LOVE this house...

No blog post necessary for this- just a house I love by Logan Circle that decided to have a little fun!

Great Value by U Street- $529,000

Love this house- Would be great for someone who wants to renovate but keep some of the original details of the home. 1424 Florida Avenue NW, a great location! See the virtual tour here.

Restaurant Review- Eatonville at 14th and V

The owners of Busboys and Poets have opened Eatonville, a new southern-style restaurant on 14th and V. Eatonville is named after Eatonville Florida, a town that is featured in Zora Neale Hurston's literature. Murals all over the restaurant depict themes from Hurston's books and characters. The interesting art and huge space make it quite an interesting space to be in. A friend I was with commented on how nice it was to be in such a large spacious restaurant that wasn't a chain and didn't feel at all like a chain. I went to Eatonville with a few friends which means more dishes to try! For staters we got the large hushpuppy filled with creamy "leak fondue" and rockshrimp, and we also tried the fried green tomatoes which were the best I've had. Their roasted beet salad was delicious and I got to try some of the mac and cheese, mushroom loaf, and etouffee, all were fantastic. The food was reasonably priced and they had a good wine list with several bottles under $30. I would highly recommend Eatonville.

Just Listed! 6 Logan Circle #1 $489,000

Nancy Itteilag and I are listing this fantastic condo right on Logan Circle. Everything is top notch- wood floors, marble fireplace, granite kitchen, w/d in unit, small patio, master bath with clawfut tub and walk-in shower, parking available and more!

Restaurant Review- Marvin

Last night my father was in town on business and I met up with him and some friends at Marvin, on 14th and U. I have been to Marvin for drinks (love the heated rooftop patio) but had yet to try their food. The ambiance is very nice, and the "bistro" section was well separated from the bar, although still quite loud. The tin ceiling, while pretty to look at, doesn't make for a quiet evening. Our waitress was very energetic and had good recommendations. I had a arugula and grapefruit salad and some mussels, both delicious and my father highly recommends the sweet potato ravioli. For dessert, we all shared the banana bread pudding and salted caramel ice cream. While the pudding didn't delight, the ice cream was amazing. We even had a celebrity sighting...I am sure Ann Coulter walked out as we were finishing our meal. When we asked the waitress to confirm whether it truly was Coulter (my friends weren't convinced because they only saw the back of her) she replied "I don't think she'd be welcome here."

Restaurant Review- Vinoteca on U Street

I've walked by Vinoteca (corner of 11th and U) many times and finally got a chance to try it. It's a wine bar, but I needed a break from all of the holiday cocktail rounds, so I only ordered food. It's mostly "petit plats" and tastings of cheeses and charcuterie. My dining companion and I ordered several small plates so I got to try a lot of different things, the manchego cheese was a little dry but other than that I loved everything. I have to say, although it sounds strange, go with the beer and cheese soup if it is on the menu because it is absolutely divine. The salami was also delicious, I had a great crisp salad and the salmon "carpaccio" was good, although the portion turned out rather small. Our waitress was quite friendly and recommended good choices, and the ambiance was nice. We were there somewhat earlier for dinner and the bar was pretty crowded with happy hour folks ordering wines and small appetizers. I would definitely recommend Vinoteco to anyone looking for an interesting meal and (I assume) great glass of wine!

Restaurant Review- Rice on 14th Street

This is going to be kind of a boring restaurant review since I went to a Thai restaurant by my house (Rice is located at 14th and R) and I had the Pad Thai. It was delicious, not too sweet and the tofu and veggies were cut into manageable pieces (who can eat those massive pieces of brocolli sometimes found in Asian dishes). Rice's menu is split up into three different sections, Rice Specialties, Traditional Thai, and Healthy/Light fare (the pad thai with tofu and veggies was in the light and healthy section but I doubt it was either, so its probably a relative term). The place is always packed, so you may have to wait, but the service is fast and friendly and the martinis were strong!

960 Square Feet for Only $317,500

Great Value! 1300 Mass Ave is just south of Logan Circle and a short walk to the McPherson Sq. metro. This coop needs a little updating but has amazing space and light. To give some perspective, most condos and coops in this price range in the DuPont/Logan/Downtown area are around 500-600 SF, so this is almost double the size. For more pictures: http://slideshow.mris.com/slideshow.cfm?ListingKey=90010703661

Should you be paying $1600 to rent a studio??

I'm aware that rent prices in Washington are expensive, but I just ran a search for a client looking for studios in the Logan Circle/Thomas Circle area and they ranged from 1525-1850/month!

