Archive for August, 2008
August 20, 2008
Anacostia waterfront.
- Nationwide, housing hasn’t been this affordable since 2004. [CNN Money]
- Anacostia is set to be the next Dupont Circle, Logan Circle, or Clarendon. [And Now, Anacostia]
- SmartBike DC is on a roll. [DCist.com]
- What you get for $500,000 across the country. [NY Times]
- What you need to know about the latest change in mortgage loan fees. [Washington Post]
Recent Sweet Digs Posts
DC United Coming to Loudoun?
Walk This Way: Kalorama (20008)
August 19, 2008
- Check out the Arlington blog we’ve added to our list of blogs we like. [Ode Street Tribune]
- Help make DC a more beautiful place, one school at a time. [Prince of Petworth]
- Want to know where to buy your beach house, and how much you’ll spend? [Urban Turf DC]
- Going green doesn’t have to look goofy (or tick off your neighbors). [Washington Post]
- Maryland commuters, take note: If you’re willing to try Metro or another form of public transportation, there may be a tax credit with your name written all over it. [WUSA9.com]
Image: Silver Spring Metro Center
August 15, 2008
Normally, I don’t cover news stories that are more than a week old, but I can’t resist covering this one. I found it several weeks ago and meant to write about it, but kept putting it off. I think that was partly because I got sidetracked by other news, and partly because I was ruminating on what exactly I wanted to say on the topic.
According to this Washington Times editorial, D.C. United has failed to show a profit in any of its 11 seasons at RFK Stadium. Photo credit: Getty Images.
The story is this: DC United appears to be looking to establish a “presence” in Loudoun. Although that in and of itself is not exactly breaking news (word first leaked out about a year ago), what is noteworthy is that discussions are still ongoing. Here’s a clip from The Loudoun Times-Mirror:
“…Board of Supervisors Chairman Scott York (I-at large) mentioned that he recently spoke with DC United President Kevin Payne. But about what, York told me that he was “not at the liberty to say.”I got the same response from DC United. “We can’t comment,” said team spokesman Doug Hicks, who did confirm that Payne and York spoke.
[text snipped]
So, are professional soccer matches in Loudoun’s future? Well, maybe scrimmages.
One person with knowledge of the conversation between York and Payne, who asked to remain nameless, said DC United is looking to create “a presence” in Loudoun, perhaps in the form of a training facility, similar to Redskins Park in Ashburn.
[text snipped]
Allowing area youth teams use of any future field(s) in Loudoun was also discussed, the source said.
But where is the team looking and what is its time frame? Sadly, I have no idea.”
As you can imagine, reactions from inside and outside DC are markedly different. Loudoun residents love the idea (and I’m sure Fairfax and Prince William County residents don’t exactly mind it, either); DC residents (and those who live nearby) are livid. The team, after all, is named DC United.
I completely understand why city residents are appalled at the idea of their team being relocated. That makes perfect sense. If the team were called “Loudoun United”, I wouldn’t want it moved to Arlington or Montgomery County. But I am bothered by the completely misinformed comments made about Loudoun. Although Baltimore has also been named as a possible new home for the team, there seems to be a special snarkiness (did I just make up that word?) reserved just for Loudoun County. I came across this DCist.com blog entry (entitled, “Say Hello to Loudoun County United”, even though it also mentions Baltimore) from last year, and here are some of the comments:
“It would be hard for me to imagine DC United moving to Loudoun. It would be a strange choice for a sports franchise that surely depends upon a large number of foreign-born supporters. Huntington or Hybla Valley I can imagine. Wheaton I can imagine. Even one of those vacant parcels along Route 1 near Woodbridge. But Loudoun? Something about that seems incongruous.”
“Your headline is misleading. There’s no talk about a Loudoun County stadium. It’s not only wrong, but not even humorous. No sane person would consider a DC United stadium in Loudoun County. Why are you trying to sensationalize this issue?”
