I have a settlement scheduled for Thursday afternoon.  The termite inspector found a few dead guys and a little bit of chewed wood, but it was evidence of a prior infestation.  Since there is no record of a prior treatment, we've got to get a bunch of nasty chemicals pumped into the ground  around the house before Thursday.  And I found out this afternoon. So I called my friends at Dixon's Pest Control for help.  And sure enough, they saved the day.  Tomorrow they are treating the place - and it's a federal holiday!.  I'll be able to get the last piece of paper to the lender in time to settle at four o'clock. Like many agents, I sometimes find myself needing last minute termite treatments, sometimes because I just forgot about it.  And Dixon always makes it happen.  Oh, and they do a gr... 11/10/2009

Our Function as Realtors is to Provide Information for Our Clients' AnalysisAnalysis Is the Key to Making Good DecisionsI just read a very useful blog by Bill Marriott, CEO of Marriott Hotels et al about analysis as the key to making good decisions.  He referenced General George Custer, famous for being annihilated in Custer's Last Stand at the Battle of Little Bighorn before the turn of the 19th century. He described Custer as a somewhat impetuous, but brilliant, officer, who became Brigadier General in the United States Army and was an important contributor to the Union victory at the Battle of Gettysburg by the age of 23.As Bill Marriott noted Custer was always anxious to charge forward and get the job done. At the Battle of LIttle Big Horn, Custer should have stopped and assessed th... 11/09/2009

     One of the many wonderful aspects of life in Washington is the ability to rub shoulders with real history.  Occasionally, homes of the founding fathers come on the market and visiting them gives an opportunity to imagine life in another time.     For instance, if you have $19.5 million dollars (or a buyer with that kind of loose change), you can bask in a glorious house built in 1787 by James Stoddert, the 1st US Secretary of Navy and a George Washinton confidante.  Halycon House once was owned and expanded by Mark Twain's nephew.  Located in Georgetown on half an acre overlooking the Potomac River, it has 5 bedrooms, 9 full baths, an outdoor pool, a large artist's studio, and parking for 12 cars.     414 Franklin in Alexandria was built around 1780. Originally used as a tavern whe... 11/08/2009

© 2009 Patricia Kennedy. Unless otherwise noted, the content, both written and in pictures, is the property of Patricia Kennedy . If you would like to use this image, please  email me (housepat@mac.com) with your request. I'll almost certianly say yes, and ask only that you provide a link back to my original content as well as an acknowledgment.  The same thing applies to any other material you see posted here on Active Rain or on any of my other blogs. 11/08/2009

President Obama is expected to sign the revised home buyer credit some time tomorrow.  And, at the risk of looking a gift horse in the mouth, I'm not sure how I really feel about the whole thing. With the increased income caps of $125,000 ($225,000 for married couples), more people in the DC area will be able to take advantage of it.  But think about it a minute.  Is the idea to help first time buyers?  Or is it to help sellers?  And who are the sellers? A lot of them are banks selling foreclosed properties. Um.  Is this one more bank subsidy? The subsidy is providing an incentive for buyers to go into the market.  With more buyers in the market, home prices are increasing in some areas, and here in Washington, we are starting to see multiple offers in the double digits for well-priced ... 11/05/2009

This mural is on the side of my favorite bookstore, Politics and Prose on Connecticut Avenue.  They have a large collection of both fiction and non-fiction, as well as great historical stuff about Washington, DC's rich history.  © 2009 Patricia Kennedy. Unless otherwise noted, the content, both written and in pictures, is the property of Patricia Kennedy . If you would like to use this image, please  email me (housepat@mac.com) with your request. I'll almost certianly say yes, and ask only that you provide a link back to my original content as well as an acknowledgment.  The same thing applies to any other material you see posted here on Active Rain or on any of my other blogs. 11/05/2009

I first freaked out when I found out that Willie the Labradoodle's premium dog food was made by the same company in China whose canned pet food was tainted and killing family pets.  Then A couple of weeks ago, Katerina Gasset wrote a post about Chinese drywall that got me to thinking.  Why do we buy their stuff?  Well, for one thing, it's pretty hard to avoid, whether you're shopping in Target, Whole Foods or Bloomingdales.  So this year, I am looking for shopping venues where I can find Christmas gifts that were made, well, not in China.  I'm starting off at my friend, Annie Groer's, holiday sale.  She is clearing out a bunch of stuff.  And a lot of it is pretty amazing. Need some high quality designer costume jewelry?  This is a great place to start.  I walked out with some Chanel ear... 11/05/2009

