Lise's View of Real Estate in DC

What is the Difference between DOMM and DOMP in the DC Metro Area

Sun, 29 Nov 2009 21:47:18 -0600


	What is DOMM? What is DOMP? How are they different????

You understand the printouts that your agent has given you, except for a few questions. What does that DOMM and DOMP mean? Guess what. MRIS instructors report that they get questions concerning the terms DOMM and DOMP frequently from realtors. I certainly get that question from my clients frequently. So, I thought that I would share the information from MRIS to solve the confusion.

DOMM stands for Days On Market - MLS#
DOMP stands for Days On Market Property

DOMM indicates the number of days a specific listing (with a specific MLS#) has been on the market. It is tracked by its MLS number. Change the MLS number and you get a new and different DOMM.

DOMP indicates the number of number of TOTAL days that a specific property has been on the market. An internal key assigned by the MLS database keeps track of the DOMP.

How are Days on Market calculated?
Days on Market will run as long as a listing is active. If a listing is taken off the market because of a change in status - such as it is withdrawn, expired or tempoff , then DOM count will pause at that point. However, DOM count will resume when/if the listing returns to an active status.

During the time a listing is off the market, DOM will not increase - these days off the market will not ever be included in a DOMM or a DOMP count.

Should a property be re-listed after having been removed from the market, the new MLS# will cause a new DOMM count to begin (In that case, the DOMM resets to zero with the assignment of the new MLS#). However, DOMP will continue to increment starting with the last DOMP count - the days off the market will not be added to this updated DOMP count.

Should a property be off the market for more than 90 days, then the DOMP count will also reset to zero if that property is subsequently re-listed.

A status of sold or rented causes all DOM calculations to stop.

Are there exceptions or other factors affecting the above rules for DOMM and DOMP?

Several factors could affect the above rules. For instance, Sales and Rental listings for the same property are not calculated together. Also, properties listed in multiple property types (such as residential, commercial, multi-family, etc.) are not calculated together.

If you have any more questions about how to interpret the MLS printouts just give Lise Howe a call. She will be glad to explain anything you don't understand. And of course, if you are looking for a home in Bethesda, Chevy Chase, DC, or anywhere in the DC metro area at all, just give her a call at 240-401-5577!

A Snapshot of the Bethesda Maryland Market

Sun, 29 Nov 2009 20:46:06 -0600

As of the end of November 2009, there are 261 listings in the Bethesda Maryland market. They range in price from $195,000 for a 30 year old condo at Westlake Drive with one bedroom and one bath that has been on the market for 16 days to a $10,750,000 contemporary on Wissioming that has been on the market for 435 days.

I love this house, which is listed by Long and Foster. It is described as an extraordinary contemporary overlooking the Potomac on a cul-de-sac hillside setting. This 10,000sf ORIGINAL ROBERT GURNEY FAIA home (see RobertGurneyArchitect website) features walls of glass, euro kit., glass bridges, elev, infinity pool,heated floors, and 5 car gar.

The median price of homes in Bethesda in November was $849,000. The median home is on Hurst - a split foyer with 5 bedrooms, 3 full baths, and a gourmet kitchen with stainless steel appliances. It is within a short walk to the Grovesnor Metro.

Of the 261 homes on the market in Bethesda, 165 are single families starting at $435,000 for a 2 bedroom, 1 bath cottage on Bayard, just off Western Avenue and within walking distance to the Friendship Heights Metro. There are 96 condos on the market, ranging in price from $195,000 for a one bedroom at Westlake Drive to $1,799,900 for a three bedroom, 2.5 bath condo at the new Lionsgate. It is over 2500 square feet in the heart of Bethesda and comes with 2 parking spaces.

If you like the Lionsgate community, but are looking for something smaller, the least expensive unit on the market in the MLS is $995,000 and 1656 square feet of space. It has marble floors in the foyer, wood floors elsewhere, Viking appliances and granite counters, and walk in closets.

Inventory in Montgomery County has continued to remain low, while the number of properties under contract is increaing - up 94% over last year. In addition, the number of properties which are settling is up 40 percent over the same period last year, although clearly contracts are continuing to fall out because of financing and appraisal issues,

If you would like to see any of these homes, or any other in Bethesda or Chevy Chase, or if you are looking for a specific community, such as Kenwood Forest, just give Lise Howe a call at 240-401-5577. Lise has lived in Bethesda for more than 25 years and can guide you to the great neighborhoods and schools of this wonderful town. She will help you find an excellent lender that will make your purchase easy and save you money.

Realtors- Start Your Ovens!

Sat, 28 Nov 2009 21:29:27 -0600

I just read a post by Sheldon Neal, 5 Weeks Till Christmas, in which Sheldon chides us - or teases us - to get our magnetic calendars and holiday cards ordered quickly so that we can stay in touch with our clients past, present, and future. Wow - something more to do. And I confess that I did order my magnetic calendars over a month ago - so they are waiting on the floor of my office for me to stuff, address, and mail them out!

This is the year thought that I am going to bake. I am going to make rumballs, and ugly cookies (an Italian recipe) and fudge, and chocolate chip cookies, and then deliver them to past and current clients. It doesn't have to take long - just a little box of cookies, saying that i cared enough to stop by and say hello.

I have my recipes all picked out - now I just need the time to go to the grocery store!

So what will you be baking? or eating?

Home for the Holidays - Take a Deep Breathe

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 22:28:15 -0600

I was supposed to be leaving for New York tomorrow morning to spend Thanksgiving in the city. I have always wanted to see the Macy's Day parade and watch the crews blow up the big balloons the night before. It is part of my bucket list!

Unfortunately, my mother got sick again and I really was concerned that she might have pneumonia. I couldn't imagine leaving her in DC, possibly needing hospitalization. My dreams of watching the balloons being blown up Wednesday night blew away and now we are going to spend the holiday at home - just my husband, daughter, me and possibly my mother.

