Priced out of DC? Why not take a look at Frederick.

Ever been to Frederick Maryland? It is one of my favorite towns in the state. My wife and I take every opportunity to get up there to visit friends or do a little shopping. If you like antiques and walking about, then Frederick is a great place to spend a day-or live for that matter. Yes, I know that Frederick is a good way from the DC Metro area. But if you can't afford to purchase in DC then Frederick is an excellent option for you. The town has viable and walk-able downtown area that features excellent dining and entertainment. There is a sizable historic district featuring many fine old homes-some that predate the American Civil War. I don't know if you would want to commute by car to Washington from Frederick as the traffic is pretty rough but there is a commuter train that runs from Frederick to Washington's Union Station. A few years back I sold a home in Frederick to some friends who work in Washington and I am told that commuting on the train is a lot different than driving to work. The time on the train is much more relaxing as you can do things that you can't in the car, such as read a good book or take a nap.


If you want to be in the downtown Frederick area (and really that is what these articles are about) then you are mostly talking about an older historic home. There are some very nice new condos located close to the center of town but the supply is limited. Best of all is that housing prices in Frederick are very inexpensive compared to Washington DC.  Over the the past decade Frederick has grown into a fairly large city with it's fair share of bedroom communities. However, you are always very close to the lovely Maryland country side. There is much to do in the region if you are into outdoor activities. I am partial to history and love to visit places like Harper's Ferry or some of the famous battlefield parks that populate this portion of Maryland.  The scenic Monoacacy River is very close to Frederick and features some fine fishing.


I myself have been thinking that my next home should be in a walkable town center. I am not a big fan of  the new, faux town centers that seem to be popping up all over the place these days, but want a real town center that has a little character to it. Frederick appeals to me as a good place to retire and stay within my budget. If  you find yourself growing frustrated with the prices of property in the District, give me a call. I would be glad to talk to you about Frederick. You can also go to my website's IDX search engine and take a look at some of the homes on the market in Frederick.

Priced out of DC? Perhaps it is time to think out of the box.

Yes, I know that the District of Columbia is "way cool" these days and considered to be one of the best place for young buyers looking for an urban lifestyle to own a home. Over the last decade the District has re-discovered it's vibrancy and offers many fine neighborhoods that have so much appeal for young homeowners.  However, the problem is that for so many young purchasers the values of DC properties has gone up so much in the past three years that it is no longer feasible to buy a home there. Many are stuck in a cycle of renting as they chase a dwindling supply of affordable living space.  As we get into the New Year there are two important factors to consider if you hope to find a home in DC. One, is that prices don't look like they are going to stop going up. Perhaps the high rate of appreciation will slow a bit but for the near future I can only see high demand working with low inventory to keep DC prices very high. The second thing to consider is that interest rates are bound to go up. We have been living in a rare period of ultra low interest rates for some time now. However rates must go up as the economy continues to improve. So if you have been looking without success for a home in the District, I don't think it is going to get any easier. Perhaps it is time to consider other options. Over the next few days I plan on exploring alternative communities that offer the same type of appeal and amenities that you might find in the District but at much lower prices. Of course, there will have to be trade offs-usually some sort of commute but if you can no longer buy in the District then a trade off is probably the best course for you.

Today I want to start with Old Hyattsville in Prince Georges County- "A World Within Walking Distance." Prince Georges County gets a lot of bad press these days but there are some very fine communities located

there that I have come to appreciate in my three decades of selling homes. The historic district of Hyattsville is one of my favorites. While Hyattsville itself is a large mixed community and covers a large area, it is the  historic section of town along with the surrounding neighborhoods that I am referring to. There are about 600 homes in the historic district dating from the 1880s to the 1940s. There are many styles but I think it is one of the best places in the Metro area to find a arts and crafts bungalow style home. Many of these homes but not all are Sears Roebuck catalog homes. (J.C. Penny and Montgomery Wards also offered catalog homes during this period). The historic district of Hyattsville is located along U.S. Route One where there is a core of small businesses and places to dine within easy walking or biking distance. In addition the University of Maryland is only a few miles away and there always something going on there. There has been some redevelopment in the area of late so there are some newer town homes and condos to be fond in the center of Hyattsville as well.

