Anacostia

One of the District’s best up-and-coming neighborhoods, Anacostia is enjoying hefty economic investment and sustained growth. Keep your eyes on this neighborhood as it shoots to the top of DC trendy living spots. Three new developments are coming into the area: Barry Farm, Anacostia Gateway, and Reunion Square, opening up the Anacostia Metro Station for more ridership as well as invigorating the downtown with shops and street life. Residential plans for St. Elizabeth’s East, Maple View Flats, and Poplar Point are all coming-along nicely, too.

The neighborhood where Frederick Douglass lived has much to offer from historical and cultural perspectives. Uniontown Bar & Grille is a delicious sit-down option on the main strip. Recent additions include a juice bar and arts center. Anacostia is easily accessible to the rest of DC through public transportation and driving. Visit this rising neighborhood for beautiful views of the Anacostia river, after which it was named, and to enjoy the welcoming, small-town feel.

Interior Plant Trends

Make your home a little greener with District Home’s tips for managing indoor plant life!

           First off, succulents. The leafless wonders look adorable on kitchen countertops or next to your computer, but it is important to select the right kind for the indoors. Choose succulents that thrive in low lighting like Hawthorias. Aloe, with its healing properties, is also a great choice. East-facing windows are best for succulents, offering the perfect amount of sunlight. Be careful not to overwater these lovely plants since that is the number one mistake made.

           Moss walls are another hot trend for interior plant life. Their soft tones of green and brown soothe the viewer and bring harmony to any home. They are very low maintenance – perfect for hectic households! Moss walls are a great way to make a room really pop. You can make your own with a water spritzer and some seeds, or buy the moss wall pre-made if you’re not feeling crafty.

           Air plants are another popular in-home trend. Air plants have very pretty blooms and require little water. They can be grown in standard pots or hung in air terrariums to give the room an interesting design element. Self-sustaining ecosystems are gorgeous additions to an interior plant collection as well. Fun fact: the technology for them was originally invented by NASA to study the effects of Earth’s biosphere.

           Try to keep new plants away from wandering hands (and paws). That being said, you should always check the safety of greenery before purchase. On top of being a beautiful decoration, plants improve air quality and decrease background noise in the home. Start your interior garden today!

Car2Go: Helping You Drive the District

Getting around the metro area can be tricky but District Home has the solution! Car2Go, an internationally successful car-sharing service recently introduced to the DC area, is your answer to all transportation woes. Whether it is just for a bit while the family car is in the shop or a more permanent replacement, this new service can really come in handy for busy city dwellers. They utilize a high-tech app and fleet of vehicles to make navigating DC easier.

Either schedule the car thirty minutes ahead of time or go without planning in advance; the app works as a key to open the Smart cars Car2Go allots for its customers. This means no long waits in the sweltering heat, torrential downpour, or freezing blizzard – just find one of the many nearby cars and be on your way to your destination in a comfortable, climate-controlled Smart car. They have minute-by-minute, hourly, or daily rates to fit to your needs. There’s never any surge pricing and customers do not need to cover parking or fuel usage!

On top of the convenience and affordability provided by Car2Go, their overall impact on the District has led to thousands of less cars on-the-road. For every Car2Go operating in the city, three personal vehicles were sold and four personal cars were not purchased. Car2Go is a great alternative form of transportation quickly gaining speed in the District so be sure to give it a try.

District Home's Top Tips for Townhouse Hunting

The townhouses that line the streets of DC are an iconic part of our city’s architecture, and they can make for a wonderful urban family dwelling. Read below for our top items to keep in mind while searching for your dream townhome.

1. Because townhouses are located in even the most urban parts of DC, carefully consider the street traffic and how this noise might affect your family. If you’re a light sleeper, consider townhomes off the main drag that provide a bit of sound insulation.

2. Outside sound isn’t the only noise to consider. Don’t forget townhouses often share walls with neighbors, so look for end units that minimize your shared walls if you’re concerned about your extra-loud family.

