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Exclusive | 1158 Fifth Avenue: Duplex Penthouse, With Famous Garden, Enters Market
Date Published: Fri, 24 May 2013 18:38:06 GMT

An 11-room home that includes a wraparound terrace with Central Park views and a master bedroom encased in a custom-built conservatory.    


The Hunt: Room to Dine; No Wall Views Please
Date Published: Fri, 24 May 2013 18:27:34 GMT

Stephanie Budijono and Jean-Francois Kagy wanted a gracious place in the city.    


Fifth Avenue Penthouse at $17 Million
Date Published: Fri, 24 May 2013 16:21:01 GMT

The 11-room co-op apartment, at 97th Street, features a wraparound terrace with views of Central Park.    


Quirky Building Rules, Because the Board Says So
Date Published: Fri, 24 May 2013 14:28:42 GMT

Some New York buildings have strange, even quirky rules.    


Restoring a Sag Harbor Eyesore
Date Published: Thu, 23 May 2013 23:45:27 GMT

The long-vacant Bulova Watchcase factory, near the heart of Sag Harbor, is being turned into a luxury residential complex; construction is set to be completed by winter.    


Mortgages: Reducing Refinancing Expenses
Date Published: Thu, 23 May 2013 22:37:18 GMT

Borrowers in New York who switch lenders might be able to eliminate the state?s mortgage recording tax.    


New York Real Estate Questions and Answers
Date Published: Thu, 23 May 2013 22:36:18 GMT

Answers to questions about limiting the number of rental units in condominiums; moving out while elevators are not in service; and income requirements for renting.    


Streetscapes | Lower East Side: Lower Second Avenue in Its Well-Behaved Youth
Date Published: Thu, 23 May 2013 22:01:36 GMT

Lower Second Avenue was once home to the carriage trade.    


Big Deal: The Year of Audacious Real Estate Pricing
Date Published: Thu, 23 May 2013 21:23:57 GMT

It was a season of astronomically priced properties in both New York and Miami.    


The Details: At the International Contemporary Furniture Fair, Going for the Remix
Date Published: Wed, 22 May 2013 22:58:53 GMT

The International Contemporary Furniture Fair and its coterie of New York design week events showed that design is all over the map, its contours muddled and its direction uncertain.    


Market Ready: Add a Handrail to a Tricky Staircase
Date Published: Wed, 22 May 2013 22:37:09 GMT

Our home has a precarious staircase with no handrail. Is it worth the trouble to add one before trying to sell?    


Currents | Goods: The Shabby Chic Dollhouse Recreates a Victorian-Style Cottage in the Catskills
Date Published: Wed, 22 May 2013 22:37:06 GMT

The Shabby Chic Dollhouse recreates a Victorian-style cottage in the Catskills that lacks heat and running water but was dripping with charm.    


Currents | Shows: ?Koloman Moser: Designing Modern Vienna 1897-1907? Opens at the Neue Galerie
Date Published: Wed, 22 May 2013 22:32:38 GMT

A show featuring the work of Koloman Moser opens Thursday at the Neue Galerie in New York.    


Currents | Books: ?Furniture Makeovers? by Barb Blair Covers 26 Restoration Techniques
Date Published: Wed, 22 May 2013 22:31:38 GMT

The makeover specialist Barb Blair?s new book, ?Furniture Makeovers,? describes 26 restoration techniques, like distressing and making small repairs.    


Currents | Q&A: Geoff Manaugh, the New Editor of Gizmodo, on Adding Design to the Tech Blog
Date Published: Wed, 22 May 2013 22:30:29 GMT

Geoff Manaugh, the new editor of Gizmodo, on adding urbanism, architecture and design to the popular tech blog.    


In the Garden: The Hard Road to a Vegetable Plot
Date Published: Wed, 22 May 2013 22:28:12 GMT

Before planting a vegetable garden, a plot of land must be cleared. The author?s challenge involved dislodging old beach rose shrubs with stubborn roots.    


On Location | Southampton, N.Y.: In the Hamptons, Where There?s Less to Mess
Date Published: Wed, 22 May 2013 22:27:01 GMT

A call to order led a couple to trade their sprawling house for something smaller and more immaculate.    


Meticulous Downsize
Date Published: Wed, 22 May 2013 22:23:43 GMT

Charles Gold Peri Wolfman?s perfectly arranged, and mostly white, Southhampton home.    


Existing-Home Sales Hit a 3-Year High
Date Published: Wed, 22 May 2013 22:22:48 GMT

The price surge in home resales gave the economy a buffer from the belt-tightening in Washington.    


Shopping With Mirko Benzo: Wine Racks
Date Published: Wed, 22 May 2013 22:17:42 GMT

A London sommelier leaves the restaurant cellar to consider wine racks to use at home (or on your bicycle).    


Property Values: Real Estate for Real Estate for $5.9 Million
Date Published: Wed, 22 May 2013 17:00:32 GMT

A modern house in Studio City, Calif; an ancient Colonial in Massachusetts; and a two-building compound in Charleston, S.C.    


Homes for $1,995,000
Date Published: Wed, 22 May 2013 16:52:33 GMT

A modern house in California, an ancient Colonial In Massachusetts; and a two-building compound in Charleston, S.C.    


