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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
It is hard to imagine that we still are short of "decent listings" in Montgomery County. The number of pending homes sales has beendown for the past two months. In part this is due to the season and in my opinion to nervousness over the recent government budget battle. However, in spite of this there are still not many good homes out there to show to my purchaser clients. I find the market is a little strange in that some houses are selling amazingly fast while a number of homes are sitting on the market with relatively few people going to see them. The reason? Well, I think there has been some fundamental changes in the tastes of the general buying public over the course of the past decade that has an impact on the housing market. One reason is due to the recent banking crisis. Buyers have grown more cautious and selective in the past few years and are looking very carefully at the condition of a home before rushing into a purchase. They are looking for long term value and this generally translates into carefully selecting a home that has lots of recent upgrades. Buyers do not want to take on an expensive mortgage in addition to buying a home that will need additional money poured into it over the next few years to update kitchens, baths and mechanical systems. In addition, I really think that the newer generation of buyers are just not into buying homes that need fixing up. It just seems that younger buyers seem to have better things to do than spend a lot of time working on their homes.
If I had to pick one major problem area with a home not selling my first choice would be that dated kitchen Old baths and mechanical systems are important too but the kitchen is where it all starts. My reasoning is simple. If three decades of showing homes have taught me one thing, it is that ninety per cent of the time when a prospective buyer first enter a home, they head straight for the kitchen. Yep, they do not look at the furnace, or the water pipes or for that matter the roof, they go look at the kitchen. So, if the kitchen has old Formica counter tops or a worn vinyl floor then you as the seller are going to lose a lot of buyers right from the get go. Lets face it, nobody wants your old Amanda Radar Range these days. To put it bluntly, buyers want to see new, modern kitchens. And if your kitchen is dated then you are not dealing from strength when looking to market your home. If somebody does turn out to be interested in your home then they are going to start figuring up how much it will cost them to upgrade the kitchen with the intention of offering less. This will translate into both a longer time for your on the market and a much lower selling price. So yes, I would say that it is a smart thing to consider putting some money into your kitchen before putting your home on the market. If you would like me to come by and help you evaluate your home prior to listing it just contact me and I will be glad to come and give you home a look.
It is important to note that most sellers do not need to gut and renovate their kitchens to make them look significantly better. On a much more modest scale, the addition of new counter tops and fixtures or some new appliances and a few new handles and knobs on the cabinets will do the trick It does not necessarily have to be expensive to get your kitchen looking nicer. Here is a great video from Lowe's Youtube site that shows you how you can upgrade your kitchen without busting the budget.
Most everybody has heard of "the house" located in the Woodside neighborhood of Silver Spring. Certainly everybody who practices real estate in Silver Spring is aware of it. When I first got married my wife and I lived in the North Woodside neighborhood, near Snider's supermarket. We loved the area. At the time, the Hecht Company and JC Penny were still located in downtown Silver Spring and it was a nice walk from our house. Woodside is a great place to live and Woodside Park features some of the most upscale homes to be found in close-in Silver Spring. But then there is "the house." A home unfortunate to have two totally unrelated murders take place inside of it. The two crime took place about a decade apart and the victims were on both occasions the owners of the home. As a Realtor I followed the eventual resale of the home out of a morbid professional curiosity more than anything else. You can imagine that a home where two brutal crimes took place is not going to be an easy sell.The last murder occurred in 2010 and the home eventually went to foreclosure and was totally renovated. It now has new owners. They actually went and changed the street number of the home in an attempt to erase the stigma and bad mojo associated with the home.
I am a bit ashamed to to say that my thoughts were more with the home than the people that the tragedies affected. That changed today when I heard an excellent but sad report on NPR about Brian Betts, the last owner of the home and an up and coming school principal in the District of Columbia. Here is a link to the audio podcast of the story of Brian Betts and Shaw Middle School as reported by NPR. I hope that you will find time to listen to it.
It got me thinking about one of my favorite childhood stories, Ray Bradbury's " A Sound of Thunder." Where a man is taken back in time to on a guided dinosaur hunt but accidentally changes the course of the future world when he steps on a butterfly that he was not supposed to step on. Thus the chaos theory called the Butterfly Effect.
After hearing this sad tale of a crime committed on one man and the eventual impact it had not just on him and his family but on an entire school and the community that relied on him, the plight of the house really does not seem as significant to me any more. I am glad the home has new owners and they did get a good deal on it. Time will erode the memory of the events that took place within the home. But Shaw Middle School and Brian Betts are gone forever. What a crime that is.
