a formal extra wide living room with fireplace and alcove, separate dining room, stunning gourmet kitchen opening to a fabulous entertaining patio, and completed with a main level powder room. Upstairs on the second level one is welcomed with an inviting primary suite with fireplace, incredible wardrobe space and elegant primary bathroom. A second bedroom and second full bath complete this level. On the third floor, two additional bedrooms, (one the size of the primary below it), a third full bath, second laundry and exciting rooftop deck will delight the senses. The daylight walkout lower level accessed from within the home is a suite unto itself, with a full bedroom, sitting room, living room, laundry and full bath along with its own outside entrance.

Luxury market, meet momentum. Four properties sold this summer — all because of the amazing clients I get to work with

UK Sotheby’s International Realty announced this morning that it has launched a bespoke advisory service for American buyers in the UK’s prime residential market. I am leading it as a consultant to the Mayfair firm, while continuing as Executive Vice President at TTR Sotheby’s International Realty here in Washington.

The announcement ran this morning in PrimeResi, London’s trade journal of record for prime residential.

Here is why the advisory exists.

Americans are now UK Sotheby’s largest overseas client group — by transaction volume and by value. Beauchamp Estates puts US nationals at 30% of every sale above £5 million in prime central London this year, up from 20% at the end of 2025. In Mayfair, the American share of sales above £5 million is 50%.

That is not a trend. That is a market.

What that market has lacked is a broker on the American side of the table. The traditional structure is an international desk in London that receives inquiries and routes them. The advisory is the inverse: a single adviser who works for the buyer, and who knows what a Washington client actually needs to understand — how the money moves, where the tax exposure sits, what a 92-year lease means and what it costs to extend, why the survey matters more than the brochure.

I have been doing versions of this since 2016, when I showed One Hyde Park to a client from Washington.

Alex Isidro, Managing Director of UK Sotheby’s International Realty, put it this way in the announcement: the UK is firmly on the radar of American home seekers and investors, and the firm wanted someone who speaks the language of both markets.

Nothing changes in Washington. I am closing here, listing here, and living here. What has changed is that the work I have been doing informally since 2016 — advising Americans buying in London — now has a formal structure behind it, and the resources of Sotheby’s in Mayfair.

If you have been thinking about London, it is a short conversation. My line is open. 202-607-4000

Tomorrow: Andy Burnham’s proposal to replace stamp duty and council tax with an annual levy on property value — and what it would actually mean for an American buying in London.

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I land in London on July 1.

On Friday the 3rd, I’ll be at the Hurlingham Club for The Summer Social — UK Sotheby’s International Realty’s invitation-only gathering of private client advisers and industry professionals, with Enness Global, Lumley, Sytner, Capital Services Group, and IFX Payments. Three to four hundred of the people who quietly move the top of this market are in one room. It’s a working day, and a good one.

Then the Fourth of July with Sotheby’s UK — marking 250 years of American independence from the wrong side of the Atlantic, which has its own quiet comedy.

This is the first time I’m writing to you from London with Sotheby’s UK. I’ve shown property here since 2016; now I’m doing it properly, working with Americans buying in the city. 25% of all buyers in London are Americans. The Washington, D.C., business continues exactly as it always has. London is simply new ground with a new team.

If you’re in town this week, I want to see you. A drink, a coffee, a hello between meetings — I’m easy to find.

Jim

202-607-4000 (WhatsApp)

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The president abruptly canceled a signing ceremony at the Capitol on Wednesday, posting on social media that he would not act until lawmakers take up the SAVE America Act. The desk and presidential seal had already been set up in Statuary Hall. CBS News

The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act passed both chambers with veto-proof majorities and restricts institutional investors from buying certain single-family homes. It becomes law within ten days regardless of whether Mr. Trump signs. The Hill + 2

He called the measure “of minor importance.” Republicans had planned to campaign on it this autumn. PBS

More to follow.

