Southwest DC Development Seminar-September 27,2012. Learn from DC developers and DC city planners about what's coming and how it will change the residential and commercial real estate environment in Southwest DC. Topics to be covered: Existing and new housing stock. Retail and other lifestyle amenities. Schools and other public amenities. Traffic and public transportation                                                                           This event will be held Thursday, September 27 11:30 a.m.- 2:00 p.m. Arena Stage 1101 Sixth Street, SW Washington, DC 20024. Register today! Speakers will include: Harriet Tregoning and Art Rodgers-DC Office of Planning,David Smith Forest City Washington,Matt Steenhoek Hoffman-Madison Waterfront,Steve Moore SW BID,Josh Dix Trammell Crow Company,A... 09/11/2012

  Southwest Waterfront DC Real Estate Market Report zip code 20024 for August 2012.  Summer where did thou art go? Why did you came so quick and leave I don't know. Okay! Enough with the poetry. But on a serious note,this year has gone by very fast though. It seems like yesterday it was January 1,2012. And here we are-September 10,2012 already. But DC Condos,Lofts,Single family homes and attached/detached row houses are selling before you can even blink your eyes. This is unbelieveable.    Waterfront DC is the smallest of Washington's four quarants and SW Waterfront is one of only two residential neighborhoods in the quadrant,the other is Bellevue which being east of the Anacostia River,is frequently,if mistakenly,regarded as being in Southeast. I used to live in this area. Matter of fa... 09/10/2012

Are you in the market to buy a Petworth DC home for sale? If so,please fill out this application for DC First time home buyers. I will send you a list of houses on sale that matches your wants,needs and lifestyle. I will also send you information pertaining to DC home buying programs such as the HPAP,DC Tax Abatement and other DC Programs for first time home buyers in Washington DC. <a href="http://dchomesonsale.wufoo.com/forms/m7x3q1/" data-mce-href="http://dchomesonsale.wufoo.com/forms/m7x3q1/">Fill out my Wufoo form!</a> 09/07/2012

Looking to "buy a home in Washington DC"? Call Lanre Folayan-"THE REAL ESTATE FARMER" at 202-378-0283. Today I am going to share with you -DC Property Acquistion and Disposition.    This division stabilizes neighborhoods by decreasing the number of vacant and abandoned residential properties in the District and transforming vacant/and/or abandoned residential properties into homeownership opportunities for District of Columbia residents at all income levels. What this division is doing is great. PADD (Property Acquistion and Disposition Division) is revitalizing communities all over Washington DC. This division has three main functions: Encourage property owners to rehabilitate and/or occupy their vacant and abandoned residential property. Acquire vacant,abandoned and deteriorated prope... 09/05/2012

DC Medicare Savings Program. As a DC resident,you can get help with your Medicare Costs. The DC Medicare Savings Program can you save you over $5,000 each year in Medicare expenses and prescription drug costs. You can qualify if you are a DC Resident,eligible for Medicare and have monthly income below $2,743 (single) or $3,698 (couple). But if you work your income may be higher. Any money you have in savings is not counted for this program.  District of Columbia residents with Medicare, or who are 60 years or older, HICP (Health Insurance Counseling Project) provides Telephone Help Line -Leave confidential messages -Calls returned during business hour Legal Representation -Office Visits (by appointment)-Home Visits (as needed) Community Education ProgramsInformation sessions help you u... 09/01/2012

DC Tax Abatement program can help a first time home buyer buy a home. This is one of many programs that I am going to be blogging about for first time home buyers. This a program designed by the District of Columbia to help lower income homeowners purchase property. Now if you qualify for the program,you are exempt from paying transfer and recordation taxes. What does this mean? This means that you are not only exempt from paying the 1.1% (of the purchase price) recordation tax: but customarily, the seller's 1.1% (of the purchase price) transfer tax is credited to you settlement instead of being credited to the District Government. So you are saving 2.2% off of your closing costs. You will also be exempt from paying real property taxes for 5 years beginning the next full tax year (Octob... 08/30/2012

Search Anacostia DC Homes for sale here. So Summer season is coming to an end. I know. I know. Hope you got to do some fun things. But just because the Summer Season is coming to an end doesn't mean that your home buying search should come to an end also. There are many Anacostia DC Homes on sale that you can choose from and buy .  So if you are looking to buy a home in Anacostia DC,the time to do so is now. And with the current Low mortgage rate along with the down payment and closing cost assistance programs for DC first time home buyers,the time is now to take advantage of this great DC Real Estate Market. So if you have been talking about buying a home in Anacostia DC,Search Anacostia DC Homes for sale here 08/29/2012