The price of studio apartments for SALE however, has stayed fairly constant and prices have come down as investors have been forced out of the market (investor mortgage rates for condos are not good right now). For example, click below for pics of this studio at 14th and N, just north of Thomas Circle and a hop away from Whole Foods, Logan Circle, and DuPont. It is listed at $185,000 with a $365 condo fee that covers ALL utilities. The building also has a pretty awesome rooftop pool so if any of my friends want to buy this and invite me over, let me know.
http://slideshow.mris.com/slideshow.cfm?ListingKey=90010683489

Here's the breakdown if you rent: you pay $1500 ($1530 with renters insurance) which goes up 3% a year, by year five you pay $1718/month for that same studio. This is not including utilities. After five years you have given your landlord or building $97,340.

Here's the breakdown if you buy: The condo at 1440 N Street mentioned above costs $185,000 if you put 10% down, your monthly mortgage payment (at the FHA rate of 6%) is $998 and your monthly taxes, utilities, insurance and homeowner dues work out to about $675. A total monthly expense of $1674, about the same as the $1530 plus utilities.

In this case, you're also saving on taxes because your mortgage interest (which is almost your entire payment for the first few years of any loan) and real estate taxes are tax deductible, which means you keep more of your paycheck, making it easier to make that $1675 payment every month. In a few years when you are ready to move up, you can sell the condo or keep it as an investment property and let a renter pay your mortgage.

If anyone out there is curious about how these numbers would look for a different rent vs. buy situation, let me know and I'll calculate it out for you!

Condo Review- Lofts 11

Today I went to go see Lofts 11, a new building in "NoMa" (the cutesy nickname for the developing area north of Mass Ave around the Convention Center). The developers seem to be trying to claim lots of neighborhoods; the website says NoMa and the listing says Logan/Penn Quarter. As a point of fact the building is located on 11th Street between L and M. Three of the units for sale were open for viewing and I have to say this building got a few things right. The kitchens were in proportion to the living space, all of the properties (even the smaller 1 BR) had a dining room area, and the finishes were very nice. A 1BR on the fourth floor was a good value for the space at $399,000 however it didn't have an open kitchen and the bedroom closet was too small. A larger 1Br/1.5 bath had a sort of funky floorplan with a walk-in closet and full bath off the living room...rather than near the bedroom. I guess having a strange configuration gives it authentic "loft feel"? Might be a good building to get a deal, the top floor penthouse units are listed for rent as well as for sale, meaning the developers are getting a little nervous.

Just Sold! 919 French Street

Yesterday my clients settled on their new house, 919 French St. NW.

French St. is a very pretty tree lined street just northwest of Logan Circle. This fantastic 3BR house is in great shape but awaiting his personal touches to add some character. Plans include turning the huge dining room into a huge kitchen and making the smaller kitchen a cozy dining room. Also it has a great backyard that, once spruced up, will provide nice outdoor living space.
Click link below for more pictures
http://slideshow.mris.com/slideshow.cfm?listingKey=10399309039

Free Wi-Fi

Wherever I've lived in the DC area I've always been able to find a few cafes I like with wireless internet. In college it was nice to get a change of scenery while studying, and now as a Real Estate agent, I can usually work wherever I want as long as I have my cell and laptop. Its also a necessity when your internet, or whosever internet you steal (my situation...shhhh) decides to cut out. My current go-to spots are Sala Thai's sushi bar (try the spicy crunchy tuna rolls) and Mocha Hut, both on 13th and U a few blocks from my house.

To find Wi-Fi in your neighborhood, check this list: http://www.wififreespot.com/dc.html

Cool first condo

Checking new listings this morning and saw this, perfect for the first time buyer! Brand new studio at the Alta, on 14th Street. Close to McPherson Sq. metro, Logan circle, downtown, living here puts you right in the center of everything! Affordable at $269,000 The apartment itself is quite small, but would be perfect for someone who doesn't spend a lot of time at home!

For Virtual tour click: http://www.homevisit.com/mlsTour/select/?id=33001

Restaurant Review- Tabaq

Last night I tried Tabaq on 13th and U for the first time. Its a turkish/middle eastern restaurant with mostly tapas and a few main courses. I like the atmosphere there, its got more style than a bar but without feeling too pretentious or loungey (is that a word?). The heat in DC finally got down to a nice temperature so it was a perfect night to dine on the roof terrace. We were seated right away and I had a nice vantage point to people watch as well as see the view of the city. I know the owner of Tabaq from my days as an ID-less college student drinking overpriced apple-martinis (to look sophisticated, obviously) at his former place Meze, on 18th Street in Adams Morgan. Meze now has different owners and still serving over-priced drinks, last I checked. He was very attentive to us throughout the entire evening, making sure the waiter was bringing everything out on time, and eager to re-fill drinks! The highlight of my meal was the bread and dipping sauce that was sort of a very soupy olive-oily pesto, delicious. I also chose from a few tapas, a salad with a tangy pomegranate dressing, babaganoush, and spinach cigar borak served with a tomato salsa/sauce which complemented the feta cheese and made the dish much more flavorful. Don't let the pomegranate dressing turn you off, they don't try to do anything too crazy to the traditional dishes. I like that simplicity in this age of cuisine fusion and a constant need for innovation. Well made dishes in a good atmosphere, works for me!

