Becoming the Millionaire Next Door

Ten years ago my husband and I hired an electrician to fix a simple problem in our home. He was a nice, unassuming guy in his late 50’s, and the more we talked with him, the more we liked him. It was during this conversation that he told us a story about his life that has inspired me to this day.

When “John” was a young man of 28, he bought his first DC property. It was a small home in a decent area. He got a roommate who paid ½ of the mortgage and he was able to save quite a bit of money. The next year, he stumbled upon a good deal on another house. He bought it, found good tenants who paid the mortgage each month, and even had a little positive cash flow. After giving the situation some thought, he came up with a plan that he followed to the letter.

Each year for the next 29 years he purchased a small, affordable home in a decent neighborhood and rented it out. His plan was to begin selling the homes once they were paid off – that was how he would fund his retirement. When we met John, he had just sold the first home he had bought thirty years before. He owned it free and clear and it was worth four times what he had paid for it. He planned to repeat this process over the next 29 years, selling his properties one by one. Wow! What a simple plan – but one that would provide him with financial freedom for the rest of his life.

I’m not suggesting that buying 30 houses is possible for most people in today’s financing environment. But this is a fantastic time to buy an investment property if you qualify, as interest rates are extremely low and the DC area has homes in every price point. After an initial investment, the tenant pays for the property, while you reap the benefits. It doesn’t get any better than that!

Your Washington DC Realtor

I love living, working and playing in the Washington DC area and will be a true advocate for you before, during, and after your home purchase. Whether you are looking at a home, rowhouse or luxury condo anywhere in the DC real estate area, you can be sure your needs will be met and your requirements for a home taken as my top priority. It really pays to have someone who knows the area.

Not only do I represent buyers and sellers of DC Property, but I also represent MD Real Estate and Virginia Real Estate as well. I am your exclusive Long and Foster Real Estate Professional. Click here to learn more about me. Originally posted here : http://www.wheretoliveindc.com/blog/becoming-millionaire-next-door/

Want To Buy A Home in NW DC, But Don’t Think You Can Afford It?

DC is an expensive city – an opinion that almost everyone who’s either lived here or visited can agree on. It also has some of the most expensive real estate in the country. But, unlike a lot of other expensive cities, it’s weathered the real estate downturn in spectacular fashion. According to Kiplinger’s it’s the #1 City, Where Home Prices Have Held Up The Most. Check the NY Times, The Wall St. Journal, Fortune Magazine – all have written about the strength of DC’s housing market. In fact, we have the strongest real estate market in the country. But the Washington DC real estate market is also surprisingly affordable, if you know where to look.

Here are my top 5 picks for affordable NW DC neighborhoods:

#1) Petworth: a great neighborhood – with its own metro stop, new restaurants moving in, close proximity to downtown --fixer upper’s priced in the high $200s and renovated rowhouses in the mid-high $400s. You can get a lot of house for the money.

#2) Brightwood: easy commute to MD & downtown DC, yet feels a world away. Quiet and serene, and very affordable – renovated rowhouses in the high $300s.

#3) Columbia Heights: great, funky neighborhood with lots of shopping and restaurants, a metro stop and rowhouses as well as condos. Renovated rowhouses from $450s, condos starting in the $200s.

#4) 16^th Street Heights: a great neighborhood of large homes with yards, bordered by Rock Creek Park. Easy commute to downtown, yet surburban in feel. Rowhomes in the $400s, single family homes in the $600s and above.

#5) Capitol Hill: a great neighborhood, with a metro stop, restaurants, shopping, and Eastern Market, a wonderful weekend farmer’s market and flea market. The typical rowhouse is small, but charming. 2-bedroom rowhouses in the $400s and above.

Don’t think these neighborhoods are you for you? More interested in the “in the middle of everything” neighborhoods of Penn Quarter, Dupont Circle or Cleveland Park. Well, I have good news for you too -- even the most expensive neighborhoods have reasonably priced condos and coops. So if you’re looking for maintenance free living and don’t mind paying condo fees, this option may be right for you.

I specialize in relocating and first-time homebuyers and would love to help you find the perfect home! Give me a call to get started.

Your Washington DC Realtor

I love living, working and playing in the Washington DC area and will be a true advocate for you before, during, and after your home purchase. Whether you are looking at a home, rowhouse or luxury condo anywhere in the DC real estate area, you can be sure your needs will be met and your requirements for a home taken as my top priority. It really pays to have someone who knows the area.

