Changing weather feels so good
I love this time of the year! The weather’s cool, the leaves are changing color and the air feels so good. I wish we this weather year round.
Went to a few open houses yesterday. Yesterday was the perfect day for that, it was such a beautiful day and people want to be outside when the weather's like that. Prices in the city are going out of sight. Saw one house that was listed at $925,000. It was a nice house but nothing spectacular. It had a beautiful backyard though. I'm sure it will sell quickly. Housing prices in this area continue to go up. When Donna and I were looking for a house a few years ago we could easily find something under $300,000, often around $250,000. Lately, the starting point is $350,000 or more. In less than two years, our house has increased in value by over $100,000. I don't know of any other investment that can give that kind of return. There's always talk about the bubble. Real estate economists that I pay attention to say this area won't feel a bubble because of the strong economy and the number of jobs that this area has to offer. The largest employer here is the federal government and it's not likely that the government will close up shop any time soon. We also have an abundance of law firms, trade associations, non-profits, for-profits, tech jobs, entertainment, retail and an endless list of others. I read in the Washington Post yesterday that some guru of culture and the arts who studies cities and has great knowledge about the best places to live picked Washington, DC as the best place to live. He noted the city’s culture, diversity, arts and many other things that have people wanting to be here. DC, for all its problems, is still a great place to be. I'll never forget the day I moved here and how I felt when I drove toward the 14th St. Bridge and saw the city's skyline. It made me cry. The city isn't perfect. The streets are still trashy (depending on where you live of course), the homeless population is out of control, city services leave a little to be desired and the politicians running the city are too busy running for mayor to do what's needed to make this a better place. I'll talk more about that later.
I also read in the paper that the Mount Pleasant neighborhood is experiencing a new rash of crime that has residents truly concerned. The murder of a young man last week was absolutely senseless. My biggest concern about this city is the appearance that the city pays more attention to certain neighborhoods than others. When the waiter at Annie's was murdered last year in Dupont Circle, police were all over the neighborhood and they're still there. Mount Pleasant is not Dupont but it deserves the same level of police presence. My neighborhood, Eckington, deserves that presence too. I know the police department is short staffed but DC needs to adopt a zero tolerance for petty crimes--loitering, public drunkenness, litter, etc. Giving those crimes a pass leads to more serious crimes. Have you been to NYC lately? That place has turned around 180 degrees. I used to be afraid to even go there let alone walk the streets by myself. DC should take a page from NYC's book. So many people in this city cry about civil rights and not wanting to infringe on those rights. But if you're breaking the law, why should anyone be concerned about your civil rights. That's just my opinion. I think I spent too much time this weekend in Upper Northwest.
Anyway, this is a great place for real estate investing. If you're thinking about jumping in, let me help.
Until next time, enjoy your day. Remember, you can rest when you die.
Went to a few open houses yesterday. Yesterday was the perfect day for that, it was such a beautiful day and people want to be outside when the weather's like that. Prices in the city are going out of sight. Saw one house that was listed at $925,000. It was a nice house but nothing spectacular. It had a beautiful backyard though. I'm sure it will sell quickly. Housing prices in this area continue to go up. When Donna and I were looking for a house a few years ago we could easily find something under $300,000, often around $250,000. Lately, the starting point is $350,000 or more. In less than two years, our house has increased in value by over $100,000. I don't know of any other investment that can give that kind of return. There's always talk about the bubble. Real estate economists that I pay attention to say this area won't feel a bubble because of the strong economy and the number of jobs that this area has to offer. The largest employer here is the federal government and it's not likely that the government will close up shop any time soon. We also have an abundance of law firms, trade associations, non-profits, for-profits, tech jobs, entertainment, retail and an endless list of others. I read in the Washington Post yesterday that some guru of culture and the arts who studies cities and has great knowledge about the best places to live picked Washington, DC as the best place to live. He noted the city’s culture, diversity, arts and many other things that have people wanting to be here. DC, for all its problems, is still a great place to be. I'll never forget the day I moved here and how I felt when I drove toward the 14th St. Bridge and saw the city's skyline. It made me cry. The city isn't perfect. The streets are still trashy (depending on where you live of course), the homeless population is out of control, city services leave a little to be desired and the politicians running the city are too busy running for mayor to do what's needed to make this a better place. I'll talk more about that later.
I also read in the paper that the Mount Pleasant neighborhood is experiencing a new rash of crime that has residents truly concerned. The murder of a young man last week was absolutely senseless. My biggest concern about this city is the appearance that the city pays more attention to certain neighborhoods than others. When the waiter at Annie's was murdered last year in Dupont Circle, police were all over the neighborhood and they're still there. Mount Pleasant is not Dupont but it deserves the same level of police presence. My neighborhood, Eckington, deserves that presence too. I know the police department is short staffed but DC needs to adopt a zero tolerance for petty crimes--loitering, public drunkenness, litter, etc. Giving those crimes a pass leads to more serious crimes. Have you been to NYC lately? That place has turned around 180 degrees. I used to be afraid to even go there let alone walk the streets by myself. DC should take a page from NYC's book. So many people in this city cry about civil rights and not wanting to infringe on those rights. But if you're breaking the law, why should anyone be concerned about your civil rights. That's just my opinion. I think I spent too much time this weekend in Upper Northwest.
Anyway, this is a great place for real estate investing. If you're thinking about jumping in, let me help.
Until next time, enjoy your day. Remember, you can rest when you die.
posted by Real Estate Girl @ 7:29 AM
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