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So take this as a note from inside the building.

The FT’s worry is the right one. A frozen market — sales at a 30-year low, sellers locked into 3% mortgages, buyers locked out by 7% ones — is not thawed by hiding inventory from the people trying to buy it. It is thawed by price discovery. Private exclusives and “coming soon” listings do the opposite. They shrink the buyer pool, suppress the data buyers use to negotiate, and let the listing brokerage sit on both sides of the trade.

Here's the FT in full — worth the click:https://www.ft.com/content/8927eabf-3c0f-4a5a-bf13-ee6b99225742?syn-25a6b1a6=1

On Thursday, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate fell to 5.98% for the first time since 2022, according to Freddie Mac. CNN

The evidence is patchy on whether lower rates have meaningfully spurred more activity, as the Trump administration floats measures it says will make housing more affordable. NYT

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Month-over-month and year-over-year sales fell in all regions.

.“The decrease in sales is disappointing. The below-normal temperatures and above-normal precipitation this January make it harder than usual to assess the underlying driver of the decrease and determine if this month’s numbers are an aberration,” said NAR Chief Economist Dr. Lawrence Yun. “Affordability conditions are improving, with NAR’s Housing Affordability Index showing that housing is the most affordable it’s been since March 2022. This is due to wage gains outpacing home price growth and mortgage rates being lower than a year ago. However, supply has not kept pace and remains quite low.”

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For more than 20 years, I’ve been quietly selling upper–bracket homes for some of the most visible people in the Washington region. No social media. No “just listed” blasts. Just private conversations, targeted outreach, and results.

Over the last week, a number of clients have started calling me “The House Whisperer,” pointing to my long‑standing reputation for a quiet, thoughtful approach to real estate for both buyers and sellers. I didn’t come up with the name, but it does describe how I’ve always chosen to work for the last 20 years.

So in 2026, I’m formalizing what I’ve done for decades: a discreet advisory role where I design and run whisper‑only campaigns for exceptional properties and the exceptional people who own them. It’s not a new strategy; it’s simply a clearer way to describe the way my practice already operates.

What that means in practice:

• Your home is never used as Social Media content or in the headlines of the local or national press.

• Communication happens directly with me via phone or text, and, when appropriate, through encrypted channels like Signal and WhatsApp.

• Buyers are curated through long‑standing personal and professional relationships in Washington, New York, the Southeast US, and London, UK– not through public feeds and open houses.

If you’re thinking about a move this year – or you simply want to understand how a whisper‑only campaign would work for your situation – reply to this email or text me, and we’ll set up a confidential conversation.

Warmly,

Jim Bell

202-607-4000

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The White House did not summon cameras for this one. There was no East Room backdrop, no carefully choreographed signing ceremony.

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Nestled on one of Kalorama’s most distinguished blocks, this stately 1908 Beaux-Arts townhome was designed by noted architect Frederick B. Pyle for department store magnate Samuel Woodward. Blending timeless elegance with thoughtful modern updates spanning four expansive levels, the residence offers four bedrooms and three-and-a-half baths across a floor plan designed for both grand entertaining and comfortable daily living. The entry level opens with a light-filled sitting room that flows into a gourmet kitchen, outfitted with striking marble counters, custom cabinetry, and space for casual, fireside dining.

Above, the Piano Nobile level - with soaring ceilings, two fireplaces, and magnificent French windows - provides a luminous backdrop for large-scale gatherings. Elegant entertaining rooms unfold in sequence, enriched by original moldings, trim, and south-facing exposures. A butler’s pantry with rear access to the kitchen completes this level. The third floor hosts the spacious primary suite, bathed in natural light and featuring a marble bath with dual showers, a custom dressing room, an adjoining office or sitting room and two more fireplaces. The top floor offers three additional bedrooms and two full baths, including one ensuite. A newly redesigned roof deck (2021) crowns the home with sweeping city views, perfect for al fresco entertaining. Recent updates include a new roof (2020), water heater (2024), and upper-zone AC (2020), along with a comprehensive security system. Seven fireplaces - five with gas inserts - add warmth and character throughout. Private rear parking (with EV charger) further enhances convenience, while the location places you within walking distance of Dupont Circle, Embassy Row, and Kalorama’s cafés and parks. 2131 Bancroft Place NW embodies the best of Kalorama - historic architecture elevated by refined, contemporary luxury, listed by Jonathan Taylor, TTR Sotheby’s International Realty.