International Real Estate: Real Estate in Morocco
Date Published: Wed, 22 May 2013 15:10:27 GMT

A traditional Moroccan house with five bedroom suites, a multilevel roof terrace and a courtyard.    


House Hunting in Morocco
Date Published: Wed, 22 May 2013 15:04:49 GMT

A restored 19th-century riad in Marrakesh, with five bedroom suites, is on the market for $1.3 million.    


I Was Misinformed: Come See Me in the Country This Summer. I?m Begging.
Date Published: Wed, 22 May 2013 12:16:31 GMT

?I have a thing about summer in the country which is kind of a Don Juan complex with grass: I want it, I want it, I want it, and then when I get it I?m bored.?    


Inhabit: A remodel that makes room for two
Date Published: Fri, 18 Mar 2011 20:18:12 EDT

Gina Farina faced a remodeling challenge with her small two-level Arlington condo when she sought to open to up the space to accommodate a new roommate. Answering the call was Georgetown architect Ernesto Santalla.


Attorneys general try to rein in lenders' shabby behavior on modifications
Date Published: Fri, 18 Mar 2011 19:22:01 EDT

When you take out a home mortgage, do you expect to be treated fairly and competently by your bank or loan servicer?


Where We Live: Cross Creek
Date Published: Fri, 18 Mar 2011 19:43:02 EDT

Andrew Leighton is not a golfer, but the prospect of living on a golf course was intriguing when he and his family discovered the Cross Creek neighborhood. Now, Leighton, his wife, Jackie and their two children enjoy the view from their home adjacent to the course, located along the border betwee...


The family focus endures in Montgomery's Sherwood Forest
Date Published: Fri, 11 Mar 2011 16:10:01 EST

The Victorian house in the center of Montgomery County's Sherwood Forest neighborhood has overlooked the surrounding land for more than 200 years. Back in those early days, it lay just off the Glenmont-Colesville Road in the midst of Westover Farm, where crops such as corn and oats grew on nearly...


Military buyers: Home-shoppers on a mission
Date Published: Fri, 11 Mar 2011 12:19:00 EST

To those who haven't worn the uniform, their ways can be a mystery. But anyone trying to sell a home in the Washington metro area would be wise to learn more about the needs and habits of military officers, enlisted people and their families. It's the season for them to begin some serious house-h...


Major changes ahead for mortgage system as U.S. seeks to scale back role in housing
Date Published: Fri, 11 Mar 2011 12:13:01 EST

Fundamental changes are probably ahead for the American mortgage system as the federal government pushes to unwind its unprecedented involvement in the housing market.


Do-it-yourself: How to remove soap scum
Date Published: Fri, 18 Mar 2011 19:50:17 EDT

Q. I have a fiberglass shower wall and tub that have accumulated a lot of hard-water stains, soap scum and dirt. I have tried all kinds of products, and they just don't clean it. Can you help? ¿ C. Davis


A few chores to get a jump-start on gardening season
Date Published: Fri, 18 Mar 2011 19:46:01 EDT

If late winter was an indicator, we are headed for a bumper crop of flowers this spring. I saw the first color in Chevy Chase on the forsythia March 8 with buds opening enough to tease with a hint of yellow.


More details about the Cross Creek neighborhood
Date Published: Fri, 18 Mar 2011 19:45:01 EDT



Housing paperwork can pile up at tax time - here's what to keep, and for how long
Date Published: Fri, 18 Mar 2011 19:40:01 EDT

Many taxpayers are preparing for their annual battle with IRS form 1040 by gathering up all their documents, statements, checks and other assorted papers. At the end of this process, taxpayers are often left with piles of neatly sorted, tabulated and cross-indexed piles. From a homeowner's perspe...


Mortgage rates down as investors react to Japan crisis
Date Published: Fri, 18 Mar 2011 19:27:02 EDT

Mortgage rates fell to the lowest level in almost two months, tracking a drop in Treasury yields as Japan's deepening nuclear crisis spurred demand for relatively safe investments.


With short-sale offer refused, foreclosure may end up the best option
Date Published: Fri, 18 Mar 2011 19:23:01 EDT

Q. We built a spec house in 2007 as the market declined. We've tried to do everything to get it sold and recently received a short-sale offer on the home.


Make room for Daddy - or Granny, or Junior, or . . .
Date Published: Fri, 18 Mar 2011 19:08:01 EDT

Over the last 39 years, Michael Litchfield has built one new house, acting as both designer and contractor, and extensively remodeled five others. He has written nine books on the design, construction and renovation of houses, including one on remodeling that runs to more than 600 pages, and he w...


Ruined drywall?
Date Published: Fri, 18 Mar 2011 19:06:01 EDT

Leaking water can sometimes create a massive water blister in latex paint on a ceiling. You may mistake this for ruined drywall when, in fact, the drywall may not have to be replaced.


Ask the builder: Fixing water-damaged drywall
Date Published: Fri, 18 Mar 2011 19:02:01 EDT

Q. A water line burst in our home and created a significant leak. We were home and able to contain most of the water, but quite a bit got through the floor, ruining the drywall ceiling in the basement. Is there an easy way to deal with water-damaged drywall? Can we just wait for it to dry and the...