My very favorite line from the comments above has to be the one implying that the team would be lacking foreign-born support if it moved out to Loudoun. Anyone who lives in Loudoun automatically knows why I find that comment really, really funny; but it is so off-the-mark that it also borders on offensive. It’s obvious the commenter did not mean to be offensive, but remarks like that are incredibly representative of the many misperceptions about Loudoun County.
This post is at high risk of turning into a rant, and I’ll save that for another day. So, let me just say this: If you are reading this and are ticked off that your team could be moved waaaay out to the ‘burbs, I don’t blame you. But if you are worried that the team might not survive if it’s relocated to Loudoun, I can put those fears to rest. In particular, Eastern Loudoun is a highly athletic community; there are so many sports teams that playing field availability and quality are huge issues. You can trust me when I say there will be no lack of support for the team – foreign-born or otherwise.
NOTE: If DC United does leave the city, they won’t be the first MLS team to do so. The L.A. Galaxy plays in the suburb of Carson, CA, and both Seattle and Portland are considering building soccer stadiums outside their borders.
August 14, 2008
Kalorama: Greek for “beautiful view”.
“Kalorama, sometimes referred to as Kalorama Heights or Sheridan-Kalorama, is an extremely affluent neighborhood in Northwest Washington, D.C., and is well known as a component of the city’s Embassy Row area. The neighborhood is bounded to the north and west by Rock Creek Park; to the southwest by Massachusetts Avenue N.W.; to the south by P Street N.W.; and to the east by 22nd Street, Florida Avenue, and Connecticut Avenue N.W. It is accessible by Metrorail by the Woodley Park-Zoo/Adams Morgan and Dupont Circle stops on the Red Line. Kalorama is assigned to Washington’s Sheridan-Kalorama Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC 2D) and is designated as Single Member District 2D01.
Across Connecticut Avenue, the Kalorama Triangle is a residential enclave in Northwest Washington bounded by three major thoroughfares: Connecticut Avenue, Calvert Street and Columbia Road. Bordering on Rock Creek, this area historically was part of the 19th century estate “Kalorama” and enjoyed a reputation for its natural attributes—its hilly terrain, cool breezes and fine views over the city of Washington. Developed largely between 1897–1931, the neighborhood is filled with architecturally significant free-standing and attached houses, commercial buildings, and a variety of modest and grand apartment buildings sited along curvilinear tree-lined streets. Kalorama Park is located in the Kalorama Triangle.” – Wikipedia
There are only so many posts I want to do that feature million-dollar homes, so I was more interested in finding the entry-point price in the very ritzy Kalorama area of DC. This actually made it easier to narrow down which home I wanted to highlight, since only 4 of the 20 properties that resulted from my Redfin search came in under $600,000 – and one of those was already under contract, albeit with a kick-out clause. (There was another condo under contract with a kick-out clause, but it was priced at $895,000). The median price in Kalorama is $2,792,500; the average is $2,834,250. Homes here average 103 days on the market.
Priced at $499,000, this 2-level condo has 2 bedrooms and 1.5 baths. It also includes good closet space, plenty of windows, a washer/dryer, wood-burning fireplace, and a private terrace. It does not come with a garage parking space, but the listing claims it has “easy street parking” in the neighborhood. Residents of the building can walk to 2 Metros, Dupont Circle, Adams Morgan, and Mitchell Park (which is a favorite for those with kids and dogs).
Building: The Warren in Kalorama Heights
Walk Score: 95 (walker’s paradise)
Close to: Embassy Market (0.02 mi); Ruth’s Chris Steak House (0.21 mi); Starbucks (0.31 mi); Kalorama Park (0.34 mi)
You can find the complete list of nearby attractions here.
2145 California St NW, #101, Washington, DC, 20008
Price: $499,000
2 bd/1.5 ba; 950 sq. ft.; $525/sq. ft.
