The most expensive purchase that no one shops around for

The internet provides a fast and easy way to compare prices, financing options and product reviews but home buyers may not be exploring all options. In fact, nearly 50 percent of people fail to compare lenders before buying a home.

Take a tour of this $3.6M McLean mansion that has its own ballroom

Real estate porn alert! A $3,649,000 luxury home in McLean, complete with a 5,500-square-foot entertainment wing and an elaborate ballroom that can accommodate 200 guests, has just hit the market TODAY! Political leaders from around the world have been hos

Check out the view from this $2.1 million Bethesda home

This $2.1 million Bethesda home has gorgeous views of the Potomac

Surviving your first renovation in a new house

As soon as we signed on the dotted line and the Chic Villa was officially ours, I immediately wanted to put my stamp on the new house by putting holes in the walls. But I had no clue just how much work AND money goes into what seem like minor renovations. 

Live in an apartment designed by the same architects who revitalized Rockefeller Center

6 tips for finding the perfect real estate agent

After my experience with the D.C. housing market, here is some advice on how to choose a realtor and what to expect during the house hunt process.

Frank and Claire Underwood's "DC" brownstone is for sale and we got a peek inside

You can see Nats Park from these luxe maximalist apartments

An apartment where I can see Nats Park from my rooftop?? COUNT. ME. IN!

This modern gem is a block from the waterfront in historic Old Town Alexandria

It is quite rare to find a house that feels this modern, especially in a neighborhood as historic as Old Town Alexandria. Built in the 1970s and renovated in 2015/2016 this townhouse has only been owned by two families in nearly 50 years!

This new luxury apartment in NoMa is an industrial-chic lover's dream

Seriously, this place is such #apartmentgoals.

How to DIY an accent wall with just a hammer, nails and rope

With this simple rope feature wall, you will have your guests saying WOW from the moment they see it! Everyone will ask how to do it in their home. Plus the best part is it's affordable and incredibly easy to do.

We are gaga over this $2.25M Bethesda show stopper

European flair can be seen throughout this Bethesda home, from the Spanish cedar front door to the strong penchant for color, soaring ceilings and wide variety of natural materials and textures used.

How to create a memorable first night in your new home

Moving into a new place is exciting. Now imagine taking that excitement and multiplying it by 1000 -- maybe then you can understand how over the moon excited I was when my hubby and I closed on our very first home! Whenever I move into a new place, I alwa

We are smitten with this $3.3M New England-style estate in Alexandria

Tucked away in a neighborhood that used to play home to President Gerald Ford, this 5,600-square-foot house built in 1939 is a gorgeous blend of old house charm and and modern updates.

11 easy tips to help home buyers through the buying process

Buying your first home or any home is exciting, but it can also be confusing. Here are the steps of the process and special tips to make sure your experience is a positive one.1. ResearchThis part is a lot of fun. Figure out where you want to buy, then loo

Forget city life-- this $2.6M log cabin in Marshall is where it's at

Mt. Jett Farm is a 7,000-square-foot custom home sited on 118 acres in Marshall, VA at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Go treasure hunting this spring at the 5 best DMV flea markets

I love HGTV. Let me rephrase that: I’m addicted to HGTV! I keep hoping that the team from Love It or List It will redo my house. Alas, it doesn't seem imminently likely. But another show that I've reallygotten into lately is Flea Market Flip. If you h

This $5.8M mansion has all the amenities of a luxury resort

The decor and layout of this French Provincial mansion manages to straddle the line between old-world elegance (I mean look at the oak-paneled library) and modern day convenience -- that wine cellar though!

Peek inside an $11.5M mansion that's hosted some of the biggest names in entertainment

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live in a home often frequented by celebs? Well, the future lucky owner of an $11.5 million manse in the Massachusetts Avenue Heights' neighborhood will get to experience that feeling. The home of BET's CEO a

Take a peek inside this incredible local home renovation

Get inspired by Alexandria's home and garden tour

We can't get over the old-world glamour.

These facts about renting in the DMV may surprise you

If I had a dime for every time I had to tell you guys how expensive it is to live in D.C., well... it wouldn't be such a struggle to live here! Yes, we all know D.C. rents are expensive -- and don't even get me started on buying! Nationally, the median ren

10 Clever Ways to Decorate Easter Eggs

Every year, I buy the Easter egg dyeing kits at the grocery store and pop the little tablets into cups of water and vinegar for my kids. We have a great time turning white eggs into a rainbow of colors. Our fingers get stained various colors and we try dif

Update your digs with these (mostly) vintage treasures

It's spring cleaning time, so this is the perfect opportunity to upgrade your living space with something old. Check out these (mostly) vintage and antique home goods available in D.C.