Not the holiday I planned, but definately one to celebrate. I have been really busy - as I am sure you have been too. I have been doing this long enough to realize that when you are busy, you are very very lucky, so I definately am NOT complaining, but....

My daughter and I sat together with the November Bon Appetit and picked out recipes to make for dinner Thursday. We have picked a sage roast turkey, stuffing with pancetta, a beautiful pumpkin cake with cream cheese frosting, onion marmalade, winter greens and wild mushrooms, and my standby scalloped potatoes. Time permitting might even allow corn bread with bacon crust. Sounds good doesn't it.

I am really looking forward to cooking with my daughter. She is turning 16 next month and she is becoming interested in cooking. This weekend seems like a time to make memories together - not the ones I had planned for New York City, but I suspect they will be even better than what I had expected.

After all, that is what this holiday is all about - family, memories, good food, and a chance to relax and enjoy each other. Besides, the parade will be on TV!

May you all have a blessed Thanksgiving filled with love and friends and family - wherever you are.

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS - a New Listing in Silver Spring MD

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 21:21:41 -0600

Looking for a home for the holidays?

This one comes with with its own apple tree, a large dining room for entertaining, a gracious living room with fireplace, and an updated kitchen with brand new appliances!

Close to the Beltway and downtown Silver Spring, this lovely colonial in Indian Spring Club Estates is ready to move into just in time for the winter solstice or even a New Year's Eve Party! Champagne and Party Hats Optional! At $484,900, there will be enough left over for good champagne!

9702 Hastings Drive, Silver Spring MD

If you would like to arrange a private showing of this special home with 3 to 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, a family room on the first floor, and a finished rec room in the basement, then just call Lise Howe of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, Chevy Chase, at 240-401-5577. Lise can show you homes in DC, Bethesda, Kenwood Forest, Chevy Chase, or anywhere else you would like to look!

NEW LISTING COMING IN KENWOOD FOREST!

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:16:07 -0600

I am so excited that I finally got my buyer the house that he wanted - even with the difficulties of negotiating with the seller's expectations in this market. Now the fun truly starts - seriously!

My buyer will be putting his home on the market in Kenwood Forest, my favorite market area in all of Chevy Chase and Bethesda. His home is a Rosewood model with 3 bedrooms upstairs and 2 full baths. On the main level is a gracious living room with fireplace, a dining room with french doors opening to a deck overlooking trees, and a table space kitchen. On the lower level is a true MAN CAVE! The large family room with a walk out to a patio, the smaller office, and full bath offer lots of flexibility and the promise of enjoyable times.

We haven't priced it yet, but it will definately be open on the Sunday after Thanksgiving!

Please keep an eye out for the listing on my new website, www.kenwood-forest.com. There will be pictures and disclosures, and video tours too!

"What do you mean you won't have any desks" Part 2 THE DETAILS!

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:55:18 -0600

I am an agent in Darrin's office and I want to provide an update on the office progress. We are all using the work table and really enjoying the community aspect of the new arrangement. The lounge chairs are gorgeous - suedes, zebra stripe, and a wall for webinars, HGTV, news - The lighting is definately spectacular and the coffee bar is perfect. If you wonder if this vision of Darrin's works - it does -it is really fun. Come check us out in Chevy Chase DC !

Lise Howe

Associate Broker

Coldwell Banker

Via Darrin Friedman - Coldwell Banker Chevy Chase:

"What do you mean you won't have any desks" Part 2

THE DETAILS!

Well, first I want to thank everyone for their patience. The support you have shown me based on my obvious anxiety was tremendous, and Active Rain people are the best people there are so I want to thank you.

Second of all, I am going to try and explain the exact vision as best I can. I am still debating whether I should try this using video, but I'll give it a start using those things we call words first, so here we go.

The Vision:

To create a transformational space that not only emphasizes functionality using the latest technologies, but inspires all that are associated with it by combining form and function with aesthetic. (While doing so on a shoe string budget of course!) Why? Because the industry has changed and so has the way we work. Creating a space that is dedicated to that premise is vital to the success of the Chevy Chase office. Therefore the result I am seeking is to create something no one in the Real Estate industry has seen anywhere.

The Components:

1) Idea Central: The nerve center of the office, Idea Central is the very heart and soul of the office and is meant to encourage all staff and associates to grow. The largest part of the office, this open space takes over where the traditional bullpen used to be. No longer are there rows of desks, empty and void of production and life. Now it is the lifeblood of the space - where agents share, laugh, learn. Now Idea central has two parts: the functional and the lounge.

The functional part is where an agent will bring their laptop, plugin, and get to work. There are two crescent shaped tables, like at a library, where the agent will work, print, create, write, market, and do everything else they would do in a traditional office setting. The only difference is there is no assigned seating and it has tremendous style! This is for the mobile professional who comes, does their business, and leaves.

The lounge section is the other part of the large room. Like a Starbucks, it encourages people to hang out, share, and do work in a much more casual setting. The space is strewn with comfortable furniture, soft lighting, and even a wii. The point is, if you are the type that enjoys sitting on the couch, with your laptop and a cup of coffee, Chevy Chase's Idea Central lounge will allow you to do that. Idea Central will be completed in Phase 1.

2) Agent Alley: This is where the best may still have a place to call their own. Though you must earn your way to a spot that is dedicated to you, production is not the only prerequisite. An agent must also USE the space.

3) Home Rooms: The home room is the answer to unused space! There is nothing more frustrating than staring at an empty conference room, or seeing two agents want the same conference room when one can easily see only 1/3 of the space used. The homeroom is the answer to that. Small, private, and comfortable, these rooms will emphasize the intimacy one must have when they are speaking with their clients. It's not about old antique furniture, it's about privacy. The home room will provide that. Unfortunately, the home room build out will be a year or so away :( but I'm working on it.

So, there's the idea. Construction should begin on Wednesday, and at this point I feel like I'm giving birth. What do you think? I have some drawings but I'll have to add those later. So patience my friends!