Once in a while a blogger has the right to digress.
I see a lot of mention of Abraham Lincoln's sublime Gettysburg Address in the news and on Facebook today (Nov. 19th) on the 150th anniversary of his speech. It has to be one of the greatest public speeches of all time and certainly is a landmark in our on American History. I myself get so much out of reading his speech and have read it many times. I am reprinting it here today so that you can read it. Bear in mind that there is no exact historical version of the text and there are only drafts and post speech written copies that all vary a bit. The following version is from the Hay copy which is owned by the Library of Congress.
Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth, upon this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived, and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met here on a great battlefield of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of it, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this. But in a larger sense, we can not dedicate — we can not consecrate — we can not hallow — this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember, what we say here, but can never forget what they did here. It is for us, the living, rather to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they have, thus far, so nobly carried on. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us — that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion – that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain; that this nation shall have a new birth of freedom; and that this government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.
It is a moving document to read. In addition I think it is a good idea to post Mr. Lincoln's letter to Mrs. Bixby that he wrote to her after being informed by the war department that she had lost all five of her sons on the field of battle while fighting for the Union cause. Perhaps I am a bit jaded but if I heard this sort of language today from a politician I would not give it much credit. But when Lincoln wrote of the "alter of freedom" I feel like he really meant and believed in what he was saying.
Executive Mansion, Washington, November 21, 1864.
Mrs. Bixby, Boston, Massachusetts: DEAR MADAM: I have been shown in the files of the War Department a statement of the Adjutant-General of Massachusetts that you are the mother of five sons who have died gloriously on the field of battle. I feel how weak and fruitless must be any words of mine which should attempt to beguile you from the grief of a loss so overwhelming. But I cannot refrain from tendering to you the consolation that may be found in the thanks of the Republic they died to save. I pray that our Heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement, and leave you only the cherished memory of the loved and lost, and the solemn pride that must be yours to have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of freedom.
I hear a lot of back and forth talk today about the future of Bus Rapid Transit lines in Montgomery county. Planning for these lines along major commuter arteries in the county have been in the works for a few years now and I really am a big proponent of the idea. However, there is a lot of resistance to the BRT and many residents are concerned about it's impact on their communities.
For me this is a "no brainer." Traffic congestion is getting worse in the region and the one thing that everybody can agree on is that the traffic issue is not going to get better. The county will continue to grow and that means more commutes to work every day by it's residents. I think there is a lot of uncertainty about what a BRT system is and how it works. Well, I found this really nice video that shows BRT systems all over the world. It is very well done and can give you an idea of how they work and how they look. Check it out. BRT systems are very nice, cost efficient and are sure to enhance the communities that they pass through-especially those communities that are not already on a metro line.
There are two givens with this region that cannot be ignored. One, is that the density of the population is going to increase and there is no close-in neighborhood that will be immune from the pressures that this brings on. Your community can't close the door on higher density development and we homeowners must brace for the changes. The second given, and I think this is good news, is that there is a direct correlation between excellent transportation facilities and home values. For the average homeowner in the Silver Spring area, the BRT system is going to be a good thing.
I know that this one is not technically in Washington, DC but I am going to mention it because it is too nice to miss. Brookside Gardens is located in Silver Spring, MD (Wheaton, to be exact) and aside from a being a very nice "free" place to visit at all times of the year, features it's annual Garden of Lights this time of year. The event runs from November 29th of this year through January 5th of 2014 with closings for for a few days around Christmas and New Years. We have pretty much gone every year since it began and it just get's better (and more crowded) each year. Last year I even took an unplanned dip into the pond but that is another story for another blog post.
Basically they take a portion of the grounds and decorate the foliage and surrounding area with an amazing display of colorful holiday lights. Typically entrance to Brookside Gardens does not cost anything, however, they do charge admission for the Garden of Lights. You pay by the vehicle ($20) for a car so it pays to load up the ole sedan with as many friends and family members as you can stomach as there is no extra charge. As long as it is only one vehicle you are good to go. The images here speak for themselves so dress warm, take a thermos of cider and go have a great evening.
Some nights it can get a bit crowded. Best time to go is on a weeknight and if you go early, say right after sunset, you won't have problem.
Brookside Gardens is a great place to go anytime of the year. Any time of year there is just lovely and they always have something special going on such as the Wings of Fancy butterfly exhibit in the spring and summer months. Brookside is well worth the visit and should be on your list of places to take family and visitors when they come from out of town. But the Garden of Lights is the "place to be" for the next six weeks or so and would be the perfect outdoor event to get on your holiday calendar.
