Thursday, October 19, 2017 / by Brittini Martinez
You’re buying a home and you need a mortgage. How do you choose the right lender—one that will offer not only the best deal, but also good customer service?
You’ll find no shortage of banks, online lenders, mortgage brokers and other players eager to take your loan application. Here are five tips for selecting the best mortgage lender out of the bunch.
Compare Offers and Lenders
Start getting familiar with various lenders and the deals they’re offering by browsing through mortgage rates. Lenders will “present price differently,” notes Robert Davis, an executive vice president at the American Bankers Association (ABA). “Some lower rates might include fees with it, so the annual percentage rate is different than what you might think.”
Also, understand that some lenders specialize. One might be a good choice if you’re financing a condo, while others might offer a better deal if you’re building your home from scratch. a ...
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dc, dc metro area, real estate, buying a home, mortgage, lenders
Friday, October 13, 2017 / by Brittini Martinez
15 Of Our Favorite Events In D.C. This Weekend
Friday the 13th—sure, some will be cranking Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition” and avoiding black cats and mirrors, but why do that when there’s so much going on this weekend? With a Swedish film screening, free opera in the park, and a dog-friendly rooftop party, it’s another busy weekend in the District.
Take an Argentine tango class at 18th Street Lounge. (Photo by Victoria Pickering)
FRIDAY, OCT. 13
TWO TO TANGO: Dive headfirst into the passion and romance of the Argentine tango at a dance lesson hosted by the International Club of D.C. Post-instruction, stick around for an authentic tango performance, then take the floor: All participants are invited to stay and enjoy 18th Street Lounge throughout the evening. (18th Street Lounge, 7 - 9 p.m., $16)
CARTOON NIGHT: Cartoonist Roz Chast has an impressive resume: Her work has been featured in The New York ...
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dc, dc metro area, community, dc events, fun in dc, halloween, october, what to do in dc
Monday, October 2, 2017 / by Brittini Martinez
What is going on in our Nations Capital this month?
Read below to find out!
Mini Golf at Penn Hill – Through Oct. 8Penn Hill Center hosts a mini-golf pop-up that will provide fun for the entire family. Each hole is individually designed and built by a local artist, which only increases the entertainment factor of the course. Once you are done competing, you can vote for your favorite hole, participate in lawn games and savor eats from local food trucks!12 – 7 p.m. | $3 per person or $10 for a group of fourShops at Penn Hill, 3200 Pennsylvania Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20020
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PUB Dread – Oct. 1-31From the same group that brought you the Game of Thrones pop-up bar and Miracle on Seventh Street comes PUB Dread, a spooky way to savor drinks this Halloween season. Different themed rooms, including a haunted forest, a crypt, a parlor filled with creepy dolls and a “Spacebar,” will make up this lavish hog ...
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dc, dc metro area, real estate, community, october, halloween, fun in dc, what to do in dc, dc events
Wednesday, September 27, 2017 / by Brittini Martinez
Designing your own home can be exciting, but it's a lot more work than buying an existing house. With so many moving pieces involved, knowing what works and what doesn't is key. Protect your home's long-term value by sidestepping these five avoidable pitfalls of building a new home.
1. Forgetting About Storage Space
From seasonal items to extra bedding, everything requires a temporary home when not in use. For that, you'll need plenty of storage space. Some simple solutions might include a few extra closets, a sizeable garage space or built-in cabinets and shelving.
2. Skimping on Materials
Anything worth doing is worth doing right, and new home construction is no exception. Even if you're watching your pennies, try not to scrimp on quality, especially when it comes to important things like flooring. The materials you choose can have a huge impact on your home's overall value.
3. Overlooking Energy Efficiency
For an energy-efficient home design, make sure to use earth- ane ...
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dc, dc metro area, real estate, community, dmv, building a house, new home
Monday, September 25, 2017 / by Brittini Martinez
Knowing there are plenty of important questions you need to ask potential contractors isn't a startling revelation to homeowners, but exactly which ones are crucial to the hiring process might be a bigger mystery. HomeAdvisor consulted contracting experts to create the ultimate list of questions that will help homeowners learn everything they need to know in order to confidently choose who will make their home improvement dreams come true.
#1 "How long have you been in this business?"
Contracting businesses that have been in operation for many years have certainly worked through a lot of the growing pains that many companies deal with in their fledgling years.
"Companies with experience have created systems and controls to ensure their work is on time, on budget and of the highest quality," said Ken Kelly, President of Kelly Roofing in Naples, Florida.
While this is certainly true, some consumers may opt to go with someone who has years of experience in the industry but is a relap ...
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dc, dc metro area, real estate, community, dmv