By the way, I actually came up with those names so if you steal them, send me royalties! LOL

NEW LISTING AT 4336 Halley Terrace SE Washington DC

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:48:16 -0600

4336 Halley Terrace SE, Washington DC offered at $279,000

Can you say "Moo"? We've just listed a 4 unit-multi-family apartment building. It's an excellent investor opportunity- 3 units are currently rented - two slightly below market rate.

Here's your chance to start your commercial apartment investment with existing cash flow. The current tenants are long term and want to stay - you can raise the rents to bring them up to market rate. Not too shabby, eh?

Investor Opportunity

Property Features

4 2-Bedroom Units
Central Heat
Yard
Living Room
Dining room
Basement
Stove/Oven
Refrigerator ,
3 Units Leased
Great Cash Flow-Allows You to Live for Free

It's an excellent long term investment. Call me if you have any questions about operating expenses, current rental income or even financing opportunities. I'd love to discuss it with you.

If you are looking for a home someplace else, like Bethesda or Chevy Chase or DC, just give me a call.
Sincerely,

Lise Howe

240-401-5577

Coldwell Banker

One Criminal Down - Many More Left to Convict and Sentence

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 21:28:15 -0600

Joy Jackson, a former exotic dancer who became president of the Metropolitan Money Store, was sentenced yesterday to more than twelve years in jail. She was convicted of stealing millions from Washington area homeowners trying to avoid foreclosure. She used the cash to buy jewelry, fur coats and vacations, and to cover a lavish wedding at the Mayflower Hotel, where Patti LaBelle serenaded guests who feasted on lobster and drank Cristal.

The Metropolitan Money Store advertised on gospel and R&B stations and promised to help people keep their homes and repair their credit. Instead, Jackson and several co-conspirators, including her husband, Kurt Fordham, took titles to properties and drained them of equity. The company directed owners to transfer title of their homes to third-party buyers for a year. During that time, Metropolitan said it would borrow against the value of the home and use that money to pay the mortgage and repair homeowners' credit ratings. It also promised to help owners obtain better interest rates.

Instead, Metropolitan siphoned off the equity and Jackson and others spent the cash. The company also stopped making mortgage payments on the houses.

Prosecutors said they have found 117 victims in the scam, but hundreds more have been identified in a related civil lawsuit.

The Judge who sentenced Jackson to 12 years and seven months in prison and ordered her to pay more than $16 million in restitution, called mortgage fraud "a fever that seems to be spreading around the country.... A sentence in this case is going to be noticed by those out there who think of doing this kind of behavior," the judge said.

Jackson wept during her apology to a courtroom full of her victims. She said, "I opened the company out of true love. I opened the company to help," Jackson said. "I know I have good in me, but I allowed greed to overcome me."

Prosecutors said Jackson and her co-conspirators left a trail of devastated homeowners in Maryland, Virginia and the District who thought they were digging out of financial problems, only to find they had been cheated. One woman lost the home her great-grandmother had purchased years earlier, according to court records. A man who was the first in his family to own a home said he was swindled by the company and is fighting to keep the house.

Margaret Neal, one of the victims, told the judge that her husband worked three jobs to keep their Annapolis home. After going to Metropolitan for help, they lost the home to foreclosure. The family ended up sleeping in a car and needing a food pantry.

"Joy Jackson Fordham took our American dream and turned it into a nightmare," Neal said. "Joy Jackson Fordham lived the life. Now my home is gone. There is no going back. Gone. Sold. Remodeled. You, Joy Jackson Fordham, did that to me."

At least the bad guys get punished once in a while.

If you are facing foreclosure, be sure to seek the advice of a reputable Realtor and attorney. Please don't go to these storefront fly by night organizations. Check them out and never transfer your home to a third party! If you need help in the DC metro area, call Lise Howe with Coldwell Banker at 240-401-5577 or email her at lise@lisehowe.com.

Weekly Contact with Sellers - I'm All Ears

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:13:11 -0600

My New Year's Resolution - (I am either early or very late) - is to institutionalize EVERYTHING - to systemize my workload. Monday is for following up with new buyers from open houses; Tuesday is to contact all the sellers; Wed. is .... You get the point.

I decided to include the following in my report to sellers each week.

1. Who Showed the House and comments

2. What has sold in the neighborhood and new listings or new price changes.

3. What we did this week and how it worked.

4. What we are going to do next week.

5. Mortgage Update.

6. Hits on Realtor.com and my company's website.

7. Link to Video Tip of the week on Coldwell Banker's You Tube site. (Sorry for all you non-CB agents!)

So, what else do you include in your reports to sellers? What do sellers want to hear from their agents. Obviously, the number one complaint people have about their agents is lack of communication. If I institutionalize this report for myself, maybe I will stand out from other listing agents! Here's hoping at least!

If you are thinking of selling your home in DC, Bethesda, Chevy Chase, or Northern Virginia, and you want an agent different from the rest, call Lise Howe of Coldwell Banker at 240-401-5577. lise@lisehowe.com

The MLS Promised Hardwood Floors - Who's Liable? Anyone? Can I Promise Anything?

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 22:36:55 -0600

After a detailed search of homes in Bethesda and Chevy Chase, my clients found a townhouse that they liked enough to make an offer on. After a lot of back and forth, they agreed to pay top dollar for the property, subject to a house inspection.

My clients had not really planned on moving. Indeed, they had just paid $8000 for new hardwood floors upstairs in their current home, but suddenly, they had found this new townhouse, and they had decided to make the offer.

When we did the inspection, we discovered that the air conditioner was not 2 years old as the seller had promised, but actually was 11 years old. The hot water heater was electric, not gas, as the Multiple Listing printout said. (The seller had said it was electric in the seller disclosure, but the listing agent didn't pay any attention to that when inputting the listing into the MLS.)

