Axios D.C.

March 08, 2025
Hello, Saturday! Sami and Bri here, talking about small living trends.
Today's newsletter is 434 words — a 1.5-minute read.
1 big thing: Housing costs reshape registries
Wedding registries are shrinking to fit into cramped apartments and starter homes.
Why it matters: Sky-high housing costs have led couples to move in together sooner and purchase houses later.
The big picture: The median age of first-time homebuyers is now pushing 40, according to National Association of Realtors data.
- Only 9.1% of Washington homeowners are under 35 years old.
- This might not be a huge surprise for D.C.-area house hunters, given the local median home sales price is $552,500, per the latest GCAAR data.
What they're saying: "We would love to ask for" big home gadgets, "but there's no room to store them or keep them on the kitchen countertops," says Kristen Campilonga, who's getting married this summer.
- She lives with her partner in a two-bedroom rental in Golden Triangle.
What we're hearing: Small kitchen contraptions have become the "it" wedding gifts, partly because they're "fairly classic" presents "that older family members feel satisfied to give," says Cathryn Haight, editor at The Knot, a wedding planning and registry website.
Size also matters because many couples already have the essentials — 88% of all those who register live together, Alicia Waters, Crate & Barrel brand president, tells Axios.
- Instead of more stuff, they're looking to trade two items for one multifunctional appliance or upgrade to something more luxurious.
Reality check: Cash gifts are still appreciated, especially for a down payment.
The latest: Some people are choosing homeownership over a lavish wedding.
- The number of unmarried couples who say they recently bought a house rose 46% over the past decade, according to a Wall Street Journal analysis of census data.
2. Home price-to-income ratio, charted

The median home price was 4.7 times the median income in D.C. in 2023, according to a Harvard analysis.
Why it matters: With home prices outpacing incomes nationwide, homeownership is unaffordable for many people.
The big picture: In 2023, the national median sales price for existing single-family homes was 4.9 times the median household income, Harvard researchers with the Joint Center for Housing Studies found.
- That ratio dipped slightly from 2022 as home price growth slowed, but it remains historically high, per the analysis.
- Increasing taxes and insurance costs, plus elevated interest rates, have driven up the cost of homeownership.
Go deeper: Researchers' interactive map
3. 🛠️ Calling DIYers
We want to hear about your next home improvement project.
- Is news of tariffs or higher building costs impacting your plans?
- Any tips for scoring deals on lumber or other materials?
Email [email protected] and include your full name and neighborhood. We may feature your insights in an upcoming newsletter.
👀 Sami is eyeing this immersion blender.
🕵️♀️ Bri can't stop treasure hunting on Facebook Marketplace.
Thanks to our editor Ashley May and copy editor Bill Kole.
Sign up for Axios D.C.




