Republican Pa. governor nominee opposes LGBTQ rights
History making win- Out Lesbian could be Oregon’s next governor
Karine Jean-Pierre on her firsts: ‘I am a Black, gay, immigrant woman’
Task Force targets five battleground states in ‘Queer the Vote’
Military college student sues armed forces over HIV+ ban policy
D.C. man sentenced to 7 months for attack against gay Asian man
Delaware governor vetoes legalization of marijuana possession
Vandals target 2 Rehoboth Beach LGBTQ-owned businesses
Pride Run returns after two-year hiatus
Air Force base axes ‘Drag Queen Story Hour’
Pulse survivor ‘at a loss’ over Texas elementary school massacre
Republican lawmaker claims Texas school gunman was transgender
Gay man shot to death on NYC subway train
Federal judge blocks White House from ending Title 42
LGBTQ lawmakers in Latin America pledge to end conversion therapy in region
GLAAD president attends World Economic Forum
Senegal advocacy group demands better treatment of LGBTQ prisoners
100+ confirmed cases of monkeypox in 12 countries & spreading
U.S. official meets with Brittney Griner
¿Cómo fueron las consultas populares del Código de las Familias en Cuba?
Brenda Rosales es la primera funcionaria trans del gobierno de Bukele
Elecciones colombianas 2022: Candidatas abiertamente LGBTQ al Congreso
El primer diputado hondureño abiertamente gay reflexiona sobre la histórica elección
¿Qué piensa el activismo LGBTQ cubano sobre la consulta popular y el referendo del Código de las Familias?
Don’t be a do-nothing Democrat
‘Heartstopper,’ ‘Fire Island,’ and ‘Bros’
Maura Healey for governor of Massachusetts
Politicians should stop using children as political punching bags
PHOTOS: Black Pride Opening Reception
‘Dot & Ralfie’ explores lives of lesbian seniors
A timely read for middle schoolers about book banning
‘The Ellen DeGeneres Show’ signs off after 19 seasons
Theatre Washington extends COVID precautions
Check out final season of ‘Grace and Frankie’ — it ends well
Netflix scores queer triumph with ‘Heartstopper’
Grindr’s first series is as shallow as you’d expect
‘And Just Like That’ is clunky, but shows promise
MTV ‘True Life Crime’ host reinvents genre
Award-winning chef on pasta, pandemic, and queer visibility
8 new D.C. restaurants to try this spring
Celebrate omicron’s decline this Valentine’s Day
Winter Restaurant Week a welcome escape from the cold
Bistro du Jour transports you from Wharf to Seine
‘Our Town’ at Shakespeare examines life, love, death
New Philly production explores AIDS through three characters
‘John Proctor is the Villain’ draws cannily from American lit
Out actor embraces role in audacious, healing production
Playwright pays tribute to gay grandfather in new Round House show
‘Fire Island’ delivers pride, prejudice, and a whole lot more
Join Joel Kim Booster on ‘Fire Island’ this summer
‘Everything Everywhere’ does the multiverse right
‘Firebird’ soars with tale of love during Cold War
John Levengood releases anthem “Say Gay!” to protest discrimination
Tori Amos spins magic at Sunday night D.C.-area concert
Dance festival to feature electronic music acts
Melissa Etheridge shares Q&A in advance of April 26 Tysons tour stop
Grammy Awards return live from Las Vegas
‘Dot & Ralfie’ explores lives of lesbian seniors
A timely read for middle schoolers about book banning
‘Queer Country’ explores origins of growing genre of music
Danica Roem’s new book is far from a typical politico’s story
Two lively, entertaining new books from Deaf creators
PHOTOS: Black Pride Opening Reception
PHOTOS: Worthy Mentoring Pride Brunch
Preserving D.C.’s historic neighborhoods
Consider buying a beach house with a group of friends
How do Federal Reserve decisions impact mortgage rates?
Rain. On. Me? Flooding a common concern among buyers
British soccer player comes out
Qatar police may seize Pride flags ‘to protect’ LGBTQ World Cup fans
Lia Thomas is NCAA’s first Transgender D-1 National Champion
WNBA star Brittney Griner’s detention in Russia extended until May 19
Las Vegas Raiders release groundbreaking gay defensive end Carl Nassib
Study: One in ten LGBT workers experienced discrimination at work
Time to dust off your pre-pandemic budget
Gay D.C. business owner to run 100-mile ultramarathon
Pepco Working to Keep Customers Connected During the Pandemic
Pepco empowers employees through amplified DEI efforts
Award-winning chef on pasta, pandemic, and queer visibility
8 new D.C. restaurants to try this spring
Celebrate omicron’s decline this Valentine’s Day
Winter Restaurant Week a welcome escape from the cold
Bistro du Jour transports you from Wharf to Seine
Preserving D.C.’s historic neighborhoods
Consider buying a beach house with a group of friends
How do Federal Reserve decisions impact mortgage rates?
