Dc: EOTR

[Anonymous]

I don’t know if this topic has been exhausted on here or not but I need help from my Eotr friends. I have been trying to keep up with the developments- Bennington food hall or chase/ Starbucks coming to anacostia for example and it’s all positive to me. I’ve toured the below three homes and need feedback. I’d be a long term resident. I need feedback on how to purchase strategically. Here’s a little about me:

Transportation: frequent Lyft rider/ train commuter
Work downtown.
36 with a child that has a solid 529, So I could do private but I’d like for him to be in public and invest in our public schools.
Diversity does matter- I’m AA but my partner is Trinidadian the Indo- Trini - so he could stand out. Not sure any other way to say this or if it even matters. I assume it doesn’t.
I’m less concerned with how the area is today and more concerned about what it will eventually become.
Current residents feedback is valuable.
Give me your thoughts, where you live, why you purchased there, what I should look for and any other valuable info.



Ive looked at the following homes:
https://www.redfin.com/DC/Washington/411-Mellon-St-SE-20032/unit-2/home/170440855

Hated the door to the backyard in the bedroom but the unit was really nice. I understand Congress heights is up and coming but This neighborhood had a number of vacancies.

https://www.redfin.com/DC/Washington/2003-Fort-Davis-St-SE-20020/unit-B/home/10154959
Fantastic little community and very quiet. But it feels rather far from anything. I saw a check cashing place near by and couldn’t map a grocery store. Not a deal breaker but wondering if it would be a potentially good buy.

This one as well - really cute but just not in love. Am I missing something?
https://www.redfin.com/DC/Washington/204-35th-St-NE-20019/home/10118335

[Anonymous]

We’ve lived EOTR since 2017, and we love it here. We’re a biracial couple with kids in private. Our neighborhood is called Penn Branch, although real estate listings call it Hillcrest (it’s not Hillcrest.)

About your particular listings: if you’re looking for something immediately liveable, the second is a great option. It’s in a lovely close-knit community, walking distance to the library and rec center. There are very few grocery options over here, of course; the Safeway on Alabama Ave. is closest, but I always shop at Trader Joe’s or Harris Teeter on Capitol Hill. Anne Beers is a great elementary school with tons of parent involvement.

The other two listings are definitely iffy - I personally wouldn’t feel comfortable living there with my family. Tons of crime, and I’m very doubtful about long-term growth.

Here’s another listing closer to Penn Branch: https://www.redfin.com/DC/Washington/2909-O-St-SE-20020/home/10146108#marketing-remarks-scroll

Good luck!!

[Anonymous]

Sorry - wrong O St. listing! This one is a bit more expensive, but needs less work:
https://www.redfin.com/DC/Washington/2917-O-St-SE-20020/home/10146116

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry - wrong O St. listing! This one is a bit more expensive, but needs less work:
https://www.redfin.com/DC/Washington/2917-O-St-SE-20020/home/10146116

Thank you for this property. I definitely want something move in ready. I've lived through a reno before and i can't stomach it a second time around. the costs just kept going and going.

i loved the second property. I love the entire little community. Any others like it around EOTR? Penn Branch i think has priced me out a bit. Any ideas/opinions on the following:

Benning Heights
Marshall Heights
Naylor Gardens
River terrace
Deanwood
Barry Farms
Fairlawn

[Anonymous]

Always love a thoughtful EOTR post! We've lived here for 6+ years, in the NE portion of EOTR near the Safeway. Not too far from your third listing. If you visited it in person, you know that it has train tracks in the backyard. As far as neighborhoods, there are lots of nice areas east of Minnesota, between E Capitol and Burroughs (at least this is the area I'm most familiar with). Also, River Terrace. Hillcrest and Penn Branch in the SE portion of Ward 7 are definitely more upscale, but I like the proximity to Metro and lower prices of NE. What is your budget? If you keep looking a little longer, I think you will find a greater selection of nice EOTR homes.