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October is Breast Cancer Awareness month! Our goal throughout the month is to increase awareness of the disease and stress the importance of mammograms as the best tool to screen for breast cancer, the second most common type of cancer among women. Approximately one in eight women in the United States will get breast cancer during their lifetime and each year, more than 40,000 women die from breast cancer.-FDA

Scan the QR code to donate to Cancer.Donate.Org

Thank You!

Jim Bell

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Positioned along 400 feet of beautiful scenic frontage at the Palma Ceia Golf Course, this exceptional South Tampa masterpiece offers impeccably designed living space, while outside a flood zone. The gated, treelined estate showcases timeless craftsmanship, with a total of nine bedrooms, ten full baths, and four half baths, a detached guest residence, as well as an additional vacant lot all packaged into one offering. The great room is tremendously welcoming as natural light pours through the arched glass doors lining the room, then complemented by 15-foot ceilings and the winding grand staircase. Resting in its own private wing of the residence, the primary bedroom is a suite with a substantial dream closet, a separate sitting room, and a large balcony overlooking the picturesque backyard greenspace and golf course.

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Positioned along 400 feet of beautiful scenic frontage at the Palma Ceia Golf Course, this exceptional South Tampa masterpiece offers impeccably designed living space, while outside a flood zone. The gated, treelined estate showcases timeless craftsmanship, with a total of nine bedrooms, ten full baths, and four half baths, a detached guest residence, as well as an additional vacant lot all packaged into one offering. The great room is tremendously welcoming as natural light pours through the arched glass doors lining the room, then complemented by 15-foot ceilings and the winding grand staircase. Resting in its own private wing of the residence, the primary bedroom is a suite with a substantial dream closet, a separate sitting room, and a large balcony overlooking the picturesque backyard greenspace and golf course.

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Powell says economy ‘may warrant’ rate cuts, but doesn’t signal when- Washington Post

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Dear Colleagues,

After more than three decades at the forefront of real estate and mortgage banking—personally closing over $1.2 billion in transactions and still serving my own clients—I’m excited to invite you to join my New “Whole Agent” Private Coaching Program.

I want to speak to you honestly: for many in our industry, coaching is just a buzzword. Most so-called “coaches” have never sold a single piece of real estate and resort to “shaming for pay” or guilt-driven techniques because they lack the real-world experience to guide you. This program is different. It’s not about a book I’ve written, or my ego—it’s about you, your business, and your potential to become the best, most fulfilled agent you can be.

Many of you also know my story isn’t just about deals and accolades; my success speaks for itself. Several years ago, I lost my real estate firm to direct competition from a rival. Within 18 months, I suffered a profound personal loss, losing both parents and all of my aunts and uncles except one. It was a time of unimaginable adversity, but I kept going—every single day. It’s this resilience, forged through hardship, that I want to share with you.

This is the kind of perspective and strength I bring to my coaching. I understand what it means to face setbacks—and more importantly, how to overcome them, rebuild, and thrive. My commitment is to teach you not just to excel in transactions, but to grow stronger, more adaptive, and authentically successful—even when life throws its hardest challenges your way.

Here’s what makes this program different:

· Truthful, Real-World Insight: Guidance built on three decades of tough deals, ongoing brokerage work, and the personal resilience that comes only from living through real adversity.

· The Whole Agent Philosophy: We focus on your entire professional self—behavior, character, and reputation—because lasting achievement means being strong in business and in life.

