Yea Team!

Yesterday, the Friendship Heights/Foggy Bottom office had it's 2009 Awards Celebration.  Although we say we're The Murphy Team, we're actually a group because there's more than two of us.  

We cleaned up in the awards department and it's pretty exciting.  These are Regional Awards so we have big competition.  We won the Overall Top Sales Group of the Year, the #4 Top Group by Gross Commission Income (GCI) and #3 Top Group by Units Sold.  Go TEAM! 

Distracted by the sunshine

I love this weather.  It reminds me of everything good about growing up in North Carolina.  It makes me want to sit outside with a book and a drink and soak up the sun.   Which is exactly what I hope to be doing in the next hour.

I've had a really frustrating day.  My Blackberry, which is my life line, was having issues.  I'm technologically challenged.  I can't help it.  It's not my area of expertise.  Ask me about buying or selling a house.  I gotcha.  Ask me about eating in a good restaurant, traveling or a good book and I'm all over it.  But gadgets?  Forget it. 

Usually, I have my husband take care of this stuff but he's out of town on a bachelor party.  So I spent three hours on the phone today with AT&T and then Blackberry trying to work out the kinks.  I have a land line and it's connected to my fax machine.  The fax machine has a phone but only a speaker phone.  Since you can't speak on the phone you're trying to repair, I spent a lot of time yelling at the speaker phone on my fax.  Which is a really ridiculous situation.

I also spent an hour on the phone yesterday with the AT&T warranty people.  Did you know that even though you have a warranty on your brand new, less than a year old phone, the warranty department at AT&T will only send you a reconditioned phone, not a new one?  Really?  I spend $400 on this dumb phone.  I better get a new replacement phone not a reconditioned one.  It was reconditioned for a reason.  FYI-I won and got a new phone. Which made me feel victorious and like I beat the "man."

As you can tell, I have no patience for this situation.  It turns me into an angry, raving lunatic.  Which is why I want a drink, my book and my roof top deck.  Cheers!

Ready to go....

My client at 1727 R St, NW is ready to sell!  She's found her new home and she's ready to rumble.  I reduced the price on the property by 10K to $489,000.  It will be Open this Sunday, 3/14/10 from 1-4.

Has Spring Sprung?

As I was walking down 13th St. last night, I saw my first forsythia blooming.  I always equate the yellow blooms with the beginning of Spring.  If the lovely weather of the last few days is an indication that Spring is on it's way, I'm excited!!  It's my favorite season even though I'm allergic to pollen. 

The Spring selling season is also shaping up.  I've been really frustrated the last several weeks by the lack of inventory on the market.  I have clients that want to buy but there's nothing to see.  I'm wondering if this Spring is going to turn into a seller's market.

This house on Brandywine is probably going to have at least six offers.  I previewed it for some clients and it's adorable.  It's too small for them but somebody lucky will be a proud homeowner soon.  6 offers??  Remember when I said there's no inventory?  That's particularly true in AU Park.  It's definitely shaping up to be an interesting Spring!

1727 R St, NW #503

Last week I announced I was having my first Open at my new listing at 1727 R St, NW.  It was a doozy!  About 40 people attended.  I wasn't expecting the volume but I'm thrilled and so is my seller.  

That also is an indication that there's NOTHING interesting on the market at the moment.  I had a lot of attendee's  tell me they have been looking since January and there haven't been many options.  That's also true with my buyers.  I have several that would love to buy something but there's nothing to see.  I'm hoping now that March has officially begun that we'll see an uptick in listings. 

We don't have an offer yet but there are several interested parties.  I hope this weekend's Open will be as busy.  Once again, it's Sunday from 1-4.

New listing and Open House Sunday 1-4pm

I have a new listing hitting the market today at 1727 R St, NW #503.  It's a bright, top floor 2 bedroom, 1.5 bath corner unit at the Art Deco Pierre.  It has many wonderful upgrades like bamboo floors, granite counter tops, a Miele cooktop and oven, an open floor plan, a fireplace, upgraded bathrooms, Miele washer/dryer, home theater wiring throughout and it's pet friendly.  There's also a rental parking spot available for $200 a month.  The condo fee is $417 a month.  Click here for the virtual tour.  I'm holding it Open on Sunday from 1-4pm.  If you're in the neighborhood, stop by and say "hello."

What you need to obtain your tax credit

If you purchased a home in 2009 or you're planning on purchasing a home before April 30th, 2010, you're probably going to take advantage of the housing credit.  There's been a lot of press about the 8K first time home buyers credit but not a lot of clarity. 

Just in time for tax season, the IRS has issued new guidelines on what sort of documentation is needed to obtain the tax credit.  In Saturday's Real Estate section, The Post published a comprehensive overview of what is needed for your $6500 or $8000 credit.  If you're taking advantage of the credit, make sure you review this article.