Rent Move Buy - Ep. 41: How to Get a Mortgage When You Are Self-Employed

Rent Move Buy - Ep. 41: How to Get a Mortgage When You Are Self-Employed in DC, MD, and VA with Guest John Downs

If you are self-employed, want to buy a home, and would like to get a mortgage, the process is not the same as when you are an employee and have a steady paycheck and known salary. In this episode, Alison is joined by John Downs, a mortgage lender with over 20 years of experience lending in DC, MD, and VA who has an incredibly successful track record in helping self-employed people obtain loans. Together they discuss how the process works in general for non-W2 employees and changes that have happened in the process since the covid-19 pandemic.

RARE Pick of the Week: 1324 4th St SW -- SW DC

What makes this a RARE pick?

You bet your ass we’re going to feature a mid-century modern home with Flavor Paper wallpaper!

We LOVE the Charles Goodman designed River Park community. This particular townhome has been updated throughout and is really well designed with some fun and funky touches throughout. They’re co-ops, so the monthly fees might make you blink twice, but it makes the total monthly payment on par with a condo of the same size and stature.

2BR | 2BA | 1,413SF $615,000 + $1,373/month

Rent Move Buy - Ep. 40: All About Home Warranties in DC, MD, and VA

Rent Move Buy - Ep. 40: All About Home Warranties in DC, MD, and VA with Guest Tory Hunnicutt

What are home warranties? Do they really work and what do they cost? In this episode, Certified Home Inspector and Owner of Protect the Investment, Tory Hunnicut, and Alison discuss much of the details of home warranties that Buyers should know as they consider if getting one is right for them from pros & cons, when they make sense, and when they don’t.

Rent Move Buy - Ep. 39: How to Pick Your Real Estate Agent in DC, MD, or VA

Rent Move Buy - Ep. 39: How to Pick a Real Estate Agent in DC, MD, or VA with Guest Host Michael Fowler

When there seems to be dozens of people you know or meet in the real estate industry, how do you choose who to work with to represent you in a transaction?  In this episode, Alison and Guest Host Michael Fowler tackle some Agent basics, like the difference between an Agent, REALTOR, and Broker, and discuss things you can do to find the right person to entrust with the awesome responsibility of guiding you through your home purchases and sales.

RARE Pick of the Week: 2567 Washington Blvd -- CLARENDON, VA

Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

What makes this a RARE pick?

This 5BR/5.5BA house in Arlington is definitely unique! The top floor addition with wraparound terrace make this home look more like a treehouse from below. It’s currently being rented out as a group house which honestly makes total sense to us based on the number of rooms and the fact that the funky top floor probably makes an incredible shared space!

Check out the listing photos below for more funky details!

Rent Move Buy - Ep. 38: Running Short Term Rentals, AirBnBs, VRBOs in DC, MD, and VA

Rent Move Buy - Ep. 38: Running Short Term Rentals, AirBnBs, VRBOs in DC, MD, and VA (Part II) with Guest Zac Rushton

In Episode 31, our Part I episode about short term rentals, we discussed the market for AirBnBs and VRBOs with Karl Scarlett, the Founder and Owner of Great Dwellings, a Washington DC-based property management company that helps homeowners manage their long and short-term vacation rentals. In this episode, Karl’s Partner, Zac Rushton, delves into the specifics of how one runs a successful and popular rental so that hosts can maximize their returns and keep customers coming back time and time again.

Rent Move Buy - Ep. 37: Estate Planning and Passing on Real Estate in DC, MD, and VA

Rent Move Buy - Ep. 37: Estate Planning and Passing on Real Estate in DC, MD, and VA with Guest Marissa Bagasra

Your house is one of your most valuable assets so making sure you have a plan for how it will be taken care of after you pass is something all homeowners should consider and understand. 

Marissa Bagasra is an attorney who practices and specializes in estate law in DC, MD, and VA. In this episode, we discuss the process of what happens to one's home when they pass away in all three jurisdictions so you can plan for the unexpected and hopefully make these decisions ahead of a time when they need to be made.

RARE Pick of the Week: 1312 21st St NW, Unit 2 -- DUPONT CIRCLE, DC

What makes this a RARE pick?

Old world + new updates = <3

This owner’s suite is a total dream with its funky chandelier, custom wallpaper, and fireplace mantle. There are also a large private outdoor space with pergola that has us dreaming of al freso dining especially on these gorgeous Fall days we’re currently experiencing!

3BR / 2BA / 1,350 SF / $949,900

RARE Pick of the Week: 609 Maryland Ave NE # 1 -- CAPITOL HILL

What makes this a RARE pick?

Eastern Presbyterian Church was built in 1892 and was converted into 6 3-story condos in 2018. This unit, and all within the complex, retains historical and architectural festures such as stained glass windows and arching beams. This conversion stands out against so many others, and while the price tag is nothing to bat an eye over, you certainly know you’re investing in something original and full of unique history.

3BR / 4.5BA / 2,700 SF / $1,575,000

Rent Move Buy - Ep. 36: Listing Price and Offer Price Advice and Theories for DC, MD, and VA

Rent Move Buy - Ep. 36: Estate Planning and Passing on Real Estate in DC, MD, and VA with Guest Amit Bhuta

Figuring out how much to list a home for or price at offer at is far from a perfect science, and picking the wrong price can set up a real estate transaction well or on the wrong foot.  Amit Bhuta is the leader of a top-selling Miami FL Real Estate team that prides themselves on thinking like a consumer and not like a typical real estate agent. In this episode, we discuss things to consider when pricing properties and offer prices that can help you make sure you arrive at a place that you’re happy with in the sale or purchase of your home.

RARE Pick of the Week: 4018 Ingersol Drive -- NORTH KENSINGTON, MD

What makes this a RARE pick?

HOLY SHIT!!! This house is incredible!

Straight out of the 70s, this Charles Goodman house looks incredible, with all of the details we want and need in our life. Honestly, we could write a novel about this listing… it’s just too awesome for words! Just go to the listing and check it all out for yourself… that’s the best way to go on this one!

4BR / 2BA / 1,950 SF / $925,000

BALTIMORE

Honestly, I’ve always had a thing for Baltimore.

Maybe it was the fact that I spent my whole freshman year at GW taking the MARC train there to visit my friends at Hopkins and have so many fun memories of that time. Maybe it’s because I have always liked gritty cities (hello, NYC, with the always present street garbage!). And maybe more recently, it’s because there are so many incredible homes there that cost a fraction of what they’d cost in DC.

So I started a Baltimore Homes Collection and have been keeping my eye on things there for a bit. Please enjoy and marvel at some of this splendor.

… and if you find yourself wanting to buy one of these bad boys, you know who to call 😉

RARE Pick of the Week: 4805 Bending Lane NW -- PALISADES DC

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

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.

RARE Pick of the Week: 6517 Dearborn Drive -- LAKE BARCROFT, VA

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

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.

RARE Pick of the Week: 5063 Overlook Rd NW -- SPRING VALLEY, DC

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

RARE Pick of the Week: 88 V St SW, Unit 414 -- BUZZARD POINT SW DC

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

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.

RARE Pick of the Week: 2109 Paul Spring Road -- Alexandria, VA

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.