June 2017 RSS Feed

Real estate, restaurants, shops and things to do at DC's Southwest Waterfront.

The Southwest Waterfront is a thriving community in DC with plenty of new construction and exciting things to come. If you’re looking for an affordable new place to live with activities that will keep you busy every day, look no further than Southwest Waterfront.

There’s a stunning unit at 1311 Delaware Ave. SW located on the eighth floor of the building. Enjoy breathtaking views of the city and hardwood floors throughout. The building is tucked between the $2.5 billion new wharf waterfront redevelopment, Nationals Park and is only two blocks from the Southwest Waterfront Metro Station.

For a mid-priced home, 530 N St. SW has views that are just incredible. Enjoy a…

Summer camps, zoo events, outdoor dining and various other summer events in the Cleveland Park area.

There’s always something to do in the tight-knit community of Cleveland Park. For kids wanting to have a super fun summer, there’s the Camp at the Cleveland Park Club. The camp runs through August 11th and offers old-fashioned, self-directed play with organized activities in an informal setting.

Cleveland Park is also home to a brand-new farmer’s market happening this summer. The Cleveland Park Citizens’ Association worked tirelessly to get this to fruition and now residents can enjoy neighborhood goodies every Saturday morning from 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. The market is on the west side of Connecticut Ave. between Newark St. and the Upton Theater.

…

The District of Columbia Association of REALTORS®(DCAR) announced the First-Time Homebuyer Tax Benefit has been passed and funded by the DC Council. The First-Time Homebuyer Tax Benefit allows first time home buyers in DC to pay a .725% recordation tax on homes no more than $625,000 that earn less that 180% AMI beginning this October.

So what exactly does that mean?

First let’s talk about the recordation tax. Recordation tax is part of various closing costs and based on the purchase price. If the sale price is $399,999 or less than the DC transfer and recordation tax rate is 1.1%. Sales of $400,000 and above are taxed at the rate of 1.45%. For example, if you bought a $250,000 home in DC, the buyer and seller would each pay $2,750 in DC transfer…

Condominium Warranty Regulations is a program in DC that helps protect buyers of newly constructed condominiums.

Condominium Warranty Regulations, a program launched a few years ago in D.C. aims to protect buyers of newly constructed condominiums. It stays in effect for two years after the settlement date of the first condo in the new building. What happens is 10 percent of the total cost of construction is put aside as a condo warranty bond. The Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA) and your respective condo association can ask for money from it to aid in structural issues to your unit that may come up.

It is important to remember a couple key pointers, when buying a brand new condo, especially given the amount of real estate that…

Festivals, farmers markets and other various summer events in the Capitol Hill area.

The vibrant Capitol Hill neighborhood is full of things to do this summer. Spend a weekend at Eastern Market, just steps from both the Eastern Market and Capitol South metros. Grab fresh food, handmade arts and crafts and check out any of the many events going on each and every weekend. (Eastern Market Potluck, Fresh Tuesday's Farmers Market, EMMS Fourth of July Movie Day to name a few.)

Buy a property in the neighborhood and be steps from great breakfast spots like Ted’s Bulletin (hello homemade Pop Tarts!) and District Doughnut (their doughnuts are not to be missed!). Grab an iced coffee and be ready to stroll through the gorgeous historic neighborhood.

A…

DC Council introduced a bill that will exempt owner-occupied, single family homes from TOPA laws with certain parameters.

The 1980 Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA) was created out of the Rental Housing Conversation and Sale Act. It is designed to restrict owner rights and provide benefits to tenants.  The benefits for tenants include the option to purchase as well as the ability to assign their right to purchase to a third party.

If you are considering buying a property that is tenant occupied or if you are thinking about renting your property out, you need to familiarize yourself with the Washington DC Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act.  The process can be a challenge to navigate, so it is strongly recommended that you hire an agent or an…

A brand-new listing at 401 13th St. NE #311 with sweeping city views and an overview of Capitol Hill.

OPEN HOUSE: Saturday, June 17 from 1pm - 4pm

You’ll want to see our brand-new listing at 401 13th St. NE #311 before it’s scooped up and gone. The stunning two bedroom, expansive corner unit is just begging to be lived in. There’s sweeping city views from your cozy new home, with an open layout, private balcony and granite countertops. Washer/dryer is in unit and best of all, Fido can come along too—the building is pet friendly!

If you love the outdoors you’ll want to snag this unit because there’s a rooftop deck that’s part of the building and an absolutely magical courtyard.

Don’t let the gorgeous D.C. summer go to waste in this fun…

Summer happenings (festivals, concerts, events, etc.) in Petworth.

Petworth is a vibrant, diverse community and something always seems to be happening in the neighborhood—festivals, concerts and more. Don’t miss the Petworth Park Summer Jam happening at the Petworth Recreation Center. The music festival, brought to you by Chris Burns, ROAM and supported by the Petworth Jazz Project will last until August.

Browse for local items at the Petworth Community Market with local artists, musicians and other vendors. The market runs Saturdays through November from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Located at the corner of 9th and Upshur Sts. NW, the market is quite popular in the summer months.

Head to the recurring Yoga at the Library at the Petworth Library all summer…

Summer happenings (festivals, concerts, events, etc.) in Georgetown.

Looking to buy in Georgetown? You’ll want to hear about all these exciting summer happenings in the area. If you’re a movie buff, the Georgetown Business Improvement District will be holding their annual Sunset Cinema Summer Outdoor Movie Series. The schedule’s theme is all about celebrating women and women in the movies. Check out the lineup.

If you want to get a workout in, the Georgetown BID also hosts a Sunset Fitness in the Park series that begins June 7th and ends August 30th. Come for Core Power Yoga, Fuel Body Lab or barre3 classes. View class info.

Beginning June 5th, there is a weekly Sunday Farmer’s Market from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the corner of Wisconsin and P St. NW.…

Anchor retail makes Petworth a walkable community.

Being on the lookout for the ideal home in the best community for you has a lot to do with walkability. Grocery stores are one of what’s called “anchor retail” shopping amenities that make for a thriving, pedestrian-friendly neighborhood. There are two relatively new grocery stores in Petworth that make it a very walkable community.

There’s a brand-new Safeway on Georgia Ave. that was completely remodeled. Previously nicknamed the “Stinky Safeway” back in 2011, the new store is anything but. Many see the store as the rebirth of the neighborhood, as we previously mentioned grocery stores (especially new ones) make a neighborhood flourish.

In addition to the Safeway there’s a new Avenue Market,…