RARE Pick of the Week: 2701 Hume Dr, Unit 1300/PP5 -- Silver Spring, MD

What makes this a RARE pick?

Talk about unique!

The National Park Seminary originated in 1887 as a resort named “Ye Forest Inne,” designed by T.F. Shneider, architect for the famed Cairo Hotel building in Dupont Circle (and impetus for DC’s Height of Buildings Act of 1910) but was transformed into a finishing school for girls where several of the unique structures around the property were added (hello, windmill and pagoda!) and later, during WWII, was purchased by the army and used as an Annex to Walter Reed. In 2019, Washington Landmark Construction preserved the architectural integrity of the property and created incredible, one-of-a-kind homes nestled in this unique enclave of structures and buildings. The condos created are housed in three distinct buildings -- the Firehouse, Practice House, and the industrial-chic Power Plant where this unit is housed.

Definitely check out the photos linked below!

3BR | 3.5BA | 1,900 SF | $930,000

RARE Pick of the Week: 7920 Deepwell Dr -- Bethesda, MD

What makes this a RARE pick?

How often can you find a single story open layout home in the area? And when you do, one that has a sexy cedar cladding exterior, biophilic design and a plethora of oversized windows throughout? The listing agent said it best: this home boasts a California dream home vibe.

​Biophilic design seeks to address the human need to connect with nature in the modern built environment. This home defines this concept.

The spa-like primary bathroom complete with sauna is an especially nice touch, but truly there are so many more things to note, from the built-in Sonos system, Thermador appliances, and garage Tesla charging station.

Definitely check out the photos linked below!

3BR | 3BA | 2,003 SF | $1,299,000

Also see Friday, February 25th’s New Listings at Noon show where we profiled this home!

RARE Pick of the Week: 1331 Naylor Ct NW -- Logan Circle, DC

What makes this a RARE pick?

We are constantly sifting through DMV listings for unique properties, and carriage houses have a very special place in our heart. So when this listing on Naylor Ct came on the market, we couldn’t have been happier. Full of thoughtful details (hello, window boxes w/ automatic drip lines and built-in home sound system), custom additions (the closets are totally built out and there’s a full laundry room), and high end finishes, this home is truly one-of-a-kind.

OPaL is a design-build firm in DC that we have been following for years because the work they produce is consistently incredible. And as such, they have been the winner of the DC Home of the Year 5 of the last 8 years.

Definitely check out the photos linked below!

2BR | 2.5BA | 1,600 SF | $1,450,000

Also see Friday, February 18th’s New Listings at Noon show where we profiled this home!

Rent Move Buy - Ep. 45: How I Purchased My First DC-Area Home

Rent Move Buy - Ep. 45: How I Purchased My First DC-Area Home with Guest Michael Fowler

Buying a home in the DC-area can be scary and intimidating for lots of reasons, but something that’s been said a lot, especially lately while there is low inventory and high home prices, is that buying your first home is impossible.  Of course, REALTORs will tell you that it IS possible… but sometimes that might come off as salesy and insincere.  So in today’s episode, guest Michael Fowler and Alison share their experiences with how they purchased their first homes in the area, how those purchases helped them with subsequent home purchases, and where they are now in the home owning journey.

RARE Pick of the Week: 2035 2nd St NW, Unit G305 -- Bloomingdale / Ledroit

What makes this a RARE pick?

Sometimes listing photos don’t do a home justice, and this is the case in today’s pick in The Gage School at Parker Flats in Bloomingdale.

We’re surely neighborhood experts in this area of town, because we may or may not live mere steps from the Parker Flats… and we love this building which btw is across the street from our favorite neighborhood bodega (yeah, Cookie’s Corner!!) . Built in 1904 and used as a school for 70 years for kids in Bloomingdale, Ledroit, and Eckington, and after 30 years of sitting in disrepair, this building sprung back to life in 2007.

This particular unit has some incredible window alcoves, gorgeous exposed beams, super funky copper ductwork, and 2 garage parking spaces. Even with no staging this place is a showstopper…

Definitely check out the photos linked below!

2BR | 2.5BA | 1,309 SF | $820,000

Also see Friday, February 11th’s New Listings at Noon show where we profiled this home!

RARE Pick of the Week: 3422 Blair Road -- Falls Church

What makes this a RARE pick?

🎶Summer summer summer summer tiiiime. 🎶

Pool season - it’s coming! And when it does, wouldn’t it be awesome to have a house with a pool AND that has lakefront frontage on Lake Barcroft? Totally.

The house itself is pretty killer too… with the floating staircase, open yet distinctly separated floor plan, renovated everything, and tiered multi-level outdoor spaces, this home is one you could move into and live in for a long long time.

Definitely check out the photos linked below!

5BR | 3.5BA | 4,324 SF | $2,150,000

Also see Friday, February 4th’s New Listings at Noon show where we profiled this home!

