Washington, DC

© 2009 Patricia Kennedy. Unless otherwise noted, the content, both written and in pictures, is the property of Patricia Kennedy . If you would like to use this image, please email me (housepat@mac.com) with your request. I'll almost certianly say yes, and ask only that you provide a link back to my original content as well as an acknowledgment. The same thing applies to any other material you see posted here on Active Rain or on any of my other blogs.

"Everywhere is Walking Distance if You Have The Time"

-- Steven Wright, American comedian

The problem is these days people don't have the time. Gone are the days of walking 4 miles uphill both ways to school. Nowadays, parents pack the kids in the car and drive them the quarter mile door to door to drop them off to 2nd grade. We're increasingly dependent upon our cars, even moreso the further out from a city we decide to live.

As people tire of the expenses and hassles of commuting and having to hop in the car for everyday errands and to just to grab a bite to eat, walkability has become a more important criteria for neighborhood home searches in Northern Virginia and Washington D.C.

Maybe you want to be close to the Metro, close to stores and restaurants, and leave the car at home after a long work week of commuting to the office.

While determining where you want to live in the Metro D.C. area, you should visit the Walk Score Website. This site was developed out of the need for homeowners to calculate the convenience of homes to stores, restaurants, work and other quality aspects of a neighborhood.

Walk Score can range from 1 to 100 depending on the proximity of the address to grocery stores, restaurants, coffee shops, bars, movie theaters, schools, parks, libraries, bookstores, fitness centers, drug stores, and other amenities.

The Walk Score website describes what makes a neighborhood walkable:

• A center: Walkable neighborhoods have a discernable center, whether it's a shopping district, a main street, or a public space.
  
• Density: The neighborhood is compact enough for local businesses to flourish and for public transportation to run frequently.
  
• Mixed income, mixed use: Housing is provided for everyone who works in the neighborhood: young and old, singles and families, rich and poor. Businesses and residences are located near each other.
  
• Parks and public space: There are plenty of public places to gather and play.
  
• Pedestrian-centric design: Buildings are placed close to the street to cater to foot traffic, with parking lots relegated to the back.
  
• Nearby schools and workplaces: Schools and workplaces are close enough that most residents can walk from their homes.

Washington D.C. was ranked the 7th Most Walkable City. Click here to view the Walk Scores of various D.C. Neighborhoods.

Here's a screenshot of the WalkScore results and map for a home I sold in Old Town Alexandria last year:

Try it for yourself while looking at different home locations:

Get your Walk Score!

Cleveland Park is a neighborhood of great architectural diversity. There are small row houses that sell in the high $600's and historic mansions with price tags in the $4.5 million range. Some are on tiny lots, with just enough room for the house and a postage stamp garden. Others have expansive lawns and gardens. And so far this year, the demand has been for the smaller homes at a relatively low price point.

The list of homes currently for sale includes two in excess of $4,000,000. And they are bringing the averages up. The highest selling price year to date is lower than that, at $2,407,000.

Here are the figures:

Currently For Sale: 15 homes (current asking price)
Low: $715,000
High: $4,500,000
Average: $1,993,467

Under Contract: 8 homes (asking price at contract)
Low: $699,000
High: $2,950,000
Average: $1,343,438

Sold since 1/1/2009 15 homes sold (asking price at contract)
Low: $863,000 (selling price)
High: $2,407,000
Average: $1,122,800

Average original asking price for sold properties: $1,219,190

There have been a bunch of times when I've included a homeowner's warranty to get a transaction done. And I'm constantly amazed at what I'm finding in the fine print!

Now, I am one of those nutty people who actually read fine print, at least some of the time. Most people do not. But if you are either purchasing a warranty as part of a listing agreement or including one as part of a sales contract, here are some important questions you should be able to answer:

• How much are service call deductibles? If the dishwasher is acting weird, how much will you have to pay out of pocket for someone to show up and determine whether it should be repaired or replaced?
• What does the agreement say about pre-existing conditions? If the dishwasher is really, really old and past it's prime and breaks down the first time you turn it on, is it covered at all?
• What about stuff like the Jacuzzi in the master bath, or the ice maker in the fridge? And the septic system? Sometimes a lot of items that are typically problematic are excluded altogether, unless you pay a bunch extra.
• What about structural elements of the home? A few warranty companies, for example, will include the roof. Most do not.
  
• If you are the seller, does it cover items that show up on the buyer's home inspector's report? And does it cover your heat and central air conditioning systems? Some leave these items out of the seller's coverage.

I've found that many of my buyers break things that were operating well at settlement, just because they don't quite understand how to use the systems or appliances in their new homes. And for this reason alone, a home owner's warranty can provide some additional peace of mind for today's somewhat edgy buyers.

Some of the major warranty providers in this area (and I'm not advocating any of these companies) are American Home Shield, Nationwide Home Warranty, Choice Home Warranty, and Home Warranties of America.

And, while a warranty can be a good idea, it's also a good idea to do some serious comparative shopping.

The next time you fly into Washington's Reagan National Airport, look to your left as the plane comes in for a landing. There you will see the Watergate, a complex that includes a hotel, office building and coop apartments.

It was built in the late 1960's, and has been home to many members of Congress, diplomats, cabinet secretaries, and an infamous White House intern.

The apartments are spacious and most of the 600 units have large balconies. They also have spectacular views, usually of either the Potomac River or the Washington Monument.

If you are a music lover, you can walk over the the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and hear the National Symphony, or enjoy a night at the Opera or ballet.

For the convenience of the residents, there is a retail level in the basement with a Safeway, liquor store, bakery and a drug store.

When touring apartments in the Watergate, you never know what you will find. There are still a few units with original kitchens and baths, but most have been updated to some degree Many have had walls added or removed, and some units have been combined to form huge spaces.

There are currently 36 units listed for sale on MRIS.

1-bedrooms: 11 for sale, ranging in price from $375,000 for a 7th floor 1045 square foot unit with a city view to $1,895,000 for a 15th floor penthouse with 2230 square feet of space, a large terrace and an incredible river view.

2-bedrooms: 12 for sale, ranging from $450,000 for a 10th floor 1384 square foot unit, to a high of $4,500,000 for an 11th floor unit with 2915 square feet and a view of the Potomac River and Georgetown.

3-bedrooms: 8 units from $799,000 for a 2136 square foot unit on the 8th floor at the point of the building, with both river and city views (offered in "as is" condition), to a 10th floor unit with wonderful views and a thorough renovation.

4-bedrooms: 4 units for sale $999,000 for a 2850 duplex on the 7th floor in "as is" condition, to $2,000,000 for another 7th floor duplex, 3675 square feet, that has been renovated.

If you would like more information on the Watergate, please email me or call at 202-549-5167.