If you work in the District, Hyattsville is located inside the beltway so commuting distances are short. There are two nearby metro stations if you don't want to drive.

Now for the best part. For about the cost of a one bedroom condo in the hottest portions of DC, you can buy a nice single family home in the historic portion of Hyattsville. Take a look in my own search engine to see what is currently on the market in Hyattsville.

Another cheap Washington thing to do: The Dying Gaul

I remember as a kid my mom took my brothers and me down to the National Gallery of Art to see the Mona Lisa. I was pretty young at the time but found the experience amazing. I think I was more impressed by the crowd and long lines than anything else. And the solemn presentation of the painting. I remember how silent everybody was as if viewing a body at a funeral. As a work of art,  I really was too young to appreciate the significance of the Mona Lisa and only grew to know it when I was older. But I am glad my mom took us. The Mona Lisa does not travel out of France much. (only once to to the US  in 1963 and once to visit Tokyo) My mom also took us to see The Pieta when it paid a visit to the US. It was exhibited at the New York Worlds Fair in 1964. Once again, I was very young but I thought it was beautiful. I remember back then being impressed at how natural and smooth the stone looked.

My point is that I am pretty lucky to see two of the greatest works of art in the world. Not many can make that claim. I really appreciated my mother for making it happen.

We are very fortunate then that one of the most famous artworks of Western antiquity has come to our own National Gallery of Art. Much is unknown about the origins of "The Dying Gaul" which is currently on exhibit in the main rotunda of the Gallery and will be there until March 16th of next year. (The Washington Post article on the statue incorrectly states that it is leaving in January.) It is thought that the statue is a Roman  copy of a Greek bronze that has been lost to history. And here is a chance for you to see one of the finest examples of classical art for "free." Yes, you heard me. As far as I can tell there is no admission and you do not need to reserve a pass before hand. I am sure that the lines will be long and there might be some standing outside in the cold but if you are careful and go at off times (weekday morning when kids are in school) then you stand a better chance of seeing the statue without too much of a wait.

And I say do it. This statue has not left Italy for 200 years and it is not likely to be back in the US in any of our lifetimes. I can speak from experience. Works of art such as these will stick in your minds for a lifetime. They are exceptional for the impression that they can make on people. Go see them and drag your kids along. Make them leave their cell phones in the car for a change. They probably won't but perhaps they just might thank you later. You never know.

The Good, the Bad and now the Ugly. Aluminium Windows.

Starting in the late 1950's, many builders began using all aluminium windows-especially for less expensive housing (not necessarily cheap though). This type of window offered up many attractive advantages over wood and steel windows. First off they were very inexpensive and easy to make. And, they were durable as all get out. There are a lot of homes around today, built before the energy crisis of the 1970's that still have their original single pane, aluminum windows. And it is no uncommon for them to be in very reasonable working condition. My neighborhood in Hillandale, MD has a lot of  ramblers, split foyers and split level style homes that were built in the 1960s. It is not uncommon to see aluminium windows in this style of home. My older Hillandale home has the old triple track aluminum storm windows over the original wood sash windows. I am guessing that they are over 40 years old. They are not too pretty but still effective as storm windows.

The real problem with aluminum widows is that they were made out of aluminum. And aluminium is known to be a great conductor of heat and cold. So if you have the old simple single pane aluminium windows or worse yet, sliding glass doors, you are losing a lot of energy. It just can't be helped. In addition, you have to admit that those windows are pretty darn ugly. So if you got em then by all means think of replacing them. You won't harm the architectural value of your home one bit by replacing those ugly old things, and it is one window replacement job where it probably will be cost effective over time as both an energy saver and as a means of increasing the value of your home.

The real issue is what to replace them with. There are a lot of good replacement windows out there including some new efficient aluminum windows. Just remember, that with windows it is true that you are going to get what you pay for. Don't go too cheap on the windows. Do your research and look for windows with solid long term warranties. And pay attention to the types of windows that might cause you problems. Lately some of the vinyl and aluminum clad wood windows (including some made by very reputable companies such as Pella and Anderson) have come under fire for defects. Below is an interesting video on the subject. So make sure that you are getting proven technology and look for quality windows that fit the look and style of your home.

