Spring is around the corner, and many soon-to-be first-time home buyers are gearing up for the big home search. The first question many of these buyers often want to know is: How much can I afford? That all depends on several variables. The first few considerations include how much cash is paid up-front, the transaction cost, and how much the buyer can afford as a monthly … [Read more...] about How Much Can I Afford?
A Taste of Argentina with Viña Ventisquero Winemaker Felipe Tosso
Once an aspiring tennis pro and classical guitarist, Felipe Tosso eventually found his true creative calling at the Viña Ventisquero winery nestled in the coastal hills of Chile’s Maipo Valley. There he makes world-class wines from grapes cultivated along the slopes and valleys that lie with the winery’s vineyards in Maipo, Colchagua, Casablanca, and Leyda valleys. Felipe … [Read more...] about A Taste of Argentina with Viña Ventisquero Winemaker Felipe Tosso
Wine for Your Next Date Night
Georgia-born winemaker Suzanne Phifer Pavitt explained that she won’t tolerate bad food or bad wine, as my husband Chris Prawdzik and I sipped her excellent Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc over lunch at D.C.’s District Line. Growing up Baptist in rural Georgia, she appreciated the high quality of locally grown food from a young age. But wine? Not so much. Fortunately, as an … [Read more...] about Wine for Your Next Date Night
DC’s Hot Housing Market Unlikely to Boil Over
The D.C.-metro real estate market continues its recovery, having reached its highest September median sales price in six years, according to Real Estate Business Intelligence (RBI). Although the supply of houses for sale remains tight, listings increased 16.5 percent from this time last year, and homes averaged 17 days on market before going under contract this past … [Read more...] about DC’s Hot Housing Market Unlikely to Boil Over
A Winning Home Offer Need Not Waive the Inspection
With the market heating up and multiple offers increasing, many home buyers may be tempted to waive important contract contingencies, such as the inspection contingency, to make their offers more attractive. Don't do it. No matter how much you love a house, any investment that substantial demands the due diligence of a home inspection. And I'd be wary of any seller who asks a … [Read more...] about A Winning Home Offer Need Not Waive the Inspection
