Looking for real estate? Look fast. Houses are disappearing from the local market in nine days. Nine days. The median number of days that active listings are on the market is nine days. That’s twice as fast as they sold in 2012.

The boom in the boomtown is still booming. Last month the Washington Times reported on the story of a Capitol Hill townhouse that was listed for $337,000 and sold for $760,951. While this isn’t the norm, the median price for D.C.-area real estate has increased — a new report by RealEstate Business Intelligence finds prices at a seven-year high, with the highest May median sale prices on record.

If you’re looking to buy, why not look at some extremely expensive property first? Story continues below…

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• 1004 Saint Helenas Island, Crownsville, Md., $5.375 Mil.

  This property is listed as being 4 bedrooms, 5 baths on 6.63 acres. The photo show multiple structures, stunning outdoor space and a jetty. a href=”http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/1004-Saint-Helenas-Is_Crownsville_MD_21032_M50724-59518?row=21#” target=”_blank”Here’s the listing/a.

  The island itself has QUITE an interesting history — a href=”http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Helena_Island,_Maryland” target=”_blank”read up on the Wikipedia page/a.

• 1004 Saint Helenas Island, Crownsville, Md., $5.375 Mil.

• 1004 Saint Helenas Island, Crownsville, Md., $5.375 Mil.

• 1004 Saint Helenas Island, Crownsville, Md., $5.375 Mil.

• 1111 23rd St. NW, $1.879 Mil.

  3 bedrooms, 4 baths, 2 balconies in this luxurious condo. a href=”http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/1111-23Rd-St-Nw-S3a_Washington_DC_20037_M59495-79752?row=22#” target=”_blank”Here’s the listing/a.

• 1029 Savile Ln., McLean, Va., $3 Mil.

  5 bedrooms, 8 baths, 6+ acres and a lot of animal prints in the staging photos. a href=”http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/1029-Savile-Ln_Mc-Lean_VA_22101_M69229-04754?row=56#” target=”_blank”Here’s the listing/a.

• 1029 Savile Ln., McLean, Va., $3 Mil.

• 1029 Savile Ln., McLean, Va., $3 Mil.

• 10 Wissioming Ct., Bethesda, Md., $5.5 Mil.

  5 bedrooms, 8 baths, a salt-water pool with a fire pit and an outdoor screening wall. Guest house, too, natch. a href=”http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/10-Wissioming-Ct_Bethesda_MD_20816_M62370-06892?row=19#” target=”_blank”Here’s the listing/a.

• 10 Wissioming Ct., Bethesda, Md., $5.5 Mil.

• 10 Wissioming Ct., Bethesda, Md., $5.5 Mil.

• 10 Wissioming Ct., Bethesda, Md., $5.5 Mil.

• 4736 Neptune Dr., Alexandria, Va., $4 Mil.

  4 bedrooms, 6 baths, a 3-stop elevator and a gigantic private dock on the Potomac. a href=”http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/4736-Neptune-Dr_Alexandria_VA_22309_M66818-76158?row=37#” target=”_blank”Here’s the listing/a.

• 4736 Neptune Dr., Alexandria, Va., $4 Mil.

• 4736 Neptune Dr., Alexandria, Va., $4 Mil.

• 4736 Neptune Dr., Alexandria, Va., $4 Mil.

• 8929 Harvest Square Ct., Rockville, Md., $5 Mil.

  This 8 bedroom, 12 bath house not only has a pool, a waterfall, a putting green, an in-home theater (of course) and a horseshoe pit. It also has an indoor basketball court. a href=”http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/8929-Harvest-Square-Ct_Rockville_MD_20854_M63633-52777?row=27#” target=”_blank”Here’s the listing/a.

• 8929 Harvest Square Ct., Rockville, Md., $5 Mil.

• 8929 Harvest Square Ct., Rockville, Md., $5 Mil.

• 8929 Harvest Square Ct., Rockville, Md., $5 Mil.

• 10711 Red Barn Ln., Rockville, Md., $4 Mil.

  Just look at the 5 bedroom, 10 bath house on this 5 acre lot, and tell us you won’t feel like you’re on vacation every day you’re living there. a href=”http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/10711-Red-Barn-Ln_Rockville_MD_20854_M51860-47121?row=38#” target=”_blank”Here’s the listing/a.