It is unfortunate that the Washington Navy Yard has been in the news so much lately Until the recent tragedy on the grounds, very few people in the region knew much about it. I think it is important to write about it now because this is one of my all time favorite places in DC and people need to know about it and go see it. I can't remember how many times I have been to the National Museum of the US Navy in my life. Located on the grounds of the The Washington Navy Yard which in itself if a historical treasure dating back to the War of 1812, I remember my dad first taking my brothers and me down there when were were little kids. I have been back many times. It is a great place to take nieces and nephews as well as out of town visitors.
I have to admit, I just have always loved ships and things naval and this is the place for me to get my fix. I love the fact that admission is free and the museum is located in one of the old Navy Yard workshops complete with overhead cranes on rail tracks. In spite of the military theme, you will find it to be a great place to take kids because there are things there that they encourage them to climb on. How many museums do you know of that allow that? It is a very intimate place but has wonderful stuff to see. And, like so many of my favorite Washington, DC sites the Navy Yard Museum is under-visited. I can't think of a time that I have been there when there were more than a dozen or so other visitors. Best thing there for me is the ship models, which feature amazing detail and can be quite large. Kids will like the para scope room where they can use actual submarine scopes to scan the surrounding shipyard for enemy vessel. There is an outdoor park with lots of odd knickknacks and an old 1950s destroyer (USS Barry) tied up at the dock for the public to tour.
For most of my life, Southeast Washington was considered a pretty hairy and dangerous part of town. However, all of a sudden it is the place to be in DC. With the new Nationals Park baseball stadium and the Anacostia River Walk Trail, the area is changing rapidly and offers plenty of great places to see and eat. Adults will need a valid drivers license to get pass the front gate of the Navy Yard and don't be surprised if they search your car trunk. However that is a small price to pay to get into this gem of a place.
For my wife's birthday a few years ago I took her down to see the beautiful National Building Museum. Old timers in DC know it as the Old Pension Building. The building was designed by Montgomery C. Meigs who hailed from my native state of Georgia and is one of my favorite unsung heroes of the American Civil War.
Built before modern artificial ventilation, the building was designed to maximize air circulation: all offices not only had exterior windows, but also opened onto the court, which was designed to admit cool air at ground level and exhaust hot air at the roof. Made of brick and tile, the stairs were designed for the limitations of disabled and aging veterans, having a gradual ascent with low steps. In addition, each step slanted slightly from back to front to allow easy drainage: a flight could be washed easily by pouring water from the top. wikipedia
Admission to the building is "free" but there are always some special exhibits that you might want to see and they will charge a few bucks admission for those. Or don't see any special exhibits. Frankly, just a trip to see the grand lobby of the building and to walk around the interior will make your day. The building constructed in 1887 is all brick, and the massive Greek style columns in the open interior court are worth the trip alone. The museum is located between G and F streets, just a short walk from the Judiciary Square Metro Station.
Now is the best time to go because if there are no special events scheduled you are pretty much assured that there will be few other visitors around to cramp your views. However, if you can wait until next summer then the coolest thing to see is the Annual Indoor Mini Golf Course.
I really don't know how I lived in Washington for all these years and missed The President Woodrow Wilson House. I really like old historic homes and try to see as many as I can. Located in the Kalorama part of DC, this is the home that President Wilson and his wife lived in after he was president until his death in 1924. His wife who was younger in age continued to live in the home until her death in 1961 when it then became a museum. The great thing about the Wilson home is that the interior is basically in the same condition that it was when he died in 1924. I really liked the fact that you can see how a 1920s style home looked and worked on a day to day basis. In addition many of the Wilson's personal effects such as their clothing and photos are still in the home for the public to see. Wilson apparently loved modern gadgets and my favorite things in the tour was the primitive intercom system that he had installed in the home.
It costs ten bucks for a tours of the home. (About the cost of a burger in the downtown area.) I recommend that you check it out. The house is a great example of the Georgian Revival Style and the Kalorama area is a fun place to walk as there are an amazing number of fine homes in the neighborhood for you to gawk at. If you want to see what homes are selling for in Kalorama Heights you can visit my website
We took my niece and grandniece down to the Washington National Zoo two weeks ago. Although my niece loved the zoo, she told me that the most amazing thing about the zoo is that admission is free. She is from Austin Texas and the nearest zoo in San Antonio costs money to get into. That got me thinking about Washington versus other cities. We really have a unique city in that so many great tourist sites are free to see, or cost very little. Here are a few of my favorites. The first that comes to mind is the National Cathedral.
