The Block of Q

55 Q Street NW is the first investment property for owners, Khaliah Hall & Kellee Baker. The duplex was purchased in early 2003 and has been a successful investment property for CityDwellers.

Originally constructed in the 1900s as a 2 family flat home, the current property that stands on the corner of 1^st and Q Street has had several renovations, face lifts, and updates.

The house has enabled many families to call this place home, and once it was purchase by Citydwellers it became a successful investment property.

The current space is going through an extreme makeover and we are excited to share the journey with you all.

Bedrooms: 4
Bathrooms: 2
Listing Type: Residential
Type: A-Frame
Neighborhood: OLD CITY #2

Is your home winter ready?

Today DC experienced its first snowfall of the winter!  Although it was only a few flurries, it got us thinking

Are we ready for winter?

Moreover are our  homes prepared for the winter season?    

If you answered NO! to the questions above, don’t worry, we have you covered.  The CityDwellers team has put together a list of ways you can get your home winter ready in time for the next snowfall.

For those of you that answered yes to the above questions, let us know what you did to get your home winter ready. We will had your tips, techniques, and checklist to our Winter Home Prep Pinterest Board.

Let’s get started:

• Close off any room you aren’t using in the winter: Attic, porches, sitting rooms or spare  bedrooms

Windows and Doors

• Check all the weatherstripping around windows and doorframes for leaks to prevent heat loss. Replace weatherstripping, if necessary.
• Examine wooden window frames for signs of rot or decay. Repair or replace framing to maintain structural integrity.
• Check for drafts around windows and doors. You can check for leaks by holding up a lit candle to common trouble spots like:

• Window frames
• Door frames
• Outside vents to your dryer
• Baseboards
• Spaces around window air conditioning units

If the candle flickers, you’ve got a leak. Pick up a tube of caulk (about $5 in hardware stores) and use it to seal up any leaks.  

Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning

• Check that smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors are in working order.

• Remove air conditioners from windows or cover them with insulated liners, to prevent drafts.
• If you have an older thermostat, replace it with a programmable unit to save on heating costs.
• Make sure fans are switched to the reverse or clockwise position, which will blow warm air down to the floor for enhanced energy efficiency and comfort.
• Examine exposed ducts in the attic, basement, and crawl spaces, and use a sealant to plug up any leaks.

Gutters, Roof, and Drains

• Check for missing, damaged or warped shingles and replace, as necessary before you get stuck with a leak.

• Check for deteriorated flashing at the chimney, walls, and skylights and around vent pipes. Seal joints where water could penetrate, using roofing cement and a caulking gun.

• Check the gutters and downspouts for proper fastening, and re-secure if loose or sagging. The weight of snow and ice can pull gutters off the house.

• Clean gutters of any debris. Make sure downspouts extend away from the house by at least 5 feet to prevent flooding of the foundation and water damage from snowmelt.

• Clean leaves and debris from courtyard and pool storm drains to prevent blockages.

• Ensure all vents and openings are covered to prevent insects, birds, and rodents from getting inside to nest in a warm place.

Miami Beach Condos (June 2013 Visit)

Our Miami Beach visit was fun & productive.  Miamians LOVE their HEAT team which we must say did a great job and they performed in one of the best Finals series match-ups ever.  While there visited quite a few properties.  Here are the highlights:

Property 1: 4000 169th St

Location: Good location right of the Sunny Isles Blvd Causeway at 163rd St between Sunny Isles Beach on Collins (Rte A-1-A) and Biscayne Blvd (Rte 1), with Adventura located only about 1 mile north. Off the Causeway, you must pass through a guarded gate to enter this section of town.

The Building: Very old concrete balcony motel style...

 

The Lobby: Shabby...Mirrored Walls & Vinyl furniture of decades past...Agent says that they plan to upgrade the interior one day.

Elevator to the 6th Floor:  The elevator (which is modernized) leads you...back outside to walk the outdoor hallway, which was not expected.
 

Once Inside:  The views are amazing with two sliding doors leading to the wrap-around balcony of this corner unit.  Corner dock is 35' but larger boats will fit since the dock is on the corner.

Interior is renovated very nicely.

Note: Just down the road at 3551 NE 169th St was a building with docks available, but the view is less than desirable as seen from the rear of the building below.

Property 2: 18061 Biscayne Blvd

Location:  Continuing over the 163rd St Causeway to Biscayne, leads to an odd complex of high-rises, mid-rises & a hodge-podge of parking lots after entering the manned security gate.  Anything in the community gets a thumbs down for the run-down look of the complex, the one slow elevator serving 18 floors, the odd parking situation, and a lack-luster view.  This one unit, however, looked fabulous on the inside...

