On my way home today, I stopped at a traffic light at the corner of Brandywine Street and Connecticut Avenue, and I was struck by the way the sun played against the building and the very gray sky up above.  Luckily, I had my iPhone on my lap and was able to capture this scent.   If you are planning a move to or from the Washington area, I can help.  I am licensed in DC, Maryland and Virginia.   Please email me at Housepat@mac.com or call 202-549-5167.  Search all listings in the DC Metro area. 03/08/2013

I took this picture yesterday morning on my way to the office.  With the weather guys saying there was a major "snow event" barreling toward Washington, DC, I thought this shot would make a great contrast to one I'd take today with snow clinging to the branches and some gray skies in the background. As the day went on, the weather remained pretty balmy.  As the sun began to set, I had to wonder how this town would be converted to a winter wonderland over the next 24-hours.  And guess what?  It didn't happen! This morning there was a little snow on the ground, but it quickly turned to slush and then rain.  So by three in the afternoon, instead of 6 to 8 inches of snow, this is what we had, and this isn't even enough snow for a snowball, let alone a snowman. And once again, there was not ... 03/06/2013

If you are like me and the millions and millions of taxpayers who have yet to file their taxes? I hope to get it done next week-SERIOUSLY. Well throughout March the DC Office of Tax and Revenue staff will be in your DC community to offer a full range of tax services at the following convenient locations.   Tuesday, March 5 2 pm - 6 pm Anacostia Library, 1800 Good Hope Rd., SE  (Ward 8) Thursday, March 7 2 pm - 6 pm Deanwood Recreation Center, 1350 49th St., NE (Ward 7) Tuesday, March 12 10 am - 2 pm Mt. Pleasant Neighborhood Library, 3160 16th St., NW (Ward 1) Thursday, March 14 2 pm - 6 pm King Greenleaf Recreation Center, 201 N St., SW (Ward 6) Tuesday, March 19 1:30 pm - 5 pm Petworth Library, 4200 Kansas Ave., NW (Ward 4) Thursday, March 21 2 pm - 6 pm Cleveland Park Library, 3310 C... 03/05/2013

At 11:00 AM, James Hart pulled up in front of my house in the mobile grooming van from Pooches, Kittens & Kisses. Willie the Labradoodle loves to be groomed, but he isn't nuts about going to the groomer.  So when I saw this van parked across the street last week, I decided to try them out. When I opened the front door for James, Willie didn't bark or try to hump his leg.  Willie eyed the guy, wagged his tail and said, "Let's do it!" So when we brought him out to the van, he looked pretty shaggy.  When James finished with him, Willie looked sleek and jaunty!  Pooches Kitties & Kisses is a neighborhood business, located right in Crestwood.  Their van is a self-contained grooming salon, with running water, heat and everything they need to complete a dirty dog's transformation. Willie now h... 03/02/2013

What are the 10%. And should you be ignoring it?     According to NAR,90% of home buyers start their home buying search online. So that means 10% of home buyers are starting their home buying process offline instead. You will be surprised how many people are not online. You will be surprised how many people who haven't caught the Facebook,Twitter,LinkedIn,Youtube and Pinterest-(I still haven't signed up)bug yet. So if they are not using the Internet to start their home buying process,what are they using? Here is what I think where some of the 10% are coming from. Now I said I THINK. I am not saying that this is 100% what they are doing.   Newspaper. While many people have deemed newspaper advertisement as impasse and marketing of "the thing of the past" at least in most areas,some peopl... 02/25/2013

This is the Russian Orthodox Church's onion dome tower.  But it's not in Russia.  It's in Crestwood.  I pass it every day walking Willie the Labradoodle, and it's really beautiful.  And there was even a really, really blue sky.  Every year they have a wonderful festival.  While the Greek church has lots of baklava, the Russians have lots of vodka.    If you are planning a move to or from the Washington area, I can help.  I am licensed in DC, Maryland and Virginia.   Please email me at Housepat@mac.com or call 202-549-5167.  Search all listings in the DC Metro area. 02/24/2013

