Real Estate

Judging Restaurants – Mi Vecindad

By Prince Of Petworth

Mi Vecindad is located at 1129 Pennsylvania Ave SE (near Frager’s Hardware, forgot to say happy 90th bday to Frager’s). Anyway, they recently opened up over the summer but I finally got to check them out last week. I had the tamales which were fantastic. Plus the waiter gave me a free shot of tequila at the end of the meal which was a nice touch (I think he was rewarding me for heading out in that torrential downpour last week). Even without that, this place had a nice non pretentious vibe which is not always easy to find in new restaurants. You can see their menu from thrillist here. Any other fans out there?

Good Deal or Not? Weekly Wed. House Porn “double wide townhouse”

By Prince Of Petworth

This house is located at 1510 26th St, NW:


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The flier says:

“Rarely Available double wide townhouse in Georgetown’s sought after East Village. This house has been meticulously maintained and expanded to provide a perfect flow for indoor and outdoor entertaining. The main level has a gourmet kitchen, formal dining room and a double living room opening into an expansive terraced garden. The garden is one of the most beautiful entertaining spaces in the city.”

You can find more info here and photos here.

Wow, that is a sweet garden. What’s your favorite part? It’s yours for $2,150,000.

Good Deal or Not? “A Beast of a House” edition

By Prince Of Petworth

This home is located at 807 10th St, NE:


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The flier says:

“A Beast of a House with the Heart of a Home. Calculate the $ per sq ft on this place, count the southern side windows, add up the bedrooms, and you’ll have numbers you can take to the bank. Rare find: Completely updated with retention of traditional and graceful original layout, gleaming heart-pine flooring and beautiful tin-ceilings. If you need space, parking, bsmnt, under $500k, this is it!”

You can find more info and photos here.

Does $498,750 sound reasonable for this 4 bed/2bath?

Interestingly the Redfin listing for a virtual tour sends you to a different nearby home (on accident, I assume). That home is at 1225 I St, NE and is also going for $498,750. You can see the virtual tour here. Which house do you like better?

Chateaux Animaux becoming Nooshi Asian Restaurant and Sushi Bar on Barracks Row

By Prince Of Petworth

This is pretty big news if you live near Barracks Row. A recent liquor license application states that the building currently housing Chateaux Animaux at 524 8th St, SE will become Nooshi:

“Fusion Asian Restaurant and Sushi Bar. No entertainment provided. Seating and total capacity is 160.”

There is currently a Nooshi Restaurant at 1120 19 th Street, NW. It’s Web site says:

“Nooshi is showcased along with the country cooking of Southeast Asia and decor of a mix of furniture and artifacts from China, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia. Stepping into this epicurean Asian retreat in the downtown district will transport you into the world of Eastern exotica.

The menu with a wide selection of regional Asian dishes as well as mouthwatering sushi is among the finest served in the District of Columbia area. Dishes are inventively light, low in fat, visually arresting and vividly flavored. Each dish is expertly prepared by the talented, skillful and innovative chefs using the freshest and top quality ingredients.”

You can see their menus here.

And apparently there will actually be two restaurants coming to this space. In addition to Nooshi, ANC Norm reports:

“On the first floor will be another Moby Dick’s House of Kabob restaurant, an addition to a chain of 15 restaurants in the Washington area, including places in Georgetown and Dupont Circle.”

Do think these restaurants will be a good addition to Barracks Row or will you miss Chateaux Animaux?

Good Deal or Not? “100% renovated” edition

By Prince Of Petworth

This home is located at 23 Randolph Place, NW:


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The flier says:

“STUNNING RENOVATION w/ offstreet Parking for 2! 100% renovated! Beautiful custom kitchen w/ Marble Ctps, designer cabinets, & millwork. Exposed brick, Oak hdwd flrs throughout, large windows. 13′ Master ceilings w/ exposed brick. Custom Bthrm w/ glass shelves & marble tile. New Roof, New Windows, New HVAC, New Plumbing, New Electric. CITY JUST INSTALLED BRAND NEW BRICK PAVER SIDEWALK & PLANTERS”

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

So what do you think of the renovation itself? Does $474,985 sound reasonable for this 3 bed/1.5 bath house?

