Dear PoP – Developers/Flippers are Buying all the Good Homes

17 March 2010 9:10 PM |Dear PoP, Neighborhoods - Petworth, Real Estate | 88 Comments

02.21.10
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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88 Comments
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Best Happy Hour in the City?

17 March 2010 9:06 PM |Bars, Neighborhoods - U Street | 11 Comments

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Gori Cafe is located at 1113 V Street, NW. I’m sure I’ve mentioned it before but after paying $8 for a drink last night I had to share this happy hour with you again. It may not be the coolest place in the city but I’m really digging this deal. Think it’s big enough to host the next PoP happy hour (to welcome spring and plan the next PoP clean up)?

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Is This Dog Really Happy or Really Sad?

17 March 2010 9:05 PM |Pets | 12 Comments

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I think I once showed these dogs from Columbia Heights back in the day. But I couldn’t take my eyes off them last weekend. I’m curious what you guys think because they seem very content to me. How long should dogs stay in a vestibule before it starts to be cruel?

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Should Pawn Shops Be Regulated?

17 March 2010 9:04 PM |DC Government | 8 Comments

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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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Historic Grocery Protest Site on 11th Just South of U St, NW

17 March 2010 9:03 PM |History, Neighborhoods - U Street | 1 Comment

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I’d never noticed this sign before perhaps because it’s not facing the street but info is super interesting:

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It’s located next to Vinoteca Wine Bar on 11th:

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Very Early Pop Up

17 March 2010 9:02 PM |Pop Ups | 8 Comments

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I’m very nervous how this is gonna turn out…

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Home Decoration of the Day

17 March 2010 9:01 PM |Sculpture | 2 Comments

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It is so wild how this was placed directly on the side of a row house. Do you like it or think it’s a bit over the top?

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House of the Day

17 March 2010 9:00 PM |House of the Day | 2 Comments

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I’m always facisnated by the particular brick used on this home. There are a few other examples of this type of brick in Adams Morgan, I think. Do you think the fourth floor is original to this home or a pop up?

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Big Changes in Store for Palace of Wonders on H St, NE

17 March 2010 4:36 PM |Bars, Neighborhoods - H St. NE | 20 Comments

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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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Construction Fail Outside Big Bear Cafe

17 March 2010 4:15 PM |Neighborhoods - Bloomingdale | 5 Comments

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Thanks to a reader for sending this unfortunate photo. Big Bear Cafe is located at 1st and R Streets, NW in Bloomingdale.

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Judging Buildings

17 March 2010 4:00 PM |Buildings | 4 Comments

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This building is located at 1630 19th Street, NW and actually houses a skin clinic. Nice diggs for a clinic! Anyway I like how it blends the old with the new. Does the more modern expansion work for you?

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Kathy Griffin headlines “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” rally in DC TOMORROW

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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Don’t Forget Sober Ride Tonight

17 March 2010 3:30 PM |Festival | 5 Comments

Old Driver.
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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Wed. Afternoon Rental Option

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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Bonus St. Paddy’s Day Caption Contest

17 March 2010 2:30 PM |contest | 21 Comments

irish

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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