Real Estate

GDoN Revisited by Hipchickindc

By Prince Of Petworth

In real life, hipchickindc is actually the not-so-hip Suzanne Des Marais, an associate broker with Urban Pace. Voted one of the best real estate agents in DC by the Washington City Paper Readers’ Choice Poll in 2009, Suzanne is currently Chair of the DC Public Policy Committee for the Greater Capital Area Association of REALTORS® and is President Elect of the Washington, DC Association of REALTORS®. 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: 38 Rhode Island Ave NE

Original List Price: $450,000.

List Price at Contract: $450,000.

List Date: 04/15/2010

Days on Market: 5

Settled Sales Price: $495,000.

Settlement Date: 05/18/2010

Seller Subsidy: $0.

Bank Owned?: No

Type Of Financing: Conventional

Original GDoN is: here.

Listing is: here.

Despite being located on busy Rhode Island Avenue, this fully renovated Victorian with three levels above grade went under contract in less than a week. Listed about two weeks prior to the end of the Federal Home Buyer Tax Credit contract deadline, it sold for nearly $50,000. above list price. Granted, it is a lot of house for under $500,000., even with an unfinished basement and no off street parking.

Continues after the jump. (more…)

Good Deal or Not? “1978 construction” edition

By Prince Of Petworth

This home is located at 923 T St, NW:


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The flier says:

“C. 1978 construction bright, South facing two unit townehome with expansive front and back yard and two car covered and gated parking. Spacious Three bedroom, two and a half bath owners unit with deck leading to yard and parking. Below a separately metered one bedroom apartment currently vacant. The perfect location 1 block to metro and U street shops and restaurants on quiet tree lined Street”

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

Well, I’ve never seen circa 1978 construction highlighted in a listing before… Do you dig the look? Does $799,000 sound reasonable for this 4 bed/3.5 bath?

Dear PoP – How’s the Trinidad Neighborhood?

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo from PoPville flickr user AWard Tour

“Dear PoP,

I appreciate you last time being able to help me with trying to find out more about the Hill East Area. Unfortunately things haven’t worked out as I planned, but I have found greener pastures in the Florida Avenue/ north of H street/ “Trolleytown” area. Would you be able to ask your readers what people think of that area in terms of safety, what the H street resurgence (street car, etc) will do that that Florida Avenue/ Trinidad area. Is it worth to look in that area for homes, or has this area not progressed as an anticipated? Pretty much what do areas who live in that area or close by think of that area right now. The more feedback the better.”

I said in a recent interview that I thought Trinidad will be a great long term investment (2015/2020). But what advice would folks who live in or nearby give about the neighborhood today?

Good Deal or Not? Weekly Wed. House Porn edition

By Prince Of Petworth

This home is located at 2999 38TH St NW:


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The flier says:

“Constructed in 2002, this elegant four story custom townhome at The Residences of Alban Row features a Entry Foyer boasting 20′ ceilings, sun-filled Living and Dining Rooms, gourmet Kitchen w/ limestone island opening to Family Room overlooking landscaped patio, Master Suite, 3 addit’l BR’s and 2 BA’s, Elevator to all levels and 2 car Garage.”

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

I’m not sure folks will like the decorating choices but the home itself is pretty sweet. It’s yours for $1,745,000. Any fans?

May Home/Condo Sales in PoPville

By Prince Of Petworth

Thanks again to DC realtor Kevin Wood for compiling this list of home/condo sales for zip codes – 20011, 20010, 20009, 20005, 20003, 20002, and 20001. Click below on “May 2010 Sales” for the full list in pdf format.  If I’m missing a zipcode you’d like just let me know.  I forgot to ask for 20008 this month but have requested it is included for June!

