What makes this a RARE pick?
This. Is. Sexy.
According to the listing, this home has 5,492 total indoor and outdoor living SF, which is hard to come by this close to downtown DC. And so you’d have to pay the price for that. But honestly, if you can, why wouldn’t you? :)
5BR / 4.5BA / 3,800 SF / $3,395,000
Rent Move Buy - Ep. 35: Top 10 Mistakes First Time Home Buyers Should Avoid when Buying in DC / MD/ VA with Guest Michael Fowler
Buying your first home is an exciting and sometimes overwhelming process, so it’s important to make sure you don’t go down some paths that may make the process harder for you in the long run. Michael Fowler is a real estate Agent at Compass in the DC Metro region with over 10 years of experience helping clients rent, sell, and buy real estate. In this episode, he and Alison go through their list of top 10 mistakes to avoid when purchasing your first home so that when you’re ready to jump in, that you can go in with eyes open and with your best foot forward.
What makes this a RARE pick?
It’s hard to find waterfront property (especially that which you can actually swim in) around the DC Metro Area, so this is definitely a RARE find. Add to that the fact that the house and outdoor areas are gorgeous, and you’ve got yourself a winner.
In terms of Lake Barcroft itself, it is community of over a thousand homes on a wooded lake in Falls Church, Virginia. The lake has five private beaches (private because Owners pay dues), staffed by lifeguards in the summer, and allows electric powered pontoons, sailboats and self-propelled boats
5BR / 3BA / 3,670 SF / $1,595,000
Rent Move Buy - Ep. 34: Basic Home Maintenance that All Homeowners Should Do with Steph Toler
The 1% rule of home maintenance budgeting says that you should plan to spend at least 1% of a home’s purchase price for regular home maintenance per year, but what are all of the tasks that should be done regularly to ensure your home stays in tip-top shape? Steph Toler is a Senior Vice President at Flock who’s charged with running the company’s maintenance, client experience, leasing divisions, and Birdwatch, a monthly management service that tracks and coordinates annualized preventive maintenance tasks and repairs. Proper maintenance of a home is extremely important and can be stressful, especially in a metropolitan area where it’s always go go go, so in this episode we aim to give you a place to start when figuring out what needs to be done in a home you already own or one that you may consider buying in the future.
What makes this a RARE pick?
Stop it. We don’t need to tell you. JUST LOOK AT IT. But here’s some info from the listing anyway…
“Architect Robert Gurney, whose work is among the most coveted in D. C., designed this house as a sympathetic melding of the original with the contemporary. A modern masterpiece finished with beautiful materials incl. limestone, beech, teak & rosewoods, perfectly executed. Smart-home with controlled security, utilities, lighting & entertainment, and attached heated pool house with stunning hardscaping.
6BR / 5.5BA / 8,000SF / $3,995,000
What makes this a RARE pick?
We’re not sure we would love this listing quite as much if we weren’t in love with the styling and the fact that it’s a stone’s throw from the water… but we think this 1BR condo listing is straight fire.
If you’re going to pay over $600k for a 1BR, our opinion is that it either needs to be truly funky and unique, or it needs to have ALL of the bells and whistles that add value. This listing definitely is the later: 11” ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows, beautiful wall paneling, wide plank wood flooring, spa-inspired bathrooms, balcony, electric fireplaces, smart blinds, walk-in closet with a custom organization system). Other unit features include a front door smart lock, select smart lighting, in-unit washer & dryer, and assigned underground parking spot.
1BR / 1.5BA / underground parking + storage / 760SF / $615 month condo fee / $665,000
Rent Move Buy - Ep. 33 Aging in Place Homes and ADUs in DC, MD, and VA with Guest Florence Macauley
As baby boomers continue to age, the U.S. Census Bureau predicts that people over the age of 65 will outnumber those under the age of 18 as soon as 2034. With this being the case, multi-generation housing and so-called aging in place homes are in higher demand and homes with Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) are being considered more and more with Buyers. Florence Macauley is a Geriatric Physical Therapist, and CEO & Founder of AgeWise Home, an innovative aging in place consultancy business in the DMV. Plenty of people can’t or don’t want to move as they age, and in this episode we discuss how to tackle this topic in general and some helpful ways to get started planning for aging in ones home, should that be what they choose to do.