Good Deal or Not – “custom designed Boffi kitchen” edition (Realtor Request)

By Prince Of Petworth

This home is located at 1642 21st St, NW:


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The flier says:

“Currently feat. in Home & Design Magazine, this historic Rowhouse matches clean lines and simplicity with modern comfort. Home feat. a custom designed Boffi kitchen w/ high-end appliances, rear patio, parking, 3BR, and 2.5BA in upper unit, & LL efficiency unit. Both units included in sales price. This is a 2-unit condo-Listed as Fee Simple for information purposes only. Short walk to Dupont Metro”

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

Normally I decline realtor requests but I was intrigued by the Home & Design Magazine article then I was blown away by the virtual tour and there you have it. It’s interesting that the home was split into 2 units (you get both). Given that do you think it’ll go for $1,875,000?

GDoN Revisited by Hipchickindc – 1224 Orren St NE

By Prince Of Petworth

Featured Property: 1224 Orren St NE
Original List Price: $299,000.
List Price at Contract: $299,000.
List Date: 07/10/2010
Days on Market: 3
Settled Sales Price: $320,000.
Settlement Date: 09/16/2010
Seller Subsidy: $5000.
Bank Owned?: No Short Sale? No
Type Of Financing: Conventional

Original GDoN is: here.

The Listing can be seen: here. To see pics, after opening the listing link, click on the main pic and scroll through.

At only three days on the market and substantially over list price, clearly somebody saw the value of an entire updated house with a basement and parking. Given that the property sold over list, it is likely that there was more than one interested party.

I was happy to profile this property simply because this is one of those areas that has not been visited much in the course of Good Deal or Not (GDoN). Over the years, I’ve owned a property in Trinidad and represented clients for more than ten four-unit buildings in the neighborhood. Just like many other parts of the city, Trinidad has seen values head up and then back down, but it has generally not returned to early 2000 prices of sub-$100k.

While I haven’t personally lived in Trinidad, I have definitely had the experience of living in a gritty urban neighborhood because I could get the kind of space I wanted for what I could afford at the time. When people say that there are no affordable neighborhoods left in DC, they are often keeping their options somewhat limited.

For those who might be curious about what is currently available for sale in Trinidad, here are residential listings and here are multi-unit buildings.

Good Deal or Not? “office with a Murphy bed” edition

By Prince Of Petworth

This house is located at 1111 V St, NW:


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The flier says:

“Welcome to this spectacular renovated home with grand open spaces. The living room has a beautiful bay window and a gas FP, separate dining area, wonderful gourmet kitchen with SS appl. , granite counter tops and a small breakfast area. There is a master bedroom suite, a 2nd bedroom/office with a Murphy bed and a W/ D. It has been freshly painted inside & out and new carpet just installed.”

You can find more info here and photos here.

I’m an admitted sucker for bay windows but what do you think of the house itself? It was originally going for $639,900 but is now on the market for $599,900. Does that sound reasonable for this 2 bed/2 bath?

Good Deal or Not? Weekly Wed. House Porn edition

By Prince Of Petworth

This condo is located at 3303 Water St, NW:


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The flier says:

“Featured in Washington’s “SPACES” magazine. Outstanding high floor condominium, endless walls of windows provide streaming light & dramatic sweeping views of Potomac River & skyline. Incredible kitchen with island & stainless steel counters & appliances. Generously proportioned rooms & custom features offer serenity to the owner. 2-car parking, pool, 3 roof decks. Not to be missed.”

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

How does this one rank for condo porn? This 3 bed/3.5 bath condo is yours for $4,750,000 (monthly condo fee $3,824).

Good Deal or Not? “new copper water line out to meter” (Reader Request)

By Prince Of Petworth

This home is located at 748 Princeton Place, NW:


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The flier says:

“Total Renovation, 2 blocks from metro. New roof, new plumbing, electrical, drywall. .. attached garage, huge deck, gourmet kitchen, gas fireplace, tray ceilings, master bedroom w20 ft ceiling, 6″ bamboo flooring, new copper water line out to meter, 3 large bedrooms upstairs, one block from new CVS and restaurants. .. a must see.”

You can find more info here and photos here.

The reader writes, “I’m curious to hear what your readers think about this one. Yet another case of “flip yellow”!”

What do you guys think of the reno itself? Does $598,000 sound reasonable for this 3 bed/3.5 bath?

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