Current Number of Homes Active and Under Contract: Here is the breakdown as of October 29, 2007The number of homes for sale seem to have started the normal season declines in the past week.  In Prince Georges County - current home inventory levels continue to reach the highest they have been in years. Here are the number of homes on the market including the number of homes that were taken "OFF" the market last week.   example: Single Family Homes in DC; 108 less on market from last week, but 135 were taken off - in reality 27 new listings came on the market. Washington DCSingle Family:     Actives: 1934 ( Down 7 from last week)    OFF: 16       Under Contract: 441Condos:             Actives: 1515 ( Down 31 from last week)  OFF: 14       Under Contract: 464 Arlington CountySingle Family:... 10/29/2007

This is an article written by Martha Stewart. So I decided to share it with everyone A playroom should be as bright and full of possibilities as the child in it. Choose toys and furnishings that will encourage and accommodate a child's imagination. Versatile Components -  Children grow overnight, so let today's table become tomorrow's bench. Story Tie - Designate a corner for reading by placing a plump armchair next to a well-stocked bookcase. Drawing Paper - A giant paper scroll is an ideal surface on which to paint, draw or simply make a mess. Mirror - Hang an unbreakable Plexiglas mirror in the room for playing dress-up. Storage Bins- Rolling translucent plastic bins are ideal toy boxes: Easy to clean and all but indestructible,they can be moved to any spot where their contents are n... 10/15/2007

Properties that sold 10/1 - 10/14ADDRESS:                                           LIST PRICE        CLOSE PRICE    DAYS ON MARKET1225 13th St NW #605                           $259,000            $253,000            1871927 11TH ST NW                                  $870,000            $860,000            1071918 15TH ST NW #2                             $799,000            $775,000              871750 16TH ST NW #11                            $399,999            $389,900              42001 12TH ST NW #307                          $349,900            $353,000              51314 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NW #606        $399,000            $389,000              5*        *Units were part of multi-unit, newly-built complexes; DOM may not be accurate              This area boarders U Street to t... 10/15/2007

Fill your saltshaker with a low or no sodium salt or replace it with herbs and spices. Growing evidence shows that substances in herbs and spices may fight cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and other chronic conditions. The taste for salt is partly hard-wired,but mostly learned or acquired. Train your taste buds to be satisfied with less salt. Gradually cut back on salt in favor of lemon, pepper, vinegar,herbs and spices. Over time,you might rediscover the true flavor of food and the supper sizzle that herbs and spices have to offer. Looking for a Washington DC Real Estate Agent that will help you buy or sell your next house or want a "Free Real Estate Market Report in your area of choice? Check out my website Houses for sale in Washington,DC. I can also be reached at Lanre Folayan "Buy ... 10/13/2007

The new breed of reverse mortgages allow for higher loan amounts and lower fees but may charge higher interest rates. Reverse mortgages allow homeowners, 62 and older to convert home equity into income, with the lender paying out via a lump sum,monthly payments or a credit line. When the house is sold,the lender is paid back with interest. With a typical reverse mortgage, the homeowner never owes the lender more than the value of the home. More lending institutions are getting comfortable with reverse mortgages and offering more variety so more choices are available. There are more resources and more products. This allows you to set aside a portion of your home's equity to be preserved for your heirs. The fees charged are a lower percentage of the home's value than those charged on trad... 10/13/2007

The Waterside Mall Project in SW DC is waiting for complete change.  But when will this happen?  In my lifetime?The Waterside Mall, which is to be renamed Waterfront Mall, sits at the Waterfront-Southeastern University Metro stop.  This mall is a key part of the redevelopment efforts along the Southwest and Southeast waterfronts. The Waterfront developers plan to tear down the mall, built in the 1960s, and turn two office towers that were once home to the Environmental Protection Agency into residential buildings. They also plan to build 1.2 million square feet of offices; 1.2 million square feet of residential space, with 130 affordable housing units; and 110,000 to 165,000 square feet of restaurants and shops, relocating a Safeway store. The project, which is to be built over the next... 10/12/2007