Not only do I represent buyers and sellers of DC Property, but I also represent MD Real Estate and Virginia Real Estate as well. I am your exclusive Long and Foster Real Estate Professional. Click here to learn more about me. Post originated here: http://www.wheretoliveindc.com/blog/buying-home-dc-not-sure-you-can-afford-it/

It’s been two days since I finished my 10-day juice fast.(read part one) When I last checked in, I was on day 7 and feeling great. I had lost 9 pounds at that point, and although my fast was primarily for health reasons and my desire to change my eating habits for the better, it still felt good to see the weight come off.

Days 8-10 were easy physically but difficult mentally. I wasn’t hungry very often and was full of energy, but I just really wanted to eat something. And cooking dinners for my family certainly didn’t help. It was a challenge to stay true to my goals, but I managed to do so, barely... And in the final weigh-in I had lost 12 lbs. Not bad at all!

I prepared for my first meal with gusto! I chopped loads of organic vegetables: carrots, onions, turnips, rutabagas, sweet potato, celery, squash, garlic, salt & pepper and added it all to filtered water. Then I let it simmer on the stove for several hours. My first bites of the soup were amazing. It was delicious and completely satisfied my cravings. I had another bowl for dinner with a few slices of avocado. Wow, I never knew soup could taste so good.

But today, day later, a funny thing has happened. Now that I have met my goal and am free to eat again, I have absolutely no desire to do so. I juiced for breakfast and lunch and will have soup and a small salad for dinner. Not because of a promise I made to myself about meeting a goal, but because that’s what feels right. It’s what my body is craving right now. Amazing…

I have no idea where this journey will take me. I am sure I will expand my repertoire of foods over time and will not eat healthy every single day. But I also feel certain that juicing will be a regular part of my diet and my life from now on. I just feel too good to let this all end. Let me know if you have any questions about juicing or DC real estate. I’d be happy to help.

Post Originated here : http://www.wheretoliveindc.com/blog/juice-fasting-washington-dc-part-2/

Where to live in DC is an interesting dilemma and one that I hear pondered all the time by people new to the DC area. It’s also purely a matter of preference because DC truly has something for everyone. In other words, it depends what you are looking for in a DC neighborhood and how much you have to spend.

 In terms of Washington DC property, if you are interested in a suburb within the city, there are some great neighborhoods that would work well for you – namely Chevy Chase, Forest Hills, and Crestwood, just to name a few. If you are looking for a hip area with lots of bars and restaurants that you can walk to, then we’re talking about neighborhoods like U Street, H Street NE, and Adams Morgan. And if you like rowhouse neighborhoods that are more affordable but still within 15-20 minutes of downtown, then you might be interested in Petworth or Brightwood.

 Seriously, DC has dozens of neighborhoods, each with its own distinct flavor. Some neighborhoods like Penn Quarter and Foggy Bottom in downtown DC, are almost exclusively condos. While Riggs Park, on the other hand, is a quiet neighborhood of townhomes built mostly in the 1950s, with a subway station (Fort Totten) and homes priced around $300,000.

Looking for neighborhoods close to metro -- how about Takoma Park, Cleveland Park, or Columbia Heights? Like to hike and bike – then you might be interested in a neighborhood within walking distance to Rock Creek Park – 16th Street Heights, Hawthorne & Colonial Village would fit the bill. Off the beaten path is Palisades, which is west of Georgetown and has a quaint village feel and the best pizza in DC. As you can see, the list goes on and on.

So now that I’ve given you a taste of your choices, you’ll need help narrowing them down based on neighborhood characteristics, location, and price. What you need is a good real estate agent!. I would be thrilled to help you with your search and purchase of DC real estate. I’m a realtor with Long & Foster, am originally from NYC, and have lived in DC for over 20 years.

 I know this city and it’s neighborhoods inside and out and will be an asset to you as you move through the process. Not only that, but it will be fun! I’d love to hear from you whether you are just beginning the process or are ready to go. I’d also be honored to be your guide as you figure out where to live in DC.

 Originally Posted here: http://bestdcrealestate.com/blog/2011/10/where-to-live-in-dc/

For the last 7 days, food has not touched my lips. No, I’m not having a bad month commission wise (I’m a realtor in DC). I’m on Day 7 of a 10-day juice fast. I am juicing fruits and vegetables 4 times/day and drinking lots of water. That’s it. No Friday night pizza and wine, no eggs and bacon for breakfast, not even a salad for lunch. I was tired of feeling tired, and decided to go cold turkey in my quest for more energy and a healthier lifestyle. Here’s how my journey began…

Several months ago I found out that I am on the borderline for high blood pressure. I’m also above my ideal weight, and I just haven’t been feeling like myself lately. I’m typically a high energy person, but had been feeling sluggish and tired. I even started taking naps for the first time in my life. It was time to do something drastic or I feared I would begin a downward slide toward something that wasn’t good.