3. Don’t be discouraged by a lack of off-street parking! Do your research on how readily available street parking is, or consider a nearby pay-per-month garage.

4. Be sure to ask about any HOA fees. They’re typically lower than those in high rise condos, but definitely factor these into your anticipated monthly expenses.

5. Consider what future renovations you may want to make, such as a rooftop patio. Would this townhouse be conducive to this change, or are there any neighborhood rules to abide by? Be sure to think long-term when shopping around.

6. One of the many positives to townhouse living is your proximity to everything DC! Make a list of your most desirable nearby destinations, whether that be a metro station, your favorite brunch spot, or a park to take the kids. Take these into consideration when touring a townhouse.

Time to start touring your favorite townhouses!

DHM Top Picks: Nearby Beachtowns

    The excitement of warm weather is best experienced by escaping the District to sandier locales. Summer so often means beach and, as an East Coast city, DC residents have more than their fair share of options. Each beach has its own unique personality.

Bethany is pretty, quaint, and wholesome. Fenwick Island contains the border between Maryland and Delaware. The Fenwick Island State Park and the Fenwick Island Lighthouse help make this town picturesque.  The serenity offered by a stay at Lewes Beach is matched only by its lovely selection of local, farm-to-table restaurant options.

Dewey Beach has that kind of laid-back, come-what-may attitude everyone desires from their beach trip. Ocean City, MD has pretty bay views that combine with prime restaurant selection and entertaining tourist attractions to make this a great destination. Nightlife is amazing here and Seacrets, a Jamaican-themed club literally on the beach, is an experience unto itself. If you’ve never been, you should visit OC solely for the plethora of themed mini-golf locations (the indoor marine is a personal favorite that will give you a break from that mid-Atlantic humidity). Rehoboth pairs a fantastic boardwalk with the best outlet shopping to be found in a seaside town. Don’t forget to pop into Rehoboth’s Ice Cream Store – they boast flavor names like Better Than Sex and Minty Python.

A fantastic vacation will be had at any of these beach towns and you’ll certainly have some good stories to tell your friends (plus beautiful ocean sunsets to post to your story on SnapChat).

The Best Way to Beat the Heat? A Cool Drink

DC is one of the hottest real estate markets in the country right now, but that does not mean the cocktail scene is to be overlooked. With the temps peaking, now is the time to enjoy a cool and refreshing new sip at your next happy hour. Here are the latest cocktails DC has to offer its summer patrons.
 

Muchas Frescas

Garrison, 524 8th St SE

A delicious tequila-based cocktail that combines five-year Madeira, a strawberry-basil soda, and sparkling wine so good you’ll feel like you’re sipping it from a beach in Mexico.
 

Blood Orange Sparkler

Hay-Adams Rooftop Terrace, 800 16th St NW

A crowd favorite, this is ideal for the later months of summer because of its 1-2 punch of sweet and tart in the ingredients – blood orange juice, Martini Rosso vermouth, simple syrup and a splash of prosecco.
 

The Airmail

Dram & Grain, 2007 18th St NW

With a taste made for summer, this cocktail combines rum, honey, lime and sparkling wine to leave you feeling satisfied.
 

Strawberry Sangria

Legal Sea Foods, 704 7th St NW

Summer isn’t quite summer without sangria to sip on – garnished with strawberries, this drink includes Bombay Sapphire, Moscato, and Skyy Wild Strawberry Vodka paired with lemon sour mix, leaving a refreshing fruity taste to linger.
 

The Graham Bourbon Shandy

The Graham Georgetown, 1075 Thomas Jefferson St NW

A darker-colored cocktail with bite, this combines bourbon, ginger, Lienenkugel summer shandy, and fresh orange.

