dc: New Lead Paint Requirements for Contractors Renovating Homes Built Prior to 1978 - 03/23/10 06:49 AM

Effective April 22nd, 2010, all renovations performed by contractors on homes or buildings built before 1978 must be performed under the new guidelines set forth by the EPA.  These guidelines include requiring the firm and the renovator to be certified in lead-safe work practices by the EPA under the Lead-Based Paint Renovation, Repair, and Painting Program.  This program applies to residential houses, apartments, and child-occupied facilities such as schools and day care centers built before 1978. 
All contractors are required to distribute a lead pamphlet before starting any renovation work.  In general, any activity which disturbs paint in an area … (0 comments)

dc: DC Waives Taxes on Inauguration Rentals - 11/24/08 04:22 AM
D.C. Government Relaxes Some Tax Laws for Inauguration Rentals The D.C. Office of Tax and Revenue will suspend its sales tax on property rentals to transients for residents who want to rent their apartments or homes to out-of-towners for the inauguration.
The city usually assesses a 14.5 percent tax when a person rents property for fewer than 90 days, but the tax office said the fee will not apply to one-time rentals for the inaugural.
(0 comments)

dc: Washington DC Not Funding HPAP in 2009 - 11/18/08 10:42 AM
Last Monday, November 10, the DC Council passed the “Fiscal Year 2009 Balanced Budget Request Emergency Act of 2008”.  There were no public hearings on this legislation.  The legislation passed unanimously by a vote of 13-0 with only Councilmember Marion Barry asking for a delay in the vote for public debate of the proposal.  
This emergency legislation closed a projected $131 million shortfall in projected 2009 revenues by agreeing to cuts proposed by Mayor Fenty. The Council then went further by creating a $47 million revenue surplus for possible further budget revenue shortfalls that are expected when the CFO announces revised revenue … (2 comments)

dc: DC's Hottest Thing Going - NoMa - 03/13/08 07:58 AM
As I am sure many of you have heard, there is a huge amount of new development currently taking place (and slated to take place) in what is called the NoMa Business Improvement District of DC.  NoMa is short for North of Massachusetts Avenue.  Over the next 5 years, an enormous amount of mixed-use development will be erected in the area between Mass Ave and R Street NE, and between North Capitol Street and 2nd Street NE.  NPR Radio has just moved it's headquarters there.  There will be condos, apartments, restaurants, nightlife, businesses - you name it.  On Monday, Mayor Fenty oversaw … (0 comments)

dc: Promising News - 03/12/08 10:12 AM
This is a great article just out by Scott Burns of MSN Money.  It shows some comforting statistics.  Among the better news, 99% of homes across the country are not in foreclosure.  Though foreclosure rates have jumped significantly in the past year, less than 1% of homes are in foreclosure.  Further, this appears to be more of a regional problem than a nation-wide problem.  Areas that showed the highest appreciation jumps during the "boom" are experiencing greater foreclosure rates than those that had a more steady appreciation rate.  This seems to just be the market balancing itself out.  Of course, speculation … (1 comments)

dc: Best Time To Buy In Past 4 Years - 03/04/08 07:59 AM
CNN Money says that now is the best time in the past four years to buy a home.  Prices have dropped and interest rates remain at record lows. 
http://money.cnn.com/2008/03/04/real_estate/markets_less_overvalued/index.htm?postversion=2008030413
(5 comments)

dc: Economy.com Predicts Increased Sales in DC - 12/04/07 05:37 AM
"To find those areas which are expected to experience increased sales, Forbes paired with Moody's Economy.com to research current home sales patterns and sales projections in the country's 40 biggest real estate markets. Based on models that estimated 2008 housing inventory, sales rates and turnover, they arrived at a list of markets that are experiencing price stalls or declines, but where over the coming year are expected to provide deals for buyers.  The results turn out three types of markets. The first are undervalued, affordable markets like Fort Worth (TX), which haven't felt huge, post-boom price corrections, but where there is … (1 comments)

dc: Doom and Gloom - 11/28/07 03:18 AM
I know we all keep hearing reports of doom and gloom in the housing industry.  Here is a link to just one of many I have read recently:
http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Banking/HomeFinancing/HousingCrunchsHardestHitCities.aspx
What is the first and foremost rule of investing?  Buy low, sell high.  Now, I know for those of you who are contemplating shopping for your primary residence, it feels like home, not an investment.  It is an investment, though.  For most people, their primary residence signifies their most valuable asset.  So, why would you pass up an opportunity to get a great deal on that investment?  Buy low, sell high.  This applies to investors out … (0 comments)

dc: Random Thoughts - 11/15/07 05:19 AM
Today, I am finalizing plans for a new method of building my business.  Since farming mailers are expensive and not very effective because they lack personal contact, I was trying to come up with a way to make personal contact with potential clients.  The downside here, of course, is that you can waste a lot of time cold calling people who may have no desire to move or buy or sell a house.  Of course, this leads to pursuing expired listings and homes for sale by owner, since these individuals clearly have a real estate need that can be met.  The … (9 comments)

dc: Glover Park Market Statistics - 11/14/07 03:28 AM
Yesterday, I told you all about my neighborhood of Glover Park.  Today, I am giving you an idea of what your money can buy you in Glover Park.  Here are sales statistics for Glover Park for the past 30 days.  Of course, there are many things listed above these asking prices, but they are not selling.  These statistics reflect only the homes that are actually selling in Glover Park.  As we have talked about before, they must be priced right to sell.  These homes were priced right, and they sold.  Here are the details:
Glover Park Sales - Past 30 Days
 
