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Author: Prince Of Petworth
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“Dear PoP,
I noticed that this house on Newton Pl is still on the market.
It was actually a GDoN in its pre-renovated condition and was also a GDoN revisited.
http://www.princeofpetworth.
I think it would be interesting for people to weigh in on it now that it’s renovated and back on the market. I’m actually surprised it hasn’t sold yet.”
This home is located at 529 Newton Place, NW:
The flier says:
“Gorgeous renovation of Columbia Hts end unit brick row house * Gourmet kitchen with granite counters, stainless steel appliances, and ceremic tile floor * Two bedrooms and 1 full baths with new fixtures, vanity and tub surround. Gleaming wood floors * Shows great, a must see!”
More info and photos found here.
Wow, this is kinda cool. So before the reno it sold for $165,000. Now it has been renovated and can be yours for $249,955. Think that is a realistic mark up for the 2 bed/1bath?
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Photo by PoPville flickr user Laura Rush
You can talk about whatever is on your mind – quality of life issues, a beautiful tree you spotted, scuttlebutt, or any random questions/thoughts you may have. I’ll open this thread every Monday and Friday. Anything good happen this week?
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In real life, hipchickindc is licensed as a real estate broker in the District of Columbia and Virginia, and as a real estate salesperson in Maryland. Unless specifically noted, neither she nor the company that she is affiliated with represented any of the parties or were directly involved in the transaction reported below. Unless otherwise noted, the source of information is Metropolitan Regional Information Systems (MRIS), which is the local multiple listing system. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.
Featured Property: 213 Rock Creek Church Rd NW
Original List Price: $599,000.
List Price at Contract: $529,000.
List Date: 9/11/2008
Days on Market: 203
Settled Sales Price: $520,000.
Settlement Date: 06/12/2009
Seller Subsidy: $15,000.
Bank Owned?: No.
Type Of Financing: Conventional
Listing History: Changed hands as an estate property in need of work in April 2004 for $272,500. Next was purchased with all the Bells and Whistles in January 2005 for $549,000. Looks like the current Sellers took a bit of a hit, at a net of $505,000. this time. It was not identified as a short sale (which means they did not need to get the bank involved despite selling for less than they did in ’05).
Original GDoN Post is: Here.
Recent Listing is: Here. To see more pics, click the arrows on the main picture (only available on the second version of the listing). You’ll see two listings on top of each other. The first one expired and the second was the same property entered back into the system.
Over the past several months, we’ve looked at quite a few Petworth properties, which range tremendously in price, condition, and that all important factor, proximity to Metro. This property was featured as a “Good Deal or Not” (GDoN) post after the price had been lowered substantially from its highest pricing point. It was interesting to see what people had to say about a renovated property in this location priced over half a million dollars. Generally, I thought it fared pretty well comment-wise despite a, “I think the house has to be larger and/or closer to the metro to fetch over $500k”, here and there.
It’s great to see houses in all conditions actively selling. Sales like this present the opportunity for someone to move in and not have to spend their time and money renovating. Seeing that someone else paid over $500,000. for a renovated property in the neighborhood can be encouraging to those who are in the process or plan to do a lot of updating. Subsequently, another wave of houses that have been lingering in bad condition are getting lived in again. Good news all around.
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“Dear PoP,
I watch the this show on The Food Network called Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, hosted by Guy Fieri. The places featured are recommended by viewers. I have often wondered, if people around here (DC and surrounding locales) could recommend a restaurant to be featured on the show, what would that restaurant be? I struggle to think of place that is as eclectic, charming and also ahs amazing food as the places on the show. Could you ask your readers what they think? I ask because I would love to go places like those featured on this show.
If I am being vague or did not describe this well, let me know and I will clarify. Here is link to the show:
http://www.foodnetwork.com/diners-drive-ins-and-dives/index.html”
I would vote for the Florida Avenue Grill (photographed above). Can you think of restaurants in the DC area that are “eclectic, charming and also have amazing food”?
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photo by Robert Lz.
As a kid I loved Ocean City, MD. I remember scarfing down buckets of Fisher’s popcorn, Dumsers ice cream, chocolate strawberries from Candy Kitchen (what can I say, I was a hungry kid), then immediately racing off into the waves only to return 5 minutes later with a massive stomachache, and a craving for more popcorn. We’d run around all day and stop by the Gocart track on the way home to race off any excess energy before the long, slow trek home bumper to bumper with the other day-trippers who were too stingy to stay in a beachside hotel.
Yet I can’t stand the place now. Not to offend OC fans, I think the beach is a poor option for DCers to trek to when in need of sun. I went a little while ago to reminisce over my younger days face-first in a bucket of Fishers, and instead got a different taste of Ocean City – that tasted a little like brine. The boardwalk, which when I was a kid seemed like the yellow brick road, is now overrun by obese children. The beach is sardine-like crowded and filled with discarded Big Gulp cups and taffy wrappers, and just when you think you found an OK spot to squeeze into, you realize your neighbors are apparently into blasting Garth Brooks and not having a full set of teeth and screaming things like ‘WADE GIT YOR CIGARUT BUTTS AWF MAH TOWEL OR AH WEAL STICK THIS HERE UMBRELLU STRAIGHT UP UR…’
Also the attendants of the Ocean City rides really need to ease up on the Drakkar Noir.
Maybe there are hidden gems of the city that I haven’t experienced? But for now I’d pick Rehoboth, Assateague, hell even Dewey, over OC. What am I missing out on?
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Remember the historic diner that was relocated to 1050 Bladensburg Rd, NE? Well, sadly they’re having lots of headaches. The owner writes an update:
“Right now, we’re going through the DCRA plan review process and hope to get comments back from the structural and health dept folks, the final two (out of plumbing, fire, electrical, zoning, health, and structural). Once we receive the comments, we’ll modify our plans accordingly, resubmit, and hopefully get building permit approval in a week or so after that.
Once permits are approved, we’ll build out as soon as possible, and hope to be open by September (if all goes well, but that’s a big if).
We heard from Washington Gas today (we submitted an initial inquiry into getting gas service back in April!). Basically, they say that there’s no gas pipe at our location (even though it’s visible and capped off) and want to dig up the street to install a new line from the main.
Here’s the problem: they insist we pay them $5600 to do this, as they claim their projected revenue over the next 2 years from the diner’s operation will not justify them paying for the cost of installation. I’m not sure what calculation was used, but they stated they would send it via e-mail. I would think operating over 100 hours/week (eventually 24/7, if we get open)– more than a lot of other places– and using gas the entire timewould generate enough revenue for them.
This is really shocking and disappointing. If we don’t reach a resolution with them soon, it may come down to us converting to all-electric or not opening at all (we can’t afford to pay rent on the land without being open). Pepco, by the way, has been awesome so far and very responsive, but it would cost us a lot to convert to all electric appliances. Currently, we need gas for: oven, range, warming table, furnace, water heater, and griddle.
We’re just two neighborhood residents trying to do something good. We never imagined it would be so difficult for the little guys.”
Can we do anything to tell Washington Gas they are being unfair? Is Washington Gas being unfair? Should the local Council Member get involved? How can we help resolve this situation?
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Reader pick – Anon@10:20:
“Al Franken’s new DC residence…’Cause I’m good enough, smart enough, and doggonit people like me.’”
PoP pick – from DC Mom:
“Now the Jehovahs Witnesses can talk to someone who will really listen.”
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This one, from Som Records, is pretty sweet.
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Any of them would work actually. Anyone recognize this building?