The marble floor in the foyer wasn't marble; it is ceramic tile, despite what the listing agent had said in the multiple listing service printout. My buyers weren't too disturbed about that since they could see with their own eyes that it wasn't marble. Thedisturbing issue discovered at the house inspection, however, was that the MLS prepared by the listing agent clearly states that there is hardwood under the carpet in 3 bedrooms, and a wood floor in the family room downstairs (although it is obviously carpet.)

Given that the buyer paid top dollar for this property, in part because it had a new air conditioner and hardwood floors, the buyer is a little upset. The seller is willing to give a credit for repairs, although not enough for a two year old air conditioner, and nothing for new hardwood floors. The seller's explanation is that the information contained in the multiple listing service is deemed reliable but not guaranteed, and they are SORRY about the confusion.

While I understand that, I am a bit confused about the effect of the buyer's reliance on representations in the multiple listing service by the listing agent as to the nature of the property being sold. This was the only place that the buyer could get information about the house on which to base his decisions on the value of the house. The buyer did not feel comfortable pulling up the carpet which was securely glued down before negotiating for the purchase of the property since the elderly owner was still living there with all her furniture.

Now it seems that the options are (1) suck it up and buy the house that now appears to be really overpriced or (2) walk away from the house that they really want.

I remember learning as a young agent to NEVER EVER NEVER promise hardwood floors if you didn't absolutely know that there was hardwood there. I remember the story of the agent who promised that there was hardwood in the dining room, but it turned out the hardwood was just around the perimeter of the dining room rug, but under the rug was plywood. The story was that the mistaken agent gave the new buyers hardwood floors in the dining room as a house warming gift.

Similarly in the DC metro area, we never promise square footage, so that we don't have to give that extra 10 or 100 square feet of living space as a house warming gift.

So, is that all mistaken? Can I promise anything with impunity and let the buyer hold the bag? Is it caveat emptor still? So I can promise the buyer an elevator in a house, a two car garage, an acre of land, gas fireplace, seaside view - all in a studio apartment in South Dakota?

Can someone explain the rules of the game to me so I can explain them to my buyer? Because I thought an agent had to exercise due diligence to ascertain the correctness of what is said about the property being sold.

UPDATE ON KENWOOD PARK

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 20:52:56 -0600

If you are looking for a home in Bethesda or Chevy Chase, you should definately consider Kenwood Park.

Kenwood Park is a community in Bethesda Maryland built in the late 1950s along River Road between Goldsboro Road and Wilson Lane. It is slightly less than 600 homes with values ranging from the high $700's to the mid $2 millions.

Currently there are 4 homes on the market for sale.

6004 Lenox Road, Bethesda, MD 20817

6004 Lenox Road is an elegant residence on a corner lot in Bethesda. With 5 bedrooms, 5 full baths and 2 half baths, this home has all the amenities you could need. There is a garden room with soaring cathedral ceilings, two fireplaces, a terrace, butler's pantry, billiards area, spa, table tennis room, office, gift/craft room. Easy commute to DC and surrounding suburbs. Est. taxes: 16,700. Asking $1,649,000 (reduced from $1,900,000.) Listed by WC&AN Miller.

6264 Clearwood Road, Bethesda, MD 20817

If you don't need such a large home as Lenox Road, then perhaps 6264 Clearwood Road is the answer. This brick rambler is an easy walk to Walt Whitman High School & Thomas Pyle Intermediate School. Downtown Bethesda, the C&O Canal, & Kenwood Country Club are just minutes nearby. RideOn Bus 1/2 Block Away. Easy Convenient Access to Beltway, DC & VA. Updated Kitchen with Granite Countertops & New Appliances. Est Future Tax & Non-Tax Charges 1st Fiscal Year of Ownership $8996.89 With 5 bedrooms, 3 and a half baths, it is listed for sale for $850,000 by Long and Foster.

There are several other homes for sale in Kenwood Park, and if you would like more information about them, just give Lise Howe of Coldwell Banker a call at 240-401-5577. She is the perfect realtor to find a house for you in Bethesda or Chevy Chase

1 in 20 or 5%? It Makes a Difference

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 12:43:50 -0600

I start each morning by checking my email messages and a few posts on Active Rain while I am waiting for the coffee to drip. This morning I read an blog by Dean Jackson which gives four great topics to blog about from www.realestateblogideas.com. Dean noted that 1 person in 20 plans to buy a new house next year.

I confess that my day brightened when I read that 1 person out of every 20 plans to buy a new house. I imagined myself walking through a mall this afternoon surrounded by potential buyers - Every 20th person I saw was going to be a candidate to buy a house. I was definately ready to start my day with such a motivating image.

Intrigued by the website, I clicked through to it and saw that the title of article he had referenced from MSNBC actually was ONLY 5% PLAN TO BUY A HOME NEXT YEAR. The first paragraph reads as follows:

NEW YORK - Just one in twenty Americans say they plan to buy a home within the next year, and they're most likely to be 34 years old or younger and living in the South or West, according to a survey released Wednesday.

WOW - that's depressing. Only 5% plan on buying a home next year. How do you find that needle in a haystack?

Oh, wait. I passed 5th grade math, and am in fact smarter than a 3rd grader. 1 in 20 is the same as 5%, but somehow, 1 in 20 sounds better for some reason.

As always, and particularly in Washington, DC, presentation is everything. Spin over substance. But when you are self employed like we are, it is so important to keep up beat - to live on the peaks rather than mope in the valleys. So, I may in fact go to a mall this afternoon and look at all those 1 in 20 people walking around that will buy a house from me in 2010. That is the thought that I am going to hold on to, rather than the 95% of the population that won't!

If you are that one of the twenty looking for a new home, be sure to call Lise Howe at 240-401-5577 or check out her websites, www.dchomenews.com, www.homesinchevychasebethesda.com, and the newest addition, www.kenwood-forest.com to find that dream house! Lise will make sure that your purchase or sale is the easiest you have ever experienced! Put Lise and her team to work for you!

Want to Buy a Home? Skip the Short Sale!

