Author: PoP Sponsor (a)

This weekly column is written and sponsored by D.C. real estate agent and Edgewood resident Jessica Evans. Email her questions at  [email protected].

In this edition of “4 under $450,000” I’m featuring the best of the best 2 bedroom condos priced under $450,000. There are no astronomical condo fees either, I’ve also limited those to $450/month.

Inventory levels are among the highest we will see all year and this means that we have an awesome range of options that should check all the boxes including parking, a huge 4 bedroom, one under $200k, newly renovated condo conversion, and one of the lowest prices we’ve seen in midtown** DC in a while, so keep reading to learn about these listings while they’re still around!

5551 Illinois Ave NW #102 – $339,500

• Northern Petworth (kinda seems like Brightwood to me too)
• 2 bed/2 bath unit
• brand new appliances, wood floors, private outdoor space
• condo fee of $266/month

1232 16th St NE #1 – $319,000

• Trinidad: close to Ivy City, H Street and Union Market
• 2 bed/2 bath, efficient 725 sq ft
• Everything is new! Recent condo conversion in 4 unit building.

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This column is written and sponsored by Alan Lescht & Associates, PC, an employment litigation firm in Washington, DC, that handles cases involving contract disputes, wage and hour issues, discrimination and retaliation, wrongful termination, whistleblower retaliation and security clearances.

A non-compete agreement is a contract between an employee and an employer that limits the employee’s ability to disclose information and to work in the future. A non-compete usually prohibits an employee from competing with the employer for a certain period of time, and in a certain location, after his employment ends. This means that an employee could not work for a competing business or start his own business to compete with his former employer.

Why does my employer want me to sign a non-compete?

Employers use non-compete agreements to protect their trade secrets and valuable information. For example, a non-compete agreement could prevent an employee from going to work for a competitor and sharing her former employer’s confidential information with her new employer.

Companies also use non-competes to protect investments they make in their employees. Many employers provide or pay for employee training. A non-compete may be intended to prevent an employee from using that training to get a new job with a competitor.

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This weekly column is written and sponsored by D.C. real estate agent and Edgewood resident Jessica Evans. Email her questions at  [email protected].

Renovating a home is not for everyone, it is expensive, time consuming, frustrating, but one of the best adventures of your life. If you’re up for this challenge, the journey can be well worth it.

The key is in finding a home that offers the right scope of project for your budget and time constraints and will be a finished product that meets your needs. Aside from the obvious financial benefits of instant equity, renovating a home is also the best way to get exactly what you want.

Finding the right home for you is the first step and there are a wide range of options. But don’t stress, I have that covered! Below, I’ve identified 4 homes that I think offer great potential and are renovation ready!

1846 Capitol Ave NE – $389,000

10 years from now, it’s going to believe that this price ever existed in this neighborhood. The days of non-condo homes selling under $400,000 this close to downtown are very limited. If guaranteed appreciation and a neighborhood full of fun new bars and restaurants isn’t enough, here are a few more features:

• 2 levels and 1,184 sq ft (per tax record)
• Upstairs: 3 bedrooms/2 bathrooms, but could easily be reconfigured as 2 bedrooms/2 bathrooms
• “Average” condition, may meet conventional financing guidelines (which means you can get a traditional mortgage)
• Recent $10,000 price reduction

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This weekly column is written and sponsored by D.C. real estate agent and Edgewood resident Jessica Evans. Email her questions at  [email protected].

With open floorplans, shiny new appliances, and modern conveniences like central air, it’s no surprise that renovated homes are a hot commodity in the DC real estate market.

The District had the highest number of home flips in the first quarter of 2017, with no signs of slowing down anytime soon. Unfortunately, some of these homes have expensive hidden issues, where developers or contractors (whether intentionally or unintentionally) cut corners or masked over costly problems that buyers may not detect before purchasing.

Below are my top 10 tips for how to determine if a home is a flip or flop:

1. Check for permits — The DCRA Property Inspections Verification System website is your friend.

2. Check for inspections — inspections are part 2 of the permitting process, certifying that the permitted work was done correctly. The DCRA website (above) may not include 3rd party inspections, ask the seller to provide written documentation.

3. Have a home inspection done — use an inspector who is experienced, and familiar with inspecting renovated homes, ask their opinion of the quality of renovation.

4. Check all major systems — a home that is advertised as “fully renovated” should have all a new HVAC system, roof, and the electric panel should be upgraded to modern capacity.

5. Run all of the water in the house — do the shower floors have the correct slope to drain? Are the drains slow or backing up? Is there water coming out of any drain?

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