Posts Tagged ‘Capitol Hill’

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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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Tips For Selling Your Home In the Winter

Friday, January 20th, 2012

Winter is in full swing here in the Chevy Chase area, and my clients often ask about whether it is even possible to sell a home this time of year. While I won’t mislead you and say it is sure to be easy, I will offer you these tips to make selling your home in the winter that much easier.

  • Shovel, plow and salt as frequently as necessary. Nothing turns a potential home buyer away like an impassable driveway or sidewalk. Not only are these slippery and cold conditions dangerous, they also make potential buyers think about having to do this themselves. If your home has many steps, a steep incline or rough terrain near the entrance, someone who would otherwise be interested in your home may turn and walk away if faced with the reminder these chores would be their own.
  • Keep it cozy. When showing your home in the Chevy Chase area during the winter months, you should never underestimate the power of warmth. Even though you  may be tempted to turn the thermostat down to save money, the money saved may be the potential buyers rather than your own. When a potential buyer enters the home, if they are not warm — they are not tempted to stay. Keeping them warm and comfortable may be just the thing you need to offer to tip the scales in your favor.
  • Brighten their spirits with natural light. One of the biggest complaints people have about the winter months is the dark, dreary feeling of sunshine-free days. Opening the window treatments to let as much natural light in as possible will do wonders for the appearance of your home. Have you ever heard anyone say “oh, I love this dark, depressing room. It feels just like a basement!” — the answer is probably no. Making your home as open and light as possible is essential for enticing potential buyers.

For more information on how best to prepare your home for a winter sale, give me a call. Or stay tuned for my next blog post, I’ll have more tips to share!

Stay warm!

~ 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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Experience the Capitol Hill Neighborhood Through a Food Tour

Tuesday, December 7th, 2010

The holiday season often brings visits from out-of-town friends and family, many that will spend some extra time to experience the Washington DC area. Entertaining guests usually involves showing people the various landmarks, museums and monuments of our Nation’s Capital. But, for repeat visitors, entertainment options may dwindle a bit since, so what to do?

How about a neighborhood food tour? The Capitol Hill Culinary Experience is a three-hour guided tour of the Capitol Hill area featuring locally owned restaurants, boutiques and shops all catering to the Capitol Hill residents.

The tour isn’t just about food, it also is a history lesson of sorts, as each food stop provides a better understanding of how an area once planned to be the financial center of the area became the largest manufacturing sector. Restaurants visited highlight both the long-standing traditions of the Capitol Hill area as well as those recently established.

Food tours allow Capitol Hill residents and visitors the opportunity to sample a variety of food and drinks, including dishes inspired by 18th Century Anglo-Indian Cuisine, soul food, Salvadorian dishes and beverages and regional American desserts. Capitol Hill residents may learn a thing or two about their own community while gaining exposure to restaurants previously untested, so there’s no need to wait for visitors to take advantage of a culinary tour.

For more information on The Capitol Hill Culinary Experience, as well as other tours including Georgetown, Old Town, Dupont Circle, Little Ethiopia, The Foods of Eastern Market and a Washington DC Pub Crawl, visit DC Metro Food Tours. You never know when that little place you’ve never tried may become your new hometown favorite.

Happy eating! Be sure to let me know what your favorite neighborhood restaurant is too – I’m always looking for suggestions.

~ Michelle

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Back to School Resources for Washington DC Neighborhood Families

Sunday, August 22nd, 2010

Weather aside, summer is quickly coming to a close.  For families with young children, this means the beginning of the school year.  This Monday marks the official first day of school for the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS).  Whether you live on Capitol Hill, Trinidad, the Palisades, or any of the Northwest Washington, sending your children back to school is no easy task especially if you are new to the Washington DC area.

The District of Columbia Public School (DCPS) System has developed a series of tools that will help with you and your child’s smooth transition.  Whether you are looking for enrollment forms, immunization requirements, school supplies lists, or applications for free and reduced meals, DCPS has developed a First Day of School website.  For those parents familiar with YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook, DCPS has official registered accounts with each of these social media networks (see links below).

If you are a young family looking to purchase a new home and are concerned about finding a public school for children, please feel free to contact me. I in Chevy Chase, Northwest Washington DC, Capitol Hill, and the up and coming Trinidad DC neighborhood.

Website: http://dcps.dc.gov/DCPS/firstday
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/dcpublicschools
Twitter: http://twitter.com/dcpublicschools
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/dcpublicschools

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