U.S. Housing Starts Drop to Lowest Level Since April 2009
Date Published: Wed, 16 Mar 2011 10:01:00 EDT

Housing starts in the U.S. declined more than forecast in February to the slowest pace since April 2009 and building permits slumped to a record low, signs the housing market recovery is limping along as the rest of the economy improves.


'Net zero' house to be built in Maryland should produce as much energy as it uses
Date Published: Mon, 14 Mar 2011 07:09:00 EDT

It sounds like an idea out of a sci-fi novel: a house that can produce as much energy each year as it uses. But most buyers aren't interested in houses from a sci-fi novel, and they aren't much interested in paying extra for them, either.


Do-it-yourselfer Q&A
Date Published: Fri, 11 Mar 2011 17:49:01 EST

Q. We have large ceramic tiles at our entry. They look fine, but when it rains they get very slippery. Is there a remedy for this? -L. Schnell


Details on the Sherwood Forest neighborhood
Date Published: Fri, 11 Mar 2011 16:12:01 EST



Mortgage applications rise as loan costs hold steady
Date Published: Fri, 11 Mar 2011 16:06:01 EST

Mortgage interest rates were little changed from last week, keeping borrowing costs steady as demand for home loans increases.


Borrower has second thoughts about that second chance
Date Published: Fri, 11 Mar 2011 16:04:01 EST

Q. I was going into foreclosure, but the bank gave me a loan modification. I agreed to the modification at the beginning, but now I see it was a mistake and think foreclosure would be better. What do I have to do - just stop paying?


Tips for painting kitchen cabinets
Date Published: Fri, 11 Mar 2011 15:58:01 EST

Painting kitchen cabinets is much easier if you remove the hardware. This takes time up front, but you'll get fantastic results at the end of the day. Be sure to put the hardware for each cabinet in a separate, marked plastic sandwich bag so that you can reassemble the cabinets and everything wor...


Six steps to upgrading a kitchen without boosting the cost
Date Published: Fri, 11 Mar 2011 15:55:01 EST

Q. I'd love to move to a new home, but the economy is preventing that. So I've decided to do some kitchen remodeling, as it seems to be the center of activity of our current home. Based on the bids I'm getting, remodeling costs seem high. What can be done to keep the total cost as low as possible...


Smart growth bill capitalizes on Maryland transit
Date Published: Fri, 11 Mar 2011 15:40:01 EST

The Maryland General Assembly may soon make a really smart move toward achieving really smart growth: It could adopt proposed land-use legislation enabling "State Rail Station Overlay Districts."


Take precautions before signing a remodeling contract
Date Published: Fri, 11 Mar 2011 14:53:01 EST

When planning major home renovation, there are many steps you have to take to find the right professionals, including the contractor and perhaps an architect. It's equally important to take steps to protect your legal interests - and to do so early in the process.


March's gardening and nature programs around D.C.
Date Published: Fri, 11 Mar 2011 14:52:00 EST

Spring offers many opportunities for lectures, workshops, tours and other educational programs. Before you get busy in the garden, take advantage of one of the many sessions offered this month. Call to ascertain if pre-registration is required. If a fee is not shown, the event is free.


Many still owe taxes on forgiven home-equity debt
Date Published: Fri, 11 Mar 2011 14:51:02 EST

With hundreds of thousands of homeowners having negotiated loan modifications or short sales or been foreclosed upon during the past year, the Internal Revenue Service has issued fresh guidance on how to handle canceled mortgage debt in the coming tax season.


Tips for military families moving to D.C.
Date Published: Fri, 11 Mar 2011 12:24:00 EST

l Be prepared for sticker shock. The D.C. area is much more expensive than most military towns. You'll receive a larger housing allowance, but it may still be tough to afford what you want.


Federal Housing Administration leader David Stevens will leave post
Date Published: Thu, 10 Mar 2011 22:56:01 EST

David H. Stevens plans to leave his post as head of the Federal Housing Administration by the end of April after guiding the agency through its toughest financial challenges in one of the housing market's darkest periods.


Color of Money Live
Date Published: Thu, 10 Mar 2011 12:00:00 EST

Need advice about how to handle your personal finances? Post columnist Michelle Singletary offers her advice and answers your questions.


Behind the foreclosure crisis, big banks' reign of error
Date Published: Sun, 06 Mar 2011 00:00:00 EST

The problem in the nation's housing market now isn't subprime lending. It's subpar lenders.


Details on the Greenbriar neighborhood
Date Published: Fri, 04 Mar 2011 11:56:01 EST

20153 BOUNDARIES: Stringfellow Road to the west, Route 50 to the north, the Fairfax County Parkway to the east, and Melville Lane (including Morning Spring Lane and Marshall Hall Lane) to the south. SCHOOLS: Greenbriar East and Greenbriar West elementary schools, Rocky Run Middle School and Chan...


Greenbriar: Chantilly's Levitt town
Date Published: Fri, 04 Mar 2011 11:40:01 EST

The minute Shelly and Trey Lackey drove into Chantilly's Greenbriar neighborhood 11 years ago, she thought, "Oh my goodness, I've been here before!" But "here" actually had been another Levitt and Sons community, in Willingboro, N.J.


