Gregory's Metropolitan Washington, DC Real Estate Ramblings

What's Happening in the District....

2008-09-02T11:35:58Z

What's Happening in the District....

SAVE THE DATE: Mayor’s Fall Citywide Job Fair, September 23

The DC Department of Human Resources, in partnership with the D.C. Department of Employment Services, will be hosting Mayor Adrian. Fenty’s Fall 2008 Citywide Job Fair at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center from 10am to 4pm on Tuesday, September 23, 2008.

Help With Utility Bills Under a Single Roof, September 30

Low-income residents of the District of Columbia can apply for discounts and financial assistance on all of their utility bills at a single location. The annual Joint Utility Discount Day (JUDD) will take place at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center all day Tuesday, September 30. At JUDD, residents can apply for emergency aid with their energy bills, and take advantage of home weatherization services and discounts offered on their electric, natural gas, water and telephone bills. DDOE is currently accepting emergency applicants whose Pepco or Washington Gas service has been disconnected or are out of heating oil. Emergency applicants must bring the disconnection notice, proof of household income, most recent utility bills, and a picture ID. For more information or to schedule an appointment, interested persons should call DDOE’s Energy Hotline at (202) 673-6750.

District Opens Resource Center for Disabled and Elderly

The DC Office on Aging joined with collaborating agencies and private organizations to open the DC Aging and Disability Resource Center (ARDC), at 1134 11th Street NW, a one-stop resource center for the elderly and persons with disabilities. The ADRC will serve as a resource for information and assistance to seniors and persons with disabilities, helping them explore options and benefits available to them. For more information visit, www.adrcdc.org

Last Updated: 09/02/08

Equal Housing Opportunity
All Information Deemed Reliable, But Not Guaranteed

Reported by Gregory D. Maley of Coldwell Banker - Chevy Chase

Gregory D. Maley
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Chevy Chase
5028 Wisconsin Avenue, NW • Washington, DC 20016
Direct: 202.528.0495 • Office: 202.362.5800
Fax: 202.478.1735

Owned & Operated by NRT, LLC

What's Happening in the District....

2008-08-05T11:26:13Z

What's Happening in the District....

Shop DC Tax Free August 2 - 10

The District of Columbia will offer its second 2008 Sales Tax Holiday beginning at 12:01 am Saturday, August 2 through midnight Sunday, August 10. The Sales Tax holiday grants an exemption from the 5.75 percent sales tax for school supplies, clothes, shoes, and accessory items. To qualify, each item must cost $100 or less. The sales tax exemption will apply to each eligible item, no matter how many items are on the bill. The exemption also applies to layaway sales if the retailer and customer enter into a layaway agreement during the exemption period or the customer makes final payment on the layaway order during the exemption period.

Click Here for more information.

Last Updated: 08/05//08

Equal Housing Opportunity
All Information Deemed Reliable, But Not Guaranteed

Reported by Gregory D. Maley of Coldwell Banker - Chevy Chase

Gregory D. Maley
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Chevy Chase
5028 Wisconsin Avenue, NW • Washington, DC 20016
Direct: 202.528.0495 • Office: 202.362.5800
Fax: 202.478.1735

Owned & Operated by NRT, LLC

OPEN HOUSE!

2008-07-23T13:18:50Z

Gregory D. Maley | Coldwell Banker - Chevy Chase | 202-362-5800 (Office) | 202-528-0495 (Direct)

4301 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC

This chic and convenient studio is convenient to AU and UDC. Only 1.1 miles to MetroRail. Crisp white paint and spotless, neutral carpet over hardwood.

OPEN HOUSE!

Sunday, July 27, 2008
1:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Unit #1006

Studio/1BA Condo

offered at $220,000

Year Built	1951
Sq Footage	360
Bedrooms	Studio
Bathrooms	1 full, 0 partial
Floors	Unspecified
Parking	2 Uncovered spaces
Lot Size	Unspecified
HOA/Maint	$303 per month

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

Walk-in closet	Hardwood floor	Dishwasher
Refrigerator	Stove/Oven	Microwave

COMMUNITY FEATURES

Laundry on-site	Storage space(s)	Secured entry
Elevator

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Seller contact info:

Gregory D. Maley

Coldwell Banker - Chevy Chase

202-528-0495

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Jul 17, 2008, 4:52am PDT

What's Happening in the District....