· Private, Personalized Coaching: This is not a group course or motivator session—this is direct, confidential mentorship dedicated to your journey and growth.

· No Shame, No Gimmicks: You’ll find only honest challenge, authentic support, and lessons that empower you to become stronger because of what you’ve overcome—not weaker.

If you’re ready to be coached by someone who’s walked through both triumph and adversity—and has come out stronger, wiser, and at the top of his game—this is your moment.

Reply to this email or email me at JBell@BillionDollarBroker.net to secure your spot. Space is very limited!

Let’s build your future—resilient, successful, and proud—together.

James Bell

JBell@BillionDollarBroker.net

Founder/Private Coach

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Dear Friends,

I am delighted to share some exciting news with you!

This Thursday, I will be launching a special social media series dedicated to the rich and fascinating history of Kalorama. Over the coming weeks, I'll take you on a journey through the neighborhood’s remarkable stories, significant landmarks, and some intriguing tales you may not have heard before.

You can easily follow along with each episode on Instagram. Please feel free to join me on either of my accounts:

· @jbell257

· @JimBellGroup

Each episode will feature photos, stories, and insights designed to spark your interest in one of D.C.'s most storied neighborhoods. I would be honored to have you follow along, leave your thoughts, or share your own memories if you have them!

Thank you for your continued friendship and support. I look forward to connecting with you online and sharing Kalorama’s history together.

Warm regards,

Jim Bell

A Record Surge

The median existing-home sales price jumped to $435,300 in June, up 2% from a year ago and marking the highest ever recorded for the month, according to the latest National Association of Realtors data. This milestone arrives despite a housing market grappling with sluggish sales activity and cautious buyers.

“The record high median home price highlights how American homeowners’ wealth continues to grow—a benefit of homeownership,” said Lawrence Yun, NAR’s chief economist.

Market Forces: Low Sales, High Equity

While prices set new records, home sales tell a different story. June saw a 2.7% year-over-year drop in existing home sales, matching last year’s historically slow pace. Buyers, challenged by rising mortgage rates, elevated home prices, and tightening affordability, are proceeding cautiously or sitting out altogether.

• Inventory is rising: The total number of unsold homes—including those under contract—is up 20% year over year, giving potential buyers more options, but also signaling a cooling in demand.

• Cancellations on the rise: Nearly 15% of pending home sales in June were called off, a level not seen since data tracking began in 2017. Many buyers backed out during inspections or due to affordability concerns, particularly in Sun Belt markets like Florida and Texas.

Regional Highlights

While the price trend is national, some metro areas continue to outpace the broader market:

• Baltimore region: Median sold price reached $425,000, up 3% over last year—a new high for the area.

• Sun Belt cities: Higher contract cancellation rates, fueled by elevated taxes and insurance costs.

Homeowner Wealth Grows—But Challenges Persist

For those who already own homes, the news underlines an extraordinary run-up in household wealth. Over the past five years, the average homeowner’s wealth has grown by $140,900, bolstering the financial security gap between owners and renters.

However, rising prices and higher mortgage rates—hovering between 6.5–7%—continue to erode affordability for first-time and move-up buyers, even as increased inventory and more frequent price reductions signal a moderation in some markets.

What’s Next?

Looking ahead, analysts expect home prices to remain elevated in the near term, with some forecasts predicting a modest decline later this year as inventory increases and buyer leverage grows. Still, the record price mark set in June now serves as both a symbol of homeowners’ strength and the mounting challenge for Americans seeking their place in the housing market.

• Median existing-home price: $435,300 in June 2025 (a new all-time high).

• Existing home sales: 2.7% year-over-year decline.

• Pending sale cancellations: ~15%, the highest for June on record.

The housing market, long the backbone of middle-class wealth, remains a story of contrasts: record riches for owners, headwinds for buyers, and shifting tides ahead.