My first visit to the National Botanical Gardens was work-related!  A trade association hired my chamber group to provide background music for a wine and cheese reception.  The idea was to wine and not quite dine members of congress and their staffers who might support legislation the hosts were promoting – a popular form of “lobbying”.Sitting in a straight-backed chair playing the Haydn London Trios, I felt something funny on my foot – a little tickle.  Then another – and oh gosh!  The place was infested with mice!  Every time a nibbler at the reception dropped a piece of cheese on the floor, one of the little guys would run across my foot, across the floor, and grab it!  And I couldn’t play my flute and scream EEEK!!!!! at the same time!  On our breaks, however, I did get the opportun... 10/10/2007

Many of you may have visited Washington, DC.  Tourism is, after all, one of our major industries, second only to our main product – hot air.  But like visitors to many of the world’s great cities, it’s often hard to get any real feel for the place.  You’re down town at a hotel, riding around on the open-air tour bus past the monuments and federal buildings, and when you venture onto the streets alone, you may have your purse gripped to your chest with one hand and a discrete can of pepper spray in the other.Thanks to out energetic young mayor, Adrian Fenty, street crime and pepper spray sales are way down in our nation’s capital.So I’m writing this to introduce you to the Washington I love, starting with my favorite neighborhood, Capitol Hill.   When you see Capitol Hill on your nightly... 10/08/2007

Event: HAPPY HOUR AT TUSCANA WEST www.socializr.com/event/875275315 Hosted by: Ariana Lazar, M Squared Real Estate When: Oct 11, 2007, 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM Location: Tuscana West 1350 I St NW, Washington, DC, 20005 10/07/2007

In about a month from now,the NBA is going to kick off another exciting season. This is going to be another year with a lot of questions? But one thing is for sure. Washington Wizards is ready to become the elite team of the East. With Antwan Jamison back in his leadership role,Gilbert"Hibachi" Arenas healthy again and Caron Butler aka one of the most underated players in the league back and out to prove that last year was no fluke,this is the year for the Washington Wizards to go all the way. GO WIZARDS. But if you want see your washington wizards up close,you got to come to game. There are many plans such as the V.I.P Full Season, 41 Game Full Season, 21 Half Season Plan and the 13 Game All Star Plan. Some of the Wizards planholder benefits includes Receive discount tickets for every ... 10/04/2007

Here in Washington, there was a sad lead story on tonight's 11 o'clock news. A lovely old condo building on Adams Morgan had a 4-alarm fire that burned today for seven hours.   There was a sad looking shot of the unit owners sitting in a large circle in the park across the street talking with the building managers.  The building itself looked pretty sorry, with a wrecking ball hanging overhead from a tall crane. Thank God no one was hurt.  Another building on that block had a serious fire about fifteen years ago, and that fire brought home to me the importance of advising clients buying condos and coops to make sure they call their insurance agent.  Many people are under the false impression that the owner's association master insurance policy will cover them in the event of a fire or o... 10/01/2007

          I got a call yesterday from a lady from www.househunt.com. She was telling me how good their company is and how it would improve my real estate business tremendously if I would accept leads from their company. They give out two leads a day. Their leads are exclusively for you - That what she said. She said that every real estate agent that utilizes their services have made an additional $72,000 a year. So that said,I want to know if any of the brilliant and creative minds on this site uses www.househunt.com?               Honestly speaking,I HATE REAL ESTATE COMPANIES THAT SELLS LEADS. They sell the same lead to about four different real estate agents - What?  Yes! I am sure you all know that. But I am just curious to know if anybody here uses their service. I want to know if ... 09/28/2007

Your One Stop for Peace of Mind!We're not your tradional real estate group and as you will see, everything about us is different.  Our business is providing peace of mind to our clients and we do so by being the foremost experts in our respective fields.  Our reputation is everything, and the relationships we seek to develop are lifelong.  Combine cutting-edge technology, outstanding service, sprinkle in a little fun and you will quickly see why we're not just your average full service company, we're your leading real estate company squared! We Help You Break Your Lease when you Buy with Us So you found the perfect place and want to buy but you still have 6 months left on your current lease?  No problem, when you are under contract with us to purchase a property we'll help you cancel yo... 09/23/2007