Last sale: 1/12/2006 for $464,000
Days on Redfin: 73
Next up: Adams Morgan
August 13, 2008
It’s here! You may not have known it was coming, but you will surely be happy that it has arrived. The newly released Redfin website gives you even more reasons to love Redfin than ever before: Easy-to-access neighborhood pricing trends; a revamped, more user-friendly “favorites” feature; and a tours shopping cart.
I think no one can explain it better than our fearless (and I really do mean that) leader himself, Glenn Kelman. I encourage you to read his latest blog entry, but in the meantime, here’s a little snippet to tide you over:
“Redfin released a big, beautiful new version of its website last night. For the first time in years, there’s a whole new web page on the site — not just a map and a web page for each property on the map — but a set of graphs, pictures, charts, numbers showing all the pricing trends for each of the 9,000 neighborhoods, postal codes and cities Redfin covers. This is the good stuff, drawn straight from the MLS databases real estate agents use to list properties and the tax rolls that counties use to record sales.
Now you can see what’s really going on with your neighborhood’s prices, right now: dollars per square foot, numbers of homes for sale, days on market, price reductions. We split out condos and houses because they’re priced so differently. The pricing graphs show listings and past sales separately, so you get a view of what sellers expect and what they really got. We give you a list of all the price-reduced homes, all the open houses, all the recent sales. It’s FASCINATING.” (Bold emphasis mine.)
What I love about Redfin, and the main reason I am so thrilled to be a part of the company, is that there really is a belief here that empowering real estate consumers is to everyone’s advantage. A knowledgeable, empowered consumer is a better consumer. I love that Redfin offers options for people who want to be more involved in the house-buying or selling process, and for those who want to dispel the market’s mysteries for themselves.
Number of homes for sale in 20008, per Redfin’s Inventory & Pricing Trends.
My absolute favorite feature is the neighborhood pricing trends. As an example, I searched on DC ZIP 20008. Click here to see the results. To get to the trends page from the search page, simply click on View 20008 Inventory & Pricing Trends in the upper left corner of the search page (under the search bar).
Which new feature is your favorite?
August 11, 2008
I have to admit that I’m not terribly impressed by many of the million-dollar properties on the market in and around DC recently. Call me old-fashioned, but I think a house priced in that range (especially in a buyer’s market) should elicit a “Wow” response, and many times these days my reaction is more along the lines of, “Eh.”
This week’s featured property, which definitely falls under the “Wow” category, is located in McLean’s Elmwood Estates at 1322 Balls Hill Rd (22101). At $17,500,000, it is the most expensive property I’ve covered to date, and can only be described as “sprawling”. Actually, “decadent” is appropriate, too. It even has a name: “Chateau Noble de McLean”. It’s been on Redfin for 91 days.
According to this blurb on ConnectionNewspapers.com, the 25,000-square-foot estate was completed in 2008 and built on speculation. It was inspired by 15th Century French châteaux and includes the following: a rotunda entry, ballroom with 2 fireplaces, library, and both formal and informal living and dining rooms. There is a 34-foot coffered dome above the main staircase, which features a hand-wrought balustrade. The owners of this residence will enjoy its 8 bedrooms, 9.5 baths, 7 fireplaces, 5-car garage, and the exquisitely landscaped 2.05 acres it sits on. Amenities include a home fitness center, media room, and theater. As you would expect to find in a house at this price point, the finishing touches (including gold-leaf coffers and parquet de Versailles flooring) are intricate and ornate.
As for location, the estate is east of the Central Intelligence Agency off of Route 123.
Recent Sweet Digs Posts
Walk This Way: Friendship Heights (20015)
Where the Wild Things Are
August 8, 2008
I wrote several optimistic posts last month about the direction in which Loudoun’s real estate market has been headed, but I have to say it’s extremely satisfying to see it in black and white. The past sales searches I ran today yielded results I somewhat expected, but it was still surprising to see it contrasted against the data from a month ago. (By the way, the number of properties on the market in 20176 is now down to 546. That’s the lowest number I’ve seen since I moved here in May of 2006.)
