{"id":544,"date":"2015-03-06T04:25:30","date_gmt":"2015-03-06T04:25:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.movoto.com\/foundation\/?p=544"},"modified":"2015-03-06T04:25:30","modified_gmt":"2015-03-06T04:25:30","slug":"buying-a-home-in-washington-dc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.movoto.com\/blog\/buying-a-home-in-washington-dc\/","title":{"rendered":"9 Things First-Time Home Buyers In Washington, D.C. Should Know"},"content":{"rendered":"

Whether you prefer the suit and tie style of Capitol Hill<\/a> or the quaint vibes of Georgetown<\/a>, Washington, D.C.<\/a> is a first-time home buyer haven. We spoke with Movoto Real Estate<\/a> Certified Agent Sebrin Adem<\/a> to learn the most important things you need to know about house hunting in The District.<\/p>\n

1. The Number Of Available Homes For Sale Is Quite Low<\/h2>\n

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According to Movoto Certified Agent Sebrin Adem, \u201cthe inventory for sale is short in the D.C. area\u2014that tells you the demand.\u201d Just shy of 1,500 listings currently available, competition could be rough out there. Buyers interested in a specific home might encounter a multiple offer situation and find themselves right in the middle of a bidding war.<\/p>\n

2. Some Houses Require You To Buy The Parking Spot Separately<\/h2>\n

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Source: Flickr user bricoleurbanism<\/div>\n

Not only is trying to find street parking in the city an absolute headache, D.C. officers are avid ticketers. So when you\u2019re browsing the listing pictures of that perfect house, make sure you look twice\u2014many townhomes and row houses doesn\u2019t actually come with the driveway pictured.<\/p>\n

If you need a car in D.C., you either buy the parking space separately and use it for your personal vehicle or rent it out for some extra cash flow and search for street parking elsewhere.<\/p>\n

Just keep in mind that, according to NerdWallet, D.C. has about 60 percent more motor vehicle thefts per capita than the national average, so maybe that personal driveway spot is your best bet after all.<\/p>\n

3. Speaking Of Cars, You Should Know That D.C. Drivers Are Some Of The Worst<\/h2>\n

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Source: Flickr user thisisbossi<\/div>\n

Something you should probably know if you plan to buy a house here\u2014drivers in D.C. are 97 percent<\/a> more likely to get in a crash than anywhere else (the only city with a worse accident rate is Boston<\/a>, at 129 percent more likely).<\/p>\n

The horrendous gridlock traffic is real here, and the constant motorcades toting around diplomats and White House staff don\u2019t help either. If you get caught behind one of those, you could be stuck for quite some time.<\/p>\n

4. On The Other Hand, Public Transportation Can Get You Nearly Anywhere<\/h2>\n

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Luckily, to offset all the D.C. driving woes, WalkScore awarded The District with a transit score of 70, making it clock in at the fourth best city for public transportation in the nation. According to the National Association of Realtors, home values performed 42 percent better when they were located near public transit.<\/p>\n

When comparing D.C.\u2019s subway map, which spiders out in all directions with 86 stations, to San Francisco<\/a>\u2019s, which only travels through one main artery of the city, it\u2019s clear that more neighborhoods in D.C. have easier access to transportation.<\/p>\n

Sadem even mentioned that in D.C., house appeal is more about the price and proximity to public transportation rather than to restaurants and nightlife.<\/p>\n

5. Developers Are Building Condos Quickly<\/h2>\n

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Source: Flickr user Elvert Barnes<\/div>\n

According to Sadem, there\u2019s a lot of work being put into the city in terms of new construction, which is making more and more neighborhoods attractive to homebuyers.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe area near Georgia Avenue is expanding fast, as developers are building condos quickly,\u201d she said. \u201cAnother up-and-coming neighborhood is the area near Howard University.\u201d<\/p>\n

With more areas being revamped, come more places to buy property (that\u2019s one way to battle the low inventory).<\/p>\n\n\n
Like what you see? Check out the rest of Movoto Foundation<\/a> for more great home-buying tips!<\/center><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

6. The Average Unemployment Rate Is Lower Than Other Major Cities<\/h2>\n

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Source: Flickr user aklipinski<\/div>\n

It\u2019s always smart to research the unemployment rates of the city you\u2019re hoping to move to\u2014whether you\u2019re already working there or are planning to job hunt upon arrival, knowing what to expect from the job market can give you a leg up.<\/p>\n

The average unemployment rate from 2009 to 2013 in Washington, D.C. was 11 percent, while it was 14 percent in Chicago<\/a> and 15 percent in Philadelphia<\/a>.<\/p>\n

7. The Number Of Tourists Are Pretty Steady Compared To Other Major Cities<\/h2>\n

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Source: Flickr user erin m m<\/div>\n

Almost everyone enjoys exploring new cities, but when you actually live in one of those swarming metropolises, the never-ending stream of tourists can take a toll on your daily commute, your trip to the grocery store, and your overall sanity.<\/p>\n

Lucky for D.C. residents, the percent decrease<\/a> of tourists from 2012 and 2013 was minus 3 percent. Don\u2019t get us wrong, we know The District attracts hoards of wannabe politicos, but when you compare the minus three percent decrease in tourism to San Francisco\u2019s 9 percent increase and Los Angeles<\/a>\u2019s 11 percent increase, you might have a better chance of not being mistaken for a tourist yourself while walking through your D.C. \u2018hood.<\/p>\n

8. You\u2019re Sure To Have A Good View Wherever You Are<\/h2>\n

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Source: Flickr user Mr.TinDC<\/div>\n

Thanks to an old D.C. law that limits building restrictions to no higher than 160 feet, you\u2019re sure to have some sweeping views of your \u2018hood no matter where in the city you\u2019re looking to settle. Many city slickers-to-be get excited about living in the heart of it all, but end up paying the price when towering constructions are being built just outside the bedroom window.<\/p>\n

9. Washington, D.C. Is A Celebrity Chef Haven<\/h2>\n

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Source: Flickr user U.S. Department of Agriculture <\/div>\n

Calling all foodies\u2014if you plan on buying a home, you\u2019d better make sure you\u2019re surrounding yourself with some good eats. The District doesn\u2019t cease to impress hungry homebuyers, with a trove of restaurants boasting \u201cTop Chef\u201d contestants serving up your meal.<\/p>\n

According to Washington City Paper<\/a>, almost half of their ranking of the 44 most powerful restaurants in D.C. have \u201cstar power,\u201d meaning the famed chef has been in the limelight for their exquisite skills in the kitchen.<\/p>\n

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