The city of Washington DC lost a famous man last month, when Ben Ali, the 82 year old founder of Ben's Chili Bowl at 1231 U Street, NW died on October 7.  Ben's Chili Bowl has been feeding hungry Washingtonians chili, half smokes and fries since 1958.  The sweet potato pie and red velvet cake are not to be missed!   However, Ben's Chili Bowl is more significant than just as a chili joint.  It is a significant part of the history of Washington in the second half of the 20th century.Ben's Chili Bowl is located in an old building with high-arched ceilings, character, and plenty of history. Built in 1910, it first housed a silent movie house called the Minnehaha Theater. Later, Harry Beckley, one of D.C.'s first Black police detectives, converted it into a pool hall. It became Ben's Chili B... 11/04/2009

    I happened to stop by a client’s new house today–a fantastic renovation of a rowhome in Petworth–and whom should I see walking down the street but Mayor Fenty himself! He was checking out the neighborhood, shaking hands, etc.–no doubt checking up on all the recent development in the area! He was very interested in the recent sales in the neighborhood, which obviously has been undergoing a lot of changes lately, so we chatted for a few minutes. Read the rest of the post here. 11/04/2009

Logan Circle is now one of the best areas in Washington, but it wasn't always the case. Logan Circle is a recently restored community, filled with urbanites, restaurants, and the best Whole Foods in the city with a colorful past. Now it is a gracious neighborhood with upscale condos, beautiful Victorian townhomes and newly constructed apartment buildings. Did you know that Logan Circle itself wasn't always known as Logan Circle?  Until 1930  Logan Circle was named Iowa Circle.  Finally, in 1930 Congress passed a Law changing the name of Iowa Circle to Logan Circle in memory of Civil War General and Senator John A. Logan (D-IL). The General had lived (very briefly) at #4 Logan Circle during 1885. A statue was commissioned in his honor in 1891 and was formally dedicated in the center of t... 11/03/2009

Well...in late Spring, I was able to get a little time with a local, busy developer to get advice about his prediction on the real estate market in the dc area. I told him I was very interested in moving full steam ahead on the Staging part of my business, since I did pretty well with it the prior summer. I was really interested in getting in front of builders and developers to let them know of my services, but was concerned with everything I was hearing about the state of the real estate market.  He didn't have much good to say about the market, especially in DC.  He told me that many of the smaller  investors/developers were NOT going to be active because the banks were no longer lending money. He encouraged me to reconsider my strategy and consider decorating office lobbies and offic... 11/01/2009

On my first date with my sweetie, he suggested that we go out to dinner somewhere.  I immediately thought of Yanni's Greek Taverna in Cleveland Park.  It's that kind of a place. OK, Yanni's isn't really a dive.  It's a no-frills Greek restaurant with tasty food, great Greek wine (at least the white wine) and an owner who looks a bit like a Greek Gerard Depardieu. And the food is fun.  They have all the usual appetizers, hummus, tzatziki, taramosalata, grape leaves, or just get the sampler.  The Greek salad is huge, and my favorite, the Taverna salad (chopped lettuce with lots of fresh dill, feta cheese and dressed with tzatziki) is also big enough to share. My favorite entrees are the charbroiled squid or octopus, and you're not into eating sea creatures, they have all of the standards ... 10/31/2009

There will be a neighborhood Halloween party for Crestwood children of all ages this afternoon at "The Point", located at 18th and Shepherd Streets NW.  It starts at 3 and ends at 4:30. There will be treats, and contributions of anything with sugar (well, not coffee) from grown neighbors are welcomed. It could get scary as our little goblins and gouls collect their first candy of the day and check out the woods, that I'm sure will be appropriately decorated for the festivities!  So grab your costume and, if possible, find a child to bring with you.  It should be fun! 10/31/2009