When I was a kid, they were actually still building the cathedral. My mom used to take us downtown to see the stone work that they were preparing to place on the walls and spires under construction. In addition when you visit we visited the cathedral there were all sorts mysterious passages and staircases that are closed to the general public. I can't imagine many ten year old kids who would not fantasize about climbing up those narrow stone spiral staircases? Well, it turns out you can. For my birthday a few years back my wife took me on a special guided tour of the cathedral that allows you to see all sorts of magical places. Best part was that we went on a weekday in the winter (always the best time to go see things) and we were the only ones on the guided tour given by two very elderly and knowledgeable docents. Our tour included plenty of fun nooks and crannies such as a trip onto the roof (made of lead, you know) where we could gaze on unseen gargoyles and panoramic vistas of DC, and a trip to the attic vaults to see some of the "brick and mortar" bones of the cathedral.
Two of the many gargoyles on the cathedral. The creature to the right is from the move "Alien."
There are a number of specialty tours of the National Cathedral that you can take as well, such as a climb up the massive bell tower. Our tour was called "Behind the Scenes" and took about 90 minutes to complete. Fee for the tour was $15 and was well worth it.
We had a neighbor in Hillandale recently install a new geothermal heating and cooling system and that got me interested in looking into this new alternate energy source. In this area a typical home uses over 50% of its total annual energy cost for heating, cooling and hot water. A geothermal system can save you a significant amount of money over time. Up to $100 a month. The issue is time. Installing a geothermal system is not cheap so you would have to be in your home a number of years for it to pay off. However, a money saving environmentally friendly system can both add to the value of your home and help sell your home faster if you put it on the market. So, aside from the monthly savings there can be other unseen financial advantages to having a geothermal system installed. The systems are pretty reliable, and in this area you can expect to have a very low maintenance system for years to come. In fact most new or rebuilt Montgomery County schools now have geothermal systems in place. Both Key Middle and Cresthaven Elementary Schools in my neighborhood have been totally rebuilt and have modern geothermal systems. Here is a nice short video that I found on the web that explains the two types of geothermal systems.
I am amazed at how the market has recovered in Chevy Chase and Bethesda. It is getting very frustrating to find suitable homes for my clients in this area. And, when a nice home comes up on the market, it seems like there are already a number of folks waiting in line with offers. Many of them above the asking price.
That brings us to the beautiful neighborhood of Burnt Mills Hills. This small community (about sixty homes) located near Lockwood Drive and New Hampshire Ave offers up what I consider the best luxury home values in the close-in Metro area. Consisting of mostly older homes built just before and after World War II the community features quality homes build on broad expansive lots with lots of trees and privacy. It is the large lots that get me. Similar homes are just impossible to find elsewhere without traveling further out.
A number of homes in the neighborhood were designed by John Nutter, a local architect of some renown who at 101 years of age still lives in Burnt Mills Hills in the home he designed for himself. Fourteen of the homes in Burnt Mills Hills are Mr Nutter's designs.
The problem with Burnt Mills Hills is that there are very few listings ever on the market at any time. Currently there are no homes for sale there and only two homes have sold in all of 2013 so far. The first one is on Jarboe Ave. and it sold for $960,000 in October
And the second home sold back in the summer of 2013. It was on Burnt Mills Ave and sold for only $799,000 which seemed like a very good price to me.
If you are getting frustrated with the lack of good homes and skyrocketing values in Bethesda and Chevy Chase then I suggest you take a look at some of the great neighborhoods such as Burnt Mills Hills that are located along the New Hampshire Ave corridor in Silver Spring. For a list of homes currently on the Market in this area you can go here.
It has been a couple of years since I last posted about the Food and Drug Administration White Oak Campus. When I last reported the total work force at the FDA was just pushing past the 5,000 workers mark. Actually, in the past two years this number has not changed much. However, there is still major construction going on and the scheduled completion of a few new buildings should give the facility a boost in it's worker population. By 2017 the projection number of workers should exceed 8,000 employees. After that there is no real projected growth for beyond 2017 as the campus will be pretty much built out. However I would not be surprised to see more buildings and space open up with the passage of time as that seems to be the norm for all government facilities.
