Things to do in Washington DC: January 2011

Rain! Rain! Of all days why did you choose today to rain on my parade?

Why did you have to do it today?

I had big plans in store.

But once it started pouring,my plans went straight out of door.

I wanted to pass out flyers and my business cards today at a subdivision.

But when the rain started,I knew that passing out my flyers wouldn't be a good decision.

Besides I don't want to get sick again like I did earlier this year.

That was one of my biggest fear.

Later I got a call from CSS (Centralized Showing Service) on the telephone.

Telling me that my appointment today has been postponed.

Man I am angry. I am in pain.

Like the late Marvin Gaye,I need some sexual healing,so I logged onto Active Rain.

Oops! I can't believe I just said that .

But its out there now,it's too late for me now to take it back.

Hopefully today I'm able to get some kind of work done.

Even though the rain has sapped up all of my fun.

Hope to make up for today and pray that it doesn't rain tomorrow.

But I look out the window and what do I see? SNOW.

Very well written blog by Connie Harvey explaining the term "Home Sale Contingency". Hope home buyers in Prince George's County Maryland and DC find this blog helpful.

Washington DC Winter Restaurant Week. Starting today over 200 of Metropolitan Washington DC's finest restaurants will be offering multi-course meals prepared especially for this gourmet event.

Destination DC and the Restaurant Association Metropolitian Washington are proud to present the 17th annual Washington DC Restaurant Week from January 17-23 2011.

Lunch is $20.11 for a three course fixed price meal.

Dinner is $35.11 for a three course fixed price meal.

Beverages gratuity and tax are not included.

Washington DC Winter Restaurant Week can also be a great way for you to discover a Restaurant in DC that people might not know about. You can make reservations at OpenTable

But not all DC Restaurants are participating in Restaurant Week. Your reservations are FREE and confirmed instantly 24 hours a day. No phone calls. No hassles.

So why should you stop by a DC Restaurant during Winter DC Restaurant Week? I have already shared one good reason with you.  I will share more good reasons with you all tomorrow. Happy Eating:-)

Foreign Real Estate Investors love Washington DC-Number Two on their list.

If you are a Foreign Real Estate Investor who is looking to maximize your Real Estate Investment Portfolio,then you definitely want to invest in Washington DC homes. Washington DC is the Number Two city among Real Estate Investors. Foreign Real Estate Investors know how a good thing when they see it I guess.

According to AFIRE Executive Director James Fetgatter quote "As the fear of a double dip recession has faded,investors are becoming more enthusiastic about the prospects for the US Economy and are taking aim at real estate investment opportunities. And in my last Washington DC Real Estate Market Report Video for home buying and selling I stated "The most recent S&P / Case-Shiller home index (released at the end of December 2010) showed that home prices fell in all 20 of the monitored metro areas. But out of all 20 metropolitan areas, the Washington, D.C. real estate market fared the best. In both the monthly and yearly categories, home prices in Washington D.C. were the most stable".

So if you are a International Home buyer or Real Estate Investor,Washington DC is a great place to invest in Real Estate.

Happy New Year everyone! Another new year for great things. 2011 should be a great year for DC First time home buyers who are looking to buy a Petworth DC House for sale,Anacostia DC house for sale,Congress Heights DC house for sale,Columbia Heights DC house for sale,Deanwood DC house for sale or other Metropolitian Washington DC Areas. The most recent S&P / Case-Shiller home index (released at the end of December 2010) showed that home prices fell in all 20 of the monitored metro areas. But out of all 20 metropolitan areas, the Washington, D.C. real estate market fared the best. In both the monthly and yearly categories, home prices in Washington D.C. were the most stable. Look for more Washington DC first time home buyers to take advantage of programs such as

• DC First-Time Homebuyer Credit - $5,000 federal income tax credit is available to first time home buyers in the District of Columbia.