Logan Circle at it's Best 1239 Vermont Ave NW, Unit #503, Washington, DC 20005 View Map Logan Circle at it's best. This is a REAL 1 bedroom; with a huge & updated kitchen; large bedroom; ample closets and your very own Washer & Dryer. Fully remodeled 2 years ago. Nice view, even an extra storage space. A pet-friendly building & you can walk to your choice of Metro stations. Parking for sale in building through another broker for $32,000. All utilities included in condo fee. James T. Downing Team Leader - The Downing Real Estate Group REALTOR, GRI, ABR Licensed in Maryland, Virginia & Washington DC 703.244.3971 Direct Jim@JimDowning.com Email Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage 5028 Wisconsin Ave. NW Suite 100 Washington, DC 20016 202-362-5800 Office Details Asking Price: $324,900 MLS... 10/29/2009

Our office email had an interesting thread today. Blog Buddie Ed Schneider wrote an email note to colleagues about writing an offer on a house in Mount Pleasant in a twelve-way bidding war.  Then my colleagues began to chime in, one after another, telling war stories of being in double-digit multiple contract situations over the past week.  In these situations, here are some of the things that people are doing to get the winning offer: Having the house pre-inspected so they go in without an inspection contingency Crossing out the financing contingency Crossing out the appraisal contingency including a healthy looking financial information sheet Including an obscenely high earnest money check Settling at the sellers' convenience Including an escalator clause agreeing to top competing off... 10/28/2009

Welcome to the best online Real Estate School in the District of Columbia. Our District of Columbia Real Estate Courses are fully accredited and approved. The Rowlett Career School is the leading online Real Estate School in DC. We offer the best prices for DC online real estate courses available. Licensed Instructors are available to assist you with your District of Columbia Real Estate course and  District of Columbia real estate license.  http://www.rowlettcareerschool.com/dc-district-of-columbia.htm The secret to passing the  District of Columbia  real estate license exam is in knowing exactly what is most important to the regulators and knowing the right information to pass the exam. Our first time passing rates meet or exceed any other provider. http://www.rowlettcareerschool.com/... 10/27/2009

© 2009 Patricia Kennedy. Unless otherwise noted, the content, both written and in pictures, is the property of Patricia Kennedy . If you would like to use this image, please  email me (housepat@mac.com) with your request. I'll almost certianly say yes, and ask only that you provide a link back to my original content as well as an acknowledgment.  The same thing applies to any other material you see posted here on Active Rain or on any of my other blogs. 10/25/2009

Vacant Property Tax, ‘Economic Interest Tax' on Co-operatives Focus Now On "Blighted" -- But Wait For Final Release From October 1, 2008 to September 30, 2009, the District of Columbia taxed vacant properties at $10 per $100 of assessed value (rather than the residential tax rate of $.85 per $100 assessed value) , unless property owners applied for one of several exemptions within 30 days of the property becoming vacant.  As of October 1, 2009, DC has changed its focus to ‘blighted' property, not merely vacant property.  However, since DC has not released the relevant amendments and legislative language to the public, owners should continue to treat their ‘vacant' property as requiring a vacancy exemption or risk being re-classed at the higher tax rate.  Co-operatives Sales and Transfer... 10/19/2009

Third Quarter Results Show Prices Stabilizing, Confidence Building  Led by a surge in single-family sales, new contracts for all residential properties jumped a very impressive 38% from last September.  Nine months into 2009, combined sales are 13% ahead of those at this point in 2008 and the gap between the top of the market in 2004 and now has narrowed to 28%. There was a slight (2.4%) increase in the number of properties on the market at the end of this September from the same point last year; but with the increase in sales, the effective inventory of homes and units on the market today is down to 3.7 months (higher for condos and co-ops than for single family homes) as compared to 4.9 months in September of 2008. The average sales price of single family homes, condominiums and coope... 10/19/2009

© 2009 Patricia Kennedy. Unless otherwise noted, the content, both written and in pictures, is the property of Patricia Kennedy . If you would like to use this image, please  email me (housepat@mac.com) with your request. I'll almost certianly say yes, and ask only that you provide a link back to my original content as well as an acknowledgment.  The same thing applies to any other material you see posted here on Active Rain or on any of my other blogs.   10/18/2009