Curb Cuts

My name is Michael Dillon and I love real estate. I use this "Curb Cuts" blog as a place to share things that interest me and are somehow (in my brain!) related to real estate. Full disclosure...I am a licensed Realtor in DC, MD & VA. When it comes to...

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Last week during the snow storm my family took the bus to Friendship Heights to grab lunch. We were sitting in the large atrium at Chevy Chase Pavilion http://chevychasepavilion.com/ when I looked up and saw the skylight. Two thoughts struck me. The first is how much now was sitting on that glass, and how I sure hope they got strong glass! The second was how the skylight itself looked like a flake of snow as well. Anyhow, hopefully you won't be able to make an observation like this until next winter and we are headed full speed to spring now! 

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Yesterday I was out with an investor client looking at potential projects. My assistant made the appointment for this house and she told me that the listing agent's instructions were "Just look in the window" for your showing. I was suspicious. However, that turned out to be great advice. We looked in the window and here is what we saw. Wow! 

This house actually backs up to St. Elizabeth's and there is a lot of growth in that area, but this project is a monster. No back walls and a tarp roof. No thanks!

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Six of the Top 10 ZIP codes for investors to buy a house or condo, renovate it and flip it to "hipster buyers" are in the Washington area.

I've always said that hipsters are good for housing!

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I enjoy watching Barbara Corcoran on Shark Tank and I love her quote about real estate here! 

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I was showing a potential condo conversion over in SE DC yesterday. The front looked great, when I walked around back...whoa...talk about erosion! The entire back corner of this lot could give way at any time. Plus, check out the creepy garage built into the hill. Might have been a cool idea when this place would built, but looks like a very expensive issue for a rehab. I am guessing $10K to get all of these issues under control. Not a great prospect when thinking about a rehab/condo conversion. My investor has not informed me if he wants to make an offer, but I reminded him to keep this expense in mind when running his numbers. 

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10619 WEYMOUTH ST #W-3, BETHESDA, MD 20814 | Listing Information | MRIShomes.com

Here it is...the CHEAPEST ONE BEDROOM CONDO IN BETHESDA! Looks like the kitchen could use an update, nothing a little Ikea creativity couldn't fix for cheap. Probably a good rental in light of the proximity to METRO too!

FROM MLS: 1 Bedrooms, 1 Full Bathrooms, 780 Sq Ft., Price: $199,000, MLS#: MC8259325, ALL ABOVE GROUND unit - excellent condition.Flr just refinished; unit just painted.LOTS of light floods this spacious 1BR/1BA.Faces east w/views of Rock Creek Pk. Patio. Eat-in kit. About half a mile to Metro - bus steps away from your door. Lots of amenities, extra storage & laundry RIGHT next door to unit. Away & peaceful yet minutes to Strathmore, shopping, services, transport- GREAT VALUE!

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5 posts!

Wow, thanks Tumblr for making me feel good about this little blog I am attempting in 2014!

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2400 GOOD HOPE RD SE #201, WASHINGTON, DC 20020 | Listing Information | MRIShomes.com

I wondered...what is the cheapest condo for sale in Washington DC today...and here you have it. The condo fee is $485. Good investment? The monthly "Section 8" approved rent for a 1 bedroom in this neighborhood is $904. Pay cash and have it cash flow instantly?! 

1 Bedrooms, 1 Full Bathrooms, 624 Sq Ft., Price: $35,000, MLS#: DC8227414, ONE BEDROOM, ONE BATH UNIT IN NEED OF UPDATING. OLD BATH, KITCHEN, AND WINDOWS. UNIT IS TENANT OCCUPIED. 

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Check out all of the Examiner boxes hiding in the basement of this potential rehab. Crazy! The house is otherwise completely vacant. I snapped a few pics of the nasty kitchen while I was there too, enjoy! This is an end unit rowhouse in NE DC's Deanwood neighborhood. 

How did all of those Examiner boxes get there? So strange!

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I am rehabbing a house in Baltimore right now (more on that later!) and on Sunday afternoon I visited the property to check on progress. On my way there I snapped a few street scenes of Charm City. 

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Rehab Addict

In DIY Network's series Rehab Addict, Nicole Curtis is saving historic houses, one at a time. Working in Detroit and Minneapolis, Nicole saves ramshackle and condemned homes from the wrecking ball and restores them to their original stunning glory.

I can't stop watching this show! I went to Detroit a few summers ago and rode around to observe the blight. It is intense. I appreciate what Nicole is trying to do for her hometown, plus she has some decent tips during the show on creative ways to add some value during a rehab on the cheap.

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I picked this color for 3 houses recently. It is "Slate Blue" and my assistant Rebecca really loved the color and promoted its use. This is 627 Lamont Street, NW in Columbia Heights, DC. What do you think?