Helping the Homeless- Rachael's Womens Center

Every year, each Long and Foster office shuts down for one day and everyone goes out to do Community Service. My office, Long and Foster Foxhall, usually focuses on something housing related. This year we used the day to volunteer at Rachael's Womens Center, an organization that provides homeless women a structured place to hang out, have meals, and get the support they need to get back on their feet. Racheals is located on 11th street just southeast of Logan Circle, in a huge house that, unfortunately, has seen better days. The interior of the house has all of the original moldings, dark wooden doors, and hardwood floors, but the organization doesn't have the cash flow to keep the place in good condition. Today our focus was painting the upstairs library (I worked on this project, transforming the room from a burnt orange to a pretty light green seafoam color), painting the kitchen (from a dusty rose to a light buttery yellow) and painting a mural of the Biblical Story of Rachael on the back fence to make the backyard a more fun and inviting space. DC is plagued by thousands of Homeless, and it was very rewarding to spend a day making a small difference.

For more information please visit http://www.rachaels.org/

**Click on "wish list" to get a list of every day household items that the house is in need of, I know I will be cleaning out my linen closet to drop off some towels, hotel toilettries, and such.

Sick of Pottery Barn? Want a more original look? Try Ruff and Ready

I have a love-hate relationship with the furniture industry. I love beautiful and interesting pieces but I hate the expense, hassle and most of all the commitment of furniture shopping. As someone who has lived in 3 different places in the last 5 years, I have to buy things that are versatile enough to work in different settings- my side table was transitioned to a T.V. stand when it didn’t look right in the new house and I took a leaf out of the dining room table because I no longer have a large dining room. I absolutely love antique furniture, and I see enough homes to know that the “Pottery Barn Look” is completely overdone. (Not to mention I did not have a good experience ordering furniture there) This is why my new shopping obsession is Ruff and Ready furnishings on 14th and T. Everything is awaiting your restoration (or not, if you are ok with a weathered look), hence the name Ruff and Ready, and it’s like digging through the attic of your glamorous great aunt. Old books, dishes, hat boxes and silver line the shelves and furniture is crowded in everywhere! Apparently people have all sorts of luck finding valuable pieces, fixing them up and selling for a profit, but I am not knowledgeable enough to try my hand at that. Most recently I bought a tall skinny teak shelving unit that someday will look amazing stacked high with fluffy white towels in a spa-like master bath, but for now looks nice holding coffee table books, decorative boxes and framed photos in the corner of my bedroom. That piece will be traveling with me until I find that perfect bathroom to put it in! Other good finds include elephant bookends with ivory tusks and an old jewelry box. Best of all- you can get lots of interesting and beautiful pieces for under $100, some for under $50. So, I can shop without worrying too much about the expense or commitment!

Farmers Markets

A local farmers market is a huge asset to any neighborhood. Nini Planck's book "Real Food, what to eat and why", which got me eating meat again after 2 years of vegetarianism, has convinced me that farmers markets are the absolute best place to buy food. I try to make it to the farmers market on 14th and U on Saturdays mornings or the DuPont farmers market on Sunday mornings. Today I walked up to 14th and U to browse and came home to make a delicious lunch, organic bratwurst on the grill, skinny asparagus boiled in some salted water, and fresh sweet strawberries for dessert (the strawberries were too hard to resist so they were more of an appetizer while everything else cooked.) The best part? The whole meal cost me about $4-$5, definitely less that I would have paid going out for a sandwhich.

Visit http://www.localharvest.org/ to find the closest farmers market to your neighborhood (or future neighborhood if you are house shopping!)

For more information on Nina Planck and her food/nutrition wisdom visit http://www.ninaplanck.com/

Under Contract! 919 French Street!

After looking at lots of fixer-uppers, my client has written a contract on 919 French Street. French is a very pretty tree lined street just northwest of Logan Circle. This fantastic house is in great shape but awaiting his personal touches to add some character. Plans include turning the huge dining room into a huge kitchen and making the smaller kitchen a cozy dining room. Also it has a great backyard that, once spruced up, will provide nice outdoor living space.

Click link below for more pictures

http://slideshow.mris.com/slideshow.cfm?listingKey=10399309039