District Eats: Policy Welcomes New Chef Lonnie Zoeller

Living in the District means eating in the District, and thankfully, DC is covered with unique and delicious options, including our local favorite, Policy. Since its inception, Policy has been known for locally sourced offerings and a welcoming environment – something which will only be improved under newly appointed executive chef Lonnie Zoeller. Located on the always-trendy 14th St corridor, Policy is open for dinner every day as well as brunch on Saturdays and Sundays. Zoeller brings with him a great culinary mind, years of experience, and Latin flair. A native of Cooperstown, NY, Lonnie Zoeller graduated from the Culinary Institute of America before working under award-winning chefs in New York City and Spain. “I want to cook food that people want to come back for, food that speaks for itself, not something that’s just trendy or of-the-moment. I’m constantly inspired by my wife’s Columbia roots and the bright, comforting dishes that are unique to Latin America,” Zoeller recently stated.

Lonnie’s passion for food is evident in a redefined menu, with plates such as salchipapas, crispy duck stuffed arepas, pork belly chicharron, and shrimp empanadas. He is also adding seasonal specialties to enhance Policy’s selection. The establishment has garnered rave reviews under Zoeller’s new influence. Zoeller is taking the initiative to launch Social Nights where patrons gather on the newly-renovated Liberty Lounge patio. These events offer a picnic-type package which includes seasonal craft punch bowls, a pimiento cheese spread, and garlic butter corn-on-the-cob. Policy Restaurant and Lonnie Zoeller looks to be a delicious partnership, one from which the DC area will benefit for many years to come!

photo courtesy of Proxima PR

Regional Focus: Eastern Shore on the Rise

Areas of Maryland’s coveted Eastern Shore region (counties Caroline, Dorchester, Queen Anne’s, and Wicomico) have shown marked improvement over previous years. Queen Anne’s county has the lowest days on market for this area with a turnaround period of only ninety days. Dorchester and Caroline County both saw an increase in median sales prices with Dorchester reporting a twenty-eight percent increase and Caroline County experiencing a twenty-three percent increase compared to the same month last year. All counties are selling homes at extremely close to list price, with each achieving over a ninety percent similarity between the prices. These developments, along with other positive economic news, indicate the strength of the real estate market, which is expected to continue to do well throughout the summer.

DC Embraces Tiny Houses

Photo Credit: Curbed

Amending DC’s housing code could allow for an increase in the number of smaller residences and thus more taxpayers. Technically known as “accessory dwelling units,” these little homes are suddenly all-the-rage in cities across America as people find themselves unable to take out loans for purchases or not wanting to splurge on a place they do not feel is worth it. Housing affordability is something that needs to be addressed and this could be the solution. Beginning September 6, provisions from the updated zoning code will make it easier to construct and rent these auxiliary houses when before each homeowner had to plead their case in front of a panel in order to be granted an exception to the rule. These changes will apply only to R-1, R-2, and R-3 zones presently and are subject to size and occupancy regulations. The government hopes that backyard homes will broaden the housing options for residents and thus lessen the burden on renters and the high prices that was causing. This will also be a boon to the economy as builders and architects work to install a wave of these mini-homes come fall when the regulations go into effect. These mini-houses are not without their potential controversy, however. Many fear that, while the law was passed successfully, that there will be backlash once the actual construction begins. The diversification that some are championing for this project could bother others in the future, creating tension in a previously calm neighborhood. Perks include an increased alleyway presence which could clean-up the area and increase street interactions as well as the opportunity for green living measures such as rain-collection or solar panels. DC’s intended course-of-action is not as restrictive on these dwelling units as those in parts of nearby Virginia so many of these homes could go up quickly if the public takes a liking to it. If truly successful, this could even go so far as to revolutionize the local housing market.

DHM Top Picks: Summer Movies for the Family

Everyone's favorite forgetful fish is making a comeback this summer!

Summer in Washington means lots of great things: ice cream, the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, and humidity. The humidity, combined with a lack of school for the kids, means that you’re going to be on the hook for keeping everyone in comfortable temperatures and entertained. A great way to do both at once is to take your kids to the movies, where the air conditioning is so strong you may even need a jacket!

Summer is the best time to go to the movies, because all the major studios are dropping their exciting, big-budget movies that have great casts. This summer is no different, as a number of amazing movies will be in local theaters. Below, we’ve compiled a list of the movies we’re the most excited for this summer.

