Comments on: Good Deal or Not? “Architectural distinctions” edition (reader request)

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 24 May 2012 20:48:53 +0000

I get what you mean about being ethical. The difference between a good realtor and a bad one (one example) is that a good realtor would tell you straight out that this is not a legal rental. They might also tell you what other “rentals” are going for in the area, if prompted, since people rent out illegal basement apartments and the rate is set by the market, not by if the rental is legal or not. Just to give you an idea. There are people willing to risk renting out an illegal apartment.

By: scubapuppy

scubapuppy — Thu, 24 May 2012 20:34:28 +0000

I know that there are many illegal rentals in DC and that people are still willing to rent them. However that doesn’t excuse the situation.

By: scubapuppy

scubapuppy — Thu, 24 May 2012 20:30:57 +0000

Yeah, the “loft” is a converted attic. I have no idea why they decided to put the laundry up there, but thats what they did.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 24 May 2012 20:27:37 +0000

I’m just saying people are bidding up fixer-uppers so I wouldn’t be surprised if the seller bascially gets what he or she is asking for.

Now even though the craftman is nice and the fact that it has a suburban size yard it still needed a lot of work inside. The basement was not finished and it smelled really bad. All the windows needed to be replace and the add-on in the kitchen barely has any support. So in my mind it would be crazy to put down at least 520k for a house that needs work still.

The other house, above grade is only 1020 sq ft and very tight. Their was a house across the street that was fixed up that sold for 370k in the winter.

Hence lots of crazies out their throwing numbers around IMO.

By: textdoc

textdoc — Thu, 24 May 2012 20:22:52 +0000

The house in today’s GDoN is in Columbia Heights.

The house in the first MLS link is in Petworth and is a good bit further north.

I don’t have a good sense of where the house in the second MLS link is.

By: textdoc

textdoc — Thu, 24 May 2012 20:20:38 +0000

I wonder if they’re counting both the attic and the basement (even though only above-grade square footage is supposed to be counted).

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 24 May 2012 19:02:38 +0000

What’s the difference between original price and list price?

By: tinywings

tinywings — Thu, 24 May 2012 18:56:22 +0000

I don’t get it; those are listed for much less than than this or most things listed on this site. The first one is huge too, and looks especially nice inside.

By: PetworthRes

PetworthRes — Thu, 24 May 2012 18:54:36 +0000

Um, I think there’s no way this house is 3,500 sq ft. Our 3-level rowhouse is 1750 sq feet and is probably a bit above average for Petworth. I don’t believe this house is double the size, even if there’s a finished loft (can you stand up in it?)

By: tidbits

tidbits — Thu, 24 May 2012 18:52:25 +0000

They did quite the quick turnaround for this property.