Analysis: Bipartisan legislative approach wins out as marriage vote nears
Karine Jean-Pierre improvises during briefing upon Queen Elizabeth’s death
Schumer: Senate vote on marriage bill to happen ‘in the coming weeks’
Two candidates could become first out lesbians to win gubernatorial races
Liberty Counsel hacked in major data breach
Youth activists to hold D.C. rally for LGBTQ rights on Sept. 12
Comings & Goings
Bowser says new city office to be sensitive to LGBTQ migrants
CAMP Rehoboth’s SunFestival ‘a huge success’
Sussex Pride raises thousands at weekend pool party
Largest Fla. school district rejects LGBTQ History Month
Karine Jean-Pierre improvises during briefing upon Queen Elizabeth’s death
Federal judge rules insurance companies can refuse to cover PrEP
Fla. sued over exclusion of transgender healthcare from Medicaid
U.S. appeals court upholds Washington state’s conversion therapy ban
Sri Lanka president says government will not oppose decriminalization bill
Kenya president-elect says LGBTQ, intersex rights ‘not a big issue’
Queen Elizabeth II dies at 96
Meet Argentina’s special envoy for LGBTQ and intersex rights
Iran court sentences two activists to death for ‘promoting homosexuality’
Juventud LGBTQ hondureña renueva la marcha del orgullo
Defensores LGBTQ de Cartagena se reunieron con primera jueza trans de EEUU
Marcha del orgullo LGBTQ en El Salvador crece cada año
Proyecto de ley de prohibir ‘terapias de conversion’ radicado en el Congreso de Colombia
Quedó lista la versión definitiva del Código de las Familias de Cuba con más restricciones para la ‘gestación solidaria’
Monkeypox reckoning
The queen is dead — now please kill the monarchy
What’s in a dive bar? An ode to Larry’s Lounge
Republicans are fighting among themselves — keep it going
Democrats must reject socialism
Pride in the fall
PHOTOS: Gala of the Americas
Acclaimed choreographer to host book signing in D.C.
‘Ain’t No Mo’’ offers tough conversations about racism, homophobia
‘Knocking Myself Up’ a hilarious, hopeful read
Iconic villain is out of the closet in final ‘Saul’ season
LGBTQ critics honor year’s best TV with Dorian Awards
‘A League of Their Own’ series proves there is crying in baseball
For Gaiman fans, ‘Sandman’ is a ‘Dream’ come true
Warner Bros. cancels Batgirl, along with first trans character
Mi Vida bringing customers together on 14th Street
Restaurants have history as places for protest
Double dose of D.C. dining deals
Crazy Aunt Helen’s to host ‘Pride-a-palooza’
Relish Market offers a space for wellness
‘Ain’t No Mo’’ offers tough conversations about racism, homophobia
Out teen relishes understudy role in ‘Dear Evan Hansen’
‘Hamilton’ creators donate monetary damages to LGBTQ group
Frenchie Davis wows as Sofia in ‘The Color Purple’
New musical highlights Frederick Douglass but falls short
Director sheds light on George Michael’s struggle with the closet
New doc illuminates Patricia Highsmith’s life and work
Director of ‘They/Them’ on queering the horror genre
Porter makes directorial splash with ‘Anything’s Possible’
In ‘Neptune Frost,’ the future is nonbinary
New Madonna remix collection solid but not exhaustive
English rock band to grace Silver Spring stage
Washington Arts Ensemble to host immersive concert
John Levengood releases anthem “Say Gay!” to protest discrimination
Tori Amos spins magic at Sunday night D.C.-area concert
‘Knocking Myself Up’ a hilarious, hopeful read
New book puts kibosh on sentimentality of WWII films
An entertaining history lesson in ‘From Gay to Z’
New book examines overcoming inequality at home
Two new political memoirs reveal how the sausage of democracy is made
PHOTOS: Gala of the Americas
CAMP Rehoboth’s SunFestival ‘a huge success’
Sussex Pride raises thousands at weekend pool party
PHOTOS: Miss Glamour Girl
PHOTOS: Bachelor’s Mill Reunion
Real estate in the ‘olden days’
Real estate investing for retirement
Mi Vida bringing customers together on 14th Street
Tips for preparing your home for fall
To use a down payment assistance program or not?