• 10711 Red Barn Ln., Rockville, Md., $4 Mil.

• 10711 Red Barn Ln., Rockville, Md., $4 Mil.

• 10711 Red Barn Ln., Rockville, Md., $4 Mil.

• 5825 Doyle Rd., Clifton, Va., $9.2 Mil.

  Called “Chateau in Oak Hollow,” this mansion has 7 bedrooms, 9 baths, 2 ponds and an indoor pool, on 5+-acres. a href=”http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/5825-Doyle-Rd_Clifton_VA_20124_M55937-38304?row=6#” target=”_blank”Here’s the listing/a.

• 5825 Doyle Rd., Clifton, Va., $9.2 Mil.

• 5825 Doyle Rd., Clifton, Va., $9.2 Mil.

• 441 New Jersey Ave. SE, $1.5 Mil.

  5 bedrooms, 4 baths, and a lovely deck in Capitol Hill. As the listing says, it’s perfect for a lobbyist or congressional affiliate. a href=”http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/441-New-Jersey-Ave-Se_Washington_DC_20003_M50628-34940?row=34#” target=”_blank”Here’s the listing/a.

• 441 New Jersey Ave. SE, $1.5 Mil.

• 1200 Crystal Dr., Arlington, Va., $1.4 Mil.

  This 3 bedroom, 3 bath condo is described as being “Moroccan-style” — it’s got a lot of colorful tiles — and also has expansive Potomac views. a href=”http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/1200-Crystal-Dr-Apt-1713_Arlington_VA_22202_M58114-27384?row=40#” target=”_blank”Here’s the listing/a.

• 1200 Crystal Dr., Arlington, Va., $1.4 Mil.

• 1200 Crystal Dr., Arlington, Va., $1.4 Mil.

According to Urban Turf, 2013 has been a very good year for people selling houses:

The monthly housing reports for the DC area have been singing the same song for the last few months, and a report out Monday is no different.

Home prices in the District of Columbia rose 8.9 percent between May 2012 and May 2013 to reach a median sales price of $490,000, the highest on record for the city in the month of May, according to a report released by RealEstate Business Intelligence. The median sales price for the entire DC area climbed to $424,800, also a record for the month of May.

Despite rising prices in the region, homes for sale continue to fly off the market.

The median number of days that active listings are spending on the market is just nine, compared to 11 days in April and 15 days in March. To put that number in perspective, homes are now selling about twice as fast as they were a year ago.

The REBI report finds there are nearly 20 percent more new listings as this time last year, though the overall number of active listings is still low (which would, of course, help account for the high prices).

Buyers, if you don’t want to rush rush rush into a high-price sale, here’s some promising forecasting: REBI suggests that the high prices may induce more sellers to list their properties, which “could help alleviate some of the inventory shortage, and take some pressure off prices.”

Urban Turf, meanwhile, has some jaw-dropping charts about the current market you can check out here.

Maybe a wildly expensive vacation home woud help take your mind off the D.C. area’s insane real estate prices?

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• 1 Hazlett St., Rehoboth Beach, De., $7.5 Million

  Six bedrooms, 7 baths and water views from every room. Separate guest quarters, too. a href=”http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/1-Hazlett-St_Rehoboth-Beach_DE_19971_M65222-52523?row=1#” target=”_blank”Here’s the listing/a.

• 1 Hazlett St., Rehoboth Beach, De., $7.5 Million

• 1 Hazlett St., Rehoboth Beach, De., $7.5 Million

• 1 Hazlett St., Rehoboth Beach, De., $7.5 Million

• 1 Hazlett St., Rehoboth Beach, De., $7.5 Million

• 1350 Texas Ave., Cape May, NJ, $6.5 Million

  Five bedrooms, 6 baths and an in-ground pool, plus a deck, a dock and a patio. a href=”http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/1350-Texas-Ave_Cape-May_NJ_08204_M64494-51501?row=6#” target=”_blank”Here’s the listing/a.

• 1350 Texas Ave., Cape May, NJ, $6.5 Million

• 1350 Texas Ave., Cape May, NJ, $6.5 Million

• 317 S Heron Gull Ct., Ocean City, Md., $5 Million

  Hello there 7 bedroom, 7 bath, 6500 square foot waterfront house. a href=”http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/317-S-Heron-Gull-Ct_Ocean-City_MD_21842_M54990-17695?row=10#” target=”_blank”Here’s the listing/a.