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 22:59:50 -0600

You did everything you were supposed to. You researched your choices carefully on the Internet using useful websites like www.dchomenews.com, that really guided you to all the good deals. You got your financing in line, and you found yourself a fabulous agent. After several months of looking in Bethesda, Chevy Chase, DC, and everywhere else,

As everyone knows, a short sale is never short! It can take months to close, leaving you, the buyer, in the dark as to what is happening. You sign a contract with the seller, but the contract is subject to third party review. The seller doesn't actually care any more what price he or she sells the house for. He isn't breaking even, so a small loss is the same as a big loss. Don't count on the fact that the seller accepted your offer.

You sit back to wait for the broker price opinion, and the process, the review, the paperwork. Rationally, you know that you don't have a "deal" yet, but in your mind, you are arranging furniture in your new house. You are picturing the flowers in the garden and the holiday dinners you are going to prepare. You are telling your friends about the lovely color that you are going to paint your bedroom, and the new comforter that you saw at Target.

BUT WAIT! REMEMBER..... YOU DON'T HAVE A DEAL YET. YOU AREN'T ACTUALLY COMPLETELY UNDER CONTRACT! You still have a HUGE contingency.

Sure, tell your heart what your brain doesn't want to remember.

It actually is important to remember that you don't have a contract with all the contingencies removed. The listing agent may call your agent and say that the bank has refused to accept your offer - even though the seller did agree - 2 months ago. The market is changing, and the banks may not be so willing to go along with contracts that were negotiated several months ago between the buyer and seller.

Another important thing to remember is that the banks have stockholders and they can't give away tens of thousands of dollars just because you got the seller to agree to sell the house at a rock bottom bargain basement price.

If you want to go for a short sale, don't count on that house until everything is signed and you have that third party approval. Better yet, call Lise Howe at 240-401-5577 and she will find you a great house that will close on your schedule!

Kenwood Forest - A Great Place to Call Home

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 20:27:09 -0600

If you are looking for perfect place in Chevy Chase, Maryland to call home, just a few blocks to the Metro and steps from the Crescent Trail, Kenwood Forest is definately the place for you. Kenwood Forest is a great place to live and it enjoys wonderful schools, like Somerset Elementary, Westland Middle School, and Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School. It is just a few steps to the local public swimming pool at Little Falls, a block from the Norwood Park with tennis courts and baseball fields, and is surrounded by some of the best restaurants in the DC metro area.

Kenwood Forest offers homes from studio condos of 525 square feet to one bedroom condos, and townhouses with 2 bedrooms, 3, or 4 on 2 or 3 levels. Whatever your real estate needs, you will find the perfect choice in this pet friendly community of all ages and lifestyles, nestled in the talls trees of Chevy Chase.

Call Lise Howe and her team at 240-401-5577 for all your real estate questions and needs to find your new home. Want to start your search now? Check out www.kenwood-forest.com or www.homesinchevychasebethesda.com for all your real estate searches!

Bethesda Chevy Chase High School News Flash

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:13:16 -0600

Cheinclude a visit to the National Press Club broadcast center and admission to the club's prestigious book fair. Up to 20 people may sign up for this event.

Wine Tasting for 10 in Your Home
Grape Expectations! Your friends will be angling for an invite to this special event after you cast your winning bid for a complete wine tasting experience in your home. Get the low down on what makes a great vintage. Wine expert and all wines provided on the day of your choice. Salut!
Tea with Seth Goldman -- CEO of Honest Tea
A gift basket of Honest Teas and goodies, and tea time with Seth Goldman, Honest Tea CEO.
Tour of Politico for 15 to 20 B-CC Students
An hour-long tour of one of the country's most popular and fast growing online political news publications. 15 to 20 B-CC HS students interested in politics, journalism or both will meet with top POLITICO reporters and editors to hear about their work and ask questions about how the political news is covered and what lies ahead in the 2010 and 2012 elections.
Lunch for Two with Congressman Chris Van Hollen
Here's a true Washington "experience." Lunch for two with Representative Chris Van Hollen in the Members' Private Dining Room on Capitol Hill, surrounded by the history and pomp of the US Capitol. It's your chance to discuss matters that are important to you, B-CC High School and/or our Congressional district. (Because of ethics rules, lunch guests must pay for their own lunch, Congressman Van Hollen will pay for his lunch.)
Lunch with State Senator Brian Frosh
Napa Valley Tours of Three Fabulous Wineries for Two
36-hour MD Driver Education Course from I Drive Smart
Kaplan Test Prep Course and Admissions counseling
Gourmet Dinner Party for Six by Personal Chef Tom Hirsch
Full-Day Voiceover Workshop
Investment Analysis by Steven Goldberg
Haircut from Aveda Salon and Spa - Bethesda
Two Six-Month Subscriptions to the Six O'clock Scramble
Chipotle Burritos for 10
Parkway Deli -- $40 Gift Card
La Ferme Restaurant --$75 Gift Certificate
One Year of Ice Cream from Ben & Jerry's
Four Group Horseback Riding Lessons from Reddemeade
Original Song for You! - Composed by Meg Baker
Mah Jong Lessons for Eight
Four Music Lessons - Guitar, Drum, Bass or Keyboards - from New Generation
Three-Hour Consultation with Residential Architect
Three Health/Wellness Coaching Sessions from a Professional
Tickets for Two for a Flying Trapeze Class at the Trapeze School
Three-Night Stay at a Wintergreen Condo with Recreation Passes
Weekend at Deep Creek Lake
Bethany Beach Condo Weekend
Week's Stay at a Luxury Retreat Cabin in West Virginia
Two Tickets to the "Little Shop of Horrors" at Ford's Theater
Round House Theater - Four Tickets to "Look Out Below"
Redskins/Giants - Four Club-Level Tickets for December 21 PLUS admission to the ESPN 360 Tailgate Party (including food and drink)
Wizards Tickets
Capitals Tickets
The Washington Kastles Tennis Team - Two Seats to Opening Night 2010

The menu sounds absolutely delicious! Appetizers worth getting your appetite worked up for - an Antipasto Platter, Black Pepper Shrimp, Hot Artichoke/Spinach dip, Hoisin Meatballs, BBQ Chicken Quesadilla wedges, and Sausage in Puff Pastry Fried ravioli w/marinara! Dinner is Caesar salad or Greek pasta salad, Cheese tortellini with pesto walnut sauce, Cajun Roast Chicken Breast w/mixed veggies over rice, and Pulled Pork Barbeque Sliders with slaw! Be sure to save room for desert - Bananas Foster Bread Pudding, mini deserts, and browies and cookies. I am hungry just writing about the menu!