Carl Nassib returns to Tampa
Federal judge temporarily blocks anti-trans youth sports law in Indiana
DC Commanders notch Pride Bowl victory
Lia Thomas nominated for the 2022 NCAA Woman of the Year award
British Triathlon bans transgender women from competing with other women
Fla. ‘Pride Leadership’ firm survives pandemic to face anti-LGBTQ legislation
From early struggles to Obama’s White House, Black pansexual exec talks resilience, self-love
Black gay business owner shares joys, challenges, and the power of fragrance
Gay-owned pharmacy survived pandemic by serving without judgment
New report details financial challenges facing LGBTQ-owned small businesses
Mi Vida bringing customers together on 14th Street
Restaurants have history as places for protest
Double dose of D.C. dining deals
Crazy Aunt Helen’s to host ‘Pride-a-palooza’
Relish Market offers a space for wellness
Real estate in the ‘olden days’
Real estate investing for retirement
Tips for preparing your home for fall
To use a down payment assistance program or not?
Finding your footing in fall housing market
Two small, fun, and affordable rides
Fab full-sized sedans
BMW speed demons
Rides in all sizes
Plug-ins with pizzazz
Monkeypox vaccination effort shifts towards maintaining demand
Percentage of gay D.C. monkeypox cases rises slightly
Biden health officials defend approach to monkeypox as cases grow
White House monkeypox response coordinator speaks exclusively with Blade
As monkeypox spreads, Delaware looks to expand vaccine access
Monkeypox vaccination effort shifts towards maintaining demand
Percentage of gay D.C. monkeypox cases rises slightly
Biden health officials defend approach to monkeypox as cases grow
White House monkeypox response coordinator speaks exclusively with Blade
As monkeypox spreads, Delaware looks to expand vaccine access
New Mexico guv signs marijuana legalization
Delaware cannabis activists take on corporate marijuana
Virginia marijuana legalization takes effect July 1
Highstream 420 Festival Livestream
Cannabis Culture
NEW YEAR NEW YOU 2020: Local VIDA master trainer on trends, tips and technology at the gym
Why a personalized diet can help you achieve better results
Al Roker blasts Jillian Michaels for criticizing Keto diet
Make 2019 your year for fitness
Raising healthy adults starts now
A time when Realtors interacted more personally with clients
Published
on
By
This month I am celebrating 25 years of selling real estate in the DMV.
Prior to becoming a Realtor, I had bought and sold at least a dozen homes during the previous 20 years and had lots of experience with real estate agents. There were those who commanded my complete attention when they spoke and those who made me think, “I can do better than this.”
When I returned to D.C. from Minnesota in 1997, unemployed, I enrolled in real estate school and quickly learned that helping others do what I had done for years involved a whole new set of skills. The process and the rules continue to evolve.
With my D.C. license in hand, followed by Maryland and Virginia licenses by the end of the year, I set up shop in my unfinished basement and joined a Century 21 franchise. A year later I moved to Prudential (now Berkshire Hathaway), where I stayed for 15 years, then to Keller Williams, and in 2017, to RLAH @properties, which I consider my final resting place.
In the beginning, only minimal computer skills were needed and showing property was terribly inefficient. There were few agent websites and no consumer search engines. Our multiple list system was based on Windows 3.1 and had proprietary software that only real estate agents could access. When it became an internet-based system, it opened search capabilities to the public.
The only available photograph in the multiple listing service was a black and white of the front of each house. No home tours, no floor plans, no video – just an address and a description to tempt you to see the home.
There were no electronic lockboxes, only combination locks where many agents left the initial settings in place rather than change the code. If you didn’t know a combination, you could try one of two and be 80% assured of retrieving the key.
Some brokerages didn’t use lockboxes at all and kept housekeys in their offices. An agent would have to sign out a key and then immediately return it for use by the next agent in line after the showing. Instead of making a convenient, circular route from house to house, agents would have to crisscross the city to wherever the keys were located. Our clients rode in our cars.
There were no cell phones. If you needed to contact your agent from the road, you’d have to find a landline and page her. Agents would return a page by stopping by their office or searching for a (gasp!) pay phone.
Buyer representation had only just become a thing. Many agents wanted nothing to do with it, but buyers had finally learned that without a representation agreement, when they spent time telling “their” agent their life story and financial history, the agent was legally obligated to spill the tea to the seller, even if it was not their listing.
Offers had far fewer pages. They were written in person in brokers’ offices, in buyers’ homes, and on the hoods of cars. We carried an assortment of forms in our trunks.
Hard signatures were required, so we did a lot of driving or faxing. With offers being countered numerous times, a faxed contract was often illegible by the time all the signatures were affixed and lenders would require that a clean copy be signed by buyers and sellers.
Buyers’ agents presented offers to sellers in person at the listing agent’s office or the sellers’ home. We practiced how to advocate for our buyers and often our clients’ offers were selected based not only on the quality of the offer, but also on our presentation and organizational skills. Buyers often waited outside in the car in case they were needed to react quickly to a counteroffer (remember: no cell phones).
