Amazon HQ2 — well, half of it (!?!) — is coming to the DMV. As a tech business in DC, we try to predict what the future holds so we can respond to it. And as active members of the #DCTech community, we want to know what it means to our friends and neighbors. With this in mind, we offered the community a 16-question survey and an opportunity to share how they feel about “winning” half of Amazon’s coveted prize.

What does HQ2 mean to #DCTech? We pulled the results and dived in.

First up, a lot more of you thought that there will be a net positive effect on the region than a net negative effect (43% positive vs 28% negative). When it comes to your businesses specifically, though, there’s a less confident optimism (28% positive). C-Level folks were the most optimistic group when it came to the impact on their businesses (44% positive), but in general, Virginia-based respondents were less confident compared to their counterparts in the District (26% positive VA vs 44% positive DC).

Clear Winner: It’s the economy, stupid.

A combined 64% of respondents either directly referenced economic growth or chose the influx of jobs and capital as the most likely positive result. Within hours of Amazon’s announcement, Virginia Tech proved this point with plans of their own (though obviously connected to Amazon’s news) — a $1B Innovation Campus in Alexandria. And that wasn’t all. George Mason confirmed the expansion of their Arlington campus with significant investments in the School of Computing and the Institute for Digital Innovation (read more).

What’s the worst that could happen (or has happened)?

Nearly half of the respondents expect a strain on the housing market to be the most likely negative effect. Perhaps we’re worried DC will emulate some of San Francisco’s failures, where their housing crisis has reached disastrous proportions. We’re a far cry from the Valley, but the fear is real. Fairly or unfairly, Amazon takes a lot of heat for skyrocketing real estate prices in Seattle. Meanwhile, affordable housing has already become an issue here on both sides of the Potomac.  

Check out the infographic and read some of the most striking comments from our survey participants below. Thanks again for everyone who took part, and feel free to share.

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3Advance is an app development company in Washington DC that helps startups, non-profits, and other businesses turn great ideas into beautiful, simple mobile and desktop apps. If you’d like to learn more about how we can help you create a better way forward for your company, drop us a line. We’d love to hear from you.