Hill Slowinski • Real Estate: Blog

3800 Fulton Street, NW, Washington, DC  20007

MLS #DC7690818, Offered for $1,150,000

This sun-filled 1920s Federal semi-detached home has been thoughtfully updated throughout.  The complete renovation, including new windows and systems, retains many of the original architectural details with a handsome contemporary flair.  There are three bedrooms, a sitting room or den, two new full and one half bathrooms, living room, dining room, foyer, central hall, abundant closet space, chef’s kitchen, and pantry. 

The home has a graceful wrap-around tiled front and side porch, which has French doors opening to it from the living room.  The tiered rear deck overlooks a large open lawn area in the back yard.  The main level rooms include such details as crown moldings, hardwood floors, paneled and true-light glass doors, a chef's kitchen with Sub-Zero refrigerator /freezer, Sub-Zero wine cooler, Wolf gas range and oven, Meile dishwasher, and custom glassed cabinetry in the kitchen and pantry.

The second floor bedrooms have many custom built-in closets, shelves, and storage units.  The bedrooms and sitting area have eastern and southern exposures.  The contemporary bathrooms include marble tiled walls and floors, European-styled vanities and fixtures.  The large master bath features a glassed shower.

The lower level includes a huge open basement with ample space, the laundry area with newer Whirlpool washer and dryer, and a garden supplies storage area.  There is street parking and driveway space, including a one-car garage.

The home is convenient to shopping, dining, the National Cathedral, public transportation, Georgetown, and access to downtown via Massachusetts Avenue.

For more listing information, CLICK HERE, ir Contact Hill Slowinski.

Old Town Alexandria:  Closes to Everything!

211 South Payne Street, Old Town, Alexandria, VA  22314

Offered for $875,000  

          This two-story brick Colonial Revival style detached townhouse was built in 1900, with a three-bay façade with six-over-one windows and an abbreviated classical cornice.  It is in easy walking distance to the King Street shopping and dining corridor, Metro Station, Courthouse, and Patent and Trademark office. The home underwent a thorough renovation from the ground up completed in 1995 with all new mechanical and electrical systems, new double-pane windows, and new plumbing. 

            The formal living room is anchored by an inviting clean natural gas fireplace, large side windows with southern exposures, and an elegant seating area. The living and dining rooms area have crown molding and polished wood floors. The intimate dining area leads to the open white kitchen which features a center island, gray countertops, and upgraded appliances. The attached eating space in the sun room overlooks a spacious 15' x 15' sun deck, enhanced with a stunning new English style square post iron trellis, private landscaped yard, and a deep inviting garden enclosure. 

            The second floor features the master bedroom which offers a large custom designed tiled master bath area, complete with separate glassed shower and whirlpool bath.  There are two additional bedrooms and one additional full bath. The well-proportioned bedrooms include plentiful closet space and large windows with sunny southern exposures

Click here for Virtual Tour

For more information, see: AX7493490  

Buyers and Sellers Cooperating for Terms to Work

 As the market for the purchase and sale of residential properties continues to stabilize and return to normal, we are beginning to see more sellers accepting offers to buy their homes subject to the sale of the buyers' homes, this after a period where such contingencies were few and far between.  Even though these contingencies add to the complexity of offers, this arrangement works to the benefit of both buyer and seller to seal a deal and can be very satisfying and cooperative, so long as both parties adhere to the strict details in the home sale contingency provision. 

 Attention to timelines ("Time is of the essence") and procedural requirements is critical in ensuring these arrangements succeed.   For example, buyers must have their homes listed by a broker within three days of the ratification of the contract, and at a price that is very realistic and attractive to the market.  The contract the buyer eventually receives on his home must be free of all contingencies other than financing within the specified timeframe to satisfy the home sale contingency terms.  Meanwhile, sellers are permitted to accept back-up contracts in the event the initial contract becomes void. 

 The combination and realization of these transactions will take more time since there is additional scheduling and detail coordination along with the usual process requirements of yet another transaction.  With careful planning and oversight of experienced agents, achieving the desired outcome, though, can meet the objectives of, and fulfill the dreams of, all the parties to the deals.

4003 Belle Rive Terrace, Alexandria, VA 22309   ▪   FOR SALE: $2,799,000  

Belle Rive Estate  VIRTUAL TOUR -- CLICK HERE

Although this riverfront estate on almost an acre on the high Virginia banks of the Potomac River south of Washington is now in service as an elegant private residence, its uncommon security attributes and reinforced construction make it suitable for a variety of exclusively executive or sensitive functions.  The home is located on one of the five farms owned and operated by George Washington. 

The design of the home and its orientation over the Potomac River were influenced by the architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright,  overlooking the river from all corners and several exterior decks and balconies above the main level patio.  Experience virtually the same impressive views of the Potomac River that George Washington had from his home at  Mount Vernon, which is located ~1 mile up river.  