For the best refinancing deal, do your homework
Date Published: Fri, 04 Mar 2011 11:36:01 EST

Q. My wife and I are thinking about refinancing our house. We are considering using a particular mortgage broker, but they have had a number of complaints with the Better Business Bureau and have a B rating. So how do we decide whether we should refinance with them?


Concern grows over use of flame retardant HBCD
Date Published: Fri, 04 Mar 2011 11:35:01 EST

Hexabromocyclododecane, commonly known as HBCD, is a flame retardant that is starting to give a lot of green builders headaches.


How to install piping for a central vac system
Date Published: Fri, 04 Mar 2011 11:34:00 EST

Installing the piping for a central vac system in an average-size new house usually takes part of a day. The pipe glues together with regular PVC cement. You can cut the thin piping with a simple hacksaw, making sure you remove any burrs from the cut ends of the pipe. Burrs can grab onto hair and...


Central vacuum system installation tips
Date Published: Fri, 04 Mar 2011 11:33:01 EST

I was touring a new home, and one of the features that really interested me was the central vacuum system. It seems like one of these would be really handy. What's involved when you install a central vacuum? Can you share some tips, especially what not to do? - Ray H., Newtown, Pa.


Mortgage rates continue to fall
Date Published: Fri, 04 Mar 2011 11:32:01 EST

The average rate on 30-year fixed mortgages slipped to 4.87 percent from 4.95 percent this week, according to Freddie Mac.


Green Scene: Good books for the gardener
Date Published: Fri, 04 Mar 2011 11:31:00 EST

Since spring is right around the corner, I felt it appropriate to share some titles that will fit well into your gardening library. Books are still one of the best ways to keep up with the latest in landscape design and the needs of plants. These new favorites of mine cover a wide range of garden...


A common-sense way to mend the draconian appraisal process
Date Published: Fri, 04 Mar 2011 11:30:01 EST

If federal regulators are truly concerned about the quality and independence of home appraisals - a cornerstone of sound mortgage lending - why don't they simply prohibit appraisers from learning the contract price before they perform their assessment of a home's value?


Picky first-time buyers losing out on great housing deals
Date Published: Fri, 04 Mar 2011 11:25:01 EST

Picky, picky, picky! Are today's first-time home buyers passing up great deals because they insist on flawless "move-in ready" houses requiring little or no changes - even at the starter-home price levels at which shoppers traditionally have been willing to factor fix-ups and renovations into the...


D.C. newcomers searching for their dream home might get a few wake-up calls
Date Published: Fri, 04 Mar 2011 11:04:01 EST

Anyone who has searched for a home in the District, for convenient parking - or even for a bar stool during happy hour - may have sensed what census statistics confirm: There are a lot of newcomers around town. And these newcomers - and their housing wish lists - are helping reshape the city's ne...


Thorny foreclosure questions
Date Published: Thu, 03 Mar 2011 21:46:01 EST

I never bought a foreclosure. I pay my mortgage faithfully. Now, is someone going to tell me a back-office clerk mishandled my title and their actions threaten my legitimate ownership? Will this mess hurt me when I try to sell my home?


House may kill Obama's foreclosure-prevention programs
Date Published: Wed, 02 Mar 2011 21:52:00 EST

The Obama administration's main initiative to help struggling borrowers avoid foreclosure could soon be killed in the House, where many Republican lawmakers have complained about the program's lackluster results.


Federal support for home loans essential, Geithner warns
Date Published: Tue, 01 Mar 2011 22:39:00 EST

The Treasury secretary said that government should continue to back low-down-payment loans for first-time home buyers.


In the housing crisis, we all live under one roof
Date Published: Sat, 26 Feb 2011 17:14:01 EST

For the past few years, I've been working with a single mother who has had to move four times, renting rooms in other people's homes so she wouldn't have to spend more than 50 percent of her monthly income on housing.


Green Scene: Some ideas for an environmentally friendly landscape
Date Published: Fri, 25 Feb 2011 18:56:01 EST

Now is the time to formulate your spring garden plans. Before you choose the plants you will install this year- or design the entire landscape-consider the ways you could make your gardens more productive and environmentally friendly. Here are some suggestions:


Do-it-yourselfer Q&A
Date Published: Fri, 25 Feb 2011 14:37:02 EST

Q. I started trying to remove the cracked, discolored tile grout in my shower using a hand tool and think it will take at least 20 years to get it all out. Is there a better way? -E. Bartlett


30-year mortgage rates again below 5 percent
Date Published: Fri, 25 Feb 2011 10:36:00 EST

Freddie Mac reported that the average rate on the 30-year loan slipped to 4.95 percent from 5 percent. It hit a 40-year low of 4.17 percent in November.


It could be the time to buy that bigger house
Date Published: Fri, 25 Feb 2011 10:34:00 EST

Q. I own a home and owe $388,000 on the mortgage. I think the home is probably worth $370,000. I bought the home for $417,000 in 2006, so I've taken a big hit on equity like everyone else. I have no issue making the payments but feel as though I am trying to dig myself out of a hole. I make an e...