Tour D.C.'s priciest penthouse condo at $9.9 million

Wardman Tower, once home to many iconic Washingtonians like Dwight D. Eisenhower, Lyndon B. Johnson, Herbert Hoover and actress Marlene Dietrich is undergoing a complete restoration by the JBG Companies and slated to be finished this summer. The historic n

4 home improvements that add major resale value

Which improvements will add the most value to your specific home will depend on a variety of factors including the value of your home, the value of the houses in your neighborhood, the performance of the housing market in your general area and the quality

Why Joining a Credit Union is Good for Your Wallet

If one of your goals for 2017 is to improve your financial situation, becoming a member of a credit union is a no-brainer! Here’s a breakdown of what they are and how they can help you keep your personal finances on point.What is a credit union?Credit unio

The 10 most expensive homes sold in 2016

From a Colonial built in the 1700s to a modern masterpiece built in 2009, we are giving you all the details on the biggest real estate sales in the DMV from 2016!

5 things you should do to avoid buying the wrong sofa

Choosing a new sofa is a big decision – it’s a large piece of furniture, you’ll probably sit on it daily, and its style will play a big part in defining the space it’s in. Here are a few tips to help you find one that makes you happy and serves you well fo

The jaw-dropping houses of McLean

Room & Board's 2017 collection is giving us house envy

Ivanka Trump will live two blocks from the Obama family in Kalorama

For Ivanka Trump and husband Jared Kushner, the search is over! Well, the housing search that is. Though it was reported in late November that President-Elect Donald Trump's wife and son, Melania and Barron Trump, would not be moving to D.C. later this mon

Of all the dope houses we saw in 2016, these are our favorite pics

8 easy tips for creating the perfect holiday tablescape

It's that time of year again where we find our homes filled to the brim with the people that matter most to us as we celebrate the holidays with loved ones. Wow your guests this year with a holiday table that will leave them singing songs of exaltation and

Here's how much the Griswold's lights would cost in the DMV

I don't know about you guys, but I learned everything I know about exterior illumination from Clark Griswold himself! 250 strands of lights, 100 individual bulbs per strand for a grand total of 25,000 imported Italian twinkle lights! (Sadly I didn't even n

Culinary Cardeology: 3 local artists making food-themed greeting cards

Are you a gourmand who loves to correspond? Three local artists are cooking up Michelin star worthy greeting cards that look delicious enough to eat.Marcella Kriebel Kriebel picked watercolor as her art form of choice for a practical reason: its portabilit

The condos in this 119-year-old church are divine down to the details

9 easy tips for setting the perfect Thanksgiving table

We are less than a week out from Thanksgiving, so hopefully if you're hosting this year you have your menu planning done and know exactly which relatives not to sit near each other. But what about table decor? Lucky for you, if you've procrastinated we hav

Peek inside the 1870s rowhouse that was the site of the film "Heartburn"

Do you remember the 1986 classic film adaptation of Nora Ephron's Heartburn? Oh vey this film tugged at my heartstrings! While in the movie Rachel (Meryl Streep) and Mark (Jack Nicholson) purchase a home in Georgetown (which they renovate shortly after hav

House of the Week: Luxury living in Shepherd Park

Imagine waking up in your master suite and stepping out onto one of your three terraces, cup of coffee in hand. You look out on the quiet street and think to yourself, “I’m home.”This new home, built by H2 Design Build, could be yours. Located in beautiful

Foxhall neighborhood has some of the most gorgeous Tudor Revival architecture

Did you know you can buy a castle in Virginia for $2.2M?

This 115-year-old, $2.5M Bethesda home has only ever had two owners

The Tait-Trussell House at 4900 Western Ave. in Bethesda is one of Washington’s most grand and historically significant residences. Lovingly and thoughtfully maintained and updated over the decades, this six-bedroom, five-bath home offers its third-ever ow

The 770-foot street fighting for historical status

Our four favorite DIY pumpkin projects found on Pinterest

Say goodbye to messy pumpkin carving and say hello to beautifully decorated no-mess pumpkins! We scoured through the thousands of DIY crafts on Pinterest to find our four favorite pumpkin designs, and here is what we picked: Gold and Neon No-Carve Pumpkins

What $10 million will get you in Georgetown real estate

When you think of Georgetown homes, what comes to mind? Classic, upscale, historical? Maybe you picture former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy's house built in 1794. You probably don't think of it as a hotbed for modernity. But there is currently a listing o

What happens when 26 designers come together to decorate one house

How to create the perfect at-home bar, from accessories to drinks

Creating the perfect at-home bar doesn’t have to be a challenge when you infuse it with your own flair and the right amount of booze to get the party going.When buying a stand-alone bar, D.C. interior designer Josh Hildreth advises sticking to your style a

9 simple tips to turn your bathroom into an at-home spa

Lets face it -- we all love heading to the spa and indulging every once in awhile. Besides the amazing treatments, there is something about the calming feeling the interior and the heavenly scents that fill the air that add to the relaxation. Here are a fe