Replace your window? Part Deux: Steel Casement Windows

In my last post I railed about needlessly replacing your old windows. However, there are times when window replacement does make sense. Some original windows are pretty crappy-especially those that are made of metal such as steel and aluminium. Steel casement windows were considered stylish, easy to maitain and inexpensive back in their day. There are some fine homes where the design was well integrated and the steel casement windows fit the home. Many old deco style homes were built with metal casement windows.

 A perfect example would be John  Joseph Earley's famous Polychrome homes located in the Four Corners area of Silver Spring. It would be criminal for a home owner to consider replacing the casement windows in an historic property. In many cases the windows are protected by local historical preservation laws. The problem is that these windows in their original form were poor insulators to begin with and tend to get worse as they age. In an historical home or even a home where they fit the architectural style of the property the key is to restore the windows-not to replace them. However, in some homes mostly built post World War II s it is just probably a better idea to replace them. A small brick track rambler in Silver Spring is not going to look any worse if the old casement windows are replaced by something different. The good news is that there are plenty of good replacement window options. If you have the desire you can opt not to use the standard vanilla vinyl sash windows as there are some attractive casement style replacement windows out there. I sold a home in Woodmoor some years ago and the new owners replaced the metal casement windows with some very good vinyl casement windows. In this case, the appearance of the home was actually improved. My point is that you need to try preserve your home's original look when replacing windows. Doing this should give you the best value when you go to sell your home.

Want to piss some money away? Why not replace your windows?

I know the title is somewhat inflammatory but it just drives me crazy when I show an older home in the DC Metro region to prospective buyers and the first thing I hear about is the need to replace the old windows. There are so many reasons that this is a bad idea and in my opinion a bad investment. My home was built in 1938 and it has the original double hung sash windows. I love them and they add to the charm and feel of the home. It is unfortunate that most things written about replacement windows are  the product of the same people who have a vested interest in getting you to drop a wad of bills on new windows. They tout the ease of use of new windows and the energy savings but when you look at the costs of new windows vs the benefits of keeping and repairing your old wood windows, then perhaps keeping the old will sound more attractive. Here are some of my reasons.

• No matter how expensive you go, your new windows will not be the same quality as your old windows. It is a fact, new windows cost a lot of money and they will never last as long as good quality older windows. Most replacement windows are vinyl and the quality can vary depending on the price. However vinyl eventually wears out and the average useful life of vinyl windows is about 20 years and you then will need to replace them again. Even high dollar (and good quality) wood replacement windows are not as good as old windows because older windows were made from high quality old growth wood that is not commercially available any more.
• Energy savings with new windows may not be as much as promised. The reason is only a small percentage of your energy losses is through your windows. Most energy loss in a home takes place in poorly insulated attics. Instead of spending thousands of dollars on new windows, you probably can spend less just upgrading your attic insulation and save more money in the end.
• Double pane vinyl windows are not necessarily better insulators that old wood windows. It is most important to understand that wood is a better insulator that plastic. A well maintained wood window with good storm windows may actually provide better insulation.  They now make decorator, low visibility storm  windows to replace the older exterior aluminum ones that do look pretty bad.
• As long as the old window is not totally rotted out, it can be repaired by a competent handy man. Some projects such as sash windows  that have been painted shut (quite common) will require a bit of restoration but broken sash cords, replacement window panes, glazing are all fairly simple jobs that either you or your handyman can do.
• I don't care what you say. Original windows just look better and will always complement the style and architecture of your home over any replacement window you can find. Simply put, these are the windows that the original builder intended your home to have. They reflect the era that your home was built. Street appeal adds value to your home and the wrong replacement windows can cost your value. 

Now there are times when you should replace those windows. Stay tuned for my next post.

Here is a nice simple video about old windows. I like the video because the old gent talking about them obviously knows his stuff. No slick sales pitch here.

I love old homes. If you are a fan and want to see values for older homes in Silver Spring or other areas pay to my web site.