So as we near the end of the month,some of us are already thinking about something that some home owners normally start thinking about this time of the year. Should I put my Petworth DC house on the market for sale?       That's a question only you the Petworth DC Homeowner can answer. But not sure if you can answer this question. How about I help you out by providing you with some pertinent data. Average sold price of a Petworth DC house was $390,850. That is up from this time last year when the average home sold for $337,478. That is a 15% jump. And it took only 61 days to "sell a Petworth DC House"                   So do you now want a free market value analysis on your "Petworth DC home"that you need to sell within three-six months? How about now?       Just fill out this questiona... 02/23/2013

Blue Skies over Washington! Lately,  the weather gods have been confused.  They are mixing up Washington, DC with Washington State!  And they are sending us all of the rain that was intended for the Pacific Northwest. Then yesterday, after days and days of gray skies,  we finally got some sunshine.  And the temperatures were not even freezing.  I took advantage of my iPhone and a red light to get this shot of the Washington Monument.   If you are planning a move to or from the Washington area, I can help.  I am licensed in DC, Maryland and Virginia.   Please email me at Housepat@mac.com or call 202-549-5167.  Search all listings in the DC Metro area. 02/22/2013

Washington DC is one of the Wealthiest Metro Markets. The suburbs have the highest concentration of wealthy people,more so than cities, according to new U.S. Census Bureau data. Many wealthy people have increased their wealth through Real Estate.           According to Realtor Magazine,Washington DC is one of the metro that attracts the wealthy. So whether if you are a DC Real Estate Investor,Washington DC first time home buyer,Washington DC Move up home buyer. Or you are "visiting the Washington DC area" as a International Real Estate Home buyer or International Real Estate Investor who is looking to increase their Real Estate Portfolio by buying more houses that matches your wants,need and lifestyle,then click here.           You can also read my latest blog Washington DC is one of th... 02/21/2013

Washington DC is one of the top 5 Real Estate Markets for Sellers. This news didn't surprise me at all. In fact Washington DC has been a Sellers Market for about three years now. Washington DC is one of few markets that is not drowning by the flood of this real estate market caused by Short sales. Sooner or later,I think it is going to be a Sellers Market in many more Real Estate Makets now that the interest rates is slowing itching up.       And with Spring approaching,be prepared for an avalanche of not home buyers but motivated home buyers. So if you are a Washington DC home owner who have been talking about putting your "Washington DC house on the market for sale",there is no better time than ever than to take advantage of this golden opportunity of selling your house in a Red hot W... 02/21/2013

You can find one of the most amazing vistas of Washington from the top of the National Cathedral.  I took this photo of the Washington Monument late on a hazy day.  On any visit to Washington, DC, the cathedral is a wonderful place to visit, and when you take the elevator to the tea room on the top floor, remember to bring your camera for some great shots.   If you are planning a move to or from the Washington area, I can help.  I am licensed in DC, Maryland and Virginia.   Please email me at Housepat@mac.com or call 202-549-5167.  Search all listings in the DC Metro area. 02/20/2013

Every time I've gone to Murasaki for sushi, the parking gods have found me a parking space a few steps from the front door.  Now that is an auspicious beginning to a wonderful meal. The plan was to pull out my iPhone and snap shots of the artfully prepared dishes before digging in.  But no such luck.  We just scarfed them down, then I remembered the photos.  But you can go to the Murasaki's menu to see them for yourselves. My recommendations? The Dragon Roll is fun to look at and tastes quite wonderful.  And if you are a Redskins fan, you can try the Redskins Role, which mixes shrimp tempura and spicy tuna.  Actually, I've eaten here a bunch of times, never ordered the same thing twice, and have always loved their sushi. It's very much a neighborhood restaurants, where you will find cou... 02/17/2013