For professional results, use the right tools
Date Published: Fri, 25 Feb 2011 10:33:01 EST

To get professional results, you have to have great drywall taping tools. I love using my stainless-steel mud pan. I use a flexible taping knife that's just under six inches wide. Before I used it the first time, I used a metal file to slightly round the corners of the tool. Straight from the fac...


Taping drywall is not as easy as it looks on do-it-yourself shows
Date Published: Fri, 25 Feb 2011 10:29:00 EST

Q. Is taping drywall that hard to do? I watched it done on a television show, and it seems like it's not too tough. What tools should I be looking for? What are some secrets of finishing drywall, and what are the biggest mistakes rookies make when mudding and taping drywall? I want my job to look...


Some in military, Foreign Service can still claim homebuyer credit
Date Published: Fri, 25 Feb 2011 10:25:01 EST

If you have been on active military duty outside of the United States for at least 90 days between Jan. 1, 2009, and April 30, 2010, or if you were on qualified official extended duty or a member of the Foreign Service during that time span, you may still be eligible to claim the first time homeb...


How to make rentals more attractive as the American dream evolves, adapts
Date Published: Fri, 25 Feb 2011 10:25:00 EST

Years ago at the University of Maryland, I taught "Economic Determinants in Architecture," an elective course introducing architecture students to the real world of capitalism and showing how that world influences design and development. Students learned that market and financial conditions, alon...


Details on the Potomac Crest neighborhood
Date Published: Fri, 25 Feb 2011 10:21:00 EST

20854 BOUNDARIES: Cedar Ridge Drive to the north, Foxcrest Court and Potomac Crest Drive to the east, Turncrest Drive and Potomac Crest Drive to the south, and Cobble Creek Circle to the west. SCHOOLS: Beverly Farms Elementary School, Herbert Hoover Middle School, Winston Churchill High School. ...


Potomac Crest: Montgomery's garden spot
Date Published: Fri, 25 Feb 2011 10:20:02 EST

One of the first things you notice about Potomac Crest, a community of 131 townhouses and duplexes and 31 detached homes near Seven Locks Road and Tuckerman Lane, is the landscaping. "The overall community is beautifully landscaped and maintained by the owners and a very active homeowners associa...


As deficit looms larger, senators' eye cuts in mortgage interest deductions
Date Published: Fri, 25 Feb 2011 10:18:00 EST

Just because President Obama's latest budget proposal calls for rollbacks in mortgage interest deductions solely for high-income taxpayers, should you assume that all of your write-offs as a homeowner are secure from attack?


Cash deals raise January sales of existing homes, report says
Date Published: Wed, 23 Feb 2011 22:59:01 EST

Sales of previously owned homes increased nationwide in January, driven by all-cash purchases that suggest investors are chasing after foreclosures and other bargains in an ailing housing market, an industry group reported Wednesday.


Economic events for the week beginning Feb. 21
Date Published: Sun, 20 Feb 2011 17:52:01 EST

A slew of data about the housing market will be the focus of economic news in this holiday-shortened week.


'Architectural editor' brings constructive ideas together in one place
Date Published: Fri, 18 Feb 2011 15:50:01 EST

Behind every really good writer stands a really good editor, the unsung hero who offers advice on ways to carve off excess words, make arguments more succinct and populate novels with more-compelling characters and plotlines.


Fewer and fewer plants are truly deer-resistent
Date Published: Fri, 18 Feb 2011 15:49:00 EST

As early spring approaches, gardeners are thinking about their properties, and I've received questions about vehicular circulation, screening, controlling damage from deer and other topics.


Ask the Builder: Hardwood floors best left to the professionals
Date Published: Fri, 18 Feb 2011 15:44:00 EST

I'm going to install hardwood flooring. I'm talking about traditional tongue-and-groove hardwood that's 3/4-inch thick, not engineered hardwood flooring. My plan is to try it myself and only call in installers if I mess up. What do you think of this idea? It can't be that difficult - you just nai...


Why solid hardwood is the best choice
Date Published: Fri, 18 Feb 2011 15:44:00 EST

If I've talked you out of installing the floor yourself, you may want to try prefinished-hardwood flooring. Some of it can be easy to work with, but follow all the instructions with respect to acclimating it to the room.


Why shouldn't your low-interest loan move with you?
Date Published: Fri, 18 Feb 2011 15:35:01 EST

There used to be a big push by lenders to secure "customers for life." Not only did banks promote attractive mortgage programs, but they also targeted the same customers for checking and savings accounts, individual retirement accounts, credit cards, auto loans, wealth management advice and insur...


Getting rid of a timeshare, even paid in full, is no easy task
Date Published: Fri, 18 Feb 2011 15:12:01 EST

Q. My 86-year-old mother cannot get rid of her paid-in-full timeshare. The maintenance fees are hurting her financially. She has tried to sell and/or donate it to a charity without any luck. How can she dispose of it? Do we, her beneficiaries, have to take it over? Can she just stop paying the ma...


Can you ride a rising tide of deductions?
Date Published: Fri, 18 Feb 2011 14:58:01 EST

When you think of a second home, do you think of a secluded mountain cabin? Perhaps a pied-a-terre in an urban high-rise? What about a second home with no fixed address? One that floats?


