downtown realtor recommendations?

[Anonymous]

Hi--I don't mean to make this too commercial, but we are moving to DC, and I am trying to get started on real estate websites. Can anyone recommend a good realtor focused on just Georgetown or Capitol Hill row house/townhouses (as opposed to condos)? I assume there are a few good realtors who focus on some of the smaller neighborhoods, or at least there are where we are now-- Don't need or want front or back yard particularly, just real city, walk-to-everything living. That's our life now, and our girls are used to it. That's why I'm looking for a small realtor focused on Georgetown townhouses or other *really truly* walking neighborhoods? thanks very much!

[Anonymous]

We worked with Julia Asper-Diaz in Georgetown and she was such a pleasure. She helped us rent a place, and she really took every extra step we could have asked for. http://www.sothebysrealty.com/AssociateProfile.aspx?R=304006473

[Anonymous]

Capitol Hill and Georgetown are 2 different markets. Also, I think these 2 neighborhoods have a very different feel. I would recommend you spending a bit of time in both areas to get a good feel for the areas and the differences in community that each offer. I speak from the point of view of having owned a rowhouse in GT for a few years and having friends who currently own in Capitol Hill.

Make sure if you meet with a real estate agent that you tell them you are planning on using 1 agent for Georgetown and a 2nd for Capitol Hill. Many agents (at least during the housing boom) make you sign exclusive buyers contracts.

Since the market has changed, there is no reason you need to do this - just strike the line from the contract. I would also recommmend that you strike the line in the buyers agent contract that says you are going to pay the agent 3%. You do not want to be on the hook for a percentage if the seller negotiated with their agent only to pay a 5% commision.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thank you both. Agree that the neighborhoods are very different but they both seem like they have parts that are very walk-centric. Very helpful tip wrt the buyer's agt contract.

Any other neighborhoods that I should consider? You know, where you really don't need your car except to go to the big supermarket every couple of weeks? (Haven't lived in DC in 15 years, and never with kids . . .) appreciate it--

[Anonymous]

Capitol Hill is much more walkable than Georgetown, at least in terms of access to the rest of the city, as G'town is not metro accessible. Capitol Hill is.

Agreed that they are very different neighborhoods, and I don't know a ton of people who would be equally happy in either. (I live on the Hill and could never live in G'town, and know many people feel the opposite.)

[Anonymous]

Consider Dupont and Kalorama Triangle. Living on the Red Line is very convenient.

[Anonymous]

I lived in Dupont as a baby lawyer 15-20 years ago. I never felt like there were any families there (though my eyes certainly weren't trained to be looking for them--)

Kalorama is a good idea, but I always thought of it as just huge embassies and mansions.

Do folks raise kids in Adams Morgan? Is it all gentrified (boring but stable) now?

thank you for your suggestions!

[Anonymous]

12:58 here. Lots of families in Dupont now. We live in Kalorama Triangle, which is actually the part of Adams Morgan west of 18th St. Pretty well gentrified and stable, possibly even boring, with in-boundary privileges at Oyster elementary. You'll also find families in Lanier (Adams Morgan north of Columbia Road). Too far north, and you're in Mt. Pleasant. There, you'll find loads of families, and it's lovely, but less walkable. In fact, Lanier might also be too far from Metro for me.

[Anonymous]

You might want to try Woodley Park as well. Very walkable. Re: a realtor, I would recommend Richard Oder of Long and Foster. He's been in DC forever and knows both G'Town and Capitol Hill very well.