Developer Gets 60 Days in Jail Plus $35,000 in Fines

Thanks to Mari of InShaw.com we found a report of a local developer has been sentenced to two consecutive 30 day sentences for "one count of False Statements in a Condominium Registration Application and one count of Failure to Post a Bond or Letter of Credit for 45 R Street NW."

The developer of the aforementioned row home is not only the owner but related to a local real estate agent with Fairfax Realty out of Falls Church, VA. Mudasir Khan's conversion took place in 2005-2006 and was converted into a two unit building, the top unit selling for $499k and the bottom for $411k in April and March of 2006, respectively. Thank god DCRA requires a two year letter of credit for situations such as this but I cannot say what a shame it is that the owners have to deal with the problems now.

I ran a search on the MLS for every property that Amir Khan, the relative/agent has conducted a listing on and there four more conversions for which he was the listing agent for the whole building as well as over five to ten single family homes where it states on MLS that the agent is related to the owner. (You fill in the pieces here)

The condo building addresses are:
2721 13th St NW
1621 E Se NE
1637 A St NE
611 Quincy St NW

If you or anyone else you know lives at or near these buildings I would have them check their bond documentation in their condo docs. If you don't know what to look for, email me.

5 Lousy Excuses for Not Buying a Home

Thanks to Leila Search for contributing this article...

Hard-core renters can come up with all kinds of reasons to avoid real-estate purchases. Here are some of the usual stories -- and why they just don't wash.

By Colleen DeBaise, SmartMoney

A good chunk of the U.S. population refuses to give up renting. We're not sure how many renters are stubborn holdouts because the U.S. census doesn't measure in terms of obstinacy, although we do know that the majority of Americans -- about 69% -- own their own homes.

For many, the American dream is simply out of reach for financial reasons. But for others, it's not the money, it's the . . . well, we've come up with five reasons why people don't want to buy real estate.

Perhaps you've used these excuses yourself or know a colleague, family member or friend who has. We've enlisted the aid of experts -- Stacy Francis and Nancy Flint-Budde, certified financial planners in New York City and Salem, N.Y., respectively, and Mark Schussel, a spokesman for the Chubb Group of Insurance Cos. in Warren, N.J. -- to counter these excuses and knock some sense into the real-estate-challenged.

Excuse No. 1: "Everyone is way too insane about real estate."

Count this as the "protest" renter -- the person who perpetually rents, who thinks he's too cool for school and doesn't want to be one of those people who talks about renovation projects at a cocktail party. (The true "protest" renter also protests cocktail parties.) Such people might also fear growing up, becoming their parents, owning guest towels, etc.

Counter: Well, owning your own home is indeed a responsibility, and if you're not ready for it, then don't do it. Of course, you'll miss out on nice tax breaks for mortgage interest and property taxes, which make owning a compelling proposition for many. Not to mention, you're not exactly building equity when you split the rent with the roomies (but hey, it does help with the cable bill).

"I look at renting as writing a check and throwing it out in the garbage," says Francis, who often advises clients on buying apartments in Manhattan. For many people, buying a home is their first crack at building their net worth over the long term, she says. The traditional way to ease into homeownership is to buy something like a condominium or town house, so your weekends aren't spent at the home-improvement store picking up weed whackers.

But be careful: You might feel like a real adult once you own. "You are no longer at the whims of your landlord to raise your rent or sell your building," Francis says. "It really gives you stability."

Excuse No. 2: "Renting is a good deal."

Truth be told, there is some logic to that. After all, if something breaks in your rental apartment, you just call your landlord. You don't spend money on pricey renovations. Heck, you don't have to pay property taxes. And if you've got enough money for a down payment, why dump that cash into an expensive home when you could use it to buy something like stocks instead?

Counter: Many people consider their home an investment. "We call it a use asset," says Flint-Budde. "It's an asset that you own, and you hope it will appreciate, but you are using it along the way."

That means even if your home doesn't appreciate as much as your favorite stock or exchange-traded fund, you still gain because it doubles (hopefully) as a nice place to live. Homes historically appreciate over time, so if you are able to hold on to your abode for a minimum of five years, you'll likely see a significant increase in value, Flint-Budde says. In its latest report, the National Association of Realtors, or NAR, said typical sellers are still experiencing healthy gains on the value of their homes over the past five years, even in areas where prices have fallen recently. The group estimates that the median five-year price gain is 41.8%.

