patricia kennedy: DC's Eastern Market: Foodie Heaven on Capitol Hill - 05/06/12 07:26 PM
If you live on Capitol Hill, what you pay for your house probably had a lot to do with how close it is, not to our nation's Capitol building, but its proximity to DC's Eastern Market.
Built in 1873, Eastern Market is the oldest continuously operated farmer's market in the city. It's a great place to buy meat, seafood and produce. You can also find beautiful flowers and a fix for that sweet tooth.
The lunch counter is famous for its crab cake sandwiches, a treat that I enjoyed just this past Friday coming home from a morning listing appointment.
On … (4 comments)
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patricia kennedy: Cleveland Park Home Sales: First Quarter Market Report - 04/23/11 02:47 PM
Cleveland Park Home Sales: First Quarter Market Report
During the first quarter of 2010, there was only one settlement for a single family home in Cleveland Park. This year, things were a whole lot better, with a total of six sales averaging $1,364,000. Another eight are pending. Here is the breakdown:
… (4 comments)
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patricia kennedy: This House Blew That Only Chance To Make A First Impression! - 04/14/11 10:46 AM
A house in my neighborhood recently went on the market, and being the Crestwood expert, I ran right over to see it. Like many Washington, DC homes, it has several sets of steps leading from the sidewalk to the front door. And they look like this:
Now, let's talk curb appeal - or the lack thereof - and the real life impact it has on people who see your home.
This is a house with a past. It sold a few years ago in "as is" condition - a granny house needing a serious face lift with a very funky … (52 comments)
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patricia kennedy: Search For a New DC Home: Your Voice Says “No, no, no” but Your Eyes Say “Yes, Yes, Yes!” Or Do They? - 04/05/11 11:13 AM
Search For a New DC Home: Your Voice Says “No, no, no” but Your Eyes Say “Yes, Yes, Yes!” Or Do They?
Once before I was a real estate agent, an ex-husband and I were on a search for a new DC home. And I’ll never forget one of the agents who showed us one apartment.
It was way too small. It was dark as a dungeon. I hated it and just wanted to get back out into sunshine.
And this guy proceeded to aggressively answer objections. As I look back on this experience, I remember that, while I … (32 comments)
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patricia kennedy: Georgetown's Five Most Affordable Houses - 03/26/11 06:54 PM
Georgetown's Five Most Affordable Houses
If you want to live in Georgetown, you could spend $15 million for Halcyon House, an amazing historic property that has been on the market for a while now. But if you love this great old neighborhood but only have resources for something more modest, take heart! There are currently 15 houses listed for sale at under $1 million. And here are the bottom five:
1. 3207 Scott Pl NW: $485,000 OK, it's tiny, with the public record saying it has 480 square feet of living space. But the price isn't much higher than you'd … (24 comments)
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patricia kennedy: The Five Least Expensive Homes In Upper Northwest Washington - 03/26/11 05:38 PM
Many of Washington's most popular neighborhoods are in Upper Northwest DC, west of Rock Creek Park. And while you could spend a lot of money on a home in this area, it's still possible to find something relatively affordable. Here are the five that came up today:
1. 5504 Sherrier Pl NW: for just $599,000, you can have this mid-century rambler, with two bedrooms, one full bath, and a funky old kitchen. It's in a neighborhood with much more expensive homes, so you could do some work on it without worrying about over-improving. It's convenient to the C&O Canal and … (10 comments)
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patricia kennedy: Forsythia Week! First Real Sign of Spring - 03/16/11 10:09 PM
All week, they've been about to bloom. And today on my way home from previewing a really ugly house, these beauties called out, "Stop, Pat! Grab your camera!" And of course, my handy little Lumix was on the front seat of the car, fully charged and ready to go. This bush was on Upshur Street NW in Crestwood, one of many flowering shrubs in this beautiful DC neighborhood
Forsythia is the first of the spring blooming shrubs here in Washington. And I for one am so glad to see them.