Originally there was a lot of griping and resistance to the FDA coming to White Oak but it seems that most objections have faded away and the local communities have not only accepted the new facility but embrace it as well. Hillandale, my own community, which abuts the campus is a good example. I really think the stabilizing real estate market in Hillandale owes a lot to the growth of the campus. To be sure, our road traffic is a little worse but the FDA has brought a lot of good paying jobs to the area and we have seen a number of FDA employees purchase homes in Hillandale, not to mention some of the other surrounding neighborhoods such as Burnt Mills Hills, and Burnt Mills. We have also seen our local Key Middle School and Cresthaven Elementary School reconstructed as modern, state of the art facilities. We waited a long time in Hillandale for this to happen but the FDA campus seems to have helped move this process along. When my wife and I first moved to this area, I jokingly referred to the New Hampshire Ave. corridor between the White Oak and Hillandale Shopping Center's as "dining's death valley." There were just so few options for decent dining out. Nowadays it is different with both shopping centers offering a broad choice excellent places to eat.
With the arrival of the FDA my community is really shaping up to be a great place to live and work. And as any Realtor will tell you. The neighborhoods around the FDA campus offers up some of the best home values in close-in Montgomery County. Click on this Hillandale link if you want to see what is on the market in Hillandale and the rest of the 20903 zip code. And if you are curious about the value of your own home you can go here to get an estimate of your home's worth in today's market.
In my community of Hillandale, Maryland a lot of the homes were built in the 1950s and 1960s. Back in those days air conditioning was not too common and considered an expensive luxury. Many homes instead had "whole house fans" installed. Typically you see a whole house fan installed in the ceiling between the upper level of a home and the attic. They are pretty big and when turned on the force of the fan opens up louvers in the ceiling and pulls fresh air into the house through open windows and vents it out through the attic. Not only does it cool the house with fresh outside air but the fan also pushes hot air out of the attic space. This actually benefits the home in two ways as an attic without ventilation can get very hot in the summer and force your cooling system to work harder. You really do not see whole house fans installed in newer homes and I can't figure out why. Even with a central air system in place, a whole house fan can save a homeowner a wad of cash. It is estimated that a modern whole house fan uses about 1/10th the electricity that a central air conditioner would. You can still run your AC in the hottest days but when the outside temperature is below 80 and the humidity low, a whole house fan will keep you house just as cool. Here is a nice little video that I found that explains the principal of whole house fans in a quick nutshell.
Whole house fans are not too expensive but if it is not in your budget you can get yourself a high quality window fan that can just about do as good of a job as a whole house fan. I have an "Air King" window fan that goes into my window in the spring and comes out in the fall when the weather cools. It is bit noisier than a installed whole house fan but it is a "brute" and does a great job of ventilating my home.
I took a minute yesterday and walked through the cemetery located on the Grounds of Grace Episcopal Church. Located on Georgia Avenue just out of downtown Silver Spring. Grace Church has a long history in Silver Spring dating back to before the American Civil War.
Back when I lived in North Woodside my wife and I liked to walk our dog in the neighborhood and would on occasion visit the cemetery. I sort of like old cemeteries but this one is unique in that there is a marker there for 17 unknown Confederate soldiers who lost their lives nearby in the summer of 1864.
In July of 1864 a Confederate force under the command of Jubal Early moved into Maryland near Sharpsburg and raised heck in Maryland. Eventually they ended up marching through Silver Spring up to the very gates of Washington DC. Although, the region was thrown into a panic the attack proved to be just that, "a raid" and posed no serious threat to the eventual outcome of the conflict. Once the Confederate troops bumped up against the strong fortifications of Fort Stevens (located just over the DC line near where 13th Street meets Georgia Avenue) they really could not go any further. After two days of noisy skirmishing the Confederates pulled back and melted back into Virginia. Probably the most significant achievement of the raid in Silver Spring was the burning down of Montgomery Blair's home on July 12, 1864
I often wonder who these soldiers were and how they met their fates. I assume that most were killed in the fighting around Fort Stevens and not near the church. According to a earlier blog post by Allen Brown the bodies were buried at various sites around the area and gathered up for reburial well after the battle. Ironically Montgomery Blair contributed funds to this effort. Visiting the monument brings home the tragedy of the Civil War. It is hard to imagine that 150 years ago Americans were fighting and killing one another over the very ground that we live, work and play on today. If you get a minute you should stop by the church and visit the memorial.