Learn more: http://otr.cfo.dc.gov/otr/cwp/view,a,1330,q,594156.asp

• DC Employer Assisted Housing Program – This program provides grants and deferred loans up to $11,500 to employees of the District of Columbia government who are first-time home buyers in Washington,DC.

Learn more: http://www.dhcd.dc.gov/dhcd/fr

Learn more: http://otr.cfo.dc.gov/otr/cwp/view,a,1330,q,594156.asp ames.asp?doc=/dhcd/lib/dhcd/in…

• Housing Purchase Assistance Program (HPAP) - HPAP provides interest-free or low-interest loans for down payments, closing costs, or other expenses associated with buying a house, a condominium or a cooperative in the District. Amount of loan is adjusted to reduce the total monthly mortgage payment to 28% of household's monthly gross income. For very low income families, repayment of loans is deferred until house is sold.

Learn more: http://www.gwul.org/programs/housing/hpap

• DC Tax Abatement Program - Eligible homeowners may receive a 5-year tax abatement and be exempt from paying recordation and transfer taxes. The 5-year period for the Lower Income Home Ownership Tax Abatement begins on October 1, after your deed has been recorded and you have previously applied for the abatement.

Learn more: http://otr.cfo.dc.gov/otr/cwp/view,a,1330,q,594233.asp

Please watch this "Washington DC Real Estate Market Report Video for Home Buying and Selling.

Well written blog by Lori that I had to re-blog. You want to get and keep your client happy,please read this blog. Thanks again Lori for sharing.

Your health is your wealth. Please take good care of yourself. Usually on New Year's Eve,I am at church. Last year was no different. After I go home from church,I started getting real cold. Later that cold turned into something that I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. Cut a long story short,I got sick baaaaad. First I had a headache,then it was sinus,then it was a nasal infection,then another headache and something else. I'm sure somebody gave it to me. Question is who did? While I was sick, I thought I was being used as a guinea pig while they experiment with the latest discovery of illness on my fragile body:-).

First six days of 2011 was very,very painful. I have been in pain during my 34 years(17 more days and it will be 35),but this is something that was truly beyond me. You name any drug medicine there is I took it. It's scary when you start taking medicine like you are eating skitttles or M&M's-Scary stuff. Over the counter medicine sometimes doesn't always cure your illness. Every night I couldn't sleep. Even tried one time to go on of those MD's website for some help only to request some money from me first before they even try and attempt to help me. How the heck do I know the person on the other side isn't some little baby playing solitaire on the computer? Who cared. I was in pain and I was looking for something to treat it. Maybe I should've asked someone here since the brilliant minds of Real Estate seems to know a lot-PROBABLY NOT.

After six days of the drugs medicine not winning the battle vs. the pain that was beating the living crap out of me in my body,it was time for the Emergency Room. My brother along with his wife took me to the Emergency Room. I should've probably did this Day Two,I just didn't think it will get this bad. They took my blood pressure,the Doctor said that it was actually very good. Cut a long story short,the Doctor told me the over the counter medicine that I was taking was not doing what it was supposed to do which was to open up the passages-YOU THINK. He prescribed some medicine to me. Even though I feel better now,I am still taking the medicine. He told me to use up the medicine even after you feel better. You didn't had to tell me that-I WAS GOING TO ANYWAY. I have taken soo much medicine over the last twelve days that I can start my own People's Drug Store-NOT THAT I WAS THINKING ABOUT IT OR ANYTHING.

But all jokes aside,the main reason why I am writing this blog is to tell anyone out there who is sick or in pain to please don't wait forever like I did to treat your illness or pain. Just because you hate going to the Hospital. Going to the hospital probably saved me. God forbid who knew what would've happened if I didn't go?. I should've been in the Hospital probably Day Two. That was my mistake and I will never make that mistake again. I am beyond grateful to God that I am still here because some nights while I was in pain,I didn't know whether I would make it or not-SERIOUSLY. Who likes being in pain? I know I don't.

Your health is your wealth. Please take good care of yourself.