Dramatic panoramic 180˚+ vista of the Maryland shoreline and protected federal parkland: 

Opposite East Shore:  

Piscataway Park (National Park Service) and

Fort Washington Park (National Park Service) 

Virginia West shore: 

Mount Vernon (north) and

Fort Belvoir Military Reservation (south)

Gunston Hall, George Mason's home (south) 

For owners who view security as a business decision, the strategically fortified environments include a subterranean central core complex of rooms with protected access and communications, suitable for secure storage of records, valuables, or arms.  The building includes the usual alarm and security systems with cameras and motion detectors.  The home's solid brick, block, and steel construction and its below-ground lowest level lend themselves to use as a dedicated safe room for executive, military, diplomatic, or embassy potential. 

A central core could be retrofitted with a four-level dumbwaiter.  The open fourth level has been used at various times as a chapel, conference room, recital hall, business center, reception area, and art gallery with a large rooftop deck including separate enclosed external circular stairwell for catering and supplies delivery. 

Its location is well within 5 minutes response time from the Fairfax County Sherriff's office and 2 miles from the fire department.  

General Information:  Over 11,000 square feet, five bedrooms, five and one half baths, enormous master bedroom suite on main level with bath and walk-in closet, gourmet kitchen, breakfast bar, balconies and decks including a roof top deck.  Wonderful space for entertaining or conferences.  Must be seen!  Full riparian rights convey.  Property is offered either furnished or unfurnished. 

 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:

F. Hill Slowinski, JD, Consultant, Sloans & Kenyon Luxury Real Estate

7034 Wisconsin Avenue, Chevy Chase, Maryland 20815 

Cell: 301-452-1409  Direct: 301-320-8430  Ofc: 301-634-2330 

Email: Hill@HillSlowinski.com or RealEstate@SloansandKenyon.com

Web sites:  www.HillSlowinski.com  ▪  www.HillSlowinskiRealEstate.com  ▪  www.SloansandKenyon.com

MRIS: FX7254991 

New RESPA Regulations, HUD-1 Effective January 1, 2010

Changes under the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act provide some improvements to borrowers, making it easier to compare loan terms and committing lenders to stick with their quoted fees.

The new Good Faith Estimate (GFE) will be uniformly used by all lenders so that borrowers will be able to compare settlement charges and loan terms being provided by different lenders. Lenders will be committed, for the most part, to honor the estimates provided. The new GFE will represent all the costs of the entire transaction. The costs are not specified as to whether those costs are borne by the buyer or the seller. The GFE will not include taxes, insurance, homeowner association or condo fees, as those are separate from the loan. It is expected that with the loan transaction information, buyers will be able to make better informed choices among lenders. 

The HUD-1 will be synchronized with the GFE and will show the figures from the GFE on the final settlement sheet. The new GFE is likely to encourage greater consumer shopping for home loan products.

Vacant Property Tax, ‘Economic Interest Tax' on Co-operatives

Focus Now On "Blighted" -- But Wait For Final Release

From October 1, 2008 to September 30, 2009, the District of Columbia taxed vacant properties at $10 per $100 of assessed value (rather than the residential tax rate of $.85 per $100 assessed value) , unless property owners applied for one of several exemptions within 30 days of the property becoming vacant.  As of October 1, 2009, DC has changed its focus to ‘blighted' property, not merely vacant property.  However, since DC has not released the relevant amendments and legislative language to the public, owners should continue to treat their ‘vacant' property as requiring a vacancy exemption or risk being re-classed at the higher tax rate. 

Co-operatives Sales and Transfers Now Taxed

In another change, buyers of co-operatives in Washington had been exempt from paying transfer and recordation taxes because ownership of shares in a co-operative corporation was viewed as a security interest and not ownership of real property.  This change is effective October 1, and the DC government has begun charging an "economic interest tax" on the sale and transfer of co-operatives. The rates are 1.1% on co-operatives with a market value of less than $400,000 and 1.45% for co-ops valued at $400,000 and higher.  

I will hold an Open House this Sunday for this beautiful Darnestown estate 

NEW PRICE: Offered for $1,249,000 $1,099,000!!- 13520 Deakins Lane, Darnestown, MD 20874 (outside Potomac off Seneca Road between River Road and Esworthy Road).

Just imagine!  8.25 bucolic acres just outside Potomac is the site of this 1964 Colonial with an elegant marble foyer, 11′ ceiling in living room with fireplace, dining room with fireplace, paneled library, 2 Master bedrooms (one on main level).  It features a newer gourmet kit with large breakfast room with a fireplace and an adjacent family room.  Floors have been refinished.  Recreation room has a new floor!

The grounds include a trellis covered side patio with herb gardens, flagstone patio for entertaining overlooks back pasture with barn or additional equipment garage and greenhouse. 

The estate includes approximately 5 acres of woodland with a stream and approximately 3 acres of side pasture with run-in. (Appraisal: 3/09, $1,270,000)

-Hill Slowinski

WC & AN Miller Realtors, A Long & Foster Company

4701 Sangamore Road,  Bethesda, Maryland  20816

Cell: 301-452-1409  Direct: 301-320-8430  Ofc: 301-229-4000

Email: hslowinski@longandfoster.com or Hill@HillSlowinski.com