Home inspections were routinely conducted and sellers actually fixed things. The bar was higher – systems and appliances needed to be in “normal working order” and true “as is” sales were rare. Everyone had an appraisal done as part of the loan approval process, except for cash buyers, of whom there were few.
Settlement sheets were easier to read. There was no complex Closing Disclosure, which confuses more than informs clients about the costs involved in settling. Closings took place in person, with both sides present together, usually trading contact information and congratulating each other when finished.
Is buying and selling homes easier today with the internet, computers, cell phones and Zoom chats? Perhaps, but I sometimes long for the “olden days” when we interacted more personally with our clients. I still remember them all – more than 550 of them – and will as long as I have my wits and my memory.
Valerie M. Blake is a licensed Associate Broker in D.C., Maryland, and Virginia with RLAH Real Estate / @properties. Call or text her at 202-246-8602, email her via DCHomeQuest.com, or follow her on Facebook at TheRealst8ofAffairs.
Real estate investing for retirement
Pride in the fall
PHOTOS: Gala of the Americas
Bowser says new city office to be sensitive to LGBTQ migrants
Rentals, flips, REITS and more tips
Published
on
By
On this Labor Day weekend, we celebrate the rich history and accomplishments of workers across America, and we honor the effort and dedication of working Americans past, present, and future. And what better time than Labor Day to discuss the next chapter after a long and fulfilling work life? Retirement is a chapter many look ahead to with excitement and anticipation about what the future holds and with good reason. It’s a time to relax, indulge in hobbies and discover new interests, and spend time making memories with those you love.
As many people plan ahead for retirement, they also think about how they will plan to finance that retirement and set aside the funds they need to ensure they can live the retirement life that they envision. Fortunately, real estate is a great way to invest for retirement ahead of time, and there are several options to consider, including:
• Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITS): A Real Estate Investment Trust is essentially a collection of properties or other real estate assets that function in many ways like a mutual fund. REITs have a special tax status under which 90% of income must be paid out as dividends. For investors looking to invest in multiple properties at the same time without being tied to ownership of a particular one, this may be a good option.
• Find, Fix, and Flip: There’s no shortage of popular television shows about finding homes that need a little love, making some much-needed improvements, and then selling the home for a profit. If you have access to the funds necessary to purchase the home, and the knowledge and financing necessary to make the improvements, you may have success with flipping properties. It’s certainly an idea worth considering.
Invest in a Long-Term Rental: Buying a property and renting it out for the long term can definitely be a profitable investment strategy. Certainly, it requires having the necessary capital to purchase the property and being willing to deal with the issues that come with having tenants and maintaining a property that you don’t live in. However, if you’re willing and able to handle those stressors, this can ultimately be a very profitable long-term real estate investment strategy as you recoup your initial investment and build equity over time.
Purchase a Vacation Home and Rent Part-Time: For those who have the necessary funds to put a down payment on a vacation home, this is a particularly popular option. Owning a vacation property as an investment means that you can rent it out to tenants for shorter periods, while also enjoying some vacation time for yourself, and building up equity as you go.
These are only a few tips of many. There are many ways to invest in real estate, and it’s always wise to thoroughly consider what might truly work best for your situation. Ideally by thinking ahead and investing in real estate with long-term goals in mind, many can make significant progress toward funding the retirement they’ve always envisioned.
Having done so, and upon reaching retirement age, you’ll likely be looking to make a real estate change yourself. For many individuals, it’s time to make a move – whether that means downsizing and remaining in the same city, moving closer to family, or simply moving to a new place you’ve always wanted to live. Regardless of your goals, finding the right agent can make all the difference in reaching them.
At GayRealEstate.com – We’re Here for You
Regardless of whether you’re buying your very first home or looking to downsize and find the perfect place to retire – at GayRealEstate.com, we’re here for you. We’re always ready to help, and it’s our mission and our passion to connect LGBTQ homebuyers and sellers across the country with excellent and experienced LGBTQ-friendly realtors who can help you achieve your real estate goals. We know that having the right agent can make all the difference during a real estate experience, and we believe you deserve the best experience possible. If we can help you, visit us at GayRealEstate.com today to get connected and get started.
Jeff Hammerberg is founding CEO of Hammerberg & Associates, Inc. Reach him at
303-378-5526 or [email protected].
Check windows, A/C units, and more as cool weather arrives
Published
on
By
It looks like fall season is upon us, judging by all the pumpkin spice everywhere. I was just walking through HomeGoods and went down the ‘fall aisles,’ which made me think, similar to how we ready our homes for the spring/summer season, we must prepare our homes for the fall/winter months as well. Here are a few tips to prepare your home for the fall season and into winter.
