Where We Live - Washington's source for real estate happenings

Posted at 05:30 AM ET, 07/31/2012

What’s going on with . . . the Founders Square development in Ballston?

By Jonathan O’Connell

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s move to Ballston was the first step in what is envisioned as a much larger project called Founders Square.

By Jonathan O’Connell | 05:30 AM ET, 07/31/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Ballston, Founders Square, Arlington, DARPA, commercial real estate, Pentagon, Department of Defense, Marriott, Ballston

Posted at 11:21 AM ET, 07/30/2012

Editor’s Column: What would you like to see in the Real Estate section?

By Dion Haynes

We’re looking for your advice on how we can spruce up our print and online editions.

By Dion Haynes | 11:21 AM ET, 07/30/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 05:30 AM ET, 07/30/2012

How green roofs might one day affect District stormwater fees

By Annette L. Olson

A Petworth homeowner learns she won’t be receiving any discounts for now, but she’s hopeful about the future.

By Annette L. Olson | 05:30 AM ET, 07/30/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: olson

Posted at 01:35 PM ET, 07/27/2012

Editor’s column: Getting ready to age in place

By Dion Haynes

Chances are, we aren’t preparing several years into the future for the time when we will be elderly.

By Dion Haynes | 01:35 PM ET, 07/27/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 05:30 AM ET, 07/27/2012

A Georgetown home for $8.995M

By Kathy Orton

This 8,094-square-foot, three-level home has been owned by Francis Scott Key’s former law partner, President Lincoln’s son and one of Eliot Ness’s “Untouchables.”

By Kathy Orton | 05:30 AM ET, 07/27/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 10:51 AM ET, 07/26/2012

Pending home sales stumble in June

By Kathy Orton

The National Association of Realtors reported that pending home sales, a forward-looking indicator based on contract signings, fell 1.4 percent.

By Kathy Orton | 10:51 AM ET, 07/26/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 10:00 AM ET, 07/26/2012

Mortgage rates persist on their downward course

By Kathy Orton

The 30-year fixed-rate average fell to a historic-low 3.49 percent, while the 15-year average sank to 2.80 percent.

By Kathy Orton | 10:00 AM ET, 07/26/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 12:53 PM ET, 07/25/2012

New home sales fell in June to 350,000

By Kathy Orton

Sales of new homes declined 8.4 percent from May, a sobering break from the recent positive housing market news.

By Kathy Orton | 12:53 PM ET, 07/25/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 08:00 AM ET, 07/25/2012

Washington area median home values are back to May 2004 levels

By Kathy Orton

The forecast for the Washington area market is for median home values to increase by two percentage points over the next 12 months.

By Kathy Orton | 08:00 AM ET, 07/25/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 05:30 AM ET, 07/25/2012

Real estate investor learns lessons early on flipping properties successfully

By Justin Pierce

Justin Pierce lost more than $10,000 on his first deal, but the lessons he learned were priceless.

By Justin Pierce | 05:30 AM ET, 07/25/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: investor

Posted at 10:47 AM ET, 07/24/2012

Foreign interest in Washington area housing market bucks national trend

By Kathy Orton

Foreign interest in the U.S. real estate market appears to be waning, except in the Washington metro area.

By Kathy Orton | 10:47 AM ET, 07/24/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 05:30 AM ET, 07/24/2012

For Rent by Owner: Our landlord chooses between two potential renters

By Douglas Hsiao

Our landlord must choose between roommate tenants who would likely be long term renters and the couple who would only live there one year but at a higher rent.

By Douglas Hsiao | 05:30 AM ET, 07/24/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: landlord

Posted at 05:30 AM ET, 07/23/2012

My renovation saga: Green roofs are gaining in popularity

By Annette L. Olson

Last year, the Washington area led the nation, installing 800,000 square feet of green roofs.

By Annette L. Olson | 05:30 AM ET, 07/23/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: olson

Posted at 10:55 AM ET, 07/20/2012

June existing-home prices rise, but sales are down

By Kathy Orton

Limited inventory is pushing up prices of existing homes and thwarting first-time home buyers.

By Kathy Orton | 10:55 AM ET, 07/20/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 05:30 AM ET, 07/20/2012

Spring Valley home for $6.25M

By Kathy Orton

House of the week | The stone manor-style residence has been owned by a Washington publisher, Lyndon Johnson’s commerce secretary and a congressman from Georgia.

By Kathy Orton | 05:30 AM ET, 07/20/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 10:00 AM ET, 07/19/2012

Mortgage rates continue their descent

By Kathy Orton

The 30-year fixed-rate average fell to an historic-low 3.53 percent. It has been below 4 percent all but one week this year.

By Kathy Orton | 10:00 AM ET, 07/19/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 05:30 AM ET, 07/18/2012

Apartment hunter: The search for a place in Washington becomes a solo hunt

By Jon Fox

Our apartment hunter decides the best way to find a place in Washington is to go it alone.

By Jon Fox | 05:30 AM ET, 07/18/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Jon Fox

Posted at 05:30 AM ET, 07/17/2012

Distressed properties aren’t a problem in the Washington area compared to the rest of the nation

By Lisa A. Sturtevant

Rising demand, insufficient inventory and affordability concerns are much more pressing problems.