B-CC is a fabulous school, deserving of your support, so if you are anywhere near the corner of Battery and Old Georgetown Rd on Friday the 13th at 6;30, you won't need to worry about any bad luck!

If you are looking for a home in this exceptional school district, then you should give Lise Howe and her team a call. Lise has been a realtor in the DC metro area for more than 20 years and has called Bethesda home for many more years than that. Homes in the B-CC school district start in the low 200s for a condo near the school on East - West highway and go up from there. Mid sized homes, such as townhouses in Kenwood Forest, are a great alternative to condos. Kenwood Forest has been a popular community since its development in the late 1970s. Townhouses in Kenwood Forest are two to four bedrooms on two or three levels and range in price from the mid 400s to the high 600s or low 700s, depending on the size and condition. Homes in Kenwood, a beautiful community along River Road and Little Falls, are surrounded by lovely cherry trees which burst into bloom each spring to the delight of residents and visitors alike.

Our Function is Analysis

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 10:08:13 -0600

Our Function as Realtors is to Provide Information for Our Clients' Analysis

Analysis Is the Key to Making Good Decisions

General George Custer

I just read a very useful blog by Bill Marriott, CEO of Marriott Hotels et al about analysis as the key to making good decisions. He referenced General George Custer, famous for being annihilated in Custer's Last Stand at the Battle of Little Bighorn before the turn of the 19th century. He described Custer as a somewhat impetuous, but brilliant, officer, who became Brigadier General in the United States Army and was an important contributor to the Union victory at the Battle of Gettysburg by the age of 23.

As Bill Marriott noted Custer was always anxious to charge forward and get the job done. At the Battle of LIttle Big Horn, Custer should have stopped and assessed the situation and waited for the rest of his army to catch up. Instead, he rushed into battle and he and his troops were massacred.

It's so very important to get things done but it's also important to understand the field of play. In business, information is extremely important, and so is analysis. Our clients can find the houses that they want to see on the internet sometimes more quickly than we can since the only thing they are doing is looking for a house in a particular neighborhood. At times we seem reduced to the function of key carrier and door opener.

That is such a mistake. We need to demonstrate our value to our clients from the very beginning. When we first meet a client, it is helpful to bring some statistics and analysis of the DC neighborhoods they are interested in. Put together a comparative market analysis on the neighborhood in Bethesda or Chevy Chase, Maryland. Demonstrate your knowledge to them. Bring them information about schools or commuting patterns. Demonstrate to them how you intend to save them money or beat out the competition if there are multiple offers. Show them how you will help them analyze their purchase. Make them realize how valuable you are. Cement their loyalty to you.

If you have any questions about how to put together a winning offer to purchase, please call Lise Howe at 240-401-5577. She has been a realtor, associate broker, and attorney for over 20 years in the DC metro area.

Historical Houses in Washington, DC, and Old Town Alexandria

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 22:08:25 -0600

One of the many wonderful aspects of life in Washington is the ability to rub shoulders with real history. Occasionally, homes of the founding fathers come on the market and visiting them gives an opportunity to imagine life in another time.

For instance, if you have $19.5 million dollars (or a buyer with that kind of loose change), you can bask in a glorious house built in 1787 by James Stoddert, the 1st US Secretary of Navy and a George Washinton confidante. Halycon House once was owned and expanded by Mark Twain's nephew. Located in Georgetown on half an acre overlooking the Potomac River, it has 5 bedrooms, 9 full baths, an outdoor pool, a large artist's studio, and parking for 12 cars.

414 Franklin in Alexandria was built around 1780. Originally used as a tavern where George Washingotn spent his last fourth of July, it is now a beautiful home with four bedrooms and four baths, five fireplaces, and a spectacular garden with gazebo, pool, and wisteria arbor. There is even a carriage house with a two car garage all on almost a half acre of land.

If you are looking for a really old property, then you should definately see the Manor House at The Reserve at Black Rock in Darnestown. Built in 1700, it remains a gracious colonial with over 9,000 sq. ft. - 4 BR, 6.5 BA, 7 fireplaces, and an elevator. Growing like Topsy since 1700, the last renovation took place in 2000. Besides a beautiful home, the sales price of $2.250,000 includes 73 +- acres, two ponds, pastures, woods and backs to Seneca Creek Park - the land is not subdividable.

Whether you are looking for an old home or a new one, call Lise Howe of Coldwell Banker at 240-401-5577 to find that perfect house.

A Salute to Ben's Chili Bowl

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 22:31:15 -0600

The city of Washington DC lost a famous man last month, when Ben Ali, the 82 year old founder of Ben's Chili Bowl at 1231 U Street, NW died on October 7. Ben's Chili Bowl has been feeding hungry Washingtonians chili, half smokes and fries since 1958. The sweet potato pie and red velvet cake are not to be missed! However, Ben's Chili Bowl is more significant than just as a chili joint. It is a significant part of the history of Washington in the second half of the 20th century.

Ben's Chili Bowl is located in an old building with high-arched ceilings, character, and plenty of history. Built in 1910, it first housed a silent movie house called the Minnehaha Theater. Later, Harry Beckley, one of D.C.'s first Black police detectives, converted it into a pool hall. It became Ben's Chili Bowl in 1958. It was an exciting time on the U Street corridor, which was then known as "Black Broadway." Top performers could be found playing sets in clubs along the corridor, as well as eating and just "hanging out" at Ben's.

