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Real Estate & Homes in Washington DC - Washington DC homes and communities
Washington, D.C.
 
Washington Overview
George Washington chose the location for the city that bears his name — and serves as the long-standing seat of government for the United States. A federally mandated district, not part of any state, Washington, D.C., has grown with the nation for more than 200 years. Today it is widely celebrated as one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world.
From its majestic monuments to its grand museums, the nation’s capital harbors a treasure chest of historic and cultural wealth. Beyond its well-known vistas, it is a vibrantly eclectic place to live, with residents who hail from the nation’s 50 states and many of the world’s nearly 200 countries. The 68-square-mile city is home to more than a half million people, with another 5 million living in the Washington suburbs of Virginia and Maryland.
President Kennedy called Washington “a city of Northern efficiency and Southern charm,” and its masterful blending of North and South is no coincidence. In 1785, when Congress voted to establish a permanent Federal Town, Northern lawmakers wanted the capital in the North. Southerners wanted it in the South. A deal was struck to locate the capital on the banks of the Potomac River.
The classic plan for the city was intricately created by French engineer Pierre L'Enfant. The District of Columbia is divided into four quadrants, directly along the four compass directions: Northwest, Southeast, Northeast and Southeast. All four meet at the U.S. Capitol building. Numbered streets travel north and south, and lettered streets go east and west. Avenues cross the grid on angles and are named after the states.
 
Unlike most large cities in America, Washington has a skyscraper-free landscape, thanks to a 1910 act of Congress preventing commercial constructions from overshadowing the city’s monuments. Clean sight lines and expansive green vistas create a feeling of openness and uniquely American inspiration.
Getting around town is easy. The district’s integrated Metrobus and Metrorail system provides safe and speedy access to most areas of the city. Washington is also serviced by three major airports: Reagan National, Dulles International and Baltimore/Washington International. Union Station provides the central access for Amtrak, and several bus lines offer access terminals.
Along the National Mall, Tourmobile and Historic Trolley lines travel regularly to points of interest. The city’s taxi system operates on a zone rather than a metered system, making taxis a reasonably priced option for city travel. With its grid pattern and relatively flat streets, Washington is also ideally suited for travel by foot.
 
Washington, D.C., Fast Facts
Location: Washington, D.C., is located near the middle of the eastern U.S. coast, between Virginia and Maryland on the Potomac River.
*Total area: 68.34 square miles
*Population: 572,059
*Housing units: 274,845
*Average density: 4,476 per square mile
*Per capita personal income: $40,539 (second highest in the United States)
*Taxes: Sales tax: 5.75%; beverage tax: 10%; hotel and accommodation tax: 14.5%, including the 5.75% sales tax
Average annual rainfall: 39.4 inches
Average temperatures: 78°F in summer, 36°F in winter
*Information provided by 2000 Census
 