Rates for 30-year mortgages drop for first time in five weeks
Date Published: Fri, 18 Feb 2011 14:47:00 EST

Mortgage rates for 30-year loans declined for the first time in five weeks, reducing borrowing costs from a 10-month high.


Phasing out Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae could boost what other borrowers must pay
Date Published: Fri, 18 Feb 2011 13:56:01 EST

Fixed 30-year mortgage rates in the 5 percent range? Minimum down payments below 5 percent? Jumbo-size home loans for high-cost markets at regular interest rates? Kiss them good-bye - possibly sooner than you might guess.


Details on the Adams Morgan neighborhood
Date Published: Fri, 18 Feb 2011 13:54:00 EST

20009 Boundaries: Florida Avenue to the south; Connecticut Avenue and Rock Creek Park to the west; Calvert Street, Adams Mill Road and Harvard Street to the north; and 16th Street NW to the east. Schools: Marie Reed, H.D. Cooke and Oyster-Adams elementary schools; Lincoln and Alice Deal middle s...


Adams Morgan: Looking beyond nightlife
Date Published: Fri, 18 Feb 2011 13:53:01 EST

Back when heading east of 16th Street after dark felt risky, Adams Morgan was ground zero for Washington's nightlife scene. One of the city's most ethnically and racially diverse neighborhoods, the community had a quirky vibe and a reputation for tolerance, and the area's spine, 18th Street NW, w...


Part modern, part farmhouse, Alexandria home is testament to architect Goodman
Date Published: Fri, 18 Feb 2011 13:29:03 EST

Back in 1952 there was a 100-year-old farmhouse for sale atop a ridge on North Quaker Lane in Alexandria. It sat near the edge of seven acres and, it is said, could boast a view of the Potomac River.


Mortgage delinquency rates drop
Date Published: Thu, 17 Feb 2011 20:44:01 EST

As the labor market improved, the number of homeowners who fell behind on their mortgage payments dropped in the final three months of last year to the lowest level since 2008, according to a national survey released Thursday by the Mortgage Bankers Association.


The plan to restructure
Date Published: Sat, 12 Feb 2011 15:00:00 EST

The Obama administration outlined its plan to phase out government support of the U.S. housing finance system - and wind down Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.¶ The plan - a sharp change of course after a decades-long campaign to extend homeownership to more Americans - would shift more of the burden to...


Administration proposals to overhaul federal housing role draw fire from left
Date Published: Sat, 12 Feb 2011 01:25:00 EST

Some of the President Obama's traditional allies argued that proposals in the newly released report could make it too costly for many Americans to buy a home.


Obama administration proposals to reduce federal role in housing market
Date Published: Fri, 11 Feb 2011 23:46:02 EST

The Obama administration is pressing to scale back the federal government's role in the mortgage market. On Friday, it presented Congress with several proposals that would raise the costs of federally backed loans, a move designed to help the private sector better compete with Fannie Mae, Freddie...


Buyer beware of confusion over property taxes for newly built homes
Date Published: Fri, 11 Feb 2011 15:34:00 EST

Q. Do builders get a tax break before they sell their houses?


Obama report on Fannie, Freddie plan may boost mortgage rates
Date Published: Fri, 11 Feb 2011 14:23:00 EST

The Obama administration wants to raise fees for borrowers and require larger down payments for home loans as part of a long-term effort to restructure the nation's housing market. But it warned that these measures could boost mortgage rates and make it harder for home buyers to secure the 30-yea...


Peak buying time ahead, mortgage rates rise
Date Published: Fri, 11 Feb 2011 13:19:00 EST

The average rate on a 30-year mortgage topped 5 percent this week for the first time since April, and higher rates could further hamper the struggling housing market ahead of the spring's prime home-buying season.


Computers are great tools for architects, but don't let CAD go wild
Date Published: Fri, 11 Feb 2011 13:18:01 EST

Architects can now design buildings without lifting a pencil, thanks to computer technology. In fact, digitally conceived architecture can be too complex to draw by hand or to develop using conventional drawings, even those printed by machine. Yet there may be risks in abandoning the pencil and r...


Details on the Tenleytown neighborhood
Date Published: Fri, 11 Feb 2011 13:15:00 EST

BOUNDARIES: Roughly, Garrison Street NW to the north, Upton Street to the south, Wisconsin Avenue to the west and Reno Road to the east.


Where We Live: Tenleytown, where old meets new
Date Published: Fri, 11 Feb 2011 13:14:01 EST

Anyone visiting the 50-meter pool at the Wilson Aquatic Center, the brand-new Tenley-Friendship Library, or the row of restaurants and big-box stores on Wisconsin Avenue would be forgiven for thinking Tenleytown is definedby the shiny and new.


What to do if you have running water coming through the holes
Date Published: Fri, 11 Feb 2011 13:13:00 EST

If you have running water coming through the holes, try to wait for a dry spell to do the repair. Some of these hydraulic repair cements will work if there is moving water, but it's not guaranteed.


How to fix holes in your home's concrete foundation
Date Published: Fri, 11 Feb 2011 13:12:01 EST

Q. I have to make an unexpected repair to my poured concrete foundation. A water leak led me to remove drywall in my basement, and to my surprise, I discovered rows of holes 5/8-inch diameter in my concrete walls. Some of the holes have water dripping through them. These perfectly drilled holes a...


