Posts Tagged ‘Capital Hill’

Considerations for Buying a New Home

Thursday, January 26th, 2012

Thinking about buying a new home can be exciting, exhilarating and bit scary all at the same time. The investment in a home is a large one — perhaps even the largest single purchase expenditure of your entire life! But rather than fretting about that fact, think instead about the possibilities that lie ahead. Whether you are purchasing your first home or are a seasoned real estate wheeler-and-dealer, let the excitement win you over and have fun thinking about and planning your new home.

Evaluating your options means more than simply picking out the best white house in the neighborhood and snatching it up — unless that particular white house is exactly what you’ve always dreamed of — then buy it! Plan for the future when buying your home in the present; that sounds like something I just made up, but in reality — it is true. That doesn’t mean you should buy “more house” than you can afford, rather it means think about how long you plan to be in the home, the size requirements you need and how your life may change while in the home.

For example, if you think your living arrangements may change (marriage, divorce, family moving in, etc.) then work that factor into your home purchase. Instead of buying a home that is two bedrooms and one bath, perhaps you should go for an extra of each to accommodate the upcoming changes.

Always consider more than the immediate circumstances when making the all-important decision of buying a home. You may find a “good deal” on a home in a less desirable neighborhood with a less than average school district. While you don’t mind the neighborhood and you don’t have any school-aged children, what will you face when trying to sell the home in the future? Just because it is a “good deal” doesn’t mean you have to have it. Again, this is not to say you should walk away immediately, but if you think you plan to sell the home within three to five years, then you should at least consider the resale value before buying it.

If you’d like to discuss your options further, or just bounce a few ideas off of me, give me a call. I’m happy to talk it through and show you properties throughout the area.

~ Michelle

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The Story Behind Capitol Hill

Tuesday, December 28th, 2010

Hi everyone, I hope you have enjoyed the holiday season so far and wish you nothing but the best in the upcoming new year!

I’ve been thinking a lot about the different areas of Washington, DC as friends and family have visited and wanted “the grand tour.” What does that actually mean? The museums? The restaurants? The shopping? Walking down the street with hopes of seeing political celebrities? I decided since I’m a Realtor specializing in certain areas of the city, I’d give a tour of different sorts.

Everyone thinks of “Capitol Hill” as a place where politicians gather and “do their work” and few even realize it’s actually a neighborhood as well. So, here’s a “grand tour” of the Capitol Hill neighborhood.

Aside from being a nickname for the U.S. Congress, Capitol Hill is actually the largest historic residential neighborhood in Washington, D.C. home to approximately 35,000 people in about two square miles — pretty densely populated.  Pierre L’Enfant, a French-born American civil engineer and architect, chose the location for the new “Federal City” in 1791 and chose to locate the “Congress House” at the crest of the hill.

To the east of Capitol Hill is the Anacostia River and to the north is the H Street corridor, while the south is bordered by the Washington Navy Yard and the National Mall is found to the west along with the city’s central business district.

The many landmarks of Capitol Hill include more than just the typical buildings – the U.S. Capitol, the Senate and House office buildings, the Supreme Court building, the Library of Congress – but many other areas that should be experienced as well. The Marine Barracks, the Washington Navy Yard and the Congressional Cemetery are not to be forgotten.

All the buildings and landmarks aside, the Capitol Hill neighborhood is largely a residential neighborhood featuring rowhouses built featuring different styles and periods. Walking down a single street you will see 19th Century manor homes, small frame dwellings, federal townhouses, Italiante bracketed houses and brick rowhouses of the 19th Century – many of which feature Richardsonian Romanesque and Queen Anne motifs.

Restaurants, bars and shops are found on Pennsylvania Avenue, a lively commercial street. The Eastern Market opened in 1873 as a public market on 7th Street SE, where vendors still sell fresh meat and produce from indoor stalls and farmers sell produce outside. Recently reopened after a major fire in 2007, the Eastern Market is alive with activity and fresh food once again.

This is a just a brief overview of what the Capitol Hill neighborhood has to offer, and I hop you’ll consider calling it home in the near future. This lively section of Washington DC has something to offer everyone, from young professionals to growing families, let me help you call it home.

~ Michelle

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If your selling Real Estate Held By an Estate

Wednesday, September 9th, 2009

If you are interested in selling any real property held by an estate, I would like the opportunity to do a market analysis of the property, discuss the possibility of listing the property for you and bringing its sale to a successful completion.

I have been involved in the sale of several estate properties.  My services extend far beyond those of an “average” realtor.  I would be happy to provide references.

Visit my website where you can view virtual tours and pictures of homes I currently have listed along with the ability to search the MLS listings of homes currently on the market in the Washington metropolitan area.

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Consider Capital Hill if you’re Dog Lover

Wednesday, September 9th, 2009

If you’re a dog lover and you are new to the Washington DC area or thinking about moving here you might want to consider the Capital Hill area. Capitol Hill, one of the oldest residential communities in Washington DC takes its name from the hill which rises in the center of Washington and extends eastward. The hill area is made up of more than 150 square miles and diverse neighborhoods. The “Hill” is one of the dog friendliest areas in all of Washington. The neighborhoods are full of children and friendly dogs and the Hill has perhaps the most unique dog park anywhere in the country “Congressional Cemetery” http://www.congressionalcemetery.org/. That’s right a cemetery! The Capital Hill district has great parks but dogs are required to remain on a leash in public areas. That’s not the case at Congressional Cemetery, local residents and even those with pets as far away as Arlington VA pay $100 annually to allow there 4 legged friends run leash free in the fenced in cemetery. All of the funds go to the preservation and up keep of the cemetery. It might sound a little weird using a cemetery as a doggie playground but you have over 50 acres of varied terrain and history to roam and the animals and their owners love it!

While Fido runs around you can stroll and read the tombstones and learn interesting facts about some of the famous people that have been laid to rest at Congressional. They include John Philip Sousa, Renowned Civil War photographer Matthew Brady and FBI founder J Edgar Hoover are among the famous that are buried here.

If you know of any other interesting facts about Congressional I’d love to hear from you. Please  take a minute and share by posting any interesting facts you might know of. For more information about neighborhoods in Washington DC, visit the community section of my website: http://www.buckmanrealtor.com/community-information/

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