The Buffalo at the Gate This guy guards the bridge that crossed Rock Creek Park at Q  Street NW between Dupont Circle and Georgetown.  Pretty scary looking, huh?   If you are planning a move to or from the Washington area, I can help.  I am licensed in DC, Maryland and Virginia.   Please email me at Housepat@mac.com or call 202-549-5167.  Search all listings in the DC Metro area.   02/17/2013

Winter Sunset in Rock Creek Park   If you are planning a move to or from the Washington area, I can help.  I am licensed in DC, Maryland and Virginia.   Please email me at Housepat@mac.com or call 202-549-5167.  Search all listings in the DC Metro area. 02/15/2013

This is a photo "Aspiration and Literature", a statue by James Earle Fraser that sits on the Washingon, DC side of the Memorial Bridge.  Fraser lived between 1876 and 1953, and perhaps will be most remembered for the Buffalo nickels, which he designed.    If you are planning a move to or from the Washington area, I can help.  I am licensed in DC, Maryland and Virginia.   Please email me at Housepat@mac.com or call 202-549-5167.  Search all listings in the DC Metro area.   02/13/2013

I just went over to Andrea Swiedler's blog.  She is a fabulous photographer with twenty-something inches of snow around her.  And I was sure I'd find some wonderful photos. But no.  So now I'm concerned.  Does she have power? Does she have Internet access? I'd call her except that it's almost midnight - so maybe tomorrow morning. In the meantime, I saw this at the end of Willie's walk today. They are actually in my front yard!   If you are planning a move to or from the Washington area, I can help.  I am licensed in DC, Maryland and Virginia.   Please email me at Housepat@mac.com or call 202-549-5167.  Search all listings in the DC Metro area. 02/10/2013

Today, one of my colleagues was holding an Open House.  And there were people crawling all over the place.  But they were not all prospective buyers. One was a real estate agent who lived in the neighborhood.  And she glommed onto one of the couples looking the property, telling them about how great the neighborhood is.  Then the agent who was holding the house open saw her pass one of her business cards to this couple Huh? This is so tacky. This is such bad behavior!  If I had been in my colleagues position, I would have put gum in this interloper's hair! If you want to avoid going to Real Estate Hell when you die, there is one very important commandment that you really must obey: Thou shalt not flirt with buyer at another agent's Open House! Seriously.  This is such bad form.  Yikes! ... 02/10/2013

Free Market Analysis of your home in Columbia Heights DC.   According to December 2012 Real Estate Market Report for Columbia Heights DC,(January 2013 numbers will be out next week)Real Estate Market in Columbia Heights DC posted some strong numbers indicating 2013 numbers will be out next week)Real Estate Market in Columbia Heights DC posted some strong numbers indicating that this is a very good time to sell your house if you have been talking about it. "Average price of a Columbia Heights DC home sold" was $492,904. That is up 33% from December 2011 when the average sold home of a Columbia Heights DC house was $370,591.        This has never been a better time for Columbia Heights DC Home owners to put their house on the market for sale. You sure don't want to sell your house once ho... 02/09/2013

Thomas Jefferson is one of my favorite founding fathers, and the Jefferson Memorial is one of my favorite Washington photo opps.  I took this on a calm cloudy day looking over the Tidal Basin.    If you are planning a move to or from the Washington area, I can help.  I am licensed in DC, Maryland and Virginia.   Please email me at Housepat@mac.com or call 202-549-5167.  Search all listings in the DC Metro area.     02/08/2013

If you are Anacostia DC Homeowner,there is probably one thing you would probably want to know. How much is my Anacostia DC house worth?  Well I can help you with that by providing accurate real estate data unlike those so called Real Estate sites deceiving the public and have yet to update the information on their website since Abraham Lincoln was president. Well not that long-I HOPE. But I am sure you know what I mean.  Let me share some numbers with you.   10 Anacostia DC Houses were sold in December 2012 that's actually down from December 2011 when 19 houses sold. However average sold price of a Anacostia DC home was $203,000. That is up 32.96% when the average sold price of a Anacostia DC home was $153,053. And average days of a Anacostia DC Sold house was 43 days compared to Decemb... 02/07/2013