Color me skeptical

If you see houses being painted this color in your area, it means prices are about to skyrocket

The unique charm of rowhouses, Craftsman-style homes, and Victorians is fading beneath a coat of gray in gentrifying neighborhoods across the US.

In some areas, the rapid 'grayification' of homes is dramatically transforming the visual landscape. In Washington, DC, for instance, red-brick rowhouses and colorful murals have steadily been replaced by monochromatic facades.

A Washington Post analysis found that gray homes are increasingly common in gentrifying DC neighborhoods, coinciding with rising home prices, noise complaints, and the displacement of Black residents.

Newly built or renovated homes are replacing vibrant shades of red, yellow, and brown with muted tones like Shark Fin and Deep Space. 

The study, which used Google Street View, grouped exterior colors into broader categories to track the shift.

Academics note that gray, modern homes often signal wealth and luxury. These neutral tones are seen as status symbols, reflecting both meticulous upkeep and an appeal to specific buyers.

'It all comes down to this perception of wealth and luxury, this idea that neutrals indicate status - painted brick takes more to upkeep than regular brick,' Libby Rasmussen, a color enthusiast who lives in DC and owns a home decor company, told the Post.

'If you have a light-gray or white house, it signals you can afford to keep it clean.'

'But when you create an aesthetic that is supposed to be minimalist and monocultural, it extinguishes difference. It doesn't allow different people from different cultures to actually be different.' 

DC's real estate market has embraced the trend, with agents advising sellers to repaint their homes in neutral tones to attract buyers. 

Sales analyses reveal that homes with the updated gray aesthetic often sell for significantly higher prices than those with original colors and designs.

Nationwide, the preference for darker, muted exteriors has been growing, according to surveys from platforms like Zillow. 

This shift accelerated during the pandemic, as buyers increasingly sought homes as retreats. In DC, noise complaints in gentrified neighborhoods highlight a preference for quieter, more controlled environments.

Still and all, if you disregard the social blather, it is true that monochromatic tones are the new black in Greenwich homes, and new and renovated houses generally cost cost more than the old and dilapidated. Cause and effect? No more than wet streets cause rain, I suspect.