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This weekly column is written and sponsored by D.C. real estate agent and Edgewood resident Jessica Evans. Email her questions at  [email protected].

2017 has been quite a year in DC real estate world. I’ve had the honor of helping many buyers on their homeownership journey and through the process I’ve had the opportunity to observe both the challenges and triumphs that come with purchasing a home. With that I’d like to share the most common mistakes that I see buyers make and some tips on avoiding them:

1. Not getting fully pre-approved before looking at homes

Putting some numbers into an online calculator is not going to cut it. Figuring out how you are going to pay for a house is equally as important as what house you are going to buy. Would you go shopping for anything else without knowing how much money you have to spend? It’s VERY hard to reduce your budget and price range mid-search and be happy with the new options.

2. Deciding exactly what you want after online research alone.

There are things that you can’t see or feel online. These things may make a difference in the direction of your home search. Your search may confirm that what you think you want, is actually what you want, but I find more often than not that this may change as you explore different options. Stay open minded.

3. Attempting to buy the house that you think that you will need or want in 5 years rather than what makes sense today. (Exception — if you are getting to the age where you think you may be buying your last home, this does not apply!)

DC is expensive, and it’s hard enough to afford a home that meets your needs today, much less your future needs and the needs of your unborn children. As a young-ish adult, a lot can change in a few years. Buying in a good school area before you have children may cost you a lot in the long run if you miss out on a chance to build equity in a faster appreciating area. Having 3 bedrooms when you only need 1 means you’re paying a lot every month for space that you may not really need.

4. Your family, friends, co-workers are great people who mean well, but they are not real estate professionals, and they may not be giving you advice that is actually helpful.

Real estate is a hot topic in D.C. and everyone wants to share their advice and experiences. As a real estate professional, I know that everyone’s search is different with different objectives, priorities and preferences, and my job is to help buyers reach the best possible outcome using my knowledge and experience. Your parents will always be advising that you proceed with caution, because they don’t want you to make a mistake or purchase that you will regret. (more…)

This column is written and sponsored by Alan Lescht and Associates, PC, an employment litigation firm in Washington, DC, that handles cases involving contract disputes, wage and hour issues, discrimination and retaliation, wrongful termination, whistleblower retaliation and security clearances.

Social media makes it easy for people to engage in politics and to voice their opinions about important issues. However, using social media to engage in political discourse may negatively impact your job.

What is the Hatch Act?

The Hatch Act is a federal law that applies to certain federal government employees, as well as some state and local government employees who work with programs that receive federal funding. The purpose of the Act is to prevent political coercion and discrimination and to ensure that government programs are carried out in a fair manner. The District of Columbia has its own Hatch Act that applies to DC government employees. Both the federal and DC laws restrict when and how affected employees can participate in political activity.

How does the Hatch Act affect me?

The U.S. Office of Special Counsel website provides guidance and answers to FAQs about the Hatch Act and social media. In general, employees should not engage in political activity while on duty, in the workplace or in their official capacity. Employees should also not solicit or accept political contributions.

The same restrictions don’t apply to all employees. Restrictions vary based on who the employee works for and his or her job duties and position. For example, if you are a “less restricted” employee under the Hatch Act, you may use your personal cell phone, from your home, during non-work hours, to tweet about the president’s stance on health care. However, the Hatch Act prohibits “further restricted” employees from ever sharing the social media post of a partisan group. (more…)

This weekly column is written and sponsored by D.C. real estate agent and Edgewood resident Jessica Evans. Email her questions at  [email protected].

A good real estate property description should be detailed and compelling, and give the reader a good idea of whether a property is something that they might be interested in. I often find descriptions and listing remarks filled with the same ambiguous phrases and vague euphemisms that lead to more questions than answers. The MLS listing remarks are limited to a short 400 characters, so it’s sometimes necessary to read between the lines and consider both what is included and what isn’t.  Below I’m sharing some insight into what these overused statements really mean.

Cozy = I hope you don’t like a lot of space or have a lot of stuff. Potentially too small for normal sized furniture.

Charming = Sometimes a synonym for old or “vintage.” Most often, not recently updated.

So much potential = Be prepared to spend time and money realizing that potential.

Solid bones = Usually used when there isn’t anything positive to say about the rest of the house.

Perfect for entertaining = Is any house not perfect for entertaining? I haven’t yet figured this one out.

Possible mold or water damage = There’s definitely mold and water damage, enter at your own risk.

Possible off street parking = Depends if you have a smart car or SUV, or, once you remove a concrete wall and regrade the yard you may be able to park there.

Lots of development in the area = The neighborhood might not look like much right now, but just wait! Maybe a good idea to do some research on the area first.

Close to commuter routes = Not walkable, but if you have a car, you can get anywhere, even to work. May also indicate traffic noise or volume. (more…)