Community
From its bustling commercial centers to its ethnic and working-class enclaves, the district is a global melting pot of culture, traditions and diverse points of view. Its vibrant smorgasbord of neighborhoods — 120 of them — each has a rich history and distinct personality.
Capitol Hill — site of such landmarks as the Capitol building, the Supreme Court, the Library of Congress, the Folger Shakespeare Library, Union Station and the U.S. Botanic Garden — offers an air of stately dignity. Its restored row houses are home to many elected officials, congressional staffers, lobbyists and journalists.
The Chinatown neighborhood, part of Downtown D.C., is marked by the Friendship Arch — the world’s largest single-span Chinese arch — and a colorful selection of Asian shops, restaurants and grocery stores. It is also home to the city’s new MCI Center, a huge entertainment and sports complex. Right around the corner is the Washington Convention Center. Covering six city blocks, it’s the district’s largest building.
West of the White House, the Foggy Bottom neighborhood has the feel of global power, thanks to its World Bank and State Department residents. It’s also home to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, George Washington University and the infamous Watergate.
North of Foggy Bottom is the historic community of Georgetown, once a thriving tobacco port. Today it is best known for its chic boutiques, upscale bistros and nightclubs, rows of Georgian and Victorian townhouses, and resident celebrities.
North of Georgetown is Foxhall Village. With its Tudor homes, neatly manicured streets and numerous gardens, the neighborhood has the feel of a small European town.
Further north are the quiet, largely residential neighborhoods of Glover Park, near the Washington National Cathedral, and Cleveland Park/Woodley Park, in the area surrounding the National Zoo.
East of Georgetown is Dupont Circle, featuring historic homes, bookstores, art galleries, theaters, and a bevy of exceptional restaurants and funky nightspots. At the circle itself, three of the district’s major avenues — New Hampshire, Connecticut and Massachusetts — converge, making the circle a popular spot for people gatherings.
Just west of Dupont Circle is Embassy Row, home to most of the city’s 150 international embassies. Many are housed in grand Beaux-Arts mansions of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
A little further north is Adams-Morgan, a patchwork of new immigrants, young professionals, artists and intellectuals. The ultra-trendy neighborhood is hailed for its outdoor murals, offbeat boutiques, hip nightclubs and excellent ethnic restaurants.
East of Adams-Morgan, Columbia Heights, once a troubled neighborhood, is experiencing a rapid resurgence, with a new Metro station, revitalized retail development and restoration of its many huge, beautiful homes. The Shaw/Uptown area, where musical great Duke Ellington once lived, yields a rich cultural history. Its schools, theaters and business are also enjoying an urban renaissance.
The northeast Washington neighborhood of Brookland serves up a lively diversity of residential architecture, along with the largest concentration of Catholic institutions outside the Vatican.
In southeast Washington, the historic African-American neighborhood of Anacostia dates back to John Smith’s arrival in the New World in 1607. Today, it retains its late 19th-century architecture and working-class character.
Washington’s Southwest/Waterfront, first settled in the late 17th century, was included in the original city design by Pierre L'Enfant. Washington’s oldest block of townhouses, Wheat Row, still houses residents today. Southwest is home to L’Enfant Plaza and Tony-award-winning Arena Stage. The area’s scenic waterfront features a charming array of piers, fishing boats, sailboats, houseboats, yachts, seafood markets and restaurants.
 
Attractions
For residents and visitors alike, Washington, D.C., has so much to do and see — and most of it is free!
The majestic U.S. Capitol building, one of the most inspiring icons in the world, stands at the center of it all, offering unobstructed views of the capital city’s most famous sites. Leading up to the Capitol is America’s “town green,” the National Mall. Over the years, the Mall has been the stage for hundreds of gatherings of remembrance and celebration, rally and protest. It’s the setting for four presidential monuments; three war memorials; and the many offerings of the Smithsonian Institution, the largest cluster of museums in the world.
Tour the city’s standout historic landmarks, where much of the business of state is conducted: the White House, the Capitol, the Senate and House office buildings, the State Department, and the U.S. Supreme Court.
 
See America’s most treasured national documents — the Constitution, the Bill of Rights and the Declaration of Independence — at the National Archives.
Visit an array of memorials commemorating our nation’s leaders and major historical events, from the Washington Monument and the Lincoln, Jefferson and Roosevelt memorials to the World War II, Korean War and Vietnam memorials.
 
Take a giant step back in time at the Museum of Natural History, featuring vast dinosaur and anthropology exhibits, along with the 45-carat Hope Diamond.
At the National Museum of American History, you’ll find a diverse collection of American artifacts that uniquely portray the country’s history, from presidential memorabilia to cultural icons like Archie Bunker’s favorite chair and Dorothy’s ruby red slippers.
Watch real money being made at America’s “money factory,” the Bureau of Engraving and Printing.
Marvel at the wonders of the Air & Space Museum, the most visited museum in the world. You’ll see dozens of aircraft here, from the Wright Brothers’ Flyer and Charles Lindbergh’s Spirit of St. Louis to World War II fighters and Apollo spaceships.
 