This Sunday I held an open house on Potomac Street in Georgetown. It was one of those priceless Washington fall days and I took the long route back to my parked car so that I could enjoy some of the wonderful architecture unique to the neighborhood. I chanced to walk down P St. near Georgetown University and discovered that the street still had it old cobblestone pavement with a single streetcar track running down the middle.
I really loved the look of the street and if I was a resident of the city it would be just the kind of street that I would want my home on.
I am old enough to remember the old DC Transit streetcars which were still running when my family first moved to Washington. As a small child I found them fascinating and it always exited me to go downtown with my parents and see them working their way across town. They were kind of cool looking with the ugliest green paint on them. Sad to say, I never got to ride on one before they were taken out of service.
The great news is that we will have a new streetcar system working in the District of Columbia. It will be limited at first but I am hopeful that we will eventually see more viable streetcar lines connecting our communities. The first line along the H St corridor is slated to begin operation n 2014. Eventually the plan is for the new system to consist of 8 lines covering a total of 32 miles. The new cars are modern looking and will be mostly bright red. I am voting for the old green color but then again, I wanted the Washington Nationals to be named the Senators and nobody paid much attention to me on that matter either.
I love Scottish food (insert beer here) and music. So why have I never been to the Royal Mile Pub in Wheaton MD. We paid a vist last night on the invitation of my brother who was playing with a local band there. The pub, a Wheaton fixture for 30 years, closed down in late 2011 due to financial trouble but reopened with a new owner in January of 2012. I am glad they did and we are glad that we finally discovered the place. The food is Scottish traditional fare-solid and soulful. We split a great fruit salad with walnuts and goat cheese and then dove into their famous Scottish beef stew. It was kind of funny because my wife's stew was full of beef and my bowl did not have one single piece of beef in it! But somehow I did not mind. The stew was so darn good that I would not have cared. However, my willing wife sent some of here ample beef cubes my way and I just let the matter pass. I had a Belhaven Scottish Ale which was smooth as silk and served only slightly chilled which is the way it should be.
I highly recommend that you give the Royal Mile Pub a look. It is located on Price Ave., near the new Safeway in Wheaton. Take my word for it, downtown Wheaton MD is destined to be the next real estate hot spot in Montgomery County. With it's own metro station and it walkable core of fine inexpensive restaurants it would not be a bad place to look for a home. If you want to see some of the homes for sale near the Wheaton Metro then click in this link.
We did the Zoo thing today with my great niece. It was a lovely fall day for a visit and we saw lots of wonderful things. We really do have one of the best zoos in the world right here in Washington, DC and it just keeps getting better. Today the place was decorated up for the zoo's annual Boo at the Zoo Halloween celebration. There are some amazing skeleton displays there. Somebody has a great sense of humor and had a good time setting them up. I highly recommend that you make it a point to get down to the zoo this week. Check the schedule though as times have changed due to the Halloween events. And remember that the Boo at the zoo requires you to pay admission.
Am I the only one in Washington unaware of the incredible new carousel that was built right in front of the big cat exhibit? Apparently, the Speedwell Conservation Carousel opened last November and I have to admit that it is one of the most lovely carousels that I have ever seen. Admission to the zoo is free to all visitors (quite a deal these days) but a ride on the carousel will cost you three dollars. And, it is worth it as you "must" see the unique animals on the carousel up close. They are finely crafted and unique from most other carousel rides. I am telling you, go to the zoo. You can thank me later....
The improvement in home values over the past two years has greatly reduced the number of short sales on the market. For the investor or home buyer who is not pressed for time, a short sale can be a good buy. Generally you can purchase a home for below market cost because of the distressed nature of the sale. However, in many areas including the eastern and outlying portions of Montgomery County, home values have yet to appreciate above the dizzying heights achieved around 2005-6. This means that there are still many homeowners who have mortgages where the principal owned is still higher than the value of the home. For this reason, don't expect short sales to completely disappear for a few years yet. In the community where I live Hillandale MD there are now only four properties listed as short sales. This is far below the average numbers for the past few years. If you were to look in some communities in Howard or Prince George's Counties you will a greater proportion of short sales. In DC and West Montgomery County short sales have all but dried up.
There is good news in these numbers. The reduction in short sales on the market indicate a growing economy and improving housing market. This will help us all as equity in our homes in probably the biggest investment that most Americans will ever have. If you would like to explore distressed homes for sale in your community you can go to my own listing search engine. There you can use filters to find distressed homes or set up an alert to let you know when a distressed home comes on the market in your community.