Would you still rather build your securities portfolio than buy a house? "If you have to turn around and pay $1,000 a month to rent somewhere, you may have less available to put into stocks," Flint-Budde points out. "And at the end of the day, if you put some into stocks and some into real estate, you would have diversified your portfolio more."

Oh, and for those averse to paying taxes? Don't fool yourself. Even renters pay property taxes. That's often what most of your rent check goes to pay, and your landlord -- not you -- gets the tax deduction.

Excuse No. 3: "Buy a house on my own? Then I'll really never get married. What do I do next -- buy a cat?"

OK, so we hear this one a lot from women. Well, interestingly enough, research has found that single women are leaping into real estate. In 2006, they accounted for 21% of homebuyers, up from 14% in 1995, and well ahead of single men, who made up only 9%, according to NAR research. Yet many women confess they are hesitant to buy a home on their own. Shouldn't they be waiting for Mr. Wonderful to come along and sweep them off their feet?

Counter: Tsk, tsk, says Francis, who hosts "Savvy Ladies" seminars to counsel women on personal-finance decisions. She's heard this excuse hundreds of times from female clients. "I call it the Prince Charming syndrome," she says. "They put their life on hold until they find that Prince Charming. What it really comes down to is that women are just as capable as men at doing things on their own and starting to live their life for now."

One thing Francis reminds women, regardless of their marital status, is that they're more apt to live longer and need more money in retirement. A home is a perfect way to begin building wealth, she says. Women in general are hesitant when it comes to not only buying a home but investing, looking for a new job or asking for a raise. Accept that you are not going to be comfortable with the process, but do what you can to prepare for it, such as reading books on real estate, or doing research on the Internet, Francis says. Buying a home is a smart decision in many ways.

"Women who have actually purchased homes tend to have more equitable relationships," she says. "They are choosier and decide to be with men who they want to be with for emotional reasons, not financial reasons."

Excuse No. 4: "I'm afraid of commitment."

Funny, we hear this excuse more from men. But seriously, there are some meaty issues here. Many people aren't sure they want to commit to a certain city, especially if they are building a career and possibly switching jobs. And despite the fact that we're a nation of debtors, some people perish the thought of taking on an enormous mortgage. Others are worried about the possibility of outgrowing their home, perhaps because they're considering starting a family or having more children.

Counter: As excuses go, this one isn't bad. Most experts recommend that you stay in your house at least three to five years, to recoup costs associated with closing and to see an increase in the home's value. Plus, you need time to weather the ups and downs, such as shifts in interest rates that can quickly turn a healthy seller's market into one where the buyer calls the shots.

In addition, from a tax perspective, you need to own your home for at least one year to qualify for the 15% capital-gains tax rate on profits; own it for more than two years and there's no tax on the proceeds from a sale (up to $250,000 for singles, and $500,000 for married couples). Flint-Budde says she tells clients, especially first-time homebuyers, to purchase a home only if they plan to live there at least five years.

Research has shown that homebuyers put thousands of dollars on credit cards upon moving into a home "because they need so many things -- they never needed a garden hose before," she says. "There are some real cost issues with moving into a house."

Francis says she tells clients to put buying on hold "if you've had some traumatic thing happen in your life -- maybe it's the loss of a spouse or a divorce, or a job change," she says. "Sometimes it's good to just sit for a few months so when you do go out there and purchase a home, it suits your needs."

Francis also recommends that homebuyers have enough for a 25% down payment and a stable job. If you don't, then "it may not be the time," she says.

Excuse No. 5: "I'm worried about disaster striking."

No doubt about it -- this is a valid concern. In recent years, a Category 5 hurricane, a terrorist attack and a documentary about the certainties of global warming have struck fear in the hearts of many potential homebuyers. But should it stop you from buying a home?