• 317 S Heron Gull Ct., Ocean City, Md., $5 Million

• 317 S Heron Gull Ct., Ocean City, Md., $5 Million

• 54 Ocean Dr., Rehoboth Beach, De., $4.9 Million

  Eight bedrooms and 8 baths, right on the beach. Aaahhh. a href=”http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/54-Ocean-Dr_Rehoboth-Beach_DE_19971_M53203-51346?row=11#” target=”_blank”Here’s the listing/a.

• 54 Ocean Dr., Rehoboth Beach, De., $4.9 Million

• 54 Ocean Dr., Rehoboth Beach, De., $4.9 Million

• 39684 Hamptons Ln., North Bethany, De., $4.9 Million

  Five bedrooms and 7 baths on the beach. In case you and yours can’t shout to each other in the 5284 square foot place, there’s also an intercom. a href=”http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/39684-Hamptons-Ln_North-Bethany_DE_19930_M58066-91276?row=19#” target=”_blank”Here’s the listing/a.

• 39684 Hamptons Ln., North Bethany, De., $4.9 Million

• 7A Clayton St., Dewey Beach, De., $3.7 Million

  Five bedroom, 7 bath contemporary-style oceanfront home. Rooftop deck, fireplace, elevator and gourmet kitchen, too. a href=”http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/7A-Clayton-St_Dewey-Beach_DE_19971_M61068-88100?row=22#” target=”_blank”Here’s the listing/a.

• 7A Clayton St., Dewey Beach, De., $3.7 Million

• 7A Clayton St., Dewey Beach, De., $3.7 Million

• 7A Clayton St., Dewey Beach, De., $3.7 Million

• 7A Clayton St., Dewey Beach, De., $3.7 Million

• Address Not Available, Bishopville, Md., $2.8 Million

  Four bedrooms and 6 baths in a house on your own private island. The property has a heated riverfront outdoor pool. Boat dock, too. a href=”http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/Bishopville_MD_21813_M65199-38181?row=28#” target=”_blank”Here’s the listing/a.

• Address Not Available, Bishopville, Md., $2.8 Million

• Address Not Available, Bishopville, Md., $2.8 Million

• Address Not Available, Bishopville, Md., $2.8 Million

• Address Not Available, Bishopville, Md., $2.8 Million

• Address Not Available, Bishopville, Md., $2.8 Million

• 21 Ocean Dr. Apt 1102, Rehoboth Beach, De., $2 Million

  One sweet penthouse. Four bedrooms, 3 baths, views from every room — and check out that roof deck. a href=”http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/21-Ocean-Dr-Apt-1102_Rehoboth-Beach_DE_19971_M50757-33632?row=45#” target=”_blank”Here’s the listing/a.

• 21 Ocean Dr. Apt 1102, Rehoboth Beach, De., $2 Million

• 21 Ocean Dr. Apt 1102, Rehoboth Beach, De., $2 Million

• 21 Ocean Dr. Apt 1102, Rehoboth Beach, De., $2 Million

• 5709 Waterside Dr., Ocean City, Md., $1.95 Million

  Five bedrooms, 4 baths on 5+ peaceful acres. Views, decks, a private boat dock and a touch of appealing tiki in the decor. a href=”http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/5709-Waterside-Dr_Ocean-City_MD_21842_M65271-30508?row=50#” target=”_blank”Here’s the listing/a.

• 5709 Waterside Dr., Ocean City, Md., $1.95 Million

• 5709 Waterside Dr., Ocean City, Md., $1.95 Million

• 5709 Waterside Dr., Ocean City, Md., $1.95 Million

• 5709 Waterside Dr., Ocean City, Md., $1.95 Million

• 1408 Texas Ave., Cape May, NJ, $1.525 Million

  Two houses for the (expensive) price of one. This three-parcel waterfront property comes with two houses — one of which appears to be in the shape of a boat! a href=”http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/1408-Texas-Ave_Cape-May_NJ_08204_M59022-14985?row=77#” target=”_blank”Here’s the listing/a.

• 1408 Texas Ave., Cape May, NJ, $1.525 Million

• 1408 Texas Ave., Cape May, NJ, $1.525 Million

• 1408 Texas Ave., Cape May, NJ, $1.525 Million