Real Estate

Good Deal or Not? “best block in LeDroit” edition (reader request)

By Prince Of Petworth

This home is located at 406 U St, NW:


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The flier says:

“The best block in LeDroit–only intact orginial McGill block. This semi detached house has the orginial pattered slate roof, very large lot and the price includes a second lot 3090//0037. PRIOR TO SETTLEMENT OWNER WILL INSTALL NEW KITCHEN–PURCHASER TO CHOOSE GRANITE COLOR, CABINETS. & APPLIANCES. ALLOWANCE. $15,000. Close to Metro, New Restaurants, New Park at 3rd and Elm.”

You can find more info here and photos here.

I gotta agree that this block is awesome. I think I’ve featured half a dozen as house of the day in the past. This 3 bed/1.5 bath is going for $699,000.

Good Deal or Not? “A work of architectural genius” edition (reader request)

By Prince Of Petworth

This home is located at 990 Florida Ave, NW:


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The flier says:

“TAX SF-INCORRECT. A work of architectural genius exemplifying green urban living & meticulous design. This 4-level residence w/ dramatic vistas and an abundance of natural light features an open state-of-the-art kitchen w/ concrete countertops, sculptural steel stair, glass doors & walls, floating balconies, purposeful well-proportioned rooms, in-floor radiant heat, solar electricity & hot water.”

You can find more info here and photos here.

I’ve featured this home numerous times – always fun to see them for sale. Thanks to a reader for the heads up. What do you think of the inside? This 4 bed/2 bath is going for $1,195,000.

Good Deal or Not? “four finished levels of living” edition (reader request)

By Prince Of Petworth

This home is located at 816 Taylor St, NW:


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The flier says:

“SIMPLY STUNNING!! A MUST SEE! COMPLETELY RESTORED and CUSTOMIZED home with four finished levels of living. * * OVER 4500 SQUARE FEET * * Beautiful BRICK/GRANITE/MARBLE/WIDE PLANK HARDWOODS surround you at every turn!! OPEN LIGHT BRIGHT CONTEMPORARY FEEL!! HUGE PRIVATE PARKING AREA. .. completely fenced yard. .large front/side porch and more!”

You can find more info here and a video tour here (careful if you’re at work, it plays music.)

A lot of folks have requested this one. It was actually featured as a GDoN back in Oct. ’09. At the time it was going for $875,000 which prompted a, uh, spirited debate.

Today this 5 bed/5.5 bath is going for $847,770.

GDoN Revisited by Hipchickindc – 1824 11th St NW

By Prince Of Petworth

Hipchickindc is a licensed real estate broker and a professional artist. Her official real estate bio is here and her art website is here. 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: 1824 11th St NW
Legal Subdivision: Old City #2
Advertised Subdivision per Listing: U St/Logan
Original List Price: $799,900.
List Price at Contract: $799,900.
List Date: 06/16/2011
Days on Market: 12

Settled Sales Price: $800,000.

Settlement Date: 08/10/2011
Seller Subsidy: $0.
Bank Owned?: No Short Sale? No
Type Of Financing: Conventional

Original Good Deal or Not post is: here

The listing can be seen: here. Pics can be seen by clicking through the arrows on the main pic after opening the listing link.

No doubt that DC is a city full of people constantly coming and going. I don’t know what the motivation was for the recent sellers of this home, but they had purchased it only back in February of 2009 for exactly what they listed it for this year. It appears they made some improvements, which you can see from the 2009 pics.

The upgrade that stands out to me is the change from the plain ole stainless steel stove to the Viking range. In my experience, appraisers like to ignore the differential of a less expensive stove vs. a several thousand dollar stove. For buyers who cook (I call them my kitchen buyers), that stove could sell them the house.

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Dear PoP – Is Wagamama Coming to Penn Quarter?

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoP,

Walking home from Hill Country yesterday I noticed that the proposed Wagamama spot has a new sign — Wagamama 2012. Do you or any of your readers know if this is for real? The last I heard was that they’d be opening in 2011, but that news barely had any buzz. I love Wagamama but I’m tired of these fakeouts!”

Back in Sept. ’10 we spoke about some of the biggest retail/restaurant teases we’ve experienced. Wagamama was high on the list. There is a whole Facebook page devoted to bringing them to DC. The Internationalist blog says:

“The Internationalist received confirmation today from Wagamama’s Nancy Barrett (U.S. Marketing Director) that the Penn Quarter location WILL open in 2012.”