Stargaze at the Albert Einstein Planetarium or the Rock Creek Park Planetarium. Take in the wonders of the National Aquarium, the world’s oldest, with more than 200 species of salt and freshwater marine life.
Discover more wonders of the sky, earth and ocean at the National Geographic Society’s Explorers Hall, featuring the one-of-a-kind tornado stimulator, along with a “time machine.”
Stroll the 163 acres of the National Zoo, home to 5,800 animals, including its most famous residents, giant pandas Mei Xiang and Tian Tian.
 
Tour the Federal Bureau of Investigation and find out how, for nearly 100 years, the FBI has tracked the nation’s most-wanted criminals. Go undercover at the International Spy Museum, featuring an array of interactive exhibits and spy artifacts.
Browse the shops of the Pavilion at the Old Post Office, once the country’s main post office. Take a ride to the top of its 315-foot clock tower for one of the most spectacular views of the city.
Visit the beautifully restored Union Station, featuring a 90-foot-high vaulted ceiling, elegant marble floors, an international food court and more than 100 specialty shops.
Pick up fresh produce at Eastern Market on Capital Hill, the oldest working market in the city.
Take a walking tour of Washington’s historic house museums, from the humble home of abolitionist Frederick Douglass to the sprawling 40-room Georgian mansion of cereal heiress Marjorie Merriweather Post. Experience the elegant Woodrow Wilson House, now a museum owned by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Or visit the Old Stone House in the heart of bustling Georgetown. Built in 1765, it’s believed to be the oldest building in Washington.
Explore an array of exotic day and night bloomers at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, or the multihued foliage of the 444-acre U.S. National Arboretum. Take in the beautifully landscaped gardens of Dumbarton Oaks in Georgetown.
Enjoy a sunset stroll on Georgetown’s Washington Harbour, offering world-class shopping and expansive views of the Potomac River.
Tour one of the city’s beautiful historical churches. Explore the curving walkways, flying buttresses and crypts of the Washington National Cathedral. An architectural masterpiece, this Gothic structure is the sixth largest cathedral in the world and the site of nationally significant memorial services. Visit the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, a Romanesque-Byzantine structure and the largest Roman Catholic church in the Western Hemisphere. The century-old Franciscan Monastery features full-scale replicas of Holy Land shrines, a replica of the Roman catacombs and a spectacular hillside garden.
 
If books are your passion, pull up a chair at the Library of Congress. It houses the world’s largest collection of books and 100 million items, including a Gutenberg Bible and first drafts of the Declaration of Independence and Lincoln’s Gettysburg address. For a collection of rare books and paintings, browse the Folger Shakespeare Library — also a popular venue for plays, concerts and literary events.
For a contemplative journey, take a tour of the Congressional Cemetery, the oldest national cemetery in the country. The 30-acre site holds the gravesites of congressional members, Lincoln-assassination conspirators, and national notables like FBI director J. Edgar Hoover and patriotic composer John Philip Sousa. Or visit the tiny but historically significant Battleground National Cemetery. The cemetery was dedicated in 1864 by President Lincoln, after the two-day Civil War battle that saved Washington from invasion.
 
Recreation and Leisure
Beyond its cultural and historical grandeur, Washington and its surroundings serve up limitless opportunities for fun and recreation.
Stroll the Mall, and while you’re there, fly a kite, toss a Frisbee or join in a game of touch football.
For an exceptional view of the Jefferson Memorial, ride a paddleboat on the Tidal Basin — preferably in the spring, when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom. Or take in the city’s sights in a guided kayak tour, by sunlight or sunset.
Fish on the Potomac River for freshwater treasures like bass, perch and shad. Enjoy the historic C&O Canal by canoe or rowboat, or take a dinner cruise on one of the city’s full-service cruise ships.
Picnic at Hains Point, a popular riverside park. Watch the planes take off from Reagan National Airport, across the river.
Ride a horse through the nearly 1,800 acres of Rock Creek Park, a secluded wooded sanctuary often called the “gem of Washington.“
Run your dog through the trails and streams of Battery Kemble Park, a 57-acre off-leash park and the site of a Civil War battery.
Bike on the Capital Crescent Trail, a lovely 11-mile trail that runs through northwest Washington.
Catch a round of golf at one of the city’s three public courses. Play tennis at one of the 24 courts of East Potomac Park.
Join the Washington Area Roadskaters for a whirl through the downtown monuments. Or, on those icy D.C. nights, glide on the Pershing Park Ice Rink, just four blocks from the White House.
If spectator sports is your passion, you have all you’ll ever need at the MCI Center. The 20,000-seat stadium is the home of NBA’s Wizards, NHL’s Washington Capitals, WNBA’s Mystics and the Georgetown Hoyas. It also offers shows, concerts and entertainment.
Washington’s beloved football team, the Washington Redskins — three-time winners of the Superbowl — play at FedExField in nearby Landover, Md. The 80,000-seat stadium is the largest outdoor facility in the NFL.
  