Counter: Nope. Historically speaking, property values bounce back, especially if the disaster happens in a desirable area. Real estate in Manhattan, for instance, has soared in value since the 2001 terrorist attacks. Despite mudslides, earthquakes and smog, property along the California coast is still the most sought-after in the country. What to do if you're really worried? Before you buy, call in a loss-prevention specialist, who can analyze a home's design and construction to see how likely it could survive a catastrophe, Chubb's Schussel says.

Then, if you really want peace of mind, beef up your insurance. For starters, people who are investing in expensive homes in vulnerable areas should make sure their policies include guaranteed-replacement-cost coverage, which would protect you during rebuilding if the prices of labor and material surged, Schussel says. Make sure your policy covers debris removal, rebuilding to code and additional living-expense coverage, in case it could take you months or even more than a year to rebuild, he adds. There's a good chance you might not want to rebuild if disaster strikes, so check to see if your policy provides an optional cash settlement so you can decide whether you're "taking the money and running," he says.

In places where flooding is a concern, many homeowners get basic coverage through the National Flood Insurance Program. Upscale customers may want to buy additional flood coverage (offered by private insurers) to supplement that, he says.

Conclusion:

We like real estate. If you've got enough for a down payment and have a stable job, and you're in an area you'll be comfortable living in for years to come, we can't figure out why you don't.

Low Income Housing with European Finishes. Too Good to Be True? Maybe not!

A gentlemen, whom I'll call RG, was referred to me through another developer client of mine, Stu Kushner to whom I owe MANY thanks. Stu and I have been working together for about six months and have had much success on our first project together at Maricor Gardens Condominiums. Apparently, after our first meeting RG has several 12-15 unit buildings in NE DC that he is looking to develop. Talk about a wonderful opportunity! RG is looking to have a team represent him in the listing of the units, but that's not all, he is looking for a team to help him develop, manage, oversee and design the entire development himself. Having worked with many developers before I couldn't help but offer my team's services to him and guess what, he accepted. After our last meeting this past Friday he is basically turning over the entire project to me! From design, to co-branding with Eagle Bank and a chair member and owner of Paramount Title, Ben Soto, for financing and title work, to project management under the possible direction of the infamous Jim Delgado, of Delgado Home Inspections (and one of my closest and most respected business associates) as well as staging and interior design by Melanie Moses, we might just have a winning project!!!!

What's that you say? The condo market is going soft?

Well, I can't argue that the market has slowed down a bit but soft, not so much. At least not with differentiation. Can you imagine a new generation of luxury-esque 1 bedroom condos for under $222k. How is this possible you ask? Well, here's my proposal....

ABOVE ALL ELSE, CONSTRUCTION COSTS MUST REMAIN UNDER $100/sq ft.

In one of RG's buildings there are 14-one bedroom units. Now, I'm sure anyone searching heavily for a new condo has seen the run-of-the-mill unit, granite counter tops, cherry cabinets, ceramic floor in the bathroom, stainless appliances, hardwood floors, neutral painted drywall, etc. Am I wrong yet? Well, quite frankly, I'm sick of seeing them. I want something different. The client wants something different. We need to differentiate ourselves from the competition. So imagine this....you walk into your unit, as you open the door to your right you glance over to the left wall and see an in-wall stereo running to speakers located in the ceilings of each room in your house. You look down, what's that 6" x 6" niche cut out in the wall below the stereo...well...it's the first generation of a fully integrated ipod dock linked directly to your entire house. YES, that's right, FULLY INTEGRATED. Not bad eh? Well as you take your eyes off the stereo you look to the right and see a completely exposed brick wall. Not just any brick wall, but a brick wall painted with thick white lacquer, helping to brighten the unit but guess what's hanging in the center of the wall...Your very own 42" plasma TV. Still not good enough? So you walk across your light colored bamboo flooring to the kitchen in the far left corner of the unit and look around. What's on the floor? It's a new generation of flooring, deep amber colored stone filled in with tan grout? The texture is perfect and smooth enough to walk around bare-foot. As you look up you notice the white lacquer cabinets complemented by the brushed steel accents. The counter is a deep black silestone and the appliances are all stainless steel.

Back to the imagination....picture yourself 24 years old, ready to buy your first home. What would you want to bring your friends home to? I see it too! Pretty cool eh?

Update coming soon!'