When I began juicing, I did it in addition to eating regular meals, usually in the morning. I was looking for the boost that a nutrient rich drink would provide. Gradually, I started replacing breakfast with juice, as I found that I wasn’t really hungry after I had my glass of juice. I had a decent juicer and a book of juice recipes and was enjoying the process. I had done some research on juice fasting, and how powerfully positive it can be for your health, but wasn’t quite ready to go there yet. What pushed me to go all the way was watching a documentary called “Fat,Sick & Nearly Dead.” It’s a great film about 2 men who are overweight and sick with various ailments, and who turn their lives around through juicing. I watched the film, got the OK from my doctor, and started my juice fast the next day.

Day 1 & 2 of my fast was pretty easy, I must say. I wasn’t very hungry and the juices kept me satisfied. A typical concoction was kale, carrots, green apples, and beets; or broccoli, green apple and spinach. I found that adding green apple would make almost any vegetable taste good. But days 3 & 4 were not quite that easy – -in fact, they were downright difficult. I was hungry almost the entire time. And I still needed to cook dinner for my family, and go out and show property to real estate clients. I showed eight DC properties on day 4 and my stomach started growling at about the 5th house. How embarrassing!

Days 5 & 6 were a lot easier, I had a full schedule and just felt really good and had lots of energy. Today, is day 7 and I’m feeling great. I had Kale, beet, apple, carrot, orange juice this morning, which was delicious. I feel creative and am getting all sorts of work done that I had put off. And I’ve lost 9 pounds so far!

I still have 3 days to go on my juice fast, and I’m looking forward to each day. So far it’s been a challenging, energizing and rewarding experience. Let me know if you have any questions about juice fasting or DC Real Estate. I’d be happy to help.

Originally posted here: http://bestdcrealestate.com/blog/2011/10/juice-fasting-in-washington-dc/

Want that close commute but not the hassle of the traffic? Do you work in Washington DC but don't want to live there? There are alternatives to the chaos that can sometimes be downtown DC. With the right agent you can find exactly what you're looking for without running all over three states to do it.

Because I know the Washington DC area as well as Virginia and Maryland I can help you find and purchase the right home in the right neighborhood.

The Washington DC real estate market can be a menagerie of homes, classic neighborhoods, hip communities and jazzy streets and knowing which neighborhood either in DC or just outside is going to be right for your situation and lifestyle takes a native. A local agent adept at helping folks find and purchase the right place for their needs.

Moving from out of state? I know the confusion that the Washington DC area can portray and not knowing which neighborhood or home style is what you're looking can seem stressful. BUT THERE IS A BETTER WAY.

Before you even take one step in our direction, let a seasoned and knowledgeable DC real estate agent answer all your questions and find you the right area for your lifestyle and family. You can't do this blind, but you can start out the right way by alleviating your stress from the start.

There are a couple ways to start. Search the local MLS for all homes in the Washington DC, Virginia or Maryland area. You can find a lot of information just from the listing online. While nothing beats a personal tour, many homes may have virtual tours and pictures of the neighborhood and grounds.

But for an up close and personal look at each home, the best way to search is to simply let me do all the work for you. Let me know what you're looking for, where you want to be, how close to schools and work, size and layout of the home and any details that you want me to know. I will send a complete list of all the homes available and let you choose which ones you would like to see more in-depth.

I know the Washington DC real estate area including most parts of Virginia and Maryland that border DC. For that extra special touch in buying or selling your DC real estate, give me a call. I would love to help you in your journey.

Are You Looking for a Home or an Investment?

I recently worked with a lovely couple who were looking for a home in DC. They wanted an older home with charm and at least 3 bedroom and two baths. They didn’t mind if it needed updating, but wanted no major renovation projects. It should be near a metro, for resale purposes. And, most importantly, they wanted to be able to put a rental apartment in the basement.

We looked at homes for a while and of course, the longer we looked, the more their needs and desires crystallized. A yard became more important, so we added that to the mix. Perhaps they were willing to do a bit more than simple updating – so we looked at fixer-uppers as well.

We put in a few offers and lost out in some competitive situations. One house they walked away from because the home inspection revealed too many extensive issues. Finally, one day we looked at two similarly priced homes that my clients liked, but could not be more different.

House #1 was move-in ready. It was an updated, 3BR/2BA rowhouse in a good neighborhood, had a great layout and a spacious basement. It had off street parking, but absolutely no yard. And, it was near a metro!

House #2 was a detached home in a slightly better neighborhood and on a really pretty street. This home was very spacious with 4BR/2BA, an OK basement, a huge yard and a garage. But this home hadn’t been updated since the 60s. It needed everything. And, it was not near a metro.