Rain. On. Me? Flooding a common concern among buyers
Baltimore offers affordable alternative to D.C. real estate
Roe leak stokes fears that LGBTQ rights are now at heightened risk
HRC names Chase Brexton ‘Leader in LGBTQ Healthcare Equality’
AIDS Healthcare Foundation opens first Healthcare Center in Virginia
GWU participates in ‘promising’ HIV vaccine study
Should we vacation in homophobic countries?
Roe leak stokes fears that LGBTQ rights are now at heightened risk
HRC names Chase Brexton ‘Leader in LGBTQ Healthcare Equality’
AIDS Healthcare Foundation opens first Healthcare Center in Virginia
GWU participates in ‘promising’ HIV vaccine study
Should we vacation in homophobic countries?
New Mexico guv signs marijuana legalization
Delaware cannabis activists take on corporate marijuana
Virginia marijuana legalization takes effect July 1
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
Some districts are well known and others may come as a surprise
Homeowners Associations (HOAs) often get a bad rap.
Perhaps you can’t park in a particular area, your door must be a certain color, your mailbox has a specific height requirement, or your potential deck must be approved by an Architectural Committee that doesn’t include an architect.
Association rules may also dictate whether your neighbor can have his car up on blocks in the front yard, limit the hours of your cocaine orgies, or specify who will be allowed to picket your home within a gated community.
Sometimes, HOAs can delay settlement on the transfer of property, since the association generally must sign off on any changes made to the exterior that fall within their purview.
If there have been unauthorized changes to the property, then the seller may be forced to take corrective measures before settlement can proceed. Examples I have seen include lack of architectural committee approval, work done without permits, deteriorating fences, and roofs that are due for replacement.
Whether you find them intrusive or think they help to protect your property values, today’s HOAs are far better than the restrictive covenants found in many parts of early 20th century America. Those covenants were designed to prohibit racial or religious minorities from purchasing a home in a particular neighborhood.
In April 1948, the Supreme Court ruled that such covenants violated the Civil Rights Act of 1866, but that didn’t end the practice abruptly. These covenants were finally outlawed by the federal Fair Housing Act of 1968 and, while in some areas of the country you may still see them on a deed, they are unenforceable.
HOAs are not prevalent in D.C. and only within the last few decades have we seen them spring up in a few developments within our neighborhoods. Instead, you may find your property encumbered by historic preservation standards.
The National Historic Preservation Act, codified in 1966, outlines laws and regulations that are applicable nationwide. The Historic Landmark and Historic District Protection Act of 1978 contains laws and regulations specific to the District of Columbia. As you can imagine, there is a common goal with a significant amount of overlap between them.
In D.C., the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) conducts preservation planning, identifies historic properties, reviews government projects for compliance, and promotes tax credits and incentives for ensuring the preservation of our buildings, monuments, and districts.
Those of us who live in the DMV know that D.C. has a plethora of historic monuments and buildings. It is the Historic Preservation Review Board (HPRB) that determines which landmarks and districts will be included in the DC Inventory of Historic Sites, which is available to the public here.
Some of our historic districts are well known and others may come as a surprise. For example, when discussing historic districts, most people think first of Georgetown, Capitol Hill, Dupont Circle, or Anacostia, but did you know that Emerald Street and Kingman Park in Northeast D.C. have been designated historic?
In fact, more than 30 local neighborhoods are now deemed historic, including some that I had never heard of, such as Colony Hill, added on March 21, 2021 (north of Reservoir Road NW and west of Glover Archbold Park), Strivers’ Section (bordered primarily by Florida and New Hampshire Avenues NW), and Washington Heights (north of Florida Avenue, east of Columbia Road and west to 18th Street NW). Several proposed historic residential districts also have applications pending, including Park View and Barney Circle.
Sometimes the boundaries of historic districts aren’t clear. For example, when I lived near Union Station years ago, the south side of the street was considered historic and the properties on the north side were not. You can find out whether a particular property is located in a historic district by searching the address at propertyquest.dc.gov.