2008-07-14T17:09:19Z

What's Happening in the District....

Please join the Mayor’s Office of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Affairs for:

The District Government and You!
A DC Government Open House
July 16, 2008
6:00pm – 8:30pm
Westminster Presbyterian Church
400 I Street, SW

The open house will allow DC residents to meet representatives from the Mayor’s Office of GLBT Affairs, and other government agencies including:

* Mayor’s Office of Community Relations and Services
* Deputy Mayor’s Office of Planning and Economic Development
* Department of Employment Services
* Fire/EMS
* MPD – Gay and Lesbian Liaison Unit
* Office of Human Services
* Child and Family Services Agency
* Office of Unified Communication
* Office on Aging
* Office of Human Rights
* Homeland Security Emergency Management
* Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration
* Office on Asian Pacific Islander Affairs
* Office on Latino Affairs

www.glbt.dc.gov

Click Here to Search the ENTIRE MLS Database For Your Next Home!

Last Updated: 07/14/08

Equal Housing Opportunity
All Information Deemed Reliable, But Not Guaranteed

Reported by Gregory D. Maley of Coldwell Banker - Chevy Chase

Gregory D. Maley
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Chevy Chase
5028 Wisconsin Avenue, NW • Washington, DC 20016
Direct: 202.528.0495 • Office: 202.362.5800
Fax: 202.478.1735

Owned & Operated by NRT, LLC

What is that SMELL?

2008-07-10T12:58:48Z

WHAT IS THAT SMELL?

Last week, I had the pleasure of working with a nice young school teacher. He was seeking to purchase his first home. Because of the price range, we were looking at a lot of properties that were in less than stellar condition. There was one, however, where as soon as we opened the door, we were hit in the face by a smell so bad we were both wondering if there might be a body decaying inside. I promptly closed the door and we moved on. I have to wonder if the listing agent EVER walked into the house. If the smell of the house turns people off so badly that they can't walk through the front door, you'd better be ready to drop the price low enough to make it worth their while to at least brave what they may find.

Click Here to Search the ENTIRE MLS Database For Your Next Home!

Last Updated: 07/10/08

Equal Housing Opportunity
All Information Deemed Reliable, But Not Guaranteed

Reported by Gregory D. Maley of Coldwell Banker - Chevy Chase

Gregory D. Maley
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Chevy Chase
5028 Wisconsin Avenue, NW • Washington, DC 20016
Direct: 202.528.0495 • Office: 202.362.5800
Fax: 202.478.1735

Owned & Operated by NRT, LLC

Prospecting for Dummies

2008-07-10T12:00:31Z

Prospecting for Dummies

As I was watching some of my favorite television shows this week, I was a little disturbed by how REALTORS are portrayed. On one show, "Two and a Half Men", the mother/grandmother is an agent who is portrayed as skulking through the obituaries looking for clients. In another, "Weeds", two real estate agents arrive to "sit Shiva" with the family in hopes of acquiring the listing. While I'm sure there are agents out there who find this to be a great way to get business, I have to say I find it disheartening. Even more so that it's projected as the "norm". Perhaps I'm just naive.

Click Here to Search the ENTIRE MLS Database For Your Next Home!

Last Updated: 07/10/08

Equal Housing Opportunity
All Information Deemed Reliable, But Not Guaranteed

Reported by Gregory D. Maley of Coldwell Banker - Chevy Chase

Gregory D. Maley
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Chevy Chase
5028 Wisconsin Avenue, NW • Washington, DC 20016
Direct: 202.528.0495 • Office: 202.362.5800
Fax: 202.478.1735

Owned & Operated by NRT, LLC

My Life in Six Words

2008-07-10T09:53:49Z

My Life In Six Words

Catching up on some old blog posts, I found one from my friend, Pat Kennedy, in response to another post by TLW. The challenge is to define your life in six words. That's pretty tough, but here's my stab at it: Lived, Loved, Laughed, Cried, Struggled, Succeeded.

