Real Estate

Love Live DC: Our Favorite Condo Rooftop Decks

By 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].

It’s no secret that we love rooftop decks, and while DC may not be known for its soaring skyscraper views, it does have a few hidden oases high above that offer unique vantage points of our beautiful city. Here are some of our favorites:

Harbour Square: 560 N Street SW, SW/Waterfront

Tucked along the Potomac in SW, you’ll be glad you made the trip when you see the panoramic views of downtown. The water and the monuments are the perfect backdrop for an evening of relaxation, while the serene surroundings make it feel like a true escape from the city.

Available listings in Harbour Square

Potomac Plaza: 2475 Virginia Ave NW, Foggy Bottom

Located in the heart of Foggy Bottom, this coop has a rooftop terrace that overlooks the Potomac and Arlington. Quiet and centrally located, it’s the best of both worlds! What could be better than dinner in the city and a laid back evening above the water?

Available Listings at Potomac Plaza

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Love Live DC: Find the Perfect Rental: 5 Insider Tips

By 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].

It’s officially summer in D.C. and as the temperature heats up, so does the rental market. It’s peak moving season when low inventory, rising rents and increased demand can make finding a rental this summer more challenging than ever. Here are some insider tips to consider as you search for your next home:

  1. Start early — 60 to 90 days before your move date is best. I totally understand, summer is SO busy, but the longer you wait the fewer options you will have, and you will be competing with other prospects who are also feeling a time crunch. Many larger apartment buildings can predict their vacancy well in advance.
  2. Look offline — many apartment buildings don’t advertise online, which may mean lower prices or lower demand. When you walk around your target neighborhood, look around for management company phone numbers on signs outside of apartment buildings. In my experiences, many of these buildings still don’t advertise online and can offer below market prices or have greater availability than the apartments that are saturating the online search sites.
  3. Ask around — share with friends and co-workers that you are looking to move, they may know of options that are not yet advertised. Here in D.C. we all understand the struggle of finding a good rental, (particularly in the summer) but everyone knows someone who is moving.
  4. Longer lease = lower price — A landlord may be willing to accept a reduced rate for an 18-24 month lease since they know there won’t be vacancy early (which can cost them rental income). Be sure to fully understand the terms of the lease and options for vacating early, in case your plans change.
  5. Go beyond the application — A cover letter, letter of recommendation, income and credit score documents can improve your odds of application acceptance in competitive situations. Many landlords and management companies will perform background checks but the information they obtain may be limited. The better you can convey your “tenant of the year” status to the landlord, the more likely they are to accept your application, particularly when there are multiple applicants.

Sold in Seven Days – 3815 Veazey Street, NW

By Prince Of Petworth

Good Deal or Not Revisited (GDoN-R) is a weekly post that reviews the settled sales data of a recent individual real estate transaction in the District of Columbia. Each post is intended as a case study and a snapshot of the real estate market at a particular moment in time. GDoN-R generally posts on Friday in the late morning.

GDoN-R has been written exclusively for PoPville since 2009 by Suzanne Des Marais. Suzanne is a practicing Realtor with the Bediz Group, LLC at Keller Williams Capital Properties . 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 and/or Smartcharts by Showingtime. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

Featured Property: 3815 Veazey St NW
Legal Subdivision: North Cleveland Park
Advertised Subdivision per Listing: North Cleveland Park
Bedrooms: 4 Baths: 3 Parking: Detached Garage Ownership: Fee Simple
Original List Price: $989,000. List Price at Contract: $989,000.
List Date: 5/11/2017 Days on Market: 7
Settled Sales Price: $989,000.
Seller Subsidy: $0.
Settlement Date: 6/09/2017
Transaction type: Standard

Original GDoN post can be seen: here.

The original listing can be seen here: here.

From the comments on the original GDoN post: “That is priced absurdly low for the area.”