If you are planning a move to or from the … (23 comments)
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patricia kennedy: Biltmore Street's Community Garden in Adams Morgan - 05/23/10 11:04 PM
Biltmore Street's Community Garden in Adams Morgan
On the corner of 20th and Biltmore Streets in Adams Morgan, there just about the prettiest little community garden in all of Washington.
What I love about it isn't that it's beautifully manicured and perfect. It isn't. And that's what makes it perfect.
After doing a little Googling, I discovered that the Biltmore Triangle Garden has a Facebook page. There it says that former area resident, Gordon Riggle, designed it in the early 1980s when I lived at the Valley Vista, around the corner. It has 10 plots that are tended by 8 neighbors. … (18 comments)
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patricia kennedy: Do You Need A "No-Nup"? - 02/13/10 10:59 AM
Right now, I have three groups of clients who are looking for their first place together. But they have yet to tie the proverbial knot.
In my book, The Irreverent Guide to Real Estate, I actually have a chapter called "Buying in Sin" where I tell people who are not yet married how to intelligently buy a place together. And I suggest that they sign an agreement - you know, a "what if".
And my sister, Joan, gave it a name today. Its a "No-Nup".
And having one makes total sense if you are buying with anyone other than a spouse. … (35 comments)
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patricia kennedy: The Blizzard Diaries: Please! Make it Stop! - 02/10/10 11:24 AM
The Blizzard Diaries: Please! Make it Stop!
In Washington, there seems to be all snow all the time coverage on the local television newscasts. And they've even introduced a new phrase to people who live in the Washington, DC area:
SNOW FATIGUE!
This condition has gotten to be like buyer's remorse, so common that it had to be christened with a name! So, I do feel better. I've noticed that my recent posts are much less cheery than usual, and it's a comfort to know that my doldrums are shared by so many other area residents.
The stuff is coming down … (26 comments)
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patricia kennedy: The Middle Of The Blizzard - 02/06/10 03:20 PM
It's the Blizzard of 2010!
OK, this is a blizzard even by Buffalo, New York standards. It's still coming down strong at four in the afternoon. Neighbors who tried to clear their sidewalks this morning are seeing them once again convered in several inches of snow. The snow is higher than Willie the Labradoodle, who is leaving huge full body imprints.
And I took some pictures because in a few days when it's melting and icky, I want to remember this stunningly beautiful, though massively inconvenient, afternoon.
It's strange to go ourside and see no tire marks in the street … (22 comments)
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patricia kennedy: "Spring Real Estate Market In February? Pat, You've Got To Be Kidding!" - 02/03/10 06:57 PM
"Spring Real Estate Market In February? Pat, You've Got To Be Kidding!"
OK, you've read the weather reports - or if you live in Washington, DC, you've been living the weather reports! Snow last week. More snow yesterday. And even more snow predicted for Friday and Saturday.
And I've had "the conversation" in the past two days with two sellers who are preparing their homes to put on the market. You know the talk - you want to get your home listed in time to take advantage of the spring market. Oh, and it seems like it's started already.
Sure, your … (24 comments)
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patricia kennedy: Washington, DC Luxury Homes: Top 10 Sales For January, 2010 - 02/01/10 04:11 PM
Washington, DC Luxury Homes: Top 10 Sales For January, 2010
January was another interesting month for the luxury home market here in Washington. If, for example, you look at the ten highest priced homes for sale in the District, you will find prices ranging from a low of $8,500,000 to a high of $39,500,000 (and that one debuted on the market for $49,000,000 over a year ago). But the highest priced homes that actually sold were showing much lower numbers.
The homes that sold often had to reduce the original asking prices to attract an offer. All of the sellers had … (25 comments)
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patricia kennedy: Do Agents Have A Double Standard When It Comes To Short Sale Listings? - 01/23/10 01:49 PM
Lately, I've been showing homes to some first time buyers that are showing up as short sales in the multiple listings. And often, you don't have to look at the listing information to know it's not a "normal" situation. And while short sale sellers are probably the neediest of clients, the efforts some of these agents are making are not at all comensurate with what it will take to produce a buyer for the property.
