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?


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?


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.


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?


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).


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?


This house is located at 505 Allison St, NW:


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The flier says:

“Gorgeous property, Open floor plan with lots of natural light; newly renovated; updated kitchen with modern cabinets, top of the line appliances; all new bathrooms; gorgeous master with bath and walk in closet; hardwood floors throughout; spacious basement with separate entrance; large den; breakfast area; large main level sitting room; beautiful deck with barbecue/ car park space; Petworth Metro”

You can find more info here and photos here.

What do you guys think of the renovation? The reader writes that this property had been vacant for 2 years. Do you think $489,000 sounds reasonable for this 4 bed/3.5 bath?


Voted one of the best real estate agents in DC by the Washington City Paper Readers’ Choice Poll in 2009, hipchickindc aka the not-so-hip Suzanne Des Marais is an Associate Broker with Urban Pace. She lives (and sells a lot of houses) in Bloomingdale, but works all over DC, with everyone from first time buyers to highly regarded developers. 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: 70 Rhode Island Ave NW #401
Original List Price: $324,900.
List Price at Contract: $299,000.
List Date: 03/18/2010
Days on Market: 96

Settled Sales Price: $265,000.

Settled Price Per Square Foot: $345 No Parking Included
Settlement Date: 09/03/2010
Seller Subsidy: $0.
Bank Owned?: No Short Sale? No
Type Of Financing: Conventional through NACA

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.

Prior to 2003, there was a grand total of one building of condominium ownership in all of Bloomingdale and LeDroit Park, at 5 Rhode Island Ave NW. This Good Deal or Not (GDoN) condo is located at 70 Rhode Island Avenue NW, and was one of three buildings developed as condos to come to fruition that year. All three had been rental apartments up to that point. Originally marketed as “The Ember”, residents swiftly revised this ominous moniker to “The Providence”. (The building at the corner of T St NW and 1st NW, where Rustik is coming in, was known as “The Green Ember” and was condo’ed during the same era.) The entire building had been gutted and renovated in 2002-2003. Each unit includes a gas fireplace, and even the small units typically have an open feel to them.

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This house is located at 8 Snows Ct, NW:


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The flier says:

“FABULOUS and CHARMING home tucked away on quiet cul de sac in Foggy Bottom. Stylishly updated w/ newer appliances & utilities, home is perfect for individual seeking convenience of location & an immediately available turn-key home. Furniture conveys w/ right offer. Confidently selling ‘as-is’ w/ Home Warranty. MUST SEE – this is a rare gem of a find.”

You can find more info here and photos here.

This is a pretty wild 1 bed/1 bath house. I always thought 2 bedroom were the smallest houses out there. Think it’ll go for $419,000?


This house is located at 1721 Swann St, NW:


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The flier says:

“Gorgeous 3BR/3.5BA w/ LL studio on beautiful and sought after Swann Street. Features include, gourmet kitchen with limestone floors, massive dining room, huge living room with tons of light, European inspired MBA with Jacuzzi tub, extraordinary floor-to-ceiling windows, multiple skylights, fire place, hwd floors, Bosch W/ D, covered porch & a terrace, and garage parking. Location=10!”

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

The reader writes:

“I walk by it every day, and it’s my favorite house on the best block of Swann St NW b/w New Hampshire and 18th. They have the most beautiful garden and landscaping, and it looks pretty good from the virtual tour too. Hopefully the new owners will keep the great plants!”

Wow, good choice! How do you guys think this one ranks among other house porn? This 3 bed/3.5 bath is yours for $1,499,999.


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