Last sold in 1999 for $386,500. with an $11,595. subsidy from the Seller, this semi-detached single family home in West of the Park Upper NW DC ended up being a nice deal at $989,000. for the current Buyer in 2017. The median net price for settled semi-detached houses in North Cleveland Park in 2017 so far is $1,100,250. (more…)

“April 1996: Sold for $35,500 – May 2017 Sold for $1,094,000”

By Prince Of Petworth

Good Deal or Not Revisited (GDoN-R) is a weekly post that reviews the settled sales data of a recent individual real estate transaction in the District of Columbia. Each post is intended as a case study and a snapshot of the real estate market at a particular moment in time. GDoN-R generally posts on Friday in the late morning.

GDoN-R has been written exclusively for PoPville since 2009 by Suzanne Des Marais. Suzanne is a practicing Realtor with the Bediz Group, LLC at Keller Williams Capital Properties . 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 and/or Smartcharts by Showingtime. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

Featured Property: 1651 New Jersey Ave NW
Legal Subdivision: Old City #2
Advertised Subdivision per Listing: Old City #2
Bedrooms: 2 Baths: 2.5 Parking: Parking space conveys, surface Ownership: Fee Simple
Original List Price: $1,094,000. List Price at Contract: $1,094,000.
List Date: 5/1/2017 Days on Market: 7
Settled Sales Price: $1,094,000.
Seller Subsidy: $2000.
Settlement Date: 6/07/2017
Transaction type: Standard

Original GDoN post can be seen: here.

The original listing can be seen here: here.

Located in the downtown NW neighborhood of Shaw, surrounded by LeDroit Park, Bloomingdale, Truxton Circle, and Logan Circle, New Jersey Ave NW is a relatively busy street. The front yards on this part of New Jersey Ave NW are deep, however, so the houses are considerably set back from traffic. (more…)

“For folks who still want to live in DC, desire some yard space, but don’t care to share walls, a number of different neighborhoods offer a range of prices for detached homes.”

By Prince Of Petworth

Good Deal or Not Revisited (GDoN-R) is a weekly post that reviews the settled sales data of a recent individual real estate transaction in the District of Columbia. Each post is intended as a case study and a snapshot of the real estate market at a particular moment in time. GDoN-R generally posts on Friday in the late morning.

GDoN-R has been written exclusively for PoPville since 2009 by Suzanne Des Marais. Suzanne is a practicing Realtor with the Bediz Group, LLC at Keller Williams Capital Properties . 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 and/or Smartcharts by Showingtime. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

Featured Property: 720 Fern St NW
Legal Subdivision: Brightwood
Advertised Subdivision per Listing: Brightwood
Bedrooms: 3 Baths: 2 Parking: Street Ownership: Fee Simple
Original List Price: $669,000. List Price at Contract: $669,000.
List Date: 4/20/2017 Days on Market: 6
Settled Sales Price: $737,000.
Seller Subsidy: $0.
Settlement Date: 5/26/2017
Transaction type: Standard
Original GDoN post can be seen: here.
The original listing can be seen here: here.

Brightwood, or Takoma DC, is up north and not far from the planned development at the former Walter Reed Army Medical Center site. This particular home is on the east side of the neighborhood, positioned between Georgia Ave NW and Blair Rd NW. It’s also close to the Maryland line and downtown Takoma Park. Red line Metro at Takoma Park is a 9 to 11ish minute walk.

For folks who still want to live in DC, desire some yard space, but don’t care to share walls, a number of different neighborhoods offer a range of prices for detached homes.

Here are the median prices and links to current active listings for detached fee simple houses throughout the city: (more…)

LeDroit Park Red Hot Real Estate – Sold in 2 days. No parking. For more than 10% above the list price.

By Prince Of Petworth

GDoN-R has been written exclusively for PoPville since 2009 by Suzanne Des Marais. Suzanne is a practicing Realtor with the Bediz Group, LLC at Keller Williams Capital Properties . 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 and/or Smartcharts by Showingtime. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

Featured Property: 400 U Street, NW
Legal Subdivision: LeDroit Park
Advertised Subdivision per Listing: LeDroit Park
Bedrooms: 5 Baths: 4 Parking: Street Ownership: Fee Simple
Original List Price: $1,290,000. List Price at Contract: $1,290,000.
List Date: 4/26/2017 Days on Market: 2
Settled Sales Price: $1,425,000.
Seller Subsidy: $0.
Settlement Date: 5/23/2017
Transaction type: Standard

Original GDoN post can be seen: here.