Do-it-yourself Q&A
Date Published: Fri, 11 Feb 2011 13:11:01 EST

Q. The bathroom grout in our 14-year-old house has become stained, and we haven't been able to clean it with various products, including bleach. How do we restore the color? -D. Lilly


Exchange technique allows real estate investors to put off the tax bill
Date Published: Fri, 11 Feb 2011 13:09:00 EST

Q: I bought my house many years ago for $50,000. When my family grew, we bought a larger house where we still live. For years now, we have rented out the original house, which is now worth more than $800,000.


Say it with your own arrangement - or cutting garden - of flowers
Date Published: Fri, 11 Feb 2011 13:08:00 EST

It's in our nature to celebrate with flowers since they convey feelings of love on many occasions - not just Valentine's Day. Flora has been used to show love for at least the past couple hundred-thousand years. They even appear to have been part of ceremonies since prehistoric times, when Neande...


HOAs can breathe easy as federal agency revises proposed rule on transfer fees
Date Published: Fri, 11 Feb 2011 13:07:01 EST

Thousands of homeowner associations and condominiums across the country just sidestepped a potentially costly problem. Earlier this month, a federal agency backed off a controversial plan to make obtaining mortgages in their communities much more difficult and to dry up a key source of revenue th...


Boot car from the garage and reclaim valuable living space
Date Published: Fri, 11 Feb 2011 13:04:02 EST

When was the last time your car saw the inside of your garage, anyway?


Mortgage finance overhaul begins to take shape
Date Published: Thu, 10 Feb 2011 20:13:01 EST

The Obama administration is pushing ahead with a vast rewrite of the rules of the nation's mortgage market separately from the delicate task of devising options to abolish mortgage finance giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.


Bipartisan support for scrapping Fannie, Freddie draws criticism
Date Published: Wed, 09 Feb 2011 22:55:01 EST

To many Republicans and the Obama administration, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the government's mortgage giants, are ill. But rather than healing them, both sides agree that the companies should be left to die and that their support for the housing market should wither away.


CoStar's People of Note (May 19 - 25)
Date Published: Fri, 24 May 2013 04:01:22 GMT

This week's People of Note includes the following markets: South Florida, Chicago, Tampa, Los Angeles, and Cleveland. SOUTH FLORIDA Avison Young Hires Carlo in Miami By Justin Sumner Avison Young, Canada's largest independently-owned commercial real estate services company, has hired Daniel Carlo as a principal in the firm, and managing director of the company's Miami office. In his new role, Carlo will oversee the growth and develo


Keith Corp. Sells $25M Britax Building
Date Published: Wed, 22 May 2013 08:29:13 GMT

S&F Acquisitions, Inc. of Boca Raton, FL purchased the Britax Building at 4140 Pleasant Rd. in Charlotte from The Keith Corp. for $25 million or $52.26 per square foot. The 478,400-square-foot industrial building was built in 2012 as a build-to-suit for child car seat maker Britax in the southwest Charlotte submarket. Seller The Keith Corp. was represented by Cushman & Wakefield | Thalhimer?s Capital Markets team of Chris Norvell and Scot Humphrey...


BCB Investments Acquires Markets at Cedar Ridge Bldg
Date Published: Mon, 20 May 2013 06:26:03 GMT

BCB Investments acquired Building A of the Markets at Cedar Ridge Shopping Center, located at 7520 S. Tryon St. in Charlotte, NC from The Dovetail Companies for $2,382,500, or about 127 per square foot. The single-story, 18,720-square-foot, multi-tenant strip building was built in 2006 in the Southwest Retail submarket of Mecklenburg County. NorthState Capital Properties represented BCB Investments. David Morris of Legacy Real Estate Advisors...


Cabot Properties Acquires Charlotte Industrial
Date Published: Mon, 20 May 2013 03:57:15 GMT

Cabot Properties, Inc. has acquired the industrial building at 11701 Goodrich Dr. in Charlotte, NC from TA Associates Realty for $8.9 million, or about $20 per square foot. The 438,650-square-foot industrial property originally was constructed as a build-to-suit facility for the footwear division of B.F. Goodrich Company. Converse Shoes occupied the property until 2003. In 2008 the seller successfully converted the building into a multi-tenant...


CoStar's People of Note (May 12 - 18)
Date Published: Fri, 17 May 2013 09:02:42 GMT

This week's People of Note includes the following markets: Detroit, Charlotte, Phoenix, New York, Charleston, South Florida, and San Diego. DETROIT Farbman Group Promotes Gutman, Kalil By Tim Heise Farbman Group, a Southfield, MI-based, full-service real estate solutions company, has promoted CFO Andrew Gutman to president of the company. Gutman joined Farbman Group more than 18 years ago. He has worked in several areas of


Republic Refrigeration Acquires Monroe Industrial Facility
Date Published: Thu, 16 May 2013 09:02:31 GMT

Republic Refrigeration acquired the Industrial Ventures II building at 2810 Gray Fox Rd. in Monroe, NC from 6RC Properties LLC for $1.09 million, or about $56 per square foot. The single-story, 19,625-square-foot industrial building was built in 2000 in the Union County Industrial submarket. Van Southard and Katherine Southard of The Moser Group, Inc. represented the seller. Adam Pearlman of The CRE Consulting Group represented the buyer. Please...


