Thursday, June 25, 2009

Feeling Nosy about DC? MD? VA?

Ok, I know you're probably not planning on moving this very second, but here's this week's list of interesting-looking listings that have just come on the market. Mind you, they may not actually be my personal listings --- just intriguing properties I've come across this week.

Feeling nosy about the District of Columbia?
Feeling nosy about Virginia?
Feeling nosy about Maryland?

If you know someone who might be interested in this list, please forward it on to him or her. And if there's a listing that you're curious about yourself, just let me know ... and I'll show it to you ... just for the hell of it ... no obligation ... *I promise*. Really. (One of the perks of being the friend of a real estate agent ought to be that you get to freely snoop around other peoples' homes!)

Lance Armstrong Selling His Texas Estate

Lance Armstrong cuts the price on his estate in Dripping Springs, Texas from $12 million to $10.5 million. Built in 2003, the 4,241-square-foot home has five bedrooms, five bathrooms and an infinity-edge pool. The 447-acre property includes seven miles of hike-and-bike trails and 1,886 feet of frontage on the Pedernales River.

You can follow Lance on Twitter here.


Thursday, June 18, 2009

Feeling Nosy about DC? MD? VA?

Ok, I know you're probably not planning on moving this very second, but here's this week's list of interesting-looking listings that have just come on the market. Mind you, they may not actually be my personal listings --- just intriguing properties I've come across this week.

Feeling nosy about the District of Columbia?
Feeling nosy about Virginia?
Feeling nosy about Maryland?

If you know someone who might be interested in this list, please forward it on to him or her. And if there's a listing that you're curious about yourself, just let me know ... and I'll show it to you ... just for the hell of it ... no obligation ... *I promise*. Really. (One of the perks of being the friend of a real estate agent ought to be that you get to freely snoop around other peoples' homes!)

Carpenter Bees

Have you ever wondered why we recommend having a "Termite and Wood Boring Insects" inspection when you purchase a home? It’s because these types of pests can do real damage to homes if they are left untreated. Carpenter Bees are one of the many types of wood boring insects that inspectors look for when surveying a property for infestation. Our friends at US Inspect have a wonderful section on their website called “Resources for you” which goes into great detail about different insects that can cause damage to the home. For Carpenter Bees they say:

The carpenter bee (Xylocopa spp.) hollows out wood to create nests called galleries. The carpenter bee does not live in the nest but stays in the nest to rear their young. The nest opening is a perfect half-inch circle. The nest itself may extend anywhere from four (4) inches (for a new nest with one bee) to 10 feet (for older nests with several bees). Carpenter bees generally nest in weathered or unpainted wood. They lay their eggs in the nest and seal them with a chewed wood pulp plug. The bees then emerge from the hole in the Spring.

Treatment
To properly eliminate a carpenter bee infestation, the proper chemicals or dust must be injected directly into the exit hole. The opening is then sealed by gluing a half-inch dowel into the opening and painting the surface. To prevent an infestation of carpenter bees, it is important to paint or stain any bare wood surfaces. Once the chemical or dust is introduced into the exit hole, the hole must be glued with a 1/2 inch dowel and painted over. To prevent an infestation of Carpenter bees, it is important to paint or stain a home's bare wood surfaces.

For more information about termite and wood boring insect inspections, visit www.USInspect.com or contact our team at Info@RealAstute.com. Be sure you don’t buy a house without the right inspections!

Friday, June 12, 2009

Feeling Nosy about DC? MD? VA?

Ok, I know you're probably not planning on moving this very second, but here's this week's list of interesting-looking listings that have just come on the market. Mind you, they may not actually be my personal listings --- just intriguing properties I've come across this week.

Feeling nosy about the District of Columbia?
Feeling nosy about Virginia?
Feeling nosy about Maryland?

If you know someone who might be interested in this list, please forward it on to him or her. And if there's a listing that you're curious about yourself, just let me know ... and I'll show it to you ... just for the hell of it ... no obligation ... *I promise*. Really. (One of the perks of being the friend of a real estate agent ought to be that you get to freely snoop around other peoples' homes!)