The original listing can be seen here: here.

Sold in 2 days. No parking. For more than 10% above the list price.

West of Shaw and East of Bloomingdale, LeDroit Park is an enclave of historic homes tucked above Rhode Island Ave NW. The area has recently enjoyed a surge in seven figure sales, as renovations in the area push to hit new standards of design and finish.

Very recently, Good Deal or Not Revisited (GDoN-R) posted about this nearby sale on Elm Street, which settled for $1,510,000. That home also lacked off street parking. (more…)

Sold in 18 Days – 3155 Mount Pleasant St, NW #202

By Prince Of Petworth

Good Deal or Not Revisited (GDoN-R) is a weekly post that reviews the settled sales data of a recent individual real estate transaction in the District of Columbia. Each post is intended as a case study and a snapshot of the real estate market at a particular moment in time. GDoN-R generally posts on Friday in the late morning.

GDoN-R has been written exclusively for PoPville since 2009 by Suzanne Des Marais. Suzanne is a practicing Realtor with the Bediz Group, LLC at Keller Williams Capital Properties . 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 and/or Smartcharts by Showingtime. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

Featured Property: 3155 Mount Pleasant St NW #202

Legal Subdivision: Mount Pleasant
Advertised Subdivision per Listing: Mount Pleasant
Bedrooms: 1 Baths: 1 Parking: Street Ownership: Condo
Monthly condo fee: 291.91 Square Footage per listing: 750
Original List Price: $424,555. List Price at Contract: $424,555.
List Date: 3/2/2017 Days on Market: 18
Settled Sales Price: $415,000.
Seller Subsidy: $0.
Settled Price per Square Foot: $553.
Settlement Date: 5/12/2017
Transaction type: Standard

Original GDoN post can be seen: here.

The original listing can be seen here: here.

Tree-lined Mount Pleasant is a neighborhood in NW DC that is bounded by Rock Creek Park, Adams Morgan, and Columbia Heights. The neighborhood is notable for large scale rowhomes and detached houses, however, the condo market in the area is extremely active. (more…)

“The fifty-six unit Dresden, which cost $250,000 to build in 1909, was sold by Harry Wardman for $500,000. in 1910.”

By Prince Of Petworth

dresden

Good Deal or Not Revisited (GDoN-R) is a weekly post that reviews the settled sales data of a recent individual real estate transaction in the District of Columbia. Each post is intended as a case study and a snapshot of the real estate market at a particular moment in time. GDoN-R generally posts on Friday in the late morning.

GDoN-R has been written exclusively for PoPville since 2009 by Suzanne Des Marais. Suzanne is a practicing Realtor with the Bediz Group, LLC at Keller Williams Capital Properties . 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 and/or Smartcharts by Showingtime. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

Featured Property: 2126 Connecticut Ave NW #42
Legal Subdivision: Kalorama
Advertised Subdivision per Listing: Kalorama
Bedrooms: 2 Baths: 2.5 Parking: Street & Off Site Ownership: Condo
Original List Price: $1,595,000. List Price at Contract: $1,500,000.
List Date: 9/06/2016 Days on Market: 204
Settled Sales Price: $1,375,000.
Seller Subsidy: $0.
Settlement Date: 4/28/2017
Transaction type: Standard

Original GDoN post can be seen: here.

The original listing can be seen here: here.

GDONr inside

Located in the recently much mentioned Kalorama neighborhood, the Dresden is a Harry Wardman-built “Best Addresses” building. “Best Addresses” is the coffee table book owned by every downtown DC real estate office and was written by historian James M. Goode detailing histories of 162 Washingtonian apartment, co-op, and condo buildings. (more…)

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