The Arts
Washington is home to a seemingly endless array of visual art exhibits. The Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden offers impressive special exhibits and a spectacular sculpture garden. The Arthur M. Sackler Gallery and the Freer Gallery of Art feature Asian art, while the National Museum of African Art showcases the crafts and artwork of sub-Saharan Africa.
For visual profiles of distinguished Americans, from presidents to sport greats and Hollywood legends, stop by the National Portrait Gallery. The National Museum of American Art is also an inspiring destination, with more than 26,000 paintings, sculptures, drawings and prints.
At the National Gallery of Art, you’ll find a world-famous collection of European and American masterpieces. The East Building, designed by I.M. Pei, displays modern art works by such greats as Picasso and Matisse. The West Building has a collection of paintings and sculptures from the 13th to 19th centuries, and houses the only painting by Leonardo da Vinci in the Western hemisphere.
You won’t want to miss the Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington’s largest private museum of art with more than 14,000 works, from Hudson River School painters to French impressionists. The Phillips Collection, housed in a 19th-century Dupont Circle mansion, offers an array of 19th- and 20th-century American and European paintings, including works by such notables as Degas, Renoir, Van Gogh and Cezanne.
For a unique artistic experience, check out the Renwick Gallery. From Shaker furniture to handwoven rugs, the museum is a tribute to America’s finest craftsmanship. At the Textile Museum, you’ll find a 14,000-piece collection of textiles and handmade carpets from around the world, some 5,000 years old. For a rare look at glass and ceramic art, visit the Maurine Littleton Gallery, one of the world’s top fine art glass galleries.
If you’re a fan of the performing arts, you’ll have no shortage of options. Theater seats in Washington are outnumbered only by New York City. Venues such as the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, National Theatre and Ford's Theatre feature nationally touring plays and world-class live performances. Many smaller theater companies also offer a wide selection of plays and performances.
The Washington Opera and Washington National Symphony are in residence, and the Washington Ballet, considered one of the nation’s finest ballet companies, presents a full season each year at the Kennedy Center and the historic Warner Theatre. For four decades, its performance of Tchaikovsky’s "Nutcracker" has been a treasured holiday tradition in the nation’s capital.
If it’s movies you like, you’ll find an array of cinemas showing mainstream and alternative works. The International Film Festival, Filmfest DC is held every year at theaters throughout the city, offering up the best in international cinema.
If jazz is your passion, check out the Bohemian Caverns jazz club, once the scene of sizzling performances from Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong. Or pull up a seat at Blues Alley in Georgetown, heralded by The New York Times as “the nation’s finest jazz and supper club.”
 
Dining
From casual cuisine to the finest fare, Washington, D.C., offers more than 1,400 restaurants. For its vast variety and quality selections, it is considered one of the top cities in the world for dining.
Walk the streets of the city, and you’ll have no trouble finding exactly the restaurant that suits your taste, from trendy eateries to elegant, centuries-old landmarks. Virtually every ethnicity is represented on the Washington restaurant menu — from Chinese to Thai, French to Greek, Mexican to Middle Eastern — along with American steakhouses and seafood restaurants. Waterfront spots in Georgetown and Southwest are perfect for dining with a view.
Each year in Washington, over the Memorial Day weekend, a variety of Washington restaurants move their dining rooms onto Pennsylvania and Freedom Plaza for the Taste of Washington. More than a million guests sample the best of the city’s rich culinary heritage.
Another favorite eating event is the annual National Capital Barbecue Battle. Spanning several blocks of Pennsylvania Avenue, the early summer attraction features celebrity chefs, cooking demonstrations, and restaurant competitions. Later in the summer, the city celebrates National Restaurant Week. More than 100 top D.C. restaurants participate in the weeklong extravaganza, offering Washingtonians and visitors alike the opportunity to sample expensive fare at bargain prices.
 