What makes this a RARE pick?
I guess we have a thing for Mid-century modern homes because we feature them a lot here… The listing write-up is pretty perfect, so let’s just re-post it here:
“This iconic home is one of the largest in Hollin Hills with two architectural additions. The Charles Goodman # 6 with butterfly roof is both stunning and completely livable and has been featured in numerous design publications. It's artist-owners have continually improved the original home with attention to design and detail at every turn. Featuring walls of windows and floors ranging from hardwood to Durastone, 4 bedrooms, 2 en suite baths plus a 3rd full bath, upper and lower living areas each with wood-burning fireplace and floor to ceiling windows looking out on lush surroundings. The kitchen, complete with a chef's dream vintage commercial Viking stove, opens to dining and living space that then flows to outdoor patio space and garden. The curving-walled additions, designed by Robert C Smith in 1969 and Patrick Collin in 1981, include a large studio/office space, an entry hall/gallery with soaring glass door and a lower level workshop. Enjoy the outdoors on the upper deck that's cleverly built into the curved studio wall, on the upper and lower flagstone patios, and in the meandering stone garden paths.
Ep. 32: How to Own or Foster a Dog While Navigating Breed, Size Restrictions, and More in DC, MD, and VA with Guest Liza Malnik of P.A.W.
In 2020, the United States saw a massive rise in dog adoption and fostering and the DC Metropolitan Area was no exception. This growth in interest led many people in the area to start considering how a dog would fit not only into their lives, but their homes, which oftentimes were rental buildings or where they would be sharing floors, walls, and common areas with other people. Liza Malnik is the Outreach Coordinator for Partner for Animal Welfare (P.A.W.), a nonprofit organization serving DC, MD, and VA whose mission is to facilitate the rescue of homeless dogs and cats and place them in loving forever homes. In this episode, we break down all of the things to consider when looking to foster, adopt, or take a new pet into one’s home, whether you are renting, moving to the area, or own here already.
What makes this a RARE pick?
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Mid-century modern homes always make us gush, and this one is no exception. Situated in one of the largest MCM neighborhoods in the country, this home packs a punch. Single level yumminess with incredible outdoor space is the place we want to retire in… or live now… Deadline for offers is set for Monday 7/26 at 5pm so it seems a lot of other people feel the same way.
Owning and Operating Short Term Rentals, AirBnBs, and VRBOs in the DC Area (Ep. 31)
AirBnBs and VRBOs were already widely known as short term housing options by travelers before the pandemic, but since Spring 2020, there has been an even bigger uptick in non-hotel short term rental use (and hosting!) in the DC-area. Karl Scarlett is the Founder and Owner of Great Dwellings, a Washington DC-based property management company that helps homeowners maximize their homes long and short-term vacation rentals. In this episode, we discuss the interest that short term rentals in the DMV have received both before, during, and after the pandemic along with our predictions for how they'll do in the future.
What makes this a RARE pick?
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It’s a house that sits in the middle of a lake with views in all directions. Full stop - that’s why.
Seven Islands Refuge is the largest private landholding on the East Coast devoted solely to waterfowl and other bird habitat. The 221 acre parcel offers an extensive trail network, stunning mountain views, dramatic lakefront vistas, and intimate ponds to explore along with 2 separate homes. It is truly one of a kind.
Ep. 30 - NYC Style in DC Homes: Staging and Design Tricks with Guest Jason Saft and Guest Host Michael Fowler
It’s a Seller’s Market currently in the DMV, but that doesn’t mean that a Seller doesn’t have to do anything in preparation for sale. Some listings still sit on the market because they didn’t receive the proper TLC needed to get the listing noticed and under contract quickly. Jason Saft is a real estate industry veteran with over 15 years of record breaking sales and is the creator of “Staged To Sell,” a 30-point action plan that he applies to all properties he transforms. This creative vision organically led to the growth of Staged To Sell which has become a go-to resource for other real estate agents and their sellers. In this episode, we discuss how Jason reinvents and reintroduces properties that have failed to sell in the past, along with some new ways of evaluating what a home needs before hitting the market.