Last Updated: 07/10/08

Equal Housing Opportunity
All Information Deemed Reliable, But Not Guaranteed

Reported by Gregory D. Maley of Coldwell Banker - Chevy Chase

Gregory D. Maley
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Chevy Chase
5028 Wisconsin Avenue, NW • Washington, DC 20016
Direct: 202.528.0495 • Office: 202.362.5800
Fax: 202.478.1735

Owned & Operated by NRT, LLC

JUST LISTED IN DC!

2008-07-01T11:29:40Z

JUST LISTED

Chic Cleveland Park Studio

This chic and comfortable studio is convenient to American University and the University of the District of Columbia. Only 1.1 miles to MetroRail and MetroBus at the front door! Crisp white paint and spotless, neutral carpet over hardwood, this home is move-in ready.

Address:
4301 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
District of Columbia, DC 20016 US

Fact Sheet:
Listing Type: Sale
Property Type: Condo
Architecture Type: Other
Year Built: 1951
Price: $220,000
Interior Size: 360 sq. ft. Bedrooms: 0 room(s)
Bathrooms: 1 room(s)

Click Here to Search the ENTIRE MLS Database For Your Next Home!

Last Updated: 07/01/08

Equal Housing Opportunity
All Information Deemed Reliable, But Not Guaranteed

Reported by Gregory D. Maley of Coldwell Banker - Chevy Chase

Gregory D. Maley
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Chevy Chase
5028 Wisconsin Avenue, NW • Washington, DC 20016
Direct: 202.528.0495 • Office: 202.362.5800
Fax: 202.478.1735

(c) 2008 Gregory D. Maley

What's Happening in the District....

2008-06-10T14:19:30Z

The Spirit of New Orleans Alive in Our Nation’s Capitol

“New Orleans: Spirit a’ Risen”

Exhibit Opens at Artful Gallery Continues through June 26th

As they say in New Orleans, “Laissez les bons temps rouler! Let the good times roll!” That is exactly what happened last Friday evening when Bedonna Wakeman, Eric Buchanan and Veronica Leandrez debuted their New Orleans-inspired street art at Artful Gallery on Capitol Hill. Bedonna exclaimed that the musicians on her canvases seemed to come alive as Ginny Carr and Henning Hoehne played traditional jazz on keyboards and clarinet. Even when the gallery filled and the temperature started rising, guests were not deterred. Art and music combined to create an authentic New Orleans experience.

Prior to the opening of the show, the artists delivered a talk at the Library of Congress. The artists spoke about their personal experiences living and working in post-Katrina New Orleans, and then each showcased one of their paintings. Bedonna introduced “Boy of Hope,” a simple and elegant black youth holding an impressionist twig in one hand and a bird in the other. Eric described “Topsy Turvy,” a surrealistic portrait. The nude woman in the center of the canvas appears to be celebrating, while many others in the painting are featured upside down or sideways … reflecting a New Orleans that is still topsy turvy. Veronica presented a painting called Oshun Watches Over New Orleans, painted in commemoration of the Louisiana Bicentennial. The painting was exhibited at Barrister's Gallery "Louisiana Purchase Dismantled" Group Exhibit in 2003.

The artists sought to educate Washingtonians about the dire circumstances facing artists in New Orleans. Less than 15 percent of New Orleans’ street artists remain after Katrina as the absence of tourism impedes their ability to make a living. Veronica commented, “The role of the painter as a visual historian captures the facets of culture that are New Orleans heritage-- its character and diversity, its ability to rise above the struggles, and to experience a catharsis of healing arising out of trauma and adversity.”

“We returned to the city with a greater sense of personal responsibility to step more powerfully into the role of the artist as a cultural representative.” Eric spoke with a quiet passion. “After the levees failed, personally I wanted to show the world our culture, show that we are good, hard working people, not just our bad eggs the media kept showing over and over … Every day I find a new reason to love New Orleans more.”

