BEST NEIGHBORHOODS TO BUY IN DC 2018

Capitol Riverfront | A walk through the Capitol Riverfront (aka Navy Yard) is an experience straddling Washington DC's future and past simultaneously. As with so many urban ports that have long served as industrial and business centers, the Capitol Riverfront is in the midst of mindset-shifting revitalization. Anchored by Nationals Park, Capitol Riverfront is home to a myriad of eateries such as Cornercopia, Sweetgreen, Bluejacket Brewery, and Takorean. Yards Park is the culmination of the beautiful and thoughtful conversion of a huge stretch of the Anacostia Riverfront, which features elements similar to those found in New York's High Line and Hudson River Park.

Shaw | The recent renaissance of Shaw has only…

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We’ve been watching The Wharf project here at Capital Park Realty for some time now. Check out this blog, and this one, from back when the project first broke ground more than two years ago. The $2 billion, 27-acre construction project down on the Southwest Waterfront currently looks like a big hole in the ground along the Washington Channel, but Phase I is still on pace to be completed in the fall of 2017. If you head down there, you will see more than a dozen cranes at work in the area. The first residential building, which is technically not part of The Wharf but located at the south end of it, is 525 Water, which is scheduled to open in 2016. VIO will be the first official Wharf residential building and will open in 2017. There seem to be updates…

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VIO will be the second residential building to be completed along the Southwest Waterfront and the first one that is actually a part of the construction project “The Wharf.” It is set to open in the fall of 2017 and development is already underway. VIO means “I Journey” in Latin, and developers PN Hoffman, Handel Architects, and WG Architects plan to use that phrase in making you feel like you are living in a resort-like destination. The building will consist of 112 units over 12 floors. There will be a saltwater infinity pool on the roof with great views of the Washington Channel, Potomac River, and downtown DC. Most units will come with a garaged parking space and balconies with views of the waterfront. Select condominiums will also have private…

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525 Water Street SW will be one of the first new residential buildings to open along the Southwest Waterfront, next to the massive project known as “The Wharf.” Developed by PN Hoffman, it will feature 108 condominiums on four floors ranging from studios to 3-bedroom units with various floor plans. Prices will start around $400k for the studios and go up to $1 million for the largest condos. The street level will be retail and a courtyard in the center of the building will be an integral part of the complex. There will also be a 3.5 acre park next to 525 Water along the Washington Channel. 525 Water is scheduled to open in the summer of 2016 and is opening its sales office for pre-sales tomorrow, Saturday September 19th. You must be present that day to…

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A lot has changed since we last wrote about Union Market three years ago. There are too many vendors to name in one blog (more than 30!), but some of the more popular choices have become Co Co. Sala (chocolatier), Cordial Fine Wine & Spirits, Rappahannock Oyster Company, Red Apron Butchery, and TaKorean (Mexican/Korean fusion). Dock5, located directly above the marketplace, also provides a 12,000 square foot warehouse event venue. There are always pop-up artisans in Union Market, but none have gathered as much attention as the planned Angelika Pop-Up. Opening later this year, it will be a three-screen micro cinema located behind the market at 550 Penn St. NE. Dolcezza, a gelato and coffee shop, is located next to the Angelika and has been receiving rave…

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There is a program in DC that helps protect buyers of newly constructed condominiums. It is in effect for two years after the settlement date of the first condo in the building. 10% of the total cost of construction is put aside as a condominium warranty bond. It is held by the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA) and the condo association can request money from it for structural issues that arise. This link will help explain exactly how the process works. Here are some tips to keep in mind when buying a brand new condo to make sure the program is effective for you.


The developer of the condominiums is allowed to manage the building during the two year warranty bond period. This is a conflict of interest, and while legal, it should be…

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As more and more people are moving back into the District of Columbia, areas that were once not well known or considered off the beaten path are now becoming hotspots for real estate development. One of these areas is Ivy City, which is a small neighborhood located in Northeast DC between the very popular neighborhoods of Brookland and H Street Atlas District. Spurred by development of those two neighborhoods and the emergence of nearby Trinidad and Union Market, Ivy City has seen a recent renaissance. While property prices still remain well below the DC average, they have begun to rise this year and will likely continue to do so due to an abundance of recent development.

The biggest change in the neighborhood may be the Nike store that has opened in…

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Do you own a home in DC with a basement you’d like to rent out? Are you looking for a property with the ability to rent out the basement to make the mortgage more affordable to you? While it’s definitely an option, many homeowners in the District do not follow the rules when it comes to renting out their basement. That can cause quite a headache for the landlord if they are caught, as legally DC is very tenant-friendly. However, we’ve got the answers you need. This link will give you the rundown of what you need to do to get a Two Family Rental License. The most important thing you must have to rent out your basement is a certificate of occupancy. Here’s what you need to do:

  1. Make sure you live in an area of DC that is zoned for multi-families.…

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Fixer-upper row homes are often the solution to saving some money in this current DC real estate market that is tough on buyers. Flippers are often profiting $200,000-$300,000, so if you can cut out the flipper and have the renovations done yourself you can save a lot. Shaw is one of the neighborhoods that offers a number of fixer-upper row homes ready for a buyer. It is one of the hottest neighborhoods in the District right now, and has seen a massive revitalization in the last decade. Shaw offers its own amenities while being close to downtown DC. Several new restaurants have opened in the last few years with the neighborhood’s renaissance, including several ethnic options like Zenebech Injera Ethiopian. Shaw is also close to Chinatown, Logan Circle, the…

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Georgetown is one of the most iconic neighborhoods in all of Washington, DC. It is a highly sought after area filled with lavish row houses, apartments, and condominiums. The trend as of late is to take old properties and turn them into luxury condominiums. There has also been a movement to update and renovate old condos to give them a modern feel among the historic backdrop of Georgetown. Space is an issue in the neighborhood, mainly because Georgetown has so much to offer in the way of dining, drinking, shopping, and leisure. Most of the luxury condos are located along the M Street and Wisconsin Avenue NW corridors, which are the main commercial strips in the area. In addition to all of the retail offerings, Georgetown also boasts several parks for…

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