Take a tour of the Obamas' future neighborhood of Kalorama

Take a look inside a $13.9 million penthouse in Georgetown

Because we never get tired of gorgeous, luxury homes ... today we bring you a four-bedroom, seven-bathroom, 6,100-square-foot penthouse with sweeping 270-degree views of the Potomac River. This masterful composition of custom-finished interiors spans two l

Former Airbnb "celebrity mansion" on market for $4.5 million

If it has ever been your goal in life to live in a party mansion, and you have an extra $4.5 million laying around, boy do we have an opportunity for you! This former Airbnb property was shut down after police responded to noise complaints at the house mor

How to create a boutique hotel vibe in your guest room

Admit it, we've all gotten that last-minute call from a friend or relative asking if they can crash at our pad. Sure, you want to say yes, but is your guest room really guest ready? If you follow these simple tips, we'll have your house guests thinking the

How many square feet does $1,500 get you in D.C.?

We hate to be the bearer of bad news but…yet another study has come out proving just how expensive rent prices are in Washington, D.C.Rent Cafe looked at how many square feet a renter can get with a budget of $1500 dollars a month in the 30 most populous U

This nearly $16M house is no longer the most expensive on the market

UPDATE: A price drop has brought this house down to $15,950,000, and it is no longer the most expensive home on the market in the DMV. A $22 million house at 3030 Chain Bridge Road NW has replaced it. Have you ever sat down and wondered, what would $18 mil

This 7,000-square-foot townhome with a stunning view could be yours for $3.3 million

This 4 bed/6 bath, 7,000-square-foot townhome comes with a stunning view of the National Cathedral in your backyard, countless green-energy efficient features and old-world charm in the architecture from the gourmet kitchen to the bedroom suites.

A new way to create unique family heirlooms, through plants

Gram loved her Irises. One day, when you have a house of your own, I will give you some of these bulbs, explained my mother, as she snipped stems from the small flowerbed in the front yard. Still living in my city condo, I wait for the day they will live o

Creighton Farms -- the neighborhood where you'll perpetually feel like you're vacationing

Imagine waking up to a view of a Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course. After pouring yourself a cup of coffee in your gourmet kitchen, you take in the scenery of the Audubon sanctuary from your all-season sunroom. A short stroll leads you to a comfortable a

Take a tour of the eight bedroom house the Obamas bought in Kalorama

Barack and Michelle Obama have bought the home they've been renting in the Kalorama neighborhood since the former president left office. The Washington Post reports the Obamas bought the eight-bedroom, 9 1/2-bath mansion for $8.1 million. They were previou

5 tips to turn your tiny outdoor space into a true city oasis

City living comes with plenty of perks -- endless events and activities, fantastic dining options, easy access to public transportation and the teeny, tiniest yard to call your own. Wait ... no ... not that.Whether it's a small balcony, a coveted front po

Designer Cynthia Rowley launches new furniture line

Award-winning designer and style icon Cynthia Rowley has taken her artistic abilities in a new direction. Rowley has launched a new furniture line, which will be sold exclusively at Belfort Furniture.On Saturday, May 7 at Belfort Furniture in Sterling, Va

Can't keep a plant alive to save your life? Try succulents.

Sure, gardening sounds like a fun hobby to list on your work bio or dating apps, but in reality most of us have neither the space nor time to become true green thumbs. Let's face it, city living (in the pressure cooker that is D.C.) isn't exactly conducive

The real houses of river road

7 small space hacks to make your tiny D.C. apartment seem huge

If you live in the D.C. area you know that you pay a lot of money for very little square footage. The average price per square foot for a home in Washington, D.C. is $455, according to Trulia.com.With that said, many of us are learning to do a lot with a l

The perfect local gifts to bring the host with the most

Never show up empty handed. My mother's words ring clearly in my head each time I accept an invitation. Whether it be a housewarming party or a Fourth of July bash, if you've invited me to your home, you'll be getting a token of my appreciation. Wine and f

Staying sane planning an at-home wedding ... as the MIL

When my son Scott asked me if he could have his wedding at my house, I was thrilled. Then I thought ... a hundred people, moving furniture, pulling up rugs. The fear quickly set in -- all I could think of was Father of the Bride.Scott and his fiancée Sama

Quiz: Where should you live based on your personality?

Admit it, Buzzfeed quizzes are addicting! Who hasn't got sucked into one ... or five ... What Friends Character Are You quiz at some point or another.So in honor of our launch day, check out our first #DCRefinedQuiz and learn where in the DMV your personal

Styling the perfect coffee table for spring

I don't know about you, but come Spring I get a serious itch to makeover everything in my life. My decidedly non-bikini body, my wardrobe, my apartment -- you name it, I want to change it. But total overhaul isn't always practical, particularity in the cas

The weirdest and coolest finds at the Georgetown Flea Market

Antiques, costume jewelry and the odd taxidermy bird.