Kids go to a Ward 7 public charter school, but we also found a local DCPS we would have been comfortable with as a backup. On the whole, we love living here as the pros greatly outweigh the cons. Your statement that you are less concerned with how the area is today does give me pause. I would only recommend EOTR if you like it the way it is now (and take any improvement as a bonus). Things move slowly and at least our neighborhood does not feel substantially different now than when we moved in. Which is fine with us!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Always love a thoughtful EOTR post! We've lived here for 6+ years, in the NE portion of EOTR near the Safeway. Not too far from your third listing. If you visited it in person, you know that it has train tracks in the backyard. As far as neighborhoods, there are lots of nice areas east of Minnesota, between E Capitol and Burroughs (at least this is the area I'm most familiar with). Also, River Terrace. Hillcrest and Penn Branch in the SE portion of Ward 7 are definitely more upscale, but I like the proximity to Metro and lower prices of NE. What is your budget? If you keep looking a little longer, I think you will find a greater selection of nice EOTR homes.

Kids go to a Ward 7 public charter school, but we also found a local DCPS we would have been comfortable with as a backup. On the whole, we love living here as the pros greatly outweigh the cons. Your statement that you are less concerned with how the area is today does give me pause. I would only recommend EOTR if you like it the way it is now (and take any improvement as a bonus). Things move slowly and at least our neighborhood does not feel substantially different now than when we moved in. Which is fine with us!

Hey there-and thank you. So my budget is $350 and I don't need a lot of space. I could go up to 475 but that would scrap our full summers in Trinidad which we cannooottttt give up. So i'm with you in terms of lower cost and proximity to metro. I'm happy to hold out and keep looking but my partner wants to pull the trigger given interest rates.

Also I prefer the original classic DC (go-go, people saying hello, etc.) hence EOTR but my partner wants 'transitional'. I worry about 'transitional areas' (i'm using the congress heights location as an example) because one too many vacant buildings screams crime scene awaits. the food hall looks great-i saw the ground break for that over by benning road. But i don't need union market nor ivy city. I'm looking for real/authentic communities and apologize if my post sounds pro-gentrification.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Always love a thoughtful EOTR post! We've lived here for 6+ years, in the NE portion of EOTR near the Safeway. Not too far from your third listing. If you visited it in person, you know that it has train tracks in the backyard. As far as neighborhoods, there are lots of nice areas east of Minnesota, between E Capitol and Burroughs (at least this is the area I'm most familiar with). Also, River Terrace. Hillcrest and Penn Branch in the SE portion of Ward 7 are definitely more upscale, but I like the proximity to Metro and lower prices of NE. What is your budget? If you keep looking a little longer, I think you will find a greater selection of nice EOTR homes.

Kids go to a Ward 7 public charter school, but we also found a local DCPS we would have been comfortable with as a backup. On the whole, we love living here as the pros greatly outweigh the cons. Your statement that you are less concerned with how the area is today does give me pause. I would only recommend EOTR if you like it the way it is now (and take any improvement as a bonus). Things move slowly and at least our neighborhood does not feel substantially different now than when we moved in. Which is fine with us!

Hey there-and thank you. So my budget is $350 and I don't need a lot of space. I could go up to 475 but that would scrap our full summers in Trinidad which we cannooottttt give up. So i'm with you in terms of lower cost and proximity to metro. I'm happy to hold out and keep looking but my partner wants to pull the trigger given interest rates.

Also I prefer the original classic DC (go-go, people saying hello, etc.) hence EOTR but my partner wants 'transitional'. I worry about 'transitional areas' (i'm using the congress heights location as an example) because one too many vacant buildings screams crime scene awaits. the food hall looks great-i saw the ground break for that over by benning road. But i don't need union market nor ivy city. I'm looking for real/authentic communities and apologize if my post sounds pro-gentrification.

Newly renovated is going for over $400 in my neighborhood, but you should definitely be able to find move-in ready options for $300-400 in the swath of neighborhoods I outlined above. I would generally not describe it as transitional, rather working and middle class in the true sense (not in the DCUM sense where $300k a year is considered "middle class"). It sounds like you'll find what you are looking for EOTR. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

I would not purchase a home with someone who has not committed to marriage. People will complain but the reality is a recession is about to hit. If he hasn’t committed to marriage he won’t commit to a mortgage when times get tough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would not purchase a home with someone who has not committed to marriage. People will complain but the reality is a recession is about to hit. If he hasn’t committed to marriage he won’t commit to a mortgage when times get tough.

NP not everyone needs a piece of paper to commit to a lifelong relationship and there are enough divorces to show that the piece of paper doesn't guarantee people will commit and stay. I know a couple (white, since I know that matters here) who have been together 20 years and have kids and a home, and they certainly aren't throwing it all away because of a recession (of which they have been through at least two in 20 years).