If your kids loved Finding Nemo, there’s a sequel coming up that focuses on everyone’s favorite forgetful fish. Pixar’s Finding Dory comes out on June 17th, and you bet we’re going to be in line with our snorkels to see what adventures she goes on next. Although it’s not yet rated, Finding Nemo was rated G meaning that the sequel will almost certainly be just as family-friendly as the first one. It looks to be a great option for the kids—multiple times over.

Then, avid fans of Roald Dahl are getting a huge surprise with the July 1 release of The BFG, or Big Friendly Giant. The BFG was adapted from one of Dahl’s most loved children’s books. A great way to incentivize reading for your kids is to let them see the movie (with a big box of candy) after they’ve finished reading the book. Plus, once they’re hooked on Dahl’s amazing writing, there are plenty more books and movies you can follow up with!

For older kids, a follow-up to the Ghostbusters trilogy is making a comeback in mid-July. This time, it features an all-star, all-female leading cast, which makes it especially great for young girls and women. It will also help make math and science seem cool—most of the women are academics!

If you have a favorite coming soon that we didn’t mention, leave it in the comments section!

The Natural Side of DC

A morning walk through Rock Creek Park is a great start to any day.

Now that the sun is finally out, it’s time to get outside! While many associate Washington DC with politics and big business, the area is home to a wide array of parks, hikes, and streams that offer beautiful places to unwind. What better way to enjoy your weekend than with a hike through Rock Creek Park, offering over 25 miles of trails to explore, right in the backyard of Washington. If you and the family are seeking a challenging adventure, head over to the Billy Goat Trail and enjoy beautiful views of the Potomac River and a great cardio workout. If the kids are craving a day on the water, head down to Fletcher’s Cove for fishing and boating, with hassle-free rentals available onsite. It’s time to enjoy the sunshine before DC’s signature summer weather sets in. Head outside today!

DHM Top Picks: Restaurants

DC has been quickly gaining the reputation of foodie haven, with new restaurants seeming to open every weekend. Whether you’re looking to try Ethiopian cuisine for the first time or you just want a juicy burger and a cold beer, DC’s restaurants will satisfy any craving. Here are our top picks for restaurants in our new favorite neighborhoods.

Shaw

Convivial: One of DC’s most anticipated restaurant openings of 2015, Convivial is living up to the hype. Critics have praised chef Cedric Maupillier for his creative and enticing menu, featuring items such as lamb tongue moussaka and duck egg beignets. The atmosphere is intimate and inviting, making it our go-to spot for chilly evenings out.

BKK Cookshop: Don’t expect your average drunken noodles when coming to this local Thai spot. Chef Aschara Vigsittaboot has expertly infused traditional Thai dishes with the cuisines of China, India, and other Asian countries. Customer favorites include the stir-fried brussel sprouts and curry-filled steamed buns. BKK is fun, casual, and most importantly, delicious.

Brightwood

Simple Bar & Grill: More than your average sports bar, Simple regularly hosts live music, dance classes, and costume parties. But of course, this is also the perfect spot to watch your favorite team and enjoy Simple’s signature wings.

WAPA Café Boutique: For a cozy café with amazing food, look no further than WAPA. Stop by for a casual brunch and try one of their famous crepes.

Brookland

Smith Public Trust: Constructed almost entirely from recycled materials and filled with the works of street artist Gaia, Smith Public Trust is hip. Weekly live music and a charming back patio make this the perfect happy hour hangout. Chef Mercedes Delgado has crafted a unique menu filled with many tantalizing treats. Try the Texas street tacos or the red velvet waffles – both have gained a tasty reputation.

Menomale Pizza Napoletana: While DC is not known for high-quality pizza, Menomale might be the one to change that reputation. Owners Ettore and Maria Rusciano are certified Pizzialos from Naples, so if your favorite type of pizza is authentic, this is the spot for you.