                        Avg List … (0 comments)

dc: Glover Park Link - 11/13/07 08:59 AM
Here is a great link to the Glover Park residents home page.  I forgot to mention that we also have a Washington Sports club and a wonderful day spa called Soma.  There is a wide variety of apartments, condos, rowhouses, basement rentals, and some detached houses to choose from.  Street parking is pretty readily available, but investing in a parking space is a good idea if you regularly come home after 7.
 http://www.gloverparkdc.com/index.htm
(0 comments)

dc: Neighborhood Spotlight: Glover Park - 11/13/07 08:52 AM
This week it is time to put a spotlight on my favorite DC neighborhood: Glover Park.  I personally live in Glover Park, and I love it.  The perfect thing about the area is that it is a wonderful combination of small town and big city.  It's only drawback is that it is not easily accessible by metro, but I think that is what makes it so quiet.  In my opinion, it is DC's best kept secret.  Glover Park is wonderfully convenient.  You don't ever have to leave. 
Nestled in the trees about a mile and a half north of Georgetown, we … (1 comments)

dc: Room Service to Your Condo? - 11/06/07 07:04 AM
I read an interesting article today in the Washingtonian discussing a new trend in condominium development happening in the DC Metro area. In an effort to stand out above the competition for condo buyers, many developers now are building condominiums with the epitomy of luxury lifestyle built right in. The majority of these condos are being built above hotels, and the residents pay a la carte for use of the same services that the guests have. These services include valet parking, access to a conceirge that can book a dinner reservation or a massage, access to a gym and spa, and … (0 comments)

dc: Neighborhood Spotlight: Dupont Circle - 11/06/07 04:05 AM
Here are sales statistics for Dupont Circle for the past 30 days:
Size                  Avg List Price               Avg Sales Price            Avg Subsidies               Avg Days on Mkt
Studio              $237,075                     $235,850                     $4,724                         32 Days
 
1 BR                $322,160                     $322,650                     $2,483                         19 Days
 
2 BR                $736,143                     $735,785                     $2,796                         47 Days
 
3 BR                $915,000                     $900,000                     $35,000                       91 Days
 
4 BR                $795,000                     $795,000                     $0                                17 Days
 
5 BR                $899,000                     $919,000                     $2,000                         7 Days
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dc: Off to the (Drag) Races! - 11/06/07 03:57 AM
Every year around this time, drag queens from all over the country line up on 17th Street in Dupont Circle to race 3 blocks in full costume and... HEELS!  A few friends, my hubby, and I attended the drag races last Tuesday night.  This is the 22nd year these races have been held, and they were attended by several thousand fans including Mayor Fenty.  The crowds were so thick that some people were creative and climbed trees to get a view.  Others, who were clearly more experienced than we were, came prepared with milk crates to stand on to see through … (2 comments)

dc: Details on October DC Sales With Emphasis on Georgetown - 11/01/07 04:39 AM
October 2007 - DC (Actually 9/30 - 10/30)
Fee Simple - Total properties coming under contract were 303.  Following are the companies with the greatest number listed:
LNF -     82
CBRB   43
WFP     15
TTRS    12
Condo/Co-op - Total properties coming under contract were 270.  Following are the companies with the greatest number listed:
LNF      57
CBRB   37
WFP     3
TTRS    14
Million+ Listings - Total properties coming under contract were 48.  Following are the companies with the greatest number listed: 
LNF      11
WFP     10
CBRB   5
TTRS    5
MIL       4
Georgetown Listings only - Total properties coming under contract were 17.  Following are the companies with the greatest number listed: companies:
LNF      7     
WFP     … (0 comments)

dc: Fed Cuts Rates - 10/31/07 08:48 AM
As expected, the Fed cut key interest rates today: 
Breaking News Alert The New York Times Wednesday, October 31, 2007 -- 2:18 PM ET -----
Fed Lowers Key Interest Rate by a Quarter Point
The Federal Reserve cut the benchmark federal funds rate by one quarter-point to 4.5 percent.
Read More: https://owa.longandfoster.com/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.nytimes.com/?emc=na
----- Visit our mobile site for the latest news: https://owa.longandfoster.com/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://m.nytimes.com
(0 comments)

dc: SMART COOKIES!! - 10/31/07 06:18 AM
You real estate consumers out there are an educated bunch.  And very bookish!  Nothing better than an informed and well-educated client.  Click here to see a list of the top 10 real estate books that are being read today:
 http://narblog1.realtors.org/mvtype/theweeklybookscan/2007/10/top_10_real_estate_books_10150.html
I personally own Real Estate Investing for Dummies and Flipping Houses for Dummies, both of which a jam-packed with valuable information.  Go on with your bad selves!
(2 comments)

dc: Why Now is the Best Time in Years to Purchase a Home - 10/31/07 06:03 AM
Failure to act now could be the most costly mistake you make.  Here are the top 5 reasons why:
1.) Leveraged investment power: With most investments, such as stocks and bonds, the money (and risk) you put into the investment is entirely your own.  With real estate, while you may only put down 5% or 10% of your own money, you are receiving a return on the entire value of the home.  So, you may put down $10,000 on a $100,000 home, but at the D.C. metro- area average annual real estate appreciation rate of 7%, you would earn 7% per year … (3 comments)

dc: Happy Howl-o-Ween!!! - 10/31/07 05:40 AM
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(3 comments)

 
Shari Walker, Licensed in DC, MD, & VA (Keller Williams)

Shari Walker

Licensed in DC, MD, & VA

Washington, DC

More about me…

Keller Williams

Address: 6820 Elm Street, Suite 100, McLean, VA, 22101

Mobile: (202) 731-1594

Fax: (703) 636-7301

A fresh perspective on real estate, Washington DC, and Washington DC real estate.


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