While I was writing the first draft of The Irreverent Guide, a had a wonderful writing coach named Jeff Stein.  He's a professional journalist and has two books already published and is working on a third now.  He was the perfect coach because he knew zip about real estate and lots about writing. After he read my first few chapters, he suggested that I take a sticky note, write on it "IT'S THE RELATIONSHIP, STUPID!!!!" in big bold letters, and stick it to the top of my computer screen.    Without knowing about our business, he put his finger right on the point of it all!  Whether I'm writing a book about real estate or meeting with a client, it's the relationship!  And not just between agent and client! If you have two people buying or selling a place, whether or not they are married, ... 09/21/2007

 Properties that sold 9/10-9/17ADDRESS:                                           LIST PRICE        CLOSE PRICE    DAYS ON MARKET1701 16TH ST NW #604                          $165,000            $152,500             2731816 6TH ST NW                                    $399,000            $$350,000            188425 M ST NW #F                                     $449,000            $432,000              721314 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NW #507         $194,000           $194,000              0*910 M NW #117                                      $504,900            $504,900              271007 V ST NW                                         $325,000            $335,000              91312 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NW #405         $399,500            $375,000              261921 9 1/2 ST NW                 ... 09/17/2007

When I first became a Active Rain member sometime last year,I really didn't know the affect that this website would have on me. This website is like a addiction. I am a writer and we writes can write all day if nobody stops us.Besides once this week when I was really tired,I make it a norm to either blog to someone's post or write a post myself everyday. I love reading other people's post. I have learned a whole lot from just about every single post that I have read on here. I only wished that I would've discovered this website soon. But recently,I find myself blogging at least to ten posts a day. If I could more I would. But I got to be honest with you all, I find myself not just blogging to blog. I blog to get as much points as I can get. But I want to know is do just blog for points,... 09/14/2007

 Properties that sold 9/04-9/10ADDRESS:                                           LIST PRICE        CLOSE PRICE    DAYS ON MARKET1115 12TH ST NW #605                          $337,500            $320,000             36449 R ST NW #202                                 $423,352            $430,000              601529 14TH ST NW #302                          $464,000            $464,000              321512 MARION ST NW #101                      $260,000            $260,000              0*1312 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NW #203        $354,900            $350,000              4*1015 O ST NW                                       $725,000            $710,000              118        *Units were part of multi-unit, newly-built complexes; DOM may not be accurate              This area boarders U Street to... 09/10/2007

Current Number of Homes Active and Under Contract: Here is the breakdown as of Sept 10th, 2007Overall in the Washngton DC area the number of homes For Sale, are following the normal seasonal trends.  The number of "Active" properties has increased as home owners try to sell before winter and the holiday season arrive.Here are the number of homes on the market including the number of homes that were taken "OFF" the market last week.   example: Single Family Homes in DC; 108 less on market from last week, but 135 were taken off - in reality 27 new listings came on the market. Washington DCSingle Family:     Actives: 1718 ( Up 178 from last week)  OFF: 24      Under Contract: 356Condos:             Actives: 1390 ( Up 115 from last week)  OFF:  20      Under Contract: 455 Arlington CountySi... 09/10/2007

If you are like me,my real estate business needs a super serious kick it in the you know what-It's that serious. I set some goals. But honestly speaking,the reason I haven't really accomplished some of my goals because I didn't improve on what was working for me and I didn't eliminate things that wasn't working for me at all. And when some things are not working at all,you might need to take a step back to re-evaluate the situation and try to figure out what you can do to help breathe life into parts or areas of your business. I guess it can be like a car that is running well because it needs a new engine. So here are some things that I strongly feel will help you re-charge your business for more success if you are in my situation.   REASSESS YOUR GOALS - If you are like me,you wrote do... 09/09/2007

Thinking of doing a seminar? THINK SHORT SALES Everyone does the "first-time buyer" seminar....think outside the box...do something different. Nine of ten seminars that you see real estate agents do are first time home buyers seminars. And I think that it is a great idea. But what about something on short sales. I mean how many real estate agents do you know hold seminars on short sales? I haven't seen any at all. Well,at least in my area. So I think a seminar on short sales would be a great one. With the foreclosure rate rising rapidly every month,who is best suited to educate them on this topic and how to possibly avoid it - we Real Estate Agents. You might get some first time homebuyers that will attend the seminar and will end up thanking you for educating them on something that th... 09/09/2007