“Being on the street, that’s my life,” says Wakeman. “I feel like an anchor and ambassador for the city. I want to talk to people and get them excited about the music. [after Katrina] I discovered that I lost 90 percent of everything I owned, including most of my finished canvases. I was able to find some canvas and frames to stretch my work out on Royal Street as a statement that the art community had returned.”

If you love New Orleans, you won’t want to miss this show. If you have never been to New Orleans, discover what you’ve been missing. There are approximately 150 paintings on display, ranging in price from $100 to $5000. Private gallery visits can be arranged by calling Artful Gallery at 301-537-8713. Artful Gallery is located at 1349 Maryland Avenue, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20002.

The “New Orleans: Spirit a’ Risen” show will be ending on Thursday, June 26th. There will be one final opportunity to meet artists Bedonna Wakeman, Eric Buchanan and Veronica Leandrez when they return to DC for a closing event on June 26th, from 6:00-9:00 p.m. To create an authentic New Orleans experience, Cajun Music by Karen Collins and Fred Feinstein (Squeeze Bayou) will accompany the show’s closing. Cajun-inspired food and drink will be available for all to savor.

Last Updated: 06/10//2008

Equal Housing Opportunity
All Information Deemed Reliable, But Not Guaranteed

Reported by Gregory D. Maley of Coldwell Banker - Chevy Chase

Art Gallery Opening: New Orleans: Spirit a' Risen

2008-06-05T08:08:13Z

What's Happening in the District

The sultry New Orleans summer, filtered through tantalizing images of jazz musicians and their soulful music, will temper Washington, D.C. when Eric Buchanan, Veronica Leandrez and Bedonna Wakeman debut their New Orleans-inspired street art at the Artful Gallery on June 6th at 1349 Maryland Avenue, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20002, from 6:00-9:00 p.m. Titled “New Orleans: Spirit a’ Risen,” the show features these venerable New Orleans artists who capture the essence of the Crescent City through a pictorial history of music and cultural diversity. The artists belong to a coveted group known as the Pirate Alley Artists who show and sell their work on Royal Street in New Orleans, just behind the famous St. Louis Cathedral that borders Jackson Square.

“Being on the street, that’s my life,” says Wakeman, a resident of New Orleans since 2001. “I feel like an anchor and ambassador for the city. I want to talk to people and get them excited about the music,” she adds. According to Leandrez, “I feel honored to be an artist in New Orleans. Our city is healing and transforming through a powerful and beautiful rebirth.” “Every day I find a new reason to love New Orleans more,” says Buchanan, a 17-year resident of the city. All three artists will be talking during the June 6th exhibit/public opening to educate Washingtonians about the current circumstances facing artists in New Orleans, and their efforts to keep the spirit of New Orleans alive. Less than 15 percent of New Orleans’ street artists remained after the hurricane as the absence of tourism impeded their success.

Artist Bedonna Wakeman herself returned to New Orleans three weeks after Hurricane Katrina devastated the city. Her storm-ravaged home revealed a complete loss of her paintings and personal possessions. Within one week, though, she returned to the French Quarter and Pirate Alley despite the struggles faced through rebuilding. “I discovered that I lost 90 percent of everything I owned, including most of my finished canvases. I was able to find some canvas and frames to stretch my work out on Royal Street as a statement that the art community had returned,” says Wakeman. Wakeman has been involved in the arts her entire life. After attending Eastern Michigan University and Western Washington State University, she moved to the San Francisco Bay Area where she worked in experimental theater and conceptual art with the Odyssey Company and the San Francisco Museum of Art. In 1979, she moved to Europe and continued her work in Spain, Germany, France and England.

Artist Veronica Leandrez moved to New Orleans in the mid-1990s to pursue a degree in Fine Art at Tulane University after graduating from the Design and Architecture Senior High School (DASH), an acclaimed magnet secondary school in the heart of the Design District in Miami, Fla. After Hurricane Katrina struck the city in 2005, she returned to join family in Spain, her homeland, before returning to New Orleans to participate in the city’s rebirth. She does private commissions and shows her work on the fence behind St. Louis Cathedral.

