The Capital Park Team Blog

8126 WEST BEACH DR NW, WASHINGTON, DC 20012

List Price: $525,000

This is a single family detached home in the Colonial Village area of Upper Northwest DC.  The list price is well below the assessed value.  This is a short sale so it comes with some risk but it is a solid buy in an area where you rarely find anything under $700,000.  The property suffered some water damage and needs repair.

133 BATES ST NW, WASHINGTON, DC 20001

List Price: $424,000

This is a two level attached row home in the Bloomingdale area.  Prices have gone through the roof here lately and its one of the hottest areas in DC.  This home could use some cosmetics but it is in pretty good shape. 

1209 13TH ST NW #406, WASHINGTON, DC 20005

List Price: $450,000

Here…

1. The top 3 homeowners insurance companies ranked in order are Amica, USAA, and Auto-Owners Insurance. 

2. To reduce your homeowners insurance install smoke detectors, burgalar alarms and dead bolts.  Make sure you let your insurance company know if you have these items so you can get a reduced premium.

3. Renovating a bathroom?  They recommend you spend three weeks to a few months in the planning phase.  The lead cause of spending too much is poor planning. 

4. The number one rating for bathroom countertops went to laminate.  If you went by what people prefer...I am sure it would be granite. 

5. If you have an older toilet you should consider replacing it.  The savings in your water bill can add up quickly if an old toilet is replaced with a…

1721 Bay St SE, Washington, DC 20003

List Price: $450,000

This row home came on the market on Wednesday.  The re-sale for this outer Captiol Hill home is about $630,000.  It would help to get the price down to $425K.  Capitol Hill real estate remains a solid investment. 

5418 13TH ST NW, WASHINGTON, DC 20011

List Price: $399,999

A home just like this one in 16th Street Heights sold for $555,000.  I think the seller has flexibility on the price.  Offer $375,000 and this deal make sense!  This home is in northern 16th Street Heights which sits between Crestwood and Petworth with Shepherd Park to the north.  The upcoming Walmart development is just a short distance away.

10 T ST NW, WASHINGTON, DC 20001

List Price: $500,000

The…

800 4TH ST SW #S-212, WASHINGTON, DC 20024

This is a re-sale of a 1 bedroom/1bathroom unit at Potomac Place Tower which sits right next to the Southwest Waterfront metro station.  The nice part about Potomac Place Tower is how reasonable the monthly condo fee is.  The monthly fee on this unit is $340.  One of the main issues that has hurt the real esate values in Southwest Washington DC has been the high monthly fee's.(see Carrollsburg Condominium or Riverside fee's to understand what I am talking about!)

1101 L ST NW #102, WASHINGTON, DC 20005

This is a reasonable price for a 636 sq ft unit at the Wisteria Mansion in the Logan Circle area of Northwest DC.  The real estate values remain strong in Logan Circle and units like these don't stay on the…

1227 HAMILTON ST NW, WASHINGTON, DC 20011

Great investment opportunity in 16th Street Heights.  Property needs a full renovation and will get multiple offers.  This is a short sale property.  After repair value is $600-650K.

4523 15TH ST NW, WASHINGTON, DC 20011

Another good investment property in 16th Street Heights.  This one just came on the market yesterday.  Homes in this area have sold up to $650K.  Good potential here. 

1607 MARION ST NW, WASHINGTON, DC 20001

Very reasonably priced two unit home in Shaw.  Priced under market but will most likely get multiple offers.  Short walk to Shaw metro on the green line.  Not too far from new development on O Street.

4922 7TH ST NW, WASHINGTON, DC 20011

This row home in Petworth has been on and…

1207 EMERSON ST NW, WASHINGTON, DC 20011

List Price: $499,000

Very large single family detached home in 16th Street Heights.  This home has 3490 square feet on 4 levels.  Fixed up single family homes in 16th Street Heights are selling for $700-800K.  This home needs work. 

1302 FLORAL ST NW, WASHINGTON, DC 20012

List Price: $525,000

This Shepherd Park single family home is just north of the Walter Reed Medical Center.  The Walter Reed Medical Center is in the process of being sold from the federal government to the District of Columbia.  The giant medical campus will be redeveloped with lots of commercial and mixed use. 

2900 RHODE ISLAND AVE NE, WASHINGTON, DC 20018

List Price: $800,000

This is a massive property in the Woodridge area of…

4920 7TH ST NW, WASHINGTON, DC 20011

List Price: $499,900

Great looking property.  Totally renovated and ready for you to move in.  Very reasonable price for a brand new home.  This is in the Petworth neighborhood and is just north of Sherman Circle. 

507 K ST NE, WASHINGTON, DC 20002

List Price: $325,000

Nice property to renovate in the H St area of Northeast Washington DC.  Renovated properties like this one are selling for over $600K. 

1133 ABBEY PL NE, WASHINGTON, DC 20002

List Price: $475,000

This property is overpriced.  Should be $25-40K lower at least.  No central AC but this is a good home.  Close to H St and Capitol Hill. 

5107 12TH ST NE, WASHINGTON, DC 20011

List Price: $169,900

This is a Fannie Mae Homepath property. …

Five Things I Learned From Reading the August Consumer Reports

This month’s issue focused on electronics.

1. Consumer Reports believes that if you want good lemonade then you should make your own.  A receipe for one of the lemonades they think is the best is below:

Bring 1 cup h2o and 1 3/4 cups of white sugar to a boil in a saucepan.  Ensure that the sugar is dissolved.  Cool to room temperature.  Cover and put in the fridge until chilled.  Juice lemons to create 1 1/2 cups of juice.  Combine the juice with the sugar mixture and stir.  Makes 7 cups. 

2.  To improve your sleep Consumer Reports says you should excercise during the day, unwind 30 mins before bed, go to bed and wake up at a set time, and engage in sexual activty before bed. 

3. …

4103 3RD ST NW, WASHINGTON, DC 20011

List Price: $239,900

This is a foreclosed property in the Petworth neighborhood. Listed well below the average price of a row house in this area. Good value. This property will most likely receive multiple offers.  8 blocks from the Petworth metro. Short distance to the shops on Upshur St NW. Fixed up homes are now selling in the $600,000’s in Petworth. 

1300 13TH ST NW #102, WASHINGTON, DC 20005

List Price: $479,000

I have posted this property before on this blog. It still has not sold. Very reasonably priced 2 bedroom unit in the Logan Circle area. This property is listed as a short sale.  Short distance to Whole Foods and all the shops and stores on P St/14th St.  This is one of my favorite condo buildings…

Generally speaking your offer will be based on a few key factors:

1) The most recent comparable sales.
2) How long the property has been on the market. 
3) How much competition is out there.  For example: Are there multiple offers? Has the seller received a previous offer that wouldn't work for them?
4) Terms: It's not always just about price!  If you can work with the seller on terms such as the closing date, the inspection, a potential rent back etc you may have extra leverage.

If you're a buyer looking to make your offer more attractive without offering more money, you'll need to adjust your terms. Remember, it's not just the offer price that may sway the seller in your direction; well crafted terms may make the difference between losing out on an…