H. Richard Helbig

Dear Trurealestateguy,

Well known for its tech-savvy'ness in DC is Darrin Friedman's COLDWELL BANKER office in Chevy Chase. I happen to be a member of his office, but that's beside the point; check the blogs and info-sites by his team. Everyone here is up-to-date in all ways, but also has those all-important, city-feel and legality-things, under their belt...oh-so-necessary in this city-of-laws and lawyers! Cheers,

--RICHARD-- - Thu Nov 13 2008, 08:52

Dear Kimberly,

Each of the answers you see from my colleagues below make good points. I would only add: this is a true 'buyers market', a time when your agent can negotiate quite aggressively on your benefit. You will be giving him/her the maximum freedom to advocate in such a manner if that agent is NOT part of the selling real estate agency. Good hunting!

--RICHARD-- - Sun Nov 9 2008, 15:10

Dear Marivic,

This isn't an easy decision to make, so let's take it in parts:

-- selling is harder now, and you're right about taking any profit out of your unit after commissions today
-- however, the market is getting better every day, with much 'movement' expected with a new administration coming to town
-- owning your McLean unit for a few more years should serve you well
-- as a rental your place is very attractive, size and location wise
-- renting it furnished helps you as wel: (i) you don't have any place to take your furniture, so will save storage costs ($400/month?) and (ii) renting 'furnished' adds nicely to a rental rate say $500/month or more to a $2,500/month unfurnished number)
-- renting quite short term, say 'furnished' in 6-month increments could add even more to a per month rate

You may have other considerations, or course, but it sounds to me like renting, (furnished at that), may be your best option. Let me know if I can help, 301-801-2970. Cheers

--RICHARD-- - Sun Nov 9 2008, 14:58

Dear Kimberly...

The answer is ZERO~! Choose one, perhaps by meeting several, finding their areas of expertise and person 'fit' with you. Its a fine time to be a buyer, good hunting.

--RICHARD--
301-801-2970 - Thu Nov 6 2008, 06:57

Dear Alex,

Trulia's $/SF is calculated by dividing the listed price by the house's interior square footage (living, or 'building' space') which can only reasonably be gotten from available public records. The lot size is stated in acres elsewhere in the Trulia descriptions, but logic and some quick math tells you that it is not the number used for a $/sf posting.

Your interest in this statistic is understandable...I like it a lot. But as an answer about it that I posted some weeks ago shows, other agents don't. (I've copied it FYI below). All the best, and if I can help, just pop me a call: 301-801-2970. Cheers

--RICHARD--

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Not many agents like to answer $/SF questions! That's understandable, since SF numbers around the District, (from tax records in particular), are notoriously inaccurate, and through law-suits, agents have been reticent to state them themselves. That's a shame, of course, since its usually the second question a buyer asks me about a house or condo!

Nonethelss, $/SF averages can be calculated, and are a quite useful means of making comparisons. This must ALWAYS be done between apples and apples, however, so a neighborhood average is a tough-call. It is easiest within a single condo building, (for obvious reasons), and then between very similar properties where full information about each is accurately available.

I use this measure as a 'first cut' at the time when I'm building an offer for a specific property. It's also part of what professional appraisers do in their work for lenders.
____________________________________________________________________________________ - Fri Oct 31 2008, 11:08