May 2010 Sales

Good Deal or Not? “extraneous quotes” edition (Reader Request)

By Prince Of Petworth

This home is located at 74 W St, NW:


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The flier says:

Charming “Federal Style Brick End Unit, in the “Heart of DC” minutes to Downtown & Virginia. Walk to Everything. Very Spacious, w/ 3 Bdrms/2 Full BA, Separate Dining Room, Beautiful Original Hard Wood Floors Throughout, Many upgrades, Kitchen/Baths. Office/LL. Lots of Storage. Laundry Room. Yard Area and Outdoor Porch “The Classic Charm, Location, and Space in an End Unit in “Ledroit Park” Hurry!.

You can find more info here and photos here.

The reader writes:

“A lot of people seem to comment about how “generic” some of the flips are that you feature in the Good Deal or Not posts, so I’m curious what folks have to say about a place like this: lots of character, but needs some updating. They’re missing bathroom and bedroom photos, but I love the old details.”

Do you guys think this 3 bed/3bath is reasonably priced at $445,000?

Dear PoP – How Does this Happen?

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoP,

Can you ask your readers if anyone knows what happened to this clearly once gorgeous old house in Mt. Pleasant? I fantasize about the idea of buying a house like this and renovating it to bring it back to its former glory but with that kind of water damage I am sure it would be beyond me.”

Any ideas of what could have caused this damage? You can see more photos here. This home at 1819 Monroe St, NW is on the market for $599,000 think that sounds reasonable given the complete renovations needed?

Good Deal or Not? “sense of spaciousness & serenity” edition

By Prince Of Petworth

This home is located at 3155 19th St, NW:


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The flier says:

“Big + Beautiful. Grand, light-filled main hse w 1BR+Den LL Unit w CofO. 3 sunny exposures & side bay windows. Corner lot. Landscaped gardens, lawn & patio evoke sense of spaciousness & serenity. Orig woodwork & upgraded interior. Large rooms. This home’s 4 entertaining! Finished attic = Large bonus rm! Just blocks away: MtP Lib, Zoo, Target, Farmer’s Mkt, Great dining.”

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

Ed. Note: I went with some pretty expensive homes this week but as always if you think you’ve spotted some good deals around town send me an email at princeofpetworth(at)gmail(dot)com

Here’s another one that I’ve become smitten with. And it’s not even technically house porn (under $1 million)… What’s your favorite part? It’s yours for $985,000.

GDoN Revisited by Hipchickindc

By Prince Of Petworth

In real life, hipchickindc is actually the not-so-hip Suzanne Des Marais, an associate broker with Urban Pace. Voted one of the best real estate agents in DC by the Washington City Paper Readers’ Choice Poll in 2009, Suzanne is currently Chair of the DC Public Policy Committee for the Greater Capital Area Association of REALTORS® and is President Elect of the Washington, DC Association of REALTORS®. 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: 630 15th St NE

Original List Price: $449,900.

List Price at Contract: $449,900.

List Date: 03/19/2010

Days on Market: 12

Settled Sales Price: $460,000.

Settlement Date: 05/11/2010

Seller Subsidy: $0.

Bank Owned?: No

Type Of Financing: Conventional

Original GDoN is: here.

Listing is: here. To see pics, click on the link for the listing, click on the main pic and follow arrows to scroll through.

Not surprisingly, the original Good Deal or Not (GDoN) post regarding this property brought on a debate over whether this location is in fact Capitol Hill or Not Capitol Hill or Old City or H Street. Doing some poking around online, I found that the Rosedale Citizens’ Alliance Blog has claimed the property as being on the edge of Rosedale boundaries, so I’ll go with that. Given its proximity to the burgeoning H Street corridor, Rosedale has seen a bit of a revival lately. The neighborhood was enthusiastically portrayed in April as part of The Washington Post’s Where We Live series.

The momentum created by the Federal Housing Tax Credit (for which the contract deadline was the 30th of April) was very good to Rosedale, with 36 settled sales since the beginning of 2010, several of which escalated above list price. The lowest sale for a house (not condo) was $68,500., while a property on Tennessee Avenue sold for $533,000. (The Rosedale Citizens’ Alliance Blog lists 15th Street as the far west boundary, so Tennessee Ave may technically be a few feet outside the invisible lines). Current active listings for houses range from $149,000 to $339,900.

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