It was not uncommon to see such stars as Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, Bessie Smith, Ella Fitzgerald, Cab Calloway, Nat King Cole, Redd Foxx, Dick Gregory, Martin Luther King Jr., or Bill Cosby at "The Bowl." Since Ben's is right next to the Lincoln Theater, it has always been a great late night spot to catch a snack, and the stars performing there were happy to stop by Ben's too.

In 1968, following the assassination of Martin Luther King the area around the U Street corridor erupted in riots. Although the whole city seemed closed down, Ben's remained open. Stokely Carmichael of the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), which was located across the street, obtained special police permission to allow Ben's to stay open after curfew to provide food and shelter for activists, firefighters and public servants desperately trying to restore order. After the riots, the area was in shambles.

Still, Ben's continued to serve an eclectic crowd of regulars throughout the 1970s. A high point had to be the press conference that Bill Cosby held at Ben's in September of 1985, to celebrate his number one rated show, thrusting Ben's into the national limelight. Not bad for a chili joint!

With publicity like this business started to improved but then in 1987, five years of construction began on Metro's Green Line. U Street in front of Ben's became a 60-foot hole in the ground. Even though it was almost impossible to reach the restaurant, Ben's decided to stay open with only two employees serving Metro workers and faithful regulars each day.

Ben's has received a diverse set of well deserved honors. Councilmember Jim Graham named the alley adjacent to Ben's 'Ben Ali Way;' Ben and Virginia were inducted into the D.C. Hall of Fame (May 2001); and in 2004, Ben's won the prestigious Gallo of Sonoma 'America's Classics' Restaurant Award from the James Beard Foundation.

Ben's Chili Bowl has been featured on CNN , Oprah, Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations, CBS Sunday Morning, Good Morning America, PBS, the Food Network, the Today Show, the Travel Channel, and stories in Washingtonian, Gourmet, Southern Living, The Washington Post, and The New York Times and Ben's is now recognized world-wide as a "must go" place to eat when visiting Washington. Sure enough, President Obama made a stop at Ben's to try the hot dogs and chili fries.

U Street is flourishing now as a wonderful neighborhood of upscale condos and lovely Victorian townhouses, and Ben's is a famous and important component of the Washington DC. If you would like more information about DC homes, just give Lise Howe a call at 240-401-5577. She will be glad to help you!

Logan Circle Update

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 21:51:45 -0600

Logan Circle is now one of the best areas in Washington, but it wasn't always the case. Logan Circle is a recently restored community, filled with urbanites, restaurants, and the best Whole Foods in the city with a colorful past. Now it is a gracious neighborhood with upscale condos, beautiful Victorian townhomes and newly constructed apartment buildings.

Did you know that Logan Circle itself wasn't always known as Logan Circle? Until 1930 Logan Circle was named Iowa Circle. Finally, in 1930 Congress passed a Law changing the name of Iowa Circle to Logan Circle in memory of Civil War General and Senator John A. Logan (D-IL). The General had lived (very briefly) at #4 Logan Circle during 1885. A statue was commissioned in his honor in 1891 and was formally dedicated in the center of the Circle by President William McKinley on April 9, 1901. The statute's base was designed by noted architect Richard Morris Hunt, and the sculpture itself was created by artist Franklin Simmons.

If you are looking for a new home in the city, Logan Circle offers a variety of choices. Currently the most expensive home on the market is a condo at 1401 Church Street. Unit 214 is a dramatic loft made by combining two apartments into one to create beautiful entertaining areas! With 12' ceilings, a separate dining room, walls of glass, stained concrete floors, custom Built-ins, and a gas Fireplace. this is a special space for $1,635,000. Unit 214 also has one of the largest Landscaped Terraces in the city with its own DIPPING POOL! Two parking spaces and a separate storage unit come with the condo.

The least expensive condo in the Logan Circle area is a one bedroom unit with approximately 700 square feet in space. 1115 12TH STREET NW #104 is on the market for $259,900. The New Plaza condo building is a classic building from 1937. This spacious unit is between 2 metros and within an easy walk to the convention center, restaurants, and stores.

There are over 40 condos in between these two price points, and if you are looking for a home in Logan Circle or anywhere else in the DC metro area, Lise Howe would love to help you find your dream condo. Just give her a call and start your search now! She specializes in helping buyers, including first time buyers, make the right decision.

Whitman High School of Bethesda MD Has Exceptional Seniors

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 22:41:42 -0500

Congratulations to the 18 seniors at Whitman High School in Bethesda MD who were recently named National Merit Scholarship Semi-Finalists.

Surbhi Agrawal, Sarah Craig Jean-Claude De Sugny

Itai Farhi Perry Green Carolyn Heiman

Eileen Hu-Wang Benjamin Lewis Chelsea Lo

Emily Massey Michael O'Sullivan Emily Savage

Susannah Savage Melissa Schnure Dylan Symington

Sawyer Symington Rachel Umans Yuqian Zheng

Whitman High School is located at River Road and Whittier Blvd. in Bethesda, Maryland. Built in 1962 and recently completely renovated, the school is home to 1936 students in the 2009-2010 school year. It offers 24 AP classes and numerous honors classes.

87% of the Seniors attend 4-year colleges while an additional 9% attend 2-year colleges. More than 76% attend college out-of-state, and some foreign students return to college in their own country.

The diverse student body draws from more than 40 countries. The school web page states that 76% of students are white, 5% are African-American or Black, 7% are Hispanic, 12% are Asian American.

The homes in the Whitman school district range in price from one bedroom condos in the low $300,000s to a $10,750,000 single family home designed by Robert Gurney, the architect. This 10,000 sf contemporary on Wissioming Road features walls of glass, euro kit., glass bridges, elev, infinity pool,heated floors, and 5 car garage.