DC First time home buying programs.   Many people in the Washington DC area are going to be looking to start the home buying journey soon. Some of course have started the home buying search already. With just about four months left in 2012,this is still a great time to Buy a house in Washington DC. According to Bankrate.com,mortgage rates have dropped again. So anybody that wants to buy a house just saved themselves some money by getting a pre-approval letter this week as opposed to last week. But how low do you think interest rates will go and stay low? Who knows. But one thing I do know that this is a great time to take advantage of the super low interest rate and buy a house now.    Now that DC is a Seller's Market,you not only want to buy a house in DC but you also want to know How ... 08/27/2012

The Eisenhower Executive Office Building If you are lucky enough to land a job with the whoever wins the White House in November, you may not wind up actually working in the White House.  You may get offices in the beautiful building next door, the Eisenhower Executive Office Building - formally known as the Old Executive Office Building. The British burned the original executive office buildings during the War of 1812, and the new building opened in 1877.  At that time, it was the largest office building in Washington.  Back in the 1950's, it was deemed inefficient and some of the powers that be wanted it to fall to the wrecking ball.  But this great old building survived. It's on the southeast corner 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW, just west of the West Wing.  The White House ... 08/24/2012

If I had my choice of living in any building in Washington, DC, I think I'd choose 2029 Connecticut Avenue.  It's a Washington  classic, with a history that includes many distinguished residents.  And check out those salamanders worked into the terra cotta above the entrance. This building opened its doors as a luxury rental in 1917, and one of the original tenants was William Howard Taft, by then an ex-president.  In 1977, Washington developer Conrad Cafritz bought the building and converted it to condominium ownership.  Then tenants bought about half of the units and the rest sold to some really lucky people for about $35 per square foot, a small fraction of what they sell for today.  The blessing of this conversion was that a developer did not come in and ruin the building with a po... 08/22/2012

Deanwood DC Real Estate Market Report for July 2012.   Average sold price Deanwood DC home in July 2012 was $156,388 compared to this same time last year when the average sold price was $147,807. Amount of units sold in the 20018 zip code were 26 compared to this time last year when 27 units sold in the 20019 zip code. Out of the 26 Deanwood DC Home buyers, 10 of them were DC CASH HOME BUYERS,5 of them used a CONVENTIONAL LOAN,5 of them used FHA,2 of them used a VA Loan and 4 of them used other kinds of financing. Average days on the market of a house that sold in the zip code 20019 was 83 days. Compared to this time last year when average days on the market was 84 days. Average SP=(Sold Price) to OLP (Old List Price) was 90.4% compared to last year when the Average SP to OLP was 87.2%.... 08/22/2012

Brookland DC Real Estate Market Report for July 2012. 20017 zip code can also be considered some in Washington DC subdivisions such as Woodridge,Michigan Park,Fort Lincoln,Brentwood and The Village at Dakota Crossing.       Brookland DC Houses on sale $300,000-$500,000 Average sold price in July 2012 was $330,656 compared to this same time last year when the average sold price was $260,292 Amount of units sold in the 20018 zip code were 9 compared to this time last year when 13 units sold in the 20018 zip code. Out of the 9 Brookland DC Home buyers, 3 of them were DC CASH HOME BUYERS,3 of them used a CONVENTIONAL LOAN and 3 of them used FHA.   Average days on the market of a house that sold in the zip code 20017 was 58 days. Compared to this time last year when average days on the marke... 08/21/2012

Washington, DC's  Building Height Limits?  Blame it on the Cairo! Back in the 1890's, the people of Washington watched The Cairo, Washington's first skyscraper apartment building, going up.  And they didn't like it.  Not one bit.  It was way too tall!  They were outraged!  And there were demands that Congress do something! And so they did. The result was the Heights of Buildings Act of 1899, revised in 1910.  And to this day, the city of Washington has a pretty low skyline.  And the Cairo towers above it's neighbors in the Dupont Circle neighborhood. The Cairo was a hotel, and the early residents included Thomas Edison and F. Scott Fitzgerald.  But time was not kind to this building.  By the time I moved to Washington in the early 1970's, the Cairo was a flop house (complete with a pac... 08/19/2012

