Archive for November, 2008

While Black Friday marks the beginning of retailers’ best season, it is the beginning of a slow period for the real estate market. From Thanksgiving to New Year’s, new properties are less likely to come on the market and buyers’ attentions are focused on the mall, not the real estate market.

That being said, when new listings appear at this time of year, the seller is often really motivated to sell, so great deals can be had.

Happy Thanksgiving to all of our friends, readers, and clients from Brandon Green Companies. We all have a lot for which to be thankful.

And safe travels to those of you celebrating elsewhere this week.

Best,

Brandon, Amber, Veronica, Christian, Troy, and Ken

You have friends all over the country. The housing market across the country is telling them to buy and they are asking for your advice. Don’t you want them to have the same great service you got by working with Brandon Green Companies?

You know we take pride in looking out for the best interest of our clients. But did you know we also take pride in our national network of great agents who operate under the same principles of honesty, integrity, and exemplary knowledge that is the hallmark of Brandon Green Companies?

Let us find an agent for your friends anywhere in the country–or the world for that matter.  At the same time you are ensuring your friends and family get great service you are helping our business grow.

If you know someone thinking of buying, send an introductory e-mail to them and to Brandon Green Companies and we will ensure they get the same quality service you have come to know.

Our business is 90 percent referrals. If you know anyone looking to buy or sell you can send them our way and be assured of quality service. We provide unique satisfaction guarantees to our clients.

Click the link below for the Columbia Heights market report for October.

october-update.pdf

I just signed up for an account on Twitter:

http://twitter.com/green_brandon

If you’re a Twitter user, feel free to follow me, and we can tweet about Washington, DC, real estate!

(And if you’re not a Twitter user but are intrigued, check out the Twitter home page for more info on it.)

CNNMoney is predicting real estate prices in the Washington, DC, area will fall by 17.1 percent next year:

Forecast 2009: Your home

As we’ve stressed numerous times on this site though:

• your housing needs, rather than the value of your house, are what’s most important
• many neighborhoods buck the trend of the overall area
• declining prices can lead to some great investment opportunities

And, of course, not all predictions become fact!

One of the best ways to encourage people to live green is by stressing the financial benefits of doing so. Sure, altruism is a motivator, but so is money.

This post on the New Homes Section Blog describes some ways homeowners you can go green and save money too.

Just a reminder about our tax seminar tonight (we blogged about it a few weeks ago):

We are thrilled to host Linda de Marlor from Tax Masters Inc. to bring you up to date on everything you need to know about the rapidly changing tax environment. Whether you own a small business, just bought your first home, or have a complicated return with multiple deductions, this class will help you!

Linda has worked with more than 2,000 clients in 50 countries and is a regular on ABC Radio, CNN, C-SPAN, and NPR.  If you thought taxes were boring, you haven’t heard Linda.

Where and when:
Our office in Adam’s Morgan:  2410 17th St. NW, Suite 200
November 18, 2008
6:30 p.m.

Dwell magazine, which we’ve blogged about a few times, has a cool article on Washington, DC, architecture  in its December/January 2009 issue.

While many of the pictures focus on public spaces in DC, there is a great shot of one of my favorite houses in the District: a house built by Richard Neutra near Rock Creek Park:

This Newsweek article is a great summary of some post-election options for mortgage relief.

Of course, having both a president and a president-elect (as well as an outgoing and an incoming Congress), might further complicate a bailout.