Live on the Red Line - Real Estate

Modern newly renov 1 bdrm/1 master bath, walk to metro, pets welcome

This massive one bedroom condo occupies approx 900 sq ft of the ground level floor of an historic red-brick row house. Available to move-in on May 15th (for one or two- year lease). $1595 per month.

DETAILS AND FEATURES:

Great lighting, with windows around 3 sides of the unit
Amazing modern kitchen with granite counters, and new appliances [great for cooking and dinner parties, open to the living room]
Four large closets for clothes and storage, a fifth closet with washer/dryer
Luxurious master bathroom with a huge Italian marble floors, tiled walk-in shower (large enough for 2 people) and heated floors
Adjustable spot and recessed lighting throughout
A/C & Heating units
Pergo flooring in the kitchen
Plush carpeting
Pets welcome


ABOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD:

Very easy street parking with permit.
1.5 blocks to Giant supermarket.
2 blocks to Shaw metro stop [Green/Yellow].
1 block to bus stops [70/71/78/G2]
Restaurants and bars within easy walking distance.
15-minute walk to Chinatown, 10-minute walk to 930 Club and U Street action, 4-minute walk to Vegetate and Be Bar.

Contact me with additional questions or to schedule a viewing appointment.

View pictures at http://www.flickr.com/photos/22982988@N08/sets/72157606543101187/

Location: 6th St NW (cross street is Q St NW)

What You Should Know About Rent Control in the District of Columbia

If you are a renter, or a landlord, you should take note of the information in this PDF that was released by DHCD (Dept of Housing and Community Development):

Download DCRA_Rent_Control_Pamphlet

Rent-to-Own Gaining Favor Once Again

Rent-to-own options are becoming popular again after falling out of favor during the last couple of decades when mortgages were easy to get.

The advantages of rent-to-own to buyers include a way around poor credit, an opportunity to rebuild credit worthiness and a way to try out homeownership without making a costly commitment.

For sellers, it offers cash flow from properties that might otherwise just be sitting there.

In some parts of the country, like Florida, rent-to-own arrangements are fairly commonplace, but in other parts of the country developers are only beginning to experiment with this form of purchase.

In the Boston area, Economic Development Financing Corp. (EDFC) and Trinity Financial are two affordable-home developers that have introduced experimental rent-to-own programs. Eric Gedstad, spokesman for MassHousing, a state agency that finances housing construction, says his agency is supportive.

"As the lender, we are gratified that the developer has cash coming in. It makes sense for potential homeowners. The more time that goes by the better the opportunity for someone to repair his credit."

Source: Boston Globe, Robert Preer (08/31/2008)

Never Enough GOOD NEWS! But here you go...

Tired of always reading about bad news in the real estate market?  That is what sells papers these days.  Here is a new website with a positive attitude:

http://www.happyrenews.com/

From the website:

"Tired of gloom and doom stories about the US real estate market? We are, too. So welcome to Happy Real Estate News.

In real estate it's important to remember: there isn't one market out there, there are hundreds of thousands. And the factors driving these markets vary from city to city, neighborhood to neighborhood, even from street to street.

There's no denying that the mortgage meltdown has meant tragedy for many home owners. But take a look around.

You'll see there's very positive activity in many vibrant markets throughout the US. By focusing on the good news and passing the message around, we can help speed up the market recovery.

This web site is a reality check, based on actual facts on the ground. It's vital information you need to run your real estate business and educate your clients about the market in your area.

We update this information every month, so come back whenever you need to get the real story about real estate bright spots in America. "

"I Can't Afford to Buy!" you say? Not true!

Are you still renting, because you think you can't afford to buy a home?  You are wrong.  There are so many loans and programs available to you, that you may not realize how easy it can be to buy a home.
In DC alone, the city offers a number of programs to help you purchase a new home.  Best of all, you can get a $5,000 federal income tax credit that is available to first time home buyers in the District of Columbia.  Are you tired of always cutting a check to the IRS every April?  Owning a home can change that!

Have you talked to a loan officer yet?  If not, you should.  There are still tons of loan options to choose from , and I am not talking about sub-prime mortgages.  Is your credit not perfect?  Again, there are great loan officers in the world that are more than happy to help you "clean up" the credit mess.

Again, it always pays to ask!