By Lisa A. Sturtevant | 05:30 AM ET, 07/17/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: sturtevant

Posted at 05:30 AM ET, 07/16/2012

My renovation saga: The long wait to install a green roof

By Annette L. Olson

WHERE WE LIVE | The roof is ready for its plants, but paperwork had slowed down the project.

By Annette L. Olson | 05:30 AM ET, 07/16/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Olson

Posted at 12:00 PM ET, 07/13/2012

Alexandria cottage for $774,000

By Abha Bhattarai

House of the week | This three-bedroom stone home was built in 1938 and renovated in 2000.

By Abha Bhattarai | 12:00 PM ET, 07/13/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 05:30 AM ET, 07/13/2012

Historic Preservation Review Board member weighs in on solar panels

By Rauzia Ruhana Ally

Rauzia Ruhana Ally voted against the solar panel proposal for a Cleveland Park home.

By Rauzia Ruhana Ally | 05:30 AM ET, 07/13/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 12:20 PM ET, 07/12/2012

Foreclosure data for Washington metro area are mixed

By Kathy Orton

There were 9,219 properties with foreclosure filings in the region for the first six months of this year.

By Kathy Orton | 12:20 PM ET, 07/12/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 10:00 AM ET, 07/12/2012

Mortgage rates plummet to historic lows

By Kathy Orton

The 30-year fixed-rate average sank to a record-low 3.56 percent, while the 15-year fixed-rate average remained below 3 percent for the seventh consecutive week.

By Kathy Orton | 10:00 AM ET, 07/12/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 05:30 AM ET, 07/12/2012

What you can buy for $750,000

By Kathy Orton

Here’s a sampling of properties for sale in the Washington metro area priced around $750,000.

By Kathy Orton | 05:30 AM ET, 07/12/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 09:00 AM ET, 07/11/2012

The District Office of Human Rights launches fair housing campaign

By Kathy Orton

The goal is to educate residents about anti-discrimination laws in housing.

By Kathy Orton | 09:00 AM ET, 07/11/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 05:30 AM ET, 07/11/2012

Former Marine turns real estate investor

By Justin Pierce

Justin Pierce shares the story of how he started investing in real estate.

By Justin Pierce | 05:30 AM ET, 07/11/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: investor

Posted at 10:00 AM ET, 07/10/2012

Report is good news for homeowners, but not homebuyers

By Kathy Orton

Median home sales price rises in the Washington metro area while the number of new listings in June hits historic low.

By Kathy Orton | 10:00 AM ET, 07/10/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 05:30 AM ET, 07/10/2012

For rent by owner: Marketing missteps lead to tepid response

By Douglas Hsiao

Our landlord eschews open houses, Craigslist and social networks, and the response to his vacancy is underwhelming.

By Douglas Hsiao | 05:30 AM ET, 07/10/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: landlord

Posted at 10:30 AM ET, 07/09/2012

Watergate apartment sells for record-setting $3.1M

By Kathy Orton

Sale may signal comeback of venerable complex.

By Kathy Orton | 10:30 AM ET, 07/09/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 05:30 AM ET, 07/09/2012

My renovation saga: the costs and benefits of a green roof

By Annette L. Olson

Our Petworth homeowner looks at whether a green roof makes financial sense.

By Annette L. Olson | 05:30 AM ET, 07/09/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Olson

Posted at 10:00 AM ET, 07/06/2012

Kensington home, once owned by Harry McPherson, for $2.5M

By Abha Bhattarai

House of the week | This 5,900-square-foot home was built in1894. It has five bedrooms.

By Abha Bhattarai | 10:00 AM ET, 07/06/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 12:34 PM ET, 07/05/2012

Report optimistic about D.C. condo market

By Kathy Orton

Increased sales and prices lead to continued improvement.

By Kathy Orton | 12:34 PM ET, 07/05/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 10:00 AM ET, 07/05/2012

Mortgage rates hit new lows

By Kathy Orton

The 30-year fixed-rate average has met or matched a record low in 10 of past 11 weeks.

By Kathy Orton | 10:00 AM ET, 07/05/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 05:30 AM ET, 07/04/2012

Apartment hunter: The harsh reality of finding an apartment in Washington D.C.

By Jon Fox

For Jon Fox and his roommates, it’s time to get real in an unreal D.C. rental market.

By Jon Fox | 05:30 AM ET, 07/04/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Jon Fox

Posted at 05:30 AM ET, 07/03/2012

Housing sales activity shows increase

By Lisa A. Sturtevant

Sales were up region-wide four out of the last five months, and pending sales also increased.

By Lisa A. Sturtevant | 05:30 AM ET, 07/03/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: sturtevant

Posted at 12:00 PM ET, 07/02/2012

Habitat for Humanity breaks ground for passive homes in Ivy City

By Kathy Orton

The group held a a ceremony recognizing the completion of its Ivy City Phase II and the start of Phase III.

By Kathy Orton | 12:00 PM ET, 07/02/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

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Where We Live: July, 2012