Here are some things I've noticed about most of these homes:
There is not Sentrilock box on the door, but a combination lock. Since many agents … (135 comments)
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patricia kennedy: Washington, DC Luxury Homes: Top 5 Sales For 2009 - 01/23/10 01:30 PM
Washington, DC Luxury Homes: Top 5 Sales For 2009
Last year was an interesting one for the luxury home market in Washington. While we saw many homes come on the market for much higher prices, these are the top 5 that actually sold during 2009:
1. 1714 Massachusetts Ave NW: The downtown location and the possibility of using this home as an embassy, cultural institution or grand residence probably enhanced this home's value. So did the fabulous renovation that felt like you were stepping back a century or so into some important historical family's grand salon. When renovating, the previous owners … (6 comments)
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patricia kennedy: On The Road Again! - 01/11/10 03:18 PM
OK, it's not the Tequila Express, a train that left Union Station at 1:00 PM with Cindy Jones and a bunch of DC area bloggers having a great and riotous fun trip to Rain Camp in New York. I had to show a house at 1:30. So, I am blogging from the Bolt Bus, a $17.00, three and a half hour ride from close to home to NY's Penn Station. From there, I'll join the revelers who are getting reading for tomorrow's Rain Camp!
The timing is great, as it's the same week as the Inman Connect. So it'll be a … (19 comments)
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patricia kennedy: My AAA Card: A Handy Little Tool Of The Trade - 01/09/10 05:41 PM
AAA is just amazing. They didn't pay me to write this post. They just awed me with fabulous customer service.
Yesterday, my car didn't want to start, so my neighbor helped with a jump start. All was fine until I pulled over to make a phone call on my way home from the office. I turned off the engine and after about a fifteen minute chat, it just wouldn't turn over.
Nada.
Nothing!
Oops.
Now, I should mention that I left my house without my wallet, and all of my cash, credit cards, ATM card and my AAA card were all … (31 comments)
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patricia kennedy: Friday Fotos: What I Woke Up To! - 01/08/10 05:11 PM
When I woke up to my first post-vacation Washington, DC morning, there was a little gift from Mother Nature! She wanted to ensure that I wasn't left out of the snow scene here entirely. We had a few inches on the ground and a lot in the funky old pine tree in my front yard. Oh, and of course I needed a jump start on my car when I left for my first appointment!
Luckily, the neighbor who started my car must have shoveled my steps while he was doing his own!
© 2009 Patricia Kennedy. Unless otherwise noted, the … (30 comments)
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patricia kennedy: Speechless Sunday: Magical Mystery Fruit! - 01/03/10 04:56 PM
Do you know what this is? Hey! Neither do I!
© 2009 Patricia Kennedy. Unless otherwise noted, the content, both written and in pictures, is the property of Patricia Kennedy . If you would like to use this image, please email me (housepat@mac.com) with your request. I'll almost certainly say yes, and ask only that you provide a link back to my original content as well as an acknowledgment. The same thing applies to any other material you see posted here on Active Rain or on any of my other blogs.
… (37 comments)
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patricia kennedy: Foto Friday: Black Sand Beaches - 01/01/10 07:41 PM
In Hawaii, there are many black sand beaches, formed when the dark lava rocks break down into sand. These beaches are a little hard to walk on - some of the pieces are hard and sharp making it a little hard on your pedicure. So required Hawaiian footwear includes a pair of "reef walkers" that are great on the beach and in the water.
© 2009 Patricia Kennedy. Unless otherwise noted, the content, both written and in pictures, is the property of Patricia Kennedy . If you would like to use this image, please email me (housepat@mac.com) with your request. … (33 comments)
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