Artist Eric Buchanan studied art at the University of North Carolina. He has been a resident and painter in New Orleans for 17 years. Known, in part, for his prolific wall murals, Buchanan draws inspiration for his work from the people, architecture, culture, food and music of New Orleans. The Times-Picayune recently mentioned Buchanan as a rising star in the city’s art scene. You can find him, and his work, on Royal Street as well.

All the work displayed at the Artful Gallery for the “Spirit a’ Risen” exhibit will be for sale to the public. To create an authentic New Orleans experience, Ginny Carr and Henning Hoehne will be playing traditional jazz at the show’s opening and Cajun Music by Karen Collins and Fred Feinstein (Squeeze Bayou) will accompany the show’s closing on June 26th. Cajun-inspired food and drink will be available for all to savor. For more information on the Spirit a’ Risen show, log onto www.artfulgallery.net. Private gallery visits after the show’s public opening on June 6th can be arranged by calling 301-537-8713.

Last Updated: 06/05/2008

Equal Housing Opportunity
All Information Deemed Reliable, But Not Guaranteed

Reported by Gregory D. Maley of Coldwell Banker - Chevy Chase

Body of War

2008-04-03T15:09:43Z

What's Happening in the District

Last night I had the opportunity to attend a sneak preview of 'Body of War', the critically-acclaimed documentary about Tomas Young, a 26-year-old veteran who was shot and paralyzed from the chest down after serving in Iraq for less than a week. The film was produced and directed by Phil Donahue and Ellen Spiro with original songs from Eddie Vedder. Tomas' story is extremely inspirational and I would encourage every American to see the film.

You can read a bit about it below. Those of you in the metropolitan Washington, DC area can register for another sneak preview tomorrow evening (Friday, April 4) at the Landmark E Street Cinema:

Featured Guests at last night's premiere included:

* Tomas Young, featured in Body of War
* Phil Donahue and Ellen Spiro, Co-Directors of Body of War
* Lawrence Korb, Senior Fellow at Center for American Progress
* Senator Robert C. Byrd, West Virginia

Last Updated: 04/03/2008

Equal Housing Opportunity
All Information Deemed Reliable, But Not Guaranteed

Reported by Gregory D. Maley of Coldwell Banker - Chevy Chase

March Newsletter

2008-03-01T12:36:42Z

What's Happening in Real Estate

Last Updated: 03/01/2008

Equal Housing Opportunity
All Information Deemed Reliable, But Not Guaranteed

Reported by Gregory D. Maley of Coldwell Banker - Chevy Chase

February Real Estate Update

2008-02-02T16:44:49Z

February Real Estate Update

Last Updated: 02/02/2008

Equal Housing Opportunity
All Information Deemed Reliable, But Not Guaranteed

Reported by Gregory D. Maley of Coldwell Banker - Chevy Chase

Real Estate News

2008-02-02T14:42:58Z

What's Happening in Real Estate

Last Updated: 02/02/2008

Equal Housing Opportunity
All Information Deemed Reliable, But Not Guaranteed

Reported by Gregory D. Maley of Coldwell Banker - Chevy Chase

Swimming Pool Homes in Arlington, VA

2008-02-02T14:33:23Z

Swimming Pool Homes in Arlington, Virginia

DETACHED HOMES WITH IN-GROUND POOLS

Active: 0
Average Days on Market: 0
Average List Price: $0

Pending: 0
Average Days on Market: 0
Average List Price: $0

JANUARY 2007 SALES

Detached Homes: 1
Average Days on Market: 49
Average List Price: $1,050,000
Average Sales Price*: $930,000

*Sales Price does not include any seller contribution. Seller contributions are considered when evaluating a listing price as well as an official appraisal of any property.

Tune in next week for an updated report. Call or eMail Gregory for a personalized report or to buy or sell any home in the Arlington or anywhere else in the Metropolitan Washington, DC area!

Click Here to Search the ENTIRE MLS Database For Your Next Home!

