17 March 2010 9:10 PM |Dear PoP, Neighborhoods - Petworth, Real Estate | 88 Comments
Photo from PoPville Flickr user awmiller
“Dear PoP,
My fiancée and I have been looking for houses for a year now. Petworth is one of our 1st neighborhood choices as we love the balance between urban convenience and green space/parks (we have been looking at houses below Allison St). However, our search has been very frustrating as we have lost house after house to real estate investor who swoop in and offer all cash (I think we have submit and lost offers on 10+ homes now). We have offered over the listing price multiple times now but cash rules everything around us(?). We have since expanded our search to include other “edge” or developing neighborhoods but it is definitely a city-wide trend. From a neighborhood perspective, I guess it is a good thing (depending who you speak to) because investors will make improvements and then flip the house to others, thus improving the housing stock of a neighborhood and driving up home values but we can’t seem to win even though we have what I think to be an adequate budget (up to $450k) for the area.
I don’t know who these investors are (I have created a mental image of a Porsche convertible driving, latte sipping, sun glass wearing, Louis Vutton bag holding, toy poodle having, trust fund baby to help me cope) but in all reality it has been pretty sobering.
I guess my question is, are there any other aspiring home owners out there feeling the same frustration and does anyone know when a regular Joe with financing and not cash will be able to win?”
I feel like I have heard similar stories in Petworth, Columbia Heights and Bloomingdale. To be honest I’m shocked that you have been unable to close on a property in Petworth for $450k. I hope that if you persevere the right home will come through for you. But for others out there shopping around, have you noticed that developers/flippers are getting all the “good” homes?
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17 March 2010 9:05 PM |Pets | 12 Comments
17 March 2010 9:04 PM |DC Government | 8 Comments
From a Press Release:
“Councilmember Bowser introduces bills to open government meetings and to regulate pawnshop operations
The “Predatory Pawnbroker Regulation Act” establishes that the Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking will regulate pawn shops like payday lenders and check cashing operations. The bill would cap at 24 percent the interest rate that a pawn shop may charge.
Councilmember Bowser said, “In many cases, people who sell items to pawn shops are down on their luck. These people need protection from unscrupulous practices, so pawn shops should be subjected to the usury law, just like other lenders in the District.”
The “Predatory Pawnbroker Regulation Act” has been referred to Councilmember Bowser’s Committee on Public Services and Consumer Affairs.”
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17 March 2010 9:03 PM |History, Neighborhoods - U Street | 1 Comment
I’d never noticed this sign before perhaps because it’s not facing the street but info is super interesting:
It’s located next to Vinoteca Wine Bar on 11th:
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17 March 2010 9:02 PM |Pop Ups | 8 Comments
17 March 2010 9:01 PM |Sculpture | 2 Comments
17 March 2010 9:00 PM |House of the Day | 2 Comments
17 March 2010 4:36 PM |Bars, Neighborhoods - H St. NE | 20 Comments
Photo via creative commons from Anosmia
I stopped by for a drink last night and learned some very interesting news – all of the crazy memorabilia is being removed. Apparently it belongs to a (possibly defunct) museum in Baltimore. I asked the bartender what the new theme would be and he said he wasn’t sure.
And here’s even crazier news from twitter – @HStreetDC writes:
“H St’s @RedandBlackBar and Palace of Wonder will have new partnership: Red and Black Palace. Great new burger joint, bigger bands
and
Joe Englert presenting plans to ANC’s ABL committee to combine Palace of Wonders and @RedandBlackBar.”
I also asked the bartender about this but he said he hadn’t heard about it. Stay tuned for more info as it becomes available.
Update: More from HStreetDC in the comments:
“Englert and Nicklas presented the merger to the ANC6a ABL committee on Tuesday night. They have to tear out a second floor wall between the two places and even out the floor levels to make one big performance space with a good stage. They can get national level bands with the additional space. The burlesque-type acts will still be featured several nights a week.
They’ll add a real kitchen with American food, featuring gourmet burgers. Food probably by Folkman and Cashion.
Why the ABL? Two liquor licenses, two voluntary agreements. They’ll have to merge them and that requires bureaucratic changes.”
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17 March 2010 4:00 PM |Buildings | 4 Comments
17 March 2010 3:45 PM |Random | 6 Comments
From an email:
“This Thursday at noon, join the Human Rights Campaign, veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, and nationally known entertainer Kathy Griffin at a rally on Freedom Plaza to call for the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” this year… http://www.hrcbackstory.org/2010/03/dc-join-hrc-veterans-and-kathy-griffin-for-a-dadt-rally-thursday/
Facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=368755127225&index=1“
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17 March 2010 3:30 PM |Festival | 5 Comments
Photo by PoPville flickr user JosephLeonardo
Don’t forget this great service:
“If you plan to celebrate, please do so responsibly. WRAP’s 2010 St. Patrick’s Day SoberRide program will be offered from 4 pm, Wednesday, March 17 to 4 am, Thursday, March 18, 2010. To receive a free cab ride home, please call 800-200-8294 (TAXI) or #8294 (TAXI) on your AT&T wireless phone.”
Have fun!
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17 March 2010 3:00 PM |Rentals of the Week, Southeast | 14 Comments
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This apartment is located at M St SE & 3rd St SW.
The Craigslist ad says:
“This charming efficiency has been newly renovated with contemporary, modern designs in Washington’ premier Southwest Waterfront Community, Carrollsburg. This unit is located on the top level floor. Enjoy the relaxing views of the National Stadium, as well as, views of the southern skyline.
*Granite counter tops
*All new appliances
*Chrome and stainless steel fixtures
*Berber carpet
*In-building laundry facilities
*Secured building
*Walk to Metro and SW Waterfront or enjoy the POOLSIDE!
*Unit has personal parking space: $170.00 per month (negotiable)”
I’ve been curious about Waterfront apartments. Does $1200 sound reasonable for this one? What do you think of the neighborhood?
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17 March 2010 2:30 PM |contest | 21 Comments
I think this is gonna be super difficult but a reader has faith. He writes:
“I picked up this rather old postcard last weekend at a shop in Harpers Ferry. I think it’s the perfect caption contest pic to run for St. Patrick’s Day”.
So we’ll just have to have two caption contests today!
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