Inspect your exterior windows and doors to ensure that there are no holes or spaces where warm air can escape when you have the heat on. We should all be a bit more environmentally friendly and just as you are saving the turtles by now using straws, you should also try to use less electricity and fossil fuels – as such helping to ensure your home is air tight will not only aid the environment but it will also cut down on your energy bills, which will afford you a clearer conscience and more drinks at Trade.
It is always a good rule of thumb to have your HVAC system serviced around the change of weather/seasons. Call your local service provider to ensure you are on their books before it’s snowing. If you have window A/C units make sure that you either cover them up or remove them from the windows. This is a great time to have the window A/C units serviced, clean out the filters, wipe them down, and ensure they are prepped and ready for next year before you put them away. If you have radiators, it’s always recommended that you clear some space around them to reduce anything from getting too spicy and causing issues. One last item of note – you should change your air filter more than once a season, so let’s just make sure it’s a new filter. Work smarter not harder — you can easily set a reminder for every month to change out your filter or use an auto replenishment service (will not mention any names) to send you new filters as a reminder to change them.
It’s always a good idea to ensure that your batteries are set and that your smoke detectors are operational. I would also recommend ensuring that any CO2 detectors are also in tip top shape.
We are fortunate here in the D.C. metro area to have a reasonably mild fall season, so in many cases there’s no need to cover your patio furniture until it gets a little closer to December, but I always recommend locating any covers and ensuring they are still in good shape, no rips etc. to allow time for procuring any replacements if needed.
As we welcome in the cooler temps, we want to make sure we don’t welcome in any unwanted pests that find our warmer homes so comfy. It’s always a good idea to perform a deep clean, or hire someone, in order to mitigate the likelihood pests will be incited to come into your home and make themselves comfortable.
This last tip isn’t exactly a seasonal tip – but rather a post-summer tip. Prepare yourself for the busy holiday seasons ahead that fall and winter bring. Be mindful that while you may have a family there are some people in this world that are not as fortunate as you. Lead with kindness and remember to treat others with the kindness you’d like to receive.
Justin Noble is a Realtor with Sotheby’s international Realty licensed in D.C., Maryland, and Delaware for your DMV and Delaware Beach needs. Specializing in first-time homebuyers, development and new construction as well as estate sales, Justin is a well-versed agent, highly regarded, and provides white glove service at every price point. Reach him at 202-503-4243, [email protected] or BurnsandNoble.com.
D.C. is committed to helping residents into homeownership
Published
on
By
A little-known fact about purchasing homes in the District of Columbia is that there actually are helpful programs for “average” buyers who make a healthy income but might not have tons of cash stashed away for the down payment and closing costs.
There are several programs such as DC Opens Doors and the Home Purchase Assistance Program (HPAP) as well as EAHP (the DC Employer Assisted Housing Program) that can help buyers with cash to close or down payment assistance. The DC Opens Doors program helps buyers with a 3.5% down payment, that does get paid back when the house is sold later. Many lenders are familiar with this program, and it gets used frequently.
Also, the HPAP and EAHP programs are used frequently, with the assistance of the DC Housing Finance Authority and the Greater Washington Urban League assisting to administer the funds. The amount of assistance given to the buyers is dependent on household size and income. For DC Opens Doors there are also income limits, and credit score requirements.
I find that many buyers don’t know that these programs are available to them. I did just find out the amount of assistance for the HPAP program was just raised and will be effective in October of this year. These programs may or may not be the best option for each buyer. The best thing to do is to speak with a lender who is familiar with these programs, and to run the numbers using the program or not using the program. Sometimes the interest rate is higher when using one of these down payment assistance programs, but if that is what is needed to make the purchase happen, then so be it.
The good thing is the District of Columbia is committed to helping people find their way into homeownership, and with the recent raising of the assistance levels, they are showing that they understand the cost of homeownership in the District is higher than the average. If you would like more information about these programs do not hesitate to contact me or to attend one of my homebuyer seminars, which will occur this fall. One will be in September, and one will be in October.
Joseph Hudson is a Realtor with The Rutstein Group of Compass. Reach him at [email protected] or 703-587-0597.
Republicans are fighting among themselves — keep it going
Queen Elizabeth II dies at 96
What’s in a dive bar? An ode to Larry’s Lounge
The queen is dead — now please kill the monarchy
Karine Jean-Pierre improvises during briefing upon Queen Elizabeth’s death
Meet Argentina’s special envoy for LGBTQ and intersex rights
Director sheds light on George Michael’s struggle with the closet
Federal judge rules insurance companies can refuse to cover PrEP
© Copyright Brown, Naff, Pitts Omnimedia, Inc. 2021. All rights reserved | Powered by Keynetik.
About Author