Calvin Klein's Florida Mansion For Sale

From his meager beginnings as an apprentice to a suit manufacturer to opening his own company in 1968, Calvin Klein’s fame as a fashion designer skyrocketed as he branched out from men’s suits and coats into women’s fashions.   He was responsible for changing the look of men’s underwear from dull white cotton sold in packages of three, purchased by their mothers or wives, to form fitting, comfortable bright patterned and colored pieces.  His Calvin Klein jeans took the same path with much controversy stirred up when 15-year-old Brooke Shields was used in a provocative ad campaign, but the jeans sold over 200,000 pairs the first week they were launched.  Now with collections for women, men, jeans, underwear, shoes, accessories, fragrance and products for the home, Calvin Klein is an international household name.  In 2002, the company was bought out by Phillips van Heusen estimated at over $700 million.  When the new company reformed in 2003, Klein was engaged as consulting creative director, though he has been involving himself in other interests, one of which is his passion for real estate.

With his success and wealth, Klein has put many of his creative talents to work in the homes he has acquired.  All labors of love, his homes have ranged from a New York City triplex penthouse to a beach house in Southampton, New York to a waterfront home in Miami Beach, Florida to a Hollywood Hills home purchased in 2015.  

Klein recently put his private Miami Beach home on the market with its Zen-like design and an infinity pool that appears to drop off into Biscayne Bay.  Indoor/outdoor living areas measure 7,966 square feet with 5,800 square feet enclosed.  The interior has five en-suite bedrooms and two half baths, designed to be open and airy.  The listing agent is Pablo Alfaro with Douglas Elliman Real Estate, Miami Beach.  According to the Fort Lauderdale Daily, the furniture and antiques by designer Axel Vervoordt are included in the sale price of $16 million.

http://www.toptenrealestatedeals.com/homes/weekly-ten-best-home-deals/2016/1-19-2016/
 

Fessenden House Sold by The Itteilag Team for $18 Million

Another amazing transaction has been completed by the Itteilag Team of Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. Fessenden House has sold for $18 million. The house was put on the market last May for $22 million, making it the city’s most expensive listing of 2015. It sold for $18 million December 30 to the Embassy of Kuwait, according to DC property records.

Giant Food supermarket heir Samuel Lehrman built the mansion nicknamed Fessenden House effectively as a warehouse for his collection of 18th-century art and furniture. The grand, 20,000-square-foot Neoclassical home, which sits on a one-acre parcel—on Fessenden St NW in Forest Hills is packed with amenities in addition to its seven bedrooms and 14 bathrooms: elevator, climate-controlled wine cellar with a tasting room, swimming pool, pool house, formal and cottage gardens, and a sports court.

Lehrman built the house in 1994 after combining three neighboring lots and importing many of the building materials, including the Indiana limestone that makes up its façade. The interior, which is full of wide foyers and vaulted ceilings, was built around Lehrman’s art collection.

Listing agent, Nancy Itteilag of Long & Foster, says the sale went through surprisingly fast for Washington’s ultra-luxury real-estate market. “Usually they stay on the market for three years and go through multiple price reductions,” she says. Although Lehrman never officially lowered the price on the house, the lower offer he ultimately accepted wound up making it the second-most-expensive home sold in the District last year.

Itteilag told the Wall Street Journal that DC’s high-end housing market was “increasingly active” when she listed Lehrman’s house last year. Seventeen houses and condominiums in DC sold for at least $5 million last year, according to the real-estate company Redfin. Itteilag says December was particularly hot—her firm had four clients make offers on high-end properties in the two weeks leading up to Christmas.

The Changes In DC’s Real Estate Market In A Decade

Over the past ten years, Washington’s real estate prices have skyrocketed. Between 2000 and 2014, average home prices have risen around 150%, according to an interactive graph on the Washington Post website. Some neighborhoods have seen prices rise even more than that, because they offer the perfect mix of space and proximity to the explosion of amazing restaurants, nightlife, and shops that the District has to offer.