In case you don’t remember, here are the numbers from my last sales analysis to jog your memory. (The search covered 6/1 through 6/15.)
| ZIP |
Sales |
Average
Sale Price |
Median
Sale Price |
| 20147 |
43 |
$457,494 |
$420,000 |
| 20148 |
12 |
$598,355 |
$638,453 |
| 20176 |
13 |
$546,991 |
$535,000 |
Here’s what I found for 6/15 through 7/15 (to be consistent, I broke out the sales from 6/15 through 6/30, in order to properly show the increase from the first half of the month):
| ZIP |
Sales |
Average
Sale Price |
Median
Sale Price |
| 20147 |
116 sales (65 from 6/15 through 6/30) |
$424,085 |
$416,000 |
| 20148 |
40 sales (22 from 6/15 through 6/30) |
$532,745 |
$526,050 |
| 20176 |
128 sales (77 from 6/15 through 6/30) |
$425,943 |
$369,950 |
It’s interesting to me that while prices in 20147 held relatively steady, both 20148 and 20176 experienced significant drops. It’s not surprising, though, since substantial price decreases were needed in order to get the market moving. Also not surprising is that 20148 continues to bring in the highest sale prices; I guess Washingtonian Magazine knew what it was talking about when it named 20148 one of the Top 50 ZIPs in terms of price consistency this past year.
I’m featuring the least and most expensive sales in all 3 areas below. You can view the entire results from each search by clicking on the ZIP.
20147
Least expensive property sold:
43860 Hickory Corner Ter., Unit 111
Type: Condo
Community: Ashburn Village
Sale price: $70,000
Closing date: 6/19/2008
Most expensive property sold:
20257 Medalist Dr.
Type: Single family
Community: Belmont Country Club
Sale price: $1,202,372
Closing date: 7/10/2008
20148
Least expensive property sold:
22641 Blue Elder Ter., Apt 103
Type: Condo
Community: Ashburn Village
Sale price: $232,000
Closing date: 7/07/2008
Most expensive property sold:
43078 Lago Galleric Ct.
Type: Single family
Community: Belle Terra
Sale price: $900,000
Closing date: 7/11/2008
20176
Least expensive property sold:
66 Adams Dr NE, #85
Type: Condo
Community: Heritage Square
Sale price: $60,245
Closing date: 7/2/2008
Most expensive property sold:
18680 Riverlook Ct.
Type: Single family
Community: Lansdowne
Sale price: $3,199,000
Closing date: 6/30/2008
August 8, 2008
Open House Date and Time:
Sunday, August 10th, 1-4 pm
5872 WOODFIELD ESTATES Dr
ALEXANDRIA, VA 22310
Seller’s Comments
Favorite restaurants in the area: Mike’s American Restaurant has excellent American cuisine, but the service is hard to beat in the Washington area. Although the restaurant does not take reservations, and the wait is extensive, we have had no problems using their “call ahead” system.
Best features of the home: The feeling of seclusion and privacy is the highlight of this open, airy home. The free flowing main level living room, dining room and kitchen has access to a large and protected deck. The lower level family room with wet bar and fireplace has access to the very private, fenced patio. The patio and deck are connected by a very useful and space saving spiral staircase.
The West facing rear of the home is shaded and secluded by a permanent wooded area (Chesapeake Bay Water Shed). Even with the air of privacy and seclusion, this maintenance free home is very close to Metro and I-495/95. Very convenient to Old Town Alexandria, shopping, recreation and schools. Just five minutes to Ft. Belvoir.
Any remodeling since last sale price:
New kitchen with gas stove.
New Windows and sliding glass doors.
New garage door and opener
New carpets
Newly painted
New roof
New closet organization in the MBR.
Most romantic spot in the neighborhood:
The Potomac River
What’s in the neighborhood:
Schools (HS, MS and ES)
Recreation – parks, playgrounds, golf, Potomac River
Shopping – Kingstowne Shopping Center
What I will miss the most:
Convenience to amenities and commuting, while maintaining a private and secluded feeling.