Charlotte Investor Sells 222,000-SF Industrial Bldg
Date Published: Thu, 16 May 2013 08:03:45 GMT

Canadian-based TDG Griffith LLC acquired the industrial building at 701 Griffith Rd. in Charlotte, NC for $4.823 million, or about $22 per square foot, from a local investor. The 222,151-square-foot warehouse was built in 1966 and renovated in 1999. It is situated on 13.2 acres in the Tyvola Rd Industrial submarket of Mecklenburg County. At the time of sale, the building was 100 percent leased. Dave Simpson of NAI Southern Real Estate represented...


Lane Construction Pays $1.5M for Charlotte Office
Date Published: Thu, 16 May 2013 04:19:39 GMT

Lane Construction Corporation acquired the office building at 6125 Tyvola Centre Dr. in Charlotte, NC from Wells Fargo for $1.5 million, or about $66 per square foot. The single-story, 22,882-square-foot building was built in 2002 on two acres in the Airport submarket of Mecklenburg County. Scott Wilson and Paul DeVine of Childress Klein Properties represented the seller. The buyer handled the deal in-house. Please refer to CoStar COMPS...


Skibinski Joins Avison Young as Principal
Date Published: Thu, 16 May 2013 02:05:01 GMT

Christopher Skibinski, an industrial real estate specialist who was formerly a managing director with Jones Lang LaSalle before heading his own firm, has joined Avison Young as a principal in Charlotte. The new Charlotte office is the fast-growing firm's 31st office outside of Canada and its third in North Carolina. Avison Young made a big splash in October 2012 when it opened its first offices in North Carolina in Raleigh and Chapel Hill...


Griffin Capital Corp Acquires Four Coliseum Centre for $39.2M
Date Published: Tue, 14 May 2013 09:00:44 GMT

Griffin Capital, a Los Angeles-based REIT, acquired the Four Coliseum Centre office building at 2730 W. Tyvola Rd. in Charlotte, NC from a joint venture of Vision Equities LLC and CarVal Investors for $39.188 million, or approximately $197 per square foot. The six-story, 198,898-square-foot, class A office building delivered in 1999 on 12.9 acres in the Airport submarket of Mecklenburg County, part of the Coliseum Centre building park. The property...


CoStar's People of Note (May 5 - 11)
Date Published: Fri, 10 May 2013 08:11:27 GMT

This week's People of Note includes the following markets: Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Washington DC, New Jersey, Chicago, New York, and Indianapolis. LOS ANGELES Diaz Returns to Cushman & Wakefield By Allison Smith Lalo Diaz has returned to Cushman & Wakefield, Inc. as a market leader for the Downtown Los Angeles market. In his new role Diaz will be responsible for overseeing day-to-day activities, recruitment goals, an


Frassetto Cos. Acquires Motor Racing Network Building
Date Published: Fri, 10 May 2013 04:27:28 GMT

The Frassetto Companies recently closed on its acquisition of The Motor Racing Network Building at 555 MRN Dr NW in Concord, NC. It purchased the single-story, 24,739-square-foot flex building last month from MK Real Estate Holdings for $2,750,000, or $111.16 per square foot. The buyer was represented in-house by principal Chris Frassetto. Sam Young of Cassidy Turley represented the seller. Please refer to CoStar COMPS #2721407 for more information...


Market Trend: Charlotte's Office Deliveries and Construction in Q1 2013
Date Published: Mon, 22 Apr 2013 07:59:40 GMT

During the first quarter 2013, one building totaling 35,000 square feet was completed in the Charlotte market area. This compares to six buildings totaling 828,831 square feet that were completed in the fourth quarter 2012, one building totaling 9,576 square feet completed in the third quarter 2012, and 47,375 square feet in five buildings completed in the second quarter 2012. There was 105,211 square feet of office space under construction at...


Market Trend: Net Absorption Positive 258,042 SF for Charlotte's Office Market in Q1 2013
Date Published: Tue, 16 Apr 2013 07:59:38 GMT

Net absorption for the overall Charlotte office market was positive 258,042 square feet in the first quarter 2013. That compares to positive 733,616 square feet in the fourth quarter 2012, positive 526,376 square feet in the third quarter 2012, and positive 79,394 square feet in the second quarter 2012. The Class A office market recorded net absorption of positive 105,879 square feet in the first quarter 2013, compared to positive 593,912 square...


Market Trend: Charlotte's Office Vacancy Decreases Slightly to 11.9% in Q1 2013
Date Published: Thu, 11 Apr 2013 07:59:38 GMT

The office vacancy rate in the Charlotte market area decreased at 11.9% at the end of the first quarter 2013. The vacancy rate was 12.1% at the end of the fourth quarter 2012, 12.0% at the end of the third quarter 2012, and 12.6% at the end of the second quarter 2012. Class A projects reported a vacancy rate of 12.6% at the end of the first quarter 2013, 12.9% at the end of the fourth quarter 2012, 12.6% at the end of the third quarter 2012,...

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