If you already live in a historic area, you need to be aware of what you can and cannot do with the front elevation and roofline of your home. The preference is for repairing a historic element rather than replacing it, and the design of an element as well as the material used must be compatible with the original structure. Guidelines for specific items can be found here.
If your area is not designated as historic and you would like it to be, you or your organization can file an application with the HPRB. Review the criteria necessary for approval here.
Be prepared to do a lot of community outreach and attend hearings to support your position, for as much as we want to preserve the beauty of our surroundings, there are likely to be as many people opposed to the idea as there are in favor.
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.
Consider buying a beach house with a group of friends
Don’t be a do-nothing Democrat
Leave no one behind: Building an LGBTQ+ movement for all
GLAA has lost its way and should close
A lawyer can ensure everyone’s rights are protected
A trend that we are seeing across the boards (get it…like boardwalk) as we head into summer, aside from the swimsuits getting smaller and smaller, is friends buying homes together. Buying a property with another individual is not only an option for those in a relationship, marriage, domestic partnership, business etc. but also friendships.
With the pandemic and the increase of people wanting to move out of their small spaces in the city and leave for the more bucolic settings, the trend has been to ask your roomie, kiki partner or other friend to go halfsies on your primary residence. Why pay rent when you can have an investment and build equity in your home, right? Well why not take that approach for a second home at the beach? You will likely have the beach house to entertain and have friends over for weekends or weeks during the summer so let’s get them on the hook for more than just a few bottles of vodka or boxed wine. Let’s get their names on that mortgage.
With the rising market prices your borrowing power is stronger as a collective. Think of your group that you head to the beach with. How many of those folks would love to have a space at the beach? Likely all of them. If you can only afford $200k but three of your best friends can also only afford $200k then collectively you can afford $800k. Using simple terms and numbers here, but I trust you are tracking.
Now that you have found those select few that you implicitly, or mostly implicitly trust and are financially stable let’s now consider the actual items that matter in practice such as (1) how you will split up days, weeks etc., (2) how and who handles/coordinates repairs to the property, (3) what happens if you no longer enjoy this person or someone wants out of the house and they’re on the mortgage? This is where a lawyer comes into place and can advise on creating an operating agreement similar to what a business or corporation would have in place to ensure that all parties in the home are protected and each has their own rights as well as common rights for the home.
I know what you’re thinking, this sounds a little dicey, but I know if you’re reading this, that you have likely been in dicier situations, and for those who really want a beach house to enjoy but might not have the capital to do so, this is a great option. Instead of renting a beach house for the season and paying high season beaucoup bucks, why not get a few friends together to buy a beach house together?
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.
Don’t panic, recent increases not as dire as some fear
Recently, the real estate market has been incredibly active. In many neighborhoods, it seems that a for sale sign is scarcely placed in the front yard before multiple offers, even some above asking price, roll in. In many cases, this was made possible by relatively low mortgage rates, which enticed buyers to get into the market and make those offers. Recently, however, there have been concerns about the state of the economy and increased inflation – furthered by the recent news that the Federal Reserve has raised interest rates.
This increase has understandably left many potential homebuyers wondering – what does this mean for mortgage rates, and my ability to obtain the loan I need to purchase a home? It has also left sellers asking – will the increased rates mean fewer buyers? Will it be harder to sell? These are important questions to ask. While no one has a crystal ball, many remain hopeful that the real estate market will continue to thrive. Let’s take a closer look at why together.
The Federal Reserve is the central bank of the United States, and among its many functions, it essentially guides the national economy. Part of that mission is keeping inflation under control. Recently, in an attempt to slow ever-increasing inflation, the Federal Reserve raised short-term interest rates by half a percentage point. Short-term interest rates are essentially the interest rates that banks charge one another for short-term loans.
It’s been some time since the Federal Reserve has made a move of that nature – slightly more than 20 years in fact, with the last such increase occurring in 2000. The Fed also indicated that more adjustments may be planned before the end of the year. Certainly, this raises the question – what does this mean for mortgage rates?
It’s important to understand that the Federal Reserve does not actually set mortgage rates – there is in fact no such thing as a “federal mortgage rate.” Ultimately, the decisions of the Federal Reserve don’t directly impact mortgage rates in the same manner as with other products, like savings accounts or CDs, for example. Mortgage rates generally respond both to the actions of the Federal Reserve, as well as to the general movement of both the United States and global economies, so there are many factors to consider.