The Southwest Seafood Market:  Where the Fish Are For the last couple of months, I've been on a major diet.  Three shakes a day and something lean and green for dinner.  So I've been eating a whole lot of seafood.  And a favorite of Washington foodies is the fist market in Southwest Washington. First of all, it's sort of historic.  It opened back in 1794, which may make it the oldest continuously operating seafood market in the country. Today, the fish sellers have floating stalls where you can make your selection - certainly larger than what you'll find at your local super market.. The Southwest Seafood Market located on Maine Avenue, near the Arena Stage, west of the Southwest Marina.   It's open daily from 8:00 am to 9:00 pm.   The best way to get there is to drive, but parking is a ... 08/17/2012

Is Your House The Full Smokers' Package? The other day, I showed a house in a neighborhood that I was very familiar with, and I hadn't previewed the place first.  And it was not love at first whiff! "Wow, Pat!" my buyer exclaimed.  "You found us the full smokers' package!" The place has new paint and what looks like new carpet.  It's been vacant for a while now.  And still, it reeks, as if the lady to the right had just walked out the front door.  While I know almost nobody who smokes, it's been my experience that people who do are extremely sensitive to the disapproval and judgments that non or reformed smokers make about those weaklings who just can't kick the habit.  And it's something that I find hard to discuss at a listing presentation. "Waddaya mean I can't smoke in my own house?... 08/15/2012

Sell Now?  But Prices Might Go Up!  Ah, Timing and the Real Estate Market Like the buyers of a few months ago who didn't want to make a move until they were sure the market had hit the bottom, home sellers are now having similar thoughts about the timing of their home's sale.  Most of the neighborhoods in Northwest Washington didn't feel the effects of the bubble burst to the extent that it impacted the rest of the country.  Prices went down a bit, but they never really nose-dived.  But lately we've seen some interesting trends. Inventory is down and prices are now creeping up, and in many neighborhoods we are seeing the return of the bidding war.  At the same time, many sellers are reluctant to put their homes on the market at this time because prices might jump up in the spring. But w... 08/14/2012

Crestwood DC Real Estate Market Report for July 2012.20011 zip code is just north of Columbia Heights DC.  This zip code is home to also certain Washington DC subdivisions such as Petworth,16th Street,Brightwood,Brookland,Chillum and Riggs Park. Just from the 20011 zip code Real Estate Market Report in July 2012. Crestwood DC is a DC Real Estate Market that is performing well.   Average days on the market of a house that sold in the zip code 20011 was 40 days. Compared to this time last year when average days on the market was 62 days. Average SP=(Sold Price) to OLP (Old List Price) was 98.5% compared to last year when the Average SP to OLP was 95.6%. Total Sold Dollar Volume in zip code 20011 was $24,789,744 in July 2012 compared to this time last year when the Total Sold Dollar Volume... 08/13/2012

Buying a home in the Washington, DC area may seem simple.  It's really not.  If you are buying in or around DC, you have a lot of choices, and not just the neighborhoods where you will look or the home they will choose.  You'll also have a choice of many fine buyer brokers to help you make your choices.  If you choose to work with me, this is what you can expect: Our First Meeting:  first, I'll give you a copy of my book, The Irreverent Guide to Real Estate.  Then I will listen as carefully as possible so I can understand what you are looking for and where the best possibilities are located.  What do you want, and what do you need?  What do you want to spend?  What are your deal breakers? Show Me the Money:  I will help you get pre-qualified with one of the area's top lenders, not in te... 08/13/2012

Seen on a Walk Through Crestwood DC I've been doing a 10,000 steps a day program, and that usually involves a walk to get my pedometer dial to click of the 10,000 mark.  And this is one of the wonders of nature that I found on Argyle Terrace.  It looks a bit carnivorous!   If you are planning a move to or from the Washington, DC area, I can help!  I am licensed in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia.  You may call, email or text me at:  Housepat@mac.com, 202-549-5167 SEARCH ALL LISTINGS IN THE DC METRO AREA CHECK OUT MY LATEST BLOG IN THE WASHINGTON POST! 08/12/2012

This afternoon, my friend Jean called and suggested a walk.  Sure, I said.  I'm supposed to be on that 10,000 steps a day plan, and I needed another couple of thousand.  Well, it turned into a 2-mile walk on a really hot day.  Toward the end, we spotted this butterfly on a neighbor's zinnias, and luckily I had my I-Phone in my pocket! If you are planning a move to or from the Washington, DC area, I can help!  I am licensed in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia.  You may call, email or text me at:  Housepat@mac.com, 202-549-5167 SEARCH ALL LISTINGS IN THE DC METRO AREA CHECK OUT MY LATEST BLOG IN THE WASHINGTON POST!   08/10/2012