Although prices have gone up, there is more rental housing available in Washington than there was a decade ago, according to the Post. With the dramatic price increases that have affected the revitalization of the district, it means that lower-income residents are getting pushed out. Even so, prices for properties in in the D.C. area offer better stability than other real estate markets, with “less downturn during the downturns,” according to Capitol File.

Washington, D.C., has the highest percentage of single-person households nationwide, making up around 45% of D.C.’s population. With this increasingly single population, the real estate market has been making moves to accommodate a new clientele that is looking for less space and proximity to urban amenities like restaurants and nightlife, as well as shorter commutes. Some new real estate projects that cater to this clientele include the renovation of the historic Dupont Mansion and Shaw’s Blagden Alley into micro-apartments.

But while these neighborhoods are well-known to even the suburban commuter, one neighborhood to watch is the southwestern quadrant of D.C. Based on the upward trend of the rest of the District, it is only a matter of time before Southwest follows suit!

Double the Fun in 2016

Every December, color authority Pantone selects one Color of the Year. This color informs everything from fashion designers to cosmetics to interior design. In an unprecedented move, Pantone selected two colors for 2016, Rose Quartz, a soft pink, and Serenity, a baby blue.

These colors mark a dramatic departure from the colors of the last five years, which were Marsala, a burnt red, for 2015 and Radiant Orchid, a bright purple, for 2014. This year’s Pantone Colors of the Year were chosen to reflect a sense of “balance in a chaotic world.”

You can use these two colors to balance your home and make it into a calming refuge from the outside world. The quiet elegance of Serenity would look fantastic adorning the walls of a living room, while Rose Quartz would be a surprising delight in a powder room or family bathroom. With the New Year, why not experiment with a new expression of color?

Condos, Condos, and more Condos!

Washington D.C. is ripe as ever as developers steadily build and renters and homebuyers alike increasing flock to take up settlements in the nation’s capital. This influx of newcomers brings a vibrant energy that nurtures fresh business offering diversity in amusement and cultural attraction and naturally residents of the capital are seeking equally eye-catching abodes to compliment their lifestyle. Considering the substantial demographic of young professionals that are looking to moving into the District apartments and condominiums are of particular interest to developers hoping to attract them. Some exemplar examples of new projects that are being offered come from Capital City Real Estate and they are 301 H Street situated along the H Street Corridor, The Morgan in Adams Morgan, and The Apex in Columbia Heights. Each of these condominium homes are located in trendy neighborhoods within walking distance of a wide array of chic shops and restaurants and they also boast modern design appeal. For those looking to maximize their urbanite experience in the District these are surely prime options to look out for. 

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

*photo features the outside of 301 H.

What Does the Home of an Apple Co-Founder Look Like?

Steve Wozniak, one of the men who brought you the iPhone, is selling his $4 million mansion in the mountains of Los Gatos. Wozniak was the original builder of this post-modern estate with six fully updated bedrooms inside the beautiful walls of this 20-room home. 

Photo: Arthur Sharif

Take a breath and meditate beside a koi pond surrounded by a gorgeous stone patio.

Photo: Arthur Sharif

The lavish estate rests on 1.19 acres. With all that land, possibilities for home decor and amenities seem to be endless...

This sweet loft area could be a fitting children's play area or the perfect spot for adults to nap.

The master bathroom features a floating vanity with elegant dual basin sinks...

... which seems to perfectly complement the tile shower, jetted tub, and frosted skylight.

The master suite boasts an open, clean space with a private terrace.

The home's vaulted ceiling welcomes natural light into the 7,500 sq. ft. space... Breathtaking.

The living space comes with graceful curved edges and a unique breakfast nook!

Blue pendant lights and frosted display cabinets highlight the kitchen's contemporary style.

This sophisticated sunken living room leads straight through French doors and onto a patio.

The dining room features a hardwood floor and stylish contemporary chandelier.

The 1986 home was completely modernized by designers Avi Agasi and Amnon Levy, with gorgeous results.

And what warm, modern mansion is complete without a pool and built-in waterfall?