Nevertheless, those in the mortgage industry do closely monitor the actions of the Federal Reserve, and certainly, how much buyers pay for a home loan is influenced by those decisions. As a very rough rule of thumb, for every one point increase by the Fed, your buying power goes down by $100,000.
When the Federal Reserve makes it more expensive for banks to borrow by setting a higher federal funds rate, the banks typically pass on those higher costs to their customers. This ultimately means that interest rates on consumer borrowing, which includes mortgage rates, tend to go up.
While any increase in mortgage rates may not be welcome news for buyers, it’s important to keep these increases in perspective. Historically, the current interest rate, which is around 5 to 6%, depending on whether you have a 15 or 30-year mortgage, is still very low and very favorable for buyers. At the end of the 1970s, for example, interest rates were hovering near 10%, only to ultimately reach an all-time high of about 16.5% in 1981 before eventually decreasing. Throughout the 1980s, however, mortgage interest rates remained near 10% – nearly twice what they are today.
Another potential silver lining is that increased rates may also mean increased inventory – which is certainly good news for buyers. While rates are still historically very low, the increase may nevertheless mean that there are more available homes to choose from, as the number of buyers in the market decreases overall. This could be a refreshing change of pace for those buyers who felt that they had minimal choices in a highly competitive market.
While this may not be the most welcome news for sellers, it’s not necessarily bad news either. As rates are still relatively low, there will still likely be plenty of potential buyers out there. When the present market is compared to the course of the real estate market over the last several decades, now is still an excellent time to sell.
At GayRealEstate.com, we are passionate about helping LGBTQ home buyers and sellers through every aspect of the real estate process – and that includes more than just buying and selling. It also includes addressing the important issues in the real estate market that matter to you the most. We believe in the importance of connecting LGBTQ buyers and sellers with talented and dedicated agents who can help. We also believe in ensuring that our clients feel informed, prepared, and knowledgeable about all aspects of the real estate process. You deserve nothing less. Whatever your real estate needs, we’re here to help.
Jeff Hammerberg is founding CEO of Hammerberg & Associates, Inc. Reach him at 303-378-5526 or [email protected] .
Always ask your insurance agent if you have the coverage you need
One of the many concerns buyers of homes and condos have are moisture intrusion and how well the building is prepared for floods, heavy rains, burst pipes and if they have installed sump pumps and other things to help with moisture intrusion.
To find out how to handle these situations I had a call with a local insurance agent and asked her to give me her advice about being able to make sure you are covered if there is any type of water event that costs you money as a home owner.
In a condo, you will have the master insurance policy that will help if something outside of the walls of your home causes a moisture intrusion. You will also have your own homeowner’s insurance. The agent that I spoke to said to always make sure you SPEAK to your insurance agent and ask specifically about what is covered and what is not. Just getting an internet quote is not the same. There are also third-party companies that can help cover conditions that are considered “exceptions” by the insurance company so you are going to want be educated on that.
There is a difference between being in a flood plain, having a pipe burst, water leaking in around windows, having water back up into a home and having a sump pump fail. There is also a difference in the types of coverage you can get for these situations.
They are all filed under different types of claims, and you will want your insurance agent to walk you through the various types of protections you can purchase and if you need additional protection from a third-party company. A recent inquiry by a client of mine resulted in him being told that his property was not in a flood zone so the basement (which is finished) would not be brought back to its current condition. Only drywall would be replaced.
Always ask your insurance agent if you have the coverage you need and please shop around. Water issues seem to happen more frequently, so you want to be prepared. I am always available to discuss homeownership and how to make that happen – feel free to reach out.
Joseph Hudson is a Realtor with The Rutstein Group at Compass. Reach him at 703-587-0597 or [email protected] .
Republican lawmaker claims Texas school gunman was transgender
Republican Pa. governor nominee opposes LGBTQ rights
Gay man shot to death on NYC subway train
‘The Ellen DeGeneres Show’ signs off after 19 seasons
D.C. man sentenced to 7 months for attack against gay Asian man
Vandals target 2 Rehoboth Beach LGBTQ-owned businesses
‘Fire Island’ delivers pride, prejudice, and a whole lot more
Lesbian couple hopeful Md. law requires Christian school to enroll son
© Copyright Brown, Naff, Pitts Omnimedia, Inc. 2021. All rights reserved | Powered by Keynetik.