Of course if you look at the storefront of the old Olson’s bookstore at 418 7th St, NW you can still see a desperate plea from a fan written under the coming soon sign (which used to say 2010):

“When, oh When?”

Good Deal or Not? “extra large 1 BR (formely 2 BD)” edition

By Prince Of Petworth

This condo is located at 1657 31st St, NW:


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The flier says:

“elegant floor plan, extra large 1 BR (formely 2 BD) on the sunny front side of the building. Located across the street from historic Tudor Place and 1/2 block from Montrose Park and Dumbarton Oaks. sep. dining room w/ gas fireplace. light filed living room and solarium. Storage. Beautiful view on rear gardens.”

You can find more info here and a virtual tour here.

Normally we look at multimillion dollar homes in Georgetown but it was pretty cool to get a (virtual) look inside this great old building. What’d you think of the tour?

This 1 bed (formerly 2 bed) is going for $575,000 ($1,022.80 monthly condo fee.)

(Was it a) Good Deal or Not? “w/ the utmost attention to quality & design” edition

By Prince Of Petworth

This home is located at 1925 12th St, NW:


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The flier says:

“This beautiful & spacious hm, complete reno in 2002 w/ the utmost attention to quality & design. 2BR +(third bedroom or den), two & a half bath w/ a spectacular granite & stainless kitchen, family room, luxury baths and beautiful restored hardwood floors. Private terrace & pkg”

You can find more info here and a virtual tour here.

This 3 bed/2.5 bath went under contract in 11 days (asking price was $899,000.) Are you surprised it went under contract so quickly?

Good Deal or Not? “ENTERTAINER’S DELIGHT!” edition (owner request)

By Prince Of Petworth

This home is located at 626 Ingraham St, NW:


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The flier says:

“ENTERTAINER’S DELIGHT! Spacious, updated end unit home in an ideal Petworth location. Sits on a huge, corner lot perfect for parties & entertaining. Feat incl gleaming hdwds thruout, updated kit w/ stainless steel appliances, PR on 1st fl, 3br & 2 full bas on 2nd fl. Master suite w/ sitting room & plenty of closets. Fully finished basement perfect as inlaw suite or rec rm w/ full ba. Garage pkg”

You can find more info here and virtual tour here.

$464,900 sound right for this 4 bed/3.5 bath?

GDoN Revisited by Hipchickindc – 1225 10th St NW

By Prince Of Petworth

Hipchickindc is a licensed real estate broker and a professional artist. Her official real estate bio is here and her art website is here. 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: 1225 10th St NW

Legal Subdivision: Old City #2
Advertised Subdivision per Listing: Old City #2
Original List Price: $850,000.
List Price at Contract: $850,000.
List Date: 05/16/2011
Days on Market: 12

Settled Sales Price: $815,000.

Settlement Date: 07/28/2011
Seller Subsidy: $0.
Bank Owned?: No Short Sale? No
Type Of Financing: Conventional

Original Good Deal or Not post is: here

The listing can be seen: here. Pics can be seen by clicking through the arrows on the main pic after opening the listing link.

In downtown DC, even within a very defined neighborhood boundary, the wide range of styles, conditions, sizes of homes and corresponding lots provides challenges for pricing and appraisal. In this case, we have a very unique property (a carriage house), on a large lot that had once been three lots, with a combination of residential and commercial zoning, located on a historic cool funky alley in a historic district, all in play. Some of the comments in the original Good Deal or Not (GDoN) post (see link above) provide some additional perspective.

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Good Deal or Not? “EXQUISITELY RESTORED ITALIANATE VILLA” edition

By Prince Of Petworth

This home is located at 715 E. Capitol St, SE:


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The flier says:

“EXQUISITELY RESTORED ITALIANATE VILLA combines elegance & charm on Cap Hill’s most prestigious boulevard! Designed to entertain greaciously! Live comfortably! & Enjoy! Gorgeous 11′ ceilings; ornate medallions & mouldings; 9′ handrubbed doors; French country gourmet kitchen w custom designed cabinetry; expansive proportions throughout; one-of-a-kind; beautiful pool & patio”

You can find more info here and a virtual tour here.

Sorry for the back to back house porn posts but I couldn’t resist. This 4 bed/3.5 bath is yours for $2,100,000.

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