Property 3:  6820 & 6830 Indian Creek (**Favorite**)

Location:  Great location on Millionaire's Row (you can tell this is actually a higher-end community based on the residents and the upkeep of the buildings in the area). 

These units go quickly.  There is a corner unit available for $315,000 with 2 bed / 2 bath, 1,296 sf, condo maintenance fee $384/mo.  A dock space can be rented for $150/mo.  Click here for a virtual tour of unit 6F.

D Street on Capitol Hill is Complete!

The D Street property is now on the market for $599,999!  It was a journey, but now it is complete and on the market.  Take a look at the pictures below.  You can view the entire virtual tour here: http://slideshow.mris.com/slideshow/slideshow.htm?ListingKey=97989166986

People love our coffered ceilings:

And our state of the art kitchen:

View the entire virtual tour here:  http://slideshow.mris.com/slideshow/slideshow.htm?ListingKey=97989166986

CityDwellers January Announcements

 Be sure to take advantage of our upcoming Winter Seminars.  Our favorite event will be the evening open house featuring a tour of our new Capitol Hill Renovation.  Visit www.DStreetEvent.eventbrite.com for more info & to RSVP.

 

iClub Capitol Hill Renovation Underway

BEFORE:

Renovations for this two-floor location started in the Fall of 2012.  It started with three carpeted bedrooms, a carpeted living room space with a brick fireplace, and a kitchen with tile flooring and damaged oak cabinets.  There was only one hall bath upstairs and a half bath & laundry room separating the kitchen & dining room.

THE PLAN:

With the help of architectural firm, New Dimension Design, CityDwellers designed the new layout of this home to make it functional for the modern family.  The powder room & laundry room were moved to the rear porch addition to open up the main house.  New heating & plumbing had to be supplied to the rear porch area.  Upstairs, the rear porch area will be converted to a master bath & a walk-in closet, must-have features in today's modern homes.  The brick wall along the right of the home will be exposed, wood floors will be installed throughout, the gourmet kitchen will have 2 sinks, and the fireplace will be modernized.

                   EXISTING HOME DESIGN                                  FUTURE HOME DESIGN

Construction done by www.VinosHomeImp.com


BEFORE PHOTOS:

CityDwellers SUNDAY TOUR of DC Income Producing Apartment Buildings. Cap rates >>> 9%

You can view up to 5 Income Producing Apartment Buildings on Sunday, June 3rd    

CityDwellers Sunday Tour of Apartment Buildings is an easy way to preview multiple building. The tour runs between 2 - 5:30 pm and you can meet us at any building. Feel free to drive by the buildings before their scheduled tour times, but once the tour starts, don't be late for the one(s) you want to preview. Just remember, there will be several other buyers on the tour and show times are exact, so make sure you’re on time for the apartments you’re interested in. If you see a building on the tour that you're interested in, a second private showing can be arranged for you (often later that day or the next day). 

Make sure to call 202-350-9034 or email rsvp@citydwellers.us to register for the tour  

 so that we can email you with the confirmed schedule the day before the event.  

See you Sunday!       

2:00-2:30 PM

710-712 Shepherd Rd NW  $649,000  Vacancy rate: 0%

2:40-3:10 PM

5205 Georgia Ave NW  Mixed use bldg -- OFF MARKET INVESTOR SPECIAL retail 1st level /3 bedroom apt 2nd level

3:20-3:50 PM

722 Rock Creek Church Rd NW $680,000 Vacancy rate: 100%

  

4:10-4:40 PM

511 U St NW  $1.7M  Vacancy rate: 100%

                                               

5:00-5:30 PM

721 12th St SE  $465,000  NOW $455,000 Vacancy: 50%

                           

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FREE Reports: www.citydwellersreports.com
Office Phone: 202-350-9034
Office Location: 29 Florida Ave NW WDC 20001 

 

              

Latest Investment Makes a Perfect Vacation Rental

BEFORE:




AFTER:


Our most recent investment by the iClub is a huge success! Our newly renovated Takoma Park home just welcomed it's first vacation guest from Seattle, Washington. Take a look at the video tour:



FOR A PHOTO VIRTUAL TOUR, CLICK HERE: http://slideshow.mris.com/slideshow.cfm?ListingKey=96358344759


We now have 4 vacation rentals in DC. Take a look at our online booking site (just click the SEARCH button to explore the listings): http://www.vacationrentaldesk.com/onlinebooking/MultiSearch.aspx?multiguid=cc77d758-a603-4b65-93c4-1d770f601846


If you have any visitors coming to the city, or if you know of anyone interested in seeing if their property qualifies to be a vacation rental, let us know! Email dcrental@citydwellers.us for more details.