August 8, 2008
Ford’s Theatre, circa 1870
Have a great weekend!
DC
Friday, 8/8
WALKING TOUR, a costumed actor portrays James McDevitt, a detective on duty on the night of the Lincoln assassination, during a 90-minute stroll from Ford’s Theatre to the White House. 7 p.m. Fridays, through Aug. 23, Ford’s Theatre, 511 10th St. NW. $12. 202-638-2367.
Saturday, 8/9
RHYTHM AND BLUES CONCERT, performances by Shades of Soul and by Barbara Mason and the Jewels. Take a blanket or lawn chair. 8 p.m., Fort Dupont Park, Minnesota Avenue and Randle Circle SE. Free. 202-426-5961.
Sunday, 8/10
VICTORIAN FAMILY FESTIVAL, take a picnic lunch and participate in historically based arts and crafts, games and activities; ice cream served, other refreshments available for purchase, sponsored by the National Park Service. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday and Aug. 24, Frederick Douglass Home, 1411 W St. SE. Free. 202-426-5961.
ALEXANDRIA/ARLINGTON
Friday, 8/8
FAMILY CAMPFIRES, stories, games, songs and s’mores. 7-8:15 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Gulf Branch Nature Center, fire ring, 3608 N. Military Rd., Arlington. $3; registration required. 703-228-4747.
Saturday, 8/9
ROBYN’S PLACE JAZZ CONCERT, hosted by Robyn Holden and Carol Tyson, sponsored by Arlington Cultural Affairs. 8 p.m., Lubber Run Amphitheatre, North Second and North Columbus streets, Arlington. Free. 703-228-1850, 703-228-6966 or http://www.arlingtonarts.org.
Sunday, 8/10
WEST END FARMERS MARKET, bread, pastries and locally grown produce, and artwork. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Sundays, Ben Brenman Park, 4800 Brenman Park Dr., Alexandria. 703-838-4343.
FAIRFAX COUNTY
Friday, 8/8
CARIBBEAN MUSIC, by Stephen Samuel. 7:30 p.m., Grist Mill Park, 4710 Mount Vernon Memorial Hwy., Mount Vernon area. Free. 703-324-7469.
Saturday, 8/9
OUTDOOR ACOUSTIC GUITAR CONCERT, by Marshall Artz duo, and rock-and-roll by Billy Coulter. 6-8:30 p.m., Fairfax Corner Shopping Center, Fairfax Corner Avenue and Monument Drive, Fairfax. Free. 703-227-0894 or http://www.fairfaxcorner.com.
Sunday, 8/10
VIRGINIA BALLET PERFORMANCE,“Precedence,” integrating contemporary dance styles with classical ballet techniques. 4:30 p.m., Ernst Community Cultural Center, Northern Virginia Community College, 8333 Little River Tpk., Annandale. $10. 703-249-8227 or http://www.virginiaballetcompany.org.
MONTGOMERY COUNTY
Friday, 8/8
THE SHADES, 6-9 p.m. Motown, 1980s and dance music. Bethesda Metro Center Plaza, Old Georgetown Road and Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda. Free. 301-652-4988.
Saturday, 8/9
SWING DANCING, 8 p.m.-midnight Saturday. Flying Feet Enterprises hosts the Deep Sea Ball and Swing Dance, featuring music by the Boilermaker Jazz Band. Beginning swing lesson at 8 p.m., followed by dancing from 9 p.m. to midnight. Glen Echo Park, Spanish Ballroom, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo. $13. 301-634-2222 or http://dance@flyingfeet.org.
Sunday, 8/10
MUSIC AND ACTING OPEN HOUSE, 1-4 p.m. Sunday. The Academy of Music and the Actors’ Garage will host a family event. Guests can try a musical instrument, play acting games or participate in a group piano or early childhood music class. Door prizes and tuition discounts will be available. The Academy of Music, 8451 Helgerman Ct., Gaithersburg. Free. 301-947-9705 or http://www.theacademyofmusic.com.