Housing
The Washington, D.C., real estate market has been “white-hot” for several years running. From historical to new properties, homes are selling fast. Activity is fueled by low interest rates and the rebuilding of several areas of the nation’s capital, from the U Street Corridor in Northwest to Anacostia in Southeast. Homes, condominiums and cooperatives — typically priced between $300,000 and $1 million — are not on the market for long.
From row houses to grand Victorian brownstones, one-bedroom condos to large, single-family homes of varying architectural styles, there’s something for everyone in the nation’s capital. The district enjoys a home ownership rate of 43 percent.
 
Employment
With its national and international reach, Washington offers a diverse array of professions in the public, private and nonprofit arenas.
The federal government is the city’s largest employer and a major economic influence in the city and around the region. Centers of all three branches of the U.S. federal government are in Washington, as well as the headquarters of most federal agencies. The “feds” purchase about $220 billion in goods and services each year, mostly from defense, aerospace and information technology companies in and around the Washington, D.C., metro area.
Washington is home to more than 168 embassies and serves also as headquarters for global giants like the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the Inter-American Development Bank and the Organization of American States.
Universities are the second largest employer in the city and a major force driving regional economic prosperity. Other major industries in the area economy include services, finance, insurance, tourism and real estate. Overall, the city is home to more than 5,000 business associations and corporations. It also supports more legal firms and lobbyist groups than any other corporation in the world.
Major tech companies — such as America Online, MCI, Nextel, Unisys and Lockheed Martin — have headquarters in the Washington suburbs. The American genomics industry — including prominent players Celera, the Institute for Genomic Research and the Human Genome Sciences — is centered largely in the Maryland suburbs.
Education
The capital city is home to 167 public schools and a large number of private schools. Three of the city’s high schools — Banneker, Wilson and Schools Without Walls — were ranked by Newsweek as among the top high schools in the nation in 2003.
The city also has an excellent network of colleges. Major four-year, graduate and specialty universities include:
 American University: AU’s more than 5,000 undergraduates come from across the United States and more than 150 countries.
Catholic University of America: Established in 1887, Catholic U is unique as the national university of the Catholic Church and the only higher education institution founded by the U.S. bishops. It offers graduate and undergraduate programs.
Corcoran College of Art and Design: Founded in 1890, the college is the only professional school of art and design in Washington, D.C.
Gallaudet University: Gallaudet is the world’s only university with programs and services specifically designed for deaf and hard-of-hearing students. The university was founded in 1864 by an Act of Congress.
George Washington University: Founded in 1821, GWU today provides graduate and undergraduate programs for more than 23,000 students.
Georgetown University: One of the America’s most prestigious universities, Georgetown University is the largest Catholic university in the United States. It has more than 12,000 students in its undergraduate, graduate, law and medical programs.
Howard University: A historically African-American college, Howard University was established in 1867 by congressional charter. The university today has about 11,000 students, with an undergraduate program and graduate schools of law, medicine, dentistry and divinity.
Southeastern University: Established in 1879, Southeastern University is a career-oriented school. The typical SEU student is a working professional seeking a college degree for professional advancement or personal enrichment.
Strayer University: Specializing in business and information technology, Strayer has 14 campuses throughout the Washington metro area.
Trinity University: With 1,700 students, Trinity offers a rigorous liberal arts program with an emphasis on leadership for the business and public sectors.
University of the District of Columbia: Formed in 1977, UDC is a public university, a commuter school and the only urban land-grant university in the country. It offers more than 75 undergraduate and graduate degree programs.
Where is Washington, D.C.?
Written by Sue Carrington exclusively for HomesParadise.com.
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