My clients went back and forth for days. They had lots of questions about resale value and felt that House #1 was the better value. But House#2 had so many special and unique features that they liked. They didn’t know what to do – they were stuck. Finally, I said to my clients, “the house you choose will not just be an investment, it will be your home. You have to live there. You should love it. Choose the home that you will love coming home to.”

The next morning they called. They had chosen House #2. They just loved it – for tangible and intangible reasons. They felt like it would be worth all of the time and effort they would put in to it to make it their dream home. Hooray for them!

My advice to clients is to always consider resale value when buying a home, but not to the exclusion of other factors. It’s still your home, after all.

27 RHODE ISLAND AVE NW, WASHINGTON, DC 20001- $575,000

Just minutes from the very heart of Washington DC is this charming 5 bedroom, 5 bath attached row home. Newly renovated, this 102 year old home is the essence of character in Washington DC.

Beautifully renovated rowhouse with open floor-plan, soaring ceilings, exposed brick, outdoor space, and more in great Ledroit Park location!! Owner's suite is 3BR/2.5BA; English Basement Rental is 2BR/1.5BA. Separately metered! Rent would pay majority of mortgage!

Dining/Kitchen: 1,466 square feet of home with 2nd Kitchen, Kit-Dining Combo, Kit-Island Appliances: Dishwasher, Disposal, Dryer-front loading, Microwave, Oven/Range-Gas, Refrigerator, Stove, Washer-front loading

Amenities: Attach Mstr Bath, Bath Ceramic Tile, Granite Counters, MBA/Sep Shwr, MBA/Sep Tub, Wood Floors

OPEN HOUSE SUNDAY JUNE 19 1-4PM

Call or Email me – Djana Morris for a private showing or more details on how you can own this stylish home in Ledroit Park of Washington DC. Telephone: 202.364.1300 | Cell: 202.309.0146 DJANA.MORRIS@Longandfoster.com

4007 CONNECTICUT AVE NW #312, WASHINGTON, DC 20008 - $385,000

Just a couple blocks from the University of District of Columbia and Howard University School of Law is this clean and well kept one bedroom one bath condo in Washington DC.

Almost 900 square feet encompasses this condo in Forest Hills Washington DC. Imagine breakfasting in your sunny eat-in kitchen, entertaining in your spacious living room, working at home in your windowed den, awakening awashed in sunlight in your enormous bedroom. This 1 bedroom plus den condo is filled with old world charm, archways & hardwood floors, but updated to meet modern standards. Extra storage. Exercise room and just 2 blocks to Metro!

Come join us for our Open House! Sunday 6/26th 1-4pm VISIT http://mrislistings.mris.com/Matrix/Public/Portal.aspx?ID=42381223937 to see more pictures.

And Call or Email me – Djana Morris for a private showing or more details on how you can own this stylish condo in Forest Hills of Washington DC. Telephone: 202.364.1300 | Cell: 202.309.0146 DJANA.MORRIS@Longandfoster.com

532 CEDAR ST NW, WASHINGTON, DC 20012 -$849,500

Just steps away from the Takoma Park Library is this beautiful Victorian Style home in the Brightwood subdivision.  Also close by to the Takoma Elementary Recreational Center  and several other schools around the area this 4 bedroom 3.5 bath home has everything a family could want. With 4 levels, each with it's own charm, a cozy fireplace and extra rooms for guests or offices; over 2,000 square feet, this truly is a wonderful home.

Beautiful, Spacious Victorian home located on a fabulous street lined with Victorian mansions! Features period details, front & side covered porches, chef's kitchen/family room, 4BR/3.5 BA (includes 2 master suites), finished basement with media room, office, and bar, 7-Zone HVAC System. Garage & driveway. 2 blocks from metro. Welcome Home to Historic Takoma Park!!

FEATURES Rooms: Living Room, Dining Room, Bedroom-Master, Sitting Room, Bedroom-Second, Bedroom-Third, Kitchen, Recreation Rm, Family Rm, Den, Foyer, Bedroom-Master 2, Bedroom-First M

Dining/Kitchen: Gourmet, Kit-Family Combo, Sep Dining Rm, Eat-In Kitchen Appliances: Central Vacuum, Cooktop, Dishwasher, Disposal, Dryer, Microwave, Oven-Wall, Refrigerator, Washer Amenities: 2 Attach Mstr Baths, Attic-Finished, Bath Ceramic Tile, Built-in Bookcases, Drapes/Curtains, FP Mantels, MBRs Multiple, Wood Floors

And Call or Email me - Djana Morris for a private showing or more details on how you can own this charming home in Takoma Park Washington DC. Telephone: 202.364.1300 | Cell: 202.309.0146 DJANA.MORRIS@Longandfoster.com