Washington, DC is the seat of government for the United States, and most visitors see the White House, the Supreme Court and the Capitol.  But in these days with heightened security, it's usually just the outsides of these buildings from a tour bus!

They may also see a lot of the monuments, those to Washington, Lincoln, and Jefferson.

And they often miss my Washington and that of the half-million people who make our nation's capital their homes. 

Some of us work for the government, some for law firms that practice before various federal agencies, others are teachers, fire fighters and real estate agents!  

Our neighborhoods are full of history!  There are houses where presidents slept or died.  Sometimes a tour of a newly listed home will include the rooms that were used to hide escaping slaves along the Underground Railroad.   

Like visitors to Washington, the locals visit the fabulous museums and galleries.  We also know where to find the work of talented local artists.

Visitors often enjoy productions at the National Theater and Kennedy Center.  We also support local groups, including Wooley Mammoth, Arena Stage, The Studio Theater, and other theaters that have made Washington second only to New York as a provider of paying jobs to stage actors!   

And the by-product of any serious unrest anywhere in the world is often a group of immigrants who come to open fabulous restaurants serving their local cuisine! 

On the Washington, DC "Home Page" for Active Rain, I have begun a series I'm calling My Secret Washington.  I've also posted photos and information about our neighborhoods, restaurants, the Zoo, and other things I hope you will find useful. 

And, here is Washington, they throw a huge fireworks demonstration on the Mall at the drop of a hat - not just the 4th of July! 

With our energetic new mayor, Adrian Fenty, the city is becoming more that a fun place to visit - it's becoming a wonderful place to live!

 Whether your thing is a luxury condo overlooking the Potomac River or a house in horse country in Virginia or Maryland, you'll be able to find the perfect place!

In Washington, DC and its close-in suburbs, we have gone from a white-hot real estate market to one that is balanced. It's a great time to buy - there are fewer bidding wars, and you don't have to offer sellers your first-born child to have your offer accepted. And, it's a good time to sell, because while the market has slowed, prices in most neighborhoods have not substantially fallen.

As you head out into some of the suburban markets, prices have softened, and there are some wonderful opportunities for buyers.  Not only are bidding wars extremely rare, but the sellers will usually be really glad to see someone interested in their property, and there is a lot of negotiating going on. 

People relocating to the nation's capital are often floored by housing prices - yes, I do carry smelling salts in my glove compartment!  The prices are balanced out by  great employment opportunities and by the fun factor of life in Washington.

Pat Kennedy wrote the book on real estate, The Irreverent Guide to Real Estate.

And she gives a copy to her buyers so they'll know what to expect during the transactions.

• How can you find a great agent and work most productively?
  
• How can you find the best houses in your price range?
• If you're first time buyers passing the hat to your parents for down payment help, what's protocol?
• When you buy a place with your sweetie, how doe you handle the legal ownership issues?
• How do you evaluate each potential Dream House as you're making the all important decision about which one to buy?
• What about the price?  How can you tell when the price is right and, when it isn't, how do you negotiate with the sellers?
• What are the little tricks that sellers and smart agents use to turn a house into a shameless flirt that will have you grabbing for your check book?
• Once you've moved in, how do you make renovating and decorating choices that will help you maximize your profits when it's time to sell?

Pat gives great advice and makes her points with stories that are often hilarious or occasionally pathetic.  And she works to make the process fun - for herself and for her clients.