Hill Residents Hear Hine Proposals

The Washington Business Journal published a great article on four development teams that were in the running for developing the Hine Jr. High School property.

Click here to read the full article!

Friday, June 05, 2009

Feeling Nosy about DC? MD? VA?

Ok, I know you're probably not planning on moving this very second, but here's this week's list of interesting-looking listings that have just come on the market. Mind you, they may not actually be my personal listings --- just intriguing properties I've come across this week.

Feeling nosy about the District of Columbia?
Feeling nosy about Virginia?
Feeling nosy about Maryland?

If you know someone who might be interested in this list, please forward it on to him or her. And if there's a listing that you're curious about yourself, just let me know ... and I'll show it to you ... just for the hell of it ... no obligation ... *I promise*. Really. (One of the perks of being the friend of a real estate agent ought to be that you get to freely snoop around other peoples' homes!)

Christian Science Church, Maples House Top Endangered List

Washington Business Journal - by Marc Leh

From the highly publicized Christian Science Church downtown to the little known Maples house on Capitol Hill, the D.C. Preservation League is back again with its list of most endangered historic properties in D.C.

Rebecca Miller, executive director of the D.C. Preservation League, announced the list Tuesday at the site of an on the list, the Maples, 619 D St. SE near Eastern Market. The D.C. nonprofit has published the list annually since 1996, hoping to draw attention to Washington’ historic and cultural landmarks most threatened by ill-advised alteration, demolition through neglect or abandonment.

The Maples, one of Capitol Hill’s oldest residences, was built between 1795 and 1798 for William Duncanson, personal friend to George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. Although the property has gone through periods of neglect and prosperity during its 135-year history, recent developers hope to restore it to its former state. Friendship House, as it’s affectionately called, once served as the home of Francis Scott Key, Sen. John Clayton, and Major Augustus Nicholson.

Another of this year’s entries, the Third Church of Christ Scientist, 900 16th St., NW, is particularly endangered, given the recent decision by Planning Director Harriet Tregoning, acting as the mayor’s agent, to allow the church to proceed with demolition so it can build a new one. Built in 1971, the complex was designed by I.M. Pei partner Araldo Cassutta. While church’s “brutalistic” concrete design has its champions and critics, it has been cited for architectural excellence by various publications, including Architecture magazine. The church’s efforts to raze the building has ignited passions on both sides.

The other properties on the list are:

The Foundry Branch Trolley trestle (crossing Foundry Branch of Potomac River in Glover Archbold Park, just north of Canal Road NW). This line, constructed in 1900, was used by Washingtonians to access the Glen Echo Amusement Park in southern Maryland. All tracks have been removed from the former trolley line, but the right-of-way still serves as a trail along the Potomac River overlooking D.C.’s Palisades neighborhood.

The Barney Circle neighborhood — bounded by Potomac Avenue, 17th Street, Kentucky Avenue and Pennsylvania Avenue SE just east of Capitol Hill — was developed to provide affordable housing for people moving to Washington following World War I. As housing prices and rents have increased in recent years, developers have moved to build larger houses there.

Mead’s Row, 1305-1331 H St. NE, comprises row houses with two living levels above retail storefront shops. A proposal to build a new parking lot for H Street’s up-and-coming restaurant/bar scene threatens these unique properties.

The Superintendent’s House, 5211 Little Falls Road NW, a two-story Civil War-era home, and the adjacent Dalecarlia Reservoir are National Historic Landmarks. The Washington Aqueduct, owner of the property, recently proposed to demolish the building. DCPL officials have encouraged the aqueduct to either rehabilitate the building or lease it to a user who would better maintain it.

Three of the structures are repeats from last year: the church, the Foundry Branch Trolley trestle and the Barney Circle neighborhood.

Miller said preservation needs to be a community effort. “It’s not as productive to have preservation put down on someone as it is to have it percolate from the residents,” she said.

Row Homes in Barney Circle