Rent Move Buy - Ep. 29: Should You Live in DC, MD, or VA? Key Differences with Guest Charles Huang
When looking to purchase a home in the DMV, Buyers usually consider multiple neighborhoods to buy and live in. Rosslyn vs Foggy Bottom, Brightwood vs Silver Spring… but the fact that these different neighborhoods aren’t always in the same state or jurisdiction means that they’ll have different taxing structures, laws, and regulations that can affect which place really makes the most sense to buy in. Charles Huang is a real estate attorney with KVS Title who has worked in real estate law since 2015. In this episode, Charles and Alison break down some of the key distinctions between DC, MD, and VA, from taxes, level of disclosure, and rental laws so Buyers can consider more than one jurisdiction with eyes open and be aware of the differences.
WE’RE IN LOVE with this former GW frat house turned killer funky condo in Foggy Bottom. Got way too drunk here during our GW years and prob would get way too drunk here as an adult if we owned this sick party pad.
Read MoreEp. 28: Home Flipping in the Washington DC Area with Guest Jordan Ghrist
With the rise of HGTV and various television programs that tout the fun, enjoyment, and value that comes out of home flipping, people all over the country have had a dramatic interest in trying out their luck with a flip. But is it as straightforward and easy as it’s often made to look on tv? Especially in the DC metro area? Jordan Ghrist is a seasoned residential developer working in the DMV who has directed the building process of over 80 homes throughout his career. He has experience in all areas of the home flipping process, from evaluation, acquisition, development, sale of homes, and of varying complexity and cost throughout DC, MD, and VA. In this episode we talk about what it takes to flip a home in the area and the considerations a newbie home flipper should consider before trying it out on their own.
Whether it’s buying a home from another state or from abroad, there are certain disadvantages to searching and buying when a person isn't currently living in the place where they want to move to. So what do you do when you find yourself in this position? Jocelyn Lederman is a top Realtor with Compass in DC, MD, and VA whose commitment to seamless communication has led to a large number of successful client home purchases from abroad. In this episode, Jocelyn and Alison discuss the hurdles Buyers from overseas may encounter, and how to work through them effectively.
What makes this a RARE property?
Um, where do we start?? A unique adaptively reused mid-century industrial building, originally a water intake pumping station, now used as a delightful riverfront pied-a-terre and party venue. All of the original water pumps and electric motors are still there, untouched from the day in 1979 when they were turned off and has 425 feet of Rappahannock River frontage.
Ep. 26: So You Want to Buy a Home in DC | MD | VA with Guest Karen Ringo
What do you really need to do if you want to buy a home in the DC-area? Is there a simple list you can follow? In this episode, Alison and guest, Karen Ringo, tackle that question and give a how-to breakdown along with some tips that Buyers or soon-to-be Buyers can follow to help them confidently start and move through what can often be an intimidating process.
A question on everyone’s mind lately is: is DC in a housing bubble? With over 20 years’ experience in the mortgage industry, John has been a top 5 mortgage lender in the DC Metro area for the past decade and has been fielding this question from homeowners for years. John has lived through several housing cycles and his perspective on bubbles, greed, booms, bust and how it relates to where are now in 2021 sheds some much needed insight on topic that has been on everyone’s mind. In this episode, we cover what a housing bubble is and discuss if the DMV is truly headed towards one or not.
Copyright The RARE © 2022 All Rights Reserved.
The RARE Group is affiliated with Compass, a licensed real estate broker under the name “Compass Real Estate” in the District of Columbia and under the name "Compass" in Virginia and Maryland and abides by equal housing opportunity laws. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only. Information is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, condition, sale, or withdrawal without notice. No statement is made as to accuracy of any description. All measurements and square footages are approximate. This is not intended to solicit property already listed. Nothing herein shall be construed as legal, accounting or other professional advice outside the realm of real estate brokerage.