Last Updated: 02/02/2008

Equal Housing Opportunity
All Information Deemed Reliable, But Not Guaranteed

Reported by Gregory D. Maley of Coldwell Banker - Chevy Chase

Swimming Pool Homes in Alexandria, VA

2008-02-02T14:28:03Z

Swimming Pool Homes in
Alexandria, Virginia

DETACHED HOMES WITH IN-GROUND POOLS

Active: 3
Average Days on Market: 144
Average List Price: $2,299,667

Pending: 0
Average Days on Market: 0
Average List Price: $0

JANUARY 2007 SALES

Detached Homes: 0
Average Days on Market: 0
Average List Price: $0
Average Sales Price*: $0

*Sales Price does not include any seller contribution. Seller contributions are considered when evaluating a listing price as well as an official appraisal of any property.

Tune in next week for an updated report. Call or eMail Gregory for a personalized report or to buy or sell any home in Alexandria or anywhere else in the Metropolitan Washington, DC area!

Click Here to Search the ENTIRE MLS Database For Your Next Home!

Last Updated: 02/02/2008

Equal Housing Opportunity
All Information Deemed Reliable, But Not Guaranteed

Reported by Gregory D. Maley of Coldwell Banker - Chevy Chase

Swimming Pool Homes in Anne Arundel County, MD

2008-02-02T14:22:41Z

Swimming Pool Homes in
Anne Arundel County, Maryland

DETACHED HOMES WITH IN-GROUND POOLS

Active: 134
Average Days on Market: 257
Average List Price: $1,339,775

Pending: 17
Average Days on Market: 149
Average List Price: $1,067,223

JANUARY 2007 SALES

Detached Homes: 6
Average Days on Market: 277
Average List Price: $809,800
Average Sales Price*: $794,833

*Sales Price does not include any seller contribution. Seller contributions are considered when evaluating a listing price as well as an official appraisal of any property.

Tune in next week for an updated report. Call or eMail Gregory for a personalized report or to buy or sell any home in Anne Arundel County or anywhere else in the Metropolitan Washington, DC area!

Click Here to Search the ENTIRE MLS Database For Your Next Home!

Last Updated: 02/02/2008

Equal Housing Opportunity
All Information Deemed Reliable, But Not Guaranteed

Reported by Gregory D. Maley of Coldwell Banker - Chevy Chase

Swimming Pool Homes in Washington, DC

2008-02-02T14:16:36Z

Swimming Pool Homes in
the District of Columbia

DETACHED HOMES WITH IN-GROUND POOLS

Active: 10
Average Days on Market: 159
Average List Price: $4,427,900

Pending: 2
Average Days on Market: 70
Average List Price: $3,249,950

JANUARY 2007 SALES

Detached Homes: 0
Average Days on Market: 0
Average List Price: $0
Average Sales Price*: $0

*Sales Price does not include any seller contribution. Seller contributions are considered when evaluating a listing price as well as an official appraisal of any property.

Tune in next week for an updated report. Call or eMail Gregory for a personalized report or to buy or sell any home in the District of Columbia or anywhere else in the Metropolitan Washington, DC area!

Click Here to Search the ENTIRE MLS Database For Your Next Home!

Last Updated: 02/02/2008

Equal Housing Opportunity
All Information Deemed Reliable, But Not Guaranteed

Reported by Gregory D. Maley of Coldwell Banker - Chevy Chase

Swimming Pool Homes in Montgomery County, MD

2008-02-02T14:10:18Z

Swimming Pool Homes in
Montgomery County, Maryland

DETACHED HOMES WITH IN-GROUND POOLS

Active: 92
Average Days on Market: 167
Average List Price: $1,751,833

Pending: 15
Average Days on Market: 108
Average List Price: $1,174,047

JANUARY 2007 SALES

Detached Homes: 7
Average Days on Market: 109
Average List Price: $1,403,843
Average Sales Price*: $1,251,843

*Sales Price does not include any seller contribution. Seller contributions are considered when evaluating a listing price as well as an official appraisal of any property.

Tune in next week for an updated report. Call or eMail Gregory for a personalized report or to buy or sell any home in Montgomery County or anywhere else in the Metropolitan Washington, DC area!

Click Here to Search the ENTIRE MLS Database For Your Next Home!

Last Updated: 02/02/2008

Equal Housing Opportunity
All Information Deemed Reliable, But Not Guaranteed

Reported by Gregory D. Maley of Coldwell Banker - Chevy Chase