Whitman High School is a fabulous school with an active student body and proud parents. If you are looking for a new home in the DC metro area, you should definately consider the neighborhoods that are within its boundaries. For information about homes in the Whitman HS cluster or any other homes in Chevy Chase or Bethesda Maryland, please call Lise Howe at 240-401-5577.

Bethesda's Trolley Trail

Sat, 10 Oct 2009 23:17:13 -0500

Did you know that the Bethesda Trolley Trail connects Bethesda and Rockville for bicyclists, runners and pedestrians. It links North Bethesa/White Flint, the National Institutes of Health, the Woodmont Triangle, office towers in downtown Bethesa, and the Capital Crescent Trail.

The Bethesda trolley system has a long history. After the Civil War, American's cities needed new transportation systems to prosper and grow. First the major rail lines were built to connect American cities with one another. Then, smaller electric streetcar and trolley lines were built to connect Washingotn with its outlying areas. In 1890, the Georgetown and Tenallytown (the original spelling of Tenleytown) Railway Company operated trolley lines along Wisconsin between High Street in Georgetown and the DC line.

At about the same time, the Tenallytown and Rockville Railroad extended the line north to Bethesda at Alta Vista. At the end of the line, they built Bethesda Park, a Victorian era "trolley park" to encourage people to use the line on weekends and evenings. By the summer of 1893 it was a very popular amusement park, with roller coasters, a dance hall, and a hotel. In the fall of 1896 Bethesda park was destroyed by a hurricane, and the park closed, never to reopen.

In 1897 the two railroads merged and by 1900 they had extended all the way to Rockville. The Washington Railway and Electric Company acquired the merged railroads in 1902 and later became part of the Capital Transit. The Rockville trolley line ceased operation in 1935, leaving just gas powered buses as the only mass transit until the Metroline Red line opened in 1984.

Now the original trolley right of way lands are a much beloved Bethesda Trolley Trail. You should definately check it out!

Forget the L shaped recovery or the V - it's a W

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 11:17:28 -0500

The sharp fall in housing prices has slowed and in some areas even stabilized, thanks to the first time homebuyer tax credit and the historically low interest rates. However, we shouldn't count ourselves out of the woods yet! The supply of homes already in the foreclosure process will no doubt drive home prices down even further when they are sold. This will result in a second downward path in the housing market before we will be able to really see a real recovery.

In addition to the supply of homes already in the foreclosure process, there are other homes that the banks have not yet taken back.

13.54 percent of the 44.7 million mortgages tracked by the Mortgage Bankers Association are delinquent.

Defaults continue to grow at the rate of approximately 300,000 per month, assuring that the number of distressed sales will grow and will continue through 2012

Clearly, we have our work cut out for us as a country, trying to grow jobs and absorb these foreclosures. Hopefully Congress will extend the first time homebuyer tax credit, and the Fed will hold down interest rates. Otherwise, it will be an even rockier road than we have seen already.

Goodbye Gourmet Magazine!

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 21:50:28 -0500

Gourmet magazine has been published since 1941 and now it is closing - another victim to the downturn in the economy. Conde Nast, the parent company, also closed two Bride magazines and a newly established magazine, Cookie. 180 people lost their jobs at Gourmet.

The cuts come at the conclusion of a three-month study by McKinsey & Company, which conducted analysis of Condé Nast's costs, and told several magazines to cut about 25 percent from their budgets. These are the first closings announced by the company since the McKinsey study.

Conde Nast has never been quick to close titles, and in the last year or so has closed only newer titles, Condé Nast Portfolio and Domino, along with folding Men's Vogue into Vogue.

It is hard to imagine that Gourmet is actually going to disappear, but we have lost so many newspapers in this country, that it is only reasonable to imagine that the magazines are also going to be affected. Still, I will miss Gourmet and its wonderful travel reporting, delicious recipes, and great photography.

I Challenge You To Give Back - Of Yourself

Sat, 03 Oct 2009 22:36:20 -0500

I just came back this evening from a fundraiser for cystic fibrosis. My daughter has cystic fibrosis, and I have tried to raise money for research to find a cure for this deadly genetic disease because of its impact on my family. However, until tonight, it really was a "condition" that "affected" my daughter, but didn't really "touch" my family because she is still very healthy. We are truly blessed in her good health.

However, tonight at the fundraiser I met two mothers with children with CF - one mother has a son who is 25 and very frequently seriously ill as a result, and the other, a young mother in a panic because her two children both have CF. Then, I met a mother whose 15 year old daughter died two years ago from CF. This mother spoke eloquently and painfully of never having the chance to teach her daughter to drive, never having the time to buy her a prom dress, never having the chance to see her dance at her wedding, and never having another chance to hold her and love her and kiss her goodnight. I have a 15 year old who is learning to drive. I have a 15 year old who wants to go shopping. I love my 15 year old and I love to kiss her goodnight.

There are thousands of worthy causes in the world. There are causes to save children, to rescue whales, to foster lost Shar-peis and bring rabbits or bee hives to farmers in Sri-Lanka. There are people working for world peace, to bring education to young girls in Afghanistan, and to slow global warming. EACH cause is valid. EACH cause needs your help. BUT.... You can only save one piece of the world. Pick that one piece that you care about and try to save it. Lend your voice to that one cause and make a difference.

Each of those causes, children in need, homeless puppies, AIDS patients, polar bears on a melting ice floe, and tsunami victims, needs your help. You can't save them all, but you can save one. What are you going to work for? Who are you going to try to save? You are so blessed living in this country, enjoying the freedoms that we do, and having the career that we all love. Pick something and give back.

ACTIVE RAIN HAS SO MANY VOICES AND SO MANY PEOPLE. CAN"T WE PUT OUR VOICES TOGETHER AND CREATE A CHORUS? A RAINBOW OF GOOD WILL AND HOPE? We don't have to agree on the cause - just go out individually and make the effort for something that matters to you. No approval needed - no commitment - no promises. Just the effort and the change.

Think of it as "Paying it Forward."