Rent Move Buy - Ep. 44: How to be a Landlord in DC, MD, or VA

Rent Move Buy - Ep. 44: How to be a Landlord in DC, MD, or VA with Guest Barry Lieberman

Frequently in the DMV area, buyers purchase a home they know they’ll only live in for a few years, and when they are able to upgrade, they’re sometimes in a position to rent their first home out instead of selling it. Other times, people decide to buy a property with the sole purpose of renting it out as an investment. But being a Landlord in DC, MD, or VA isn’t necessarily a simple process that one can haphazardly jump into. Barry Lieberman is a Property Manager with over 15 years of experience managing, leasing, and selling homes for his clients. In this episode, Alison and Barry discuss the ins and outs of what’s necessary to being a Landlord in the area and how one can navigate becoming a landlord in the DMV for the first time.

RARE Pick of the Week: 3514 Woodbine St-- Chevy Chase, MD

What makes this a RARE pick?

Here we go again — another MCM pick. But truly, can you blame us? This one is a true beauty.

The blending of organic materials with high-end finishes, expansive windows and skylights throughout, and a floor plan that offers full-on views or peaks of the outdoor surroundings from every room make this home a big winner. We’re especially partial to the 12-foot vaulted wood-beamed ceiling in the dining room, and the massive outdoor spaces that are segmented into a few different distinct areas.

Definitely check out the photos linked below!

4BR | 3BA | 2,258 SF | $1,299,000

Also see Friday January 28th’s New Listings at Noon show where we profiled this home!

RARE Pick of the Week: 371 O Street SW-- SW DC

What makes this a RARE pick?

MCM might just be our overall favorite style of home, so the Rover Park barrel houses always turn up here on our site as homes we love. This particular one has more bedrooms than some of the others in this townhouse complex, and with some updates in the kitchen and baths, this specific home is a magical mix of old and new.

It’s a co-op, so the fees are high, but if you understand how co-ops work that shouldn’t spook you too much. And if you don’t, hit us up so we can lay it all out for you!

Definitely check out the photos linked below!

4BR | 2BA | 1,536 SF | $649,000 + $2,079/co-op

See Friday January 21st’s. New Listings at Noon show where we profiled this home!

Rent Move Buy - Ep. 43: Tiny Homes in the DMV

Rent Move Buy - Ep. 43: Tiny Homes in the DMV with Guest Lee Pera

Pre-pandemic, nomadic lifestyles weren’t something many residents in the DMV region often considered, but since the covid19 pandemic and the subsequent ease of working from home or in some cases, from anywhere, people have started reconsidering how much room they need, where and how to live. Add to that the issue of housing affordability in the area, and maybe you decide you want to build a tiny home… so where do you start? Where can you keep it? Lee Pera is a geographer and tiny home consultant who in 2012 built her own tiny home and started the nation's first urban tiny home community in Washington DC. In this episode, Lee and Alison discuss navigating tiny homes in DC, MD, and VA and outline best first steps for one to take.

RARE Pick of the Week: 1101 9th St NE # 1 -- H Street NE

What makes this a RARE pick?

This condo is stupid amounts of cool. With its 2 story dining area to its orange stairs, there’s nothing cookie-cutter about it. It’s packed with custom details, including Hermes wallpaper, remote-controlled electric blinds, heated floors, and designer finishes throughout.

Definitely check out the photos linked below!

3BR | 3.5BA | 1,745 SF | $875,000

See Friday January 14th’s. New Listings at Noon show where we profiled this home!

RARE Pick of the Week: 7013 Endicott -- Bethesda

What makes this a RARE pick?

The pandemic came and everyone wanted a pool because there was nothing else to do during the summer. People who had pools started renting out their pools by the hour. Then winter came and pools weren’t needed anymore… but hear me out - what if you had an INDOOR POOL?

OMG sold. That’s all you need to know. Indoor pool.

OK the rest of the house is pretty cool too. Check out more photos below.

4BR | 4.5BA | 5,023 SF | $1,395,000

Rent Move Buy - Ep. 42: How to Get Solar Power in your Home When Living in DC, MD, and VA

Rent Move Buy - Ep. 42: How to Get Solar Power in your Home When Living in DC, MD, and VA with Guest Aliza Vaida

In recent years, DC, MD, and VA have established new goals and targets for responding to climate change, including a commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Solar energy is emissions free, and installing solar panels on your home is one clear way that one can help us all achieve these goals. In this episode, Alison is joined by Aliza Vaida of EnergySage, a company that offers valuable educational resources, calculators and marketplaces to help people learn about and shop for solar with confidence. Together they discuss how solar can work for homeowners and renters in the area, and how one can go about figuring out what options are best for each person.

RARE Pick of the Week: 2912 Ellicott Terrace -- Forest Hills

What makes this a RARE pick?

Holy time warp! This home was a custom build in 1958 and has been owned by the same family ever since. Most of the furniture is custom to fit the home, and… THE WALLPAPER!! Amaze. 😍

Honestly we would leave a decent amount of this house as-is, with some thoughtful changes and redesign, but so much of this home is pure nostalgic bliss.

5BR | 4.5BA | 4,370 SF | $1,750,000

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.