Let’s be honest. Our parents are always looking out for us even when we don’t know it. They have cared for us and given us advice for many, many years. It is not surprising that you would like their advice when you buy your first home. It is likely that they have purchased a home before and they will be honest with you.

I’m not sure if my clients realize that I’m always listening to them for recommendations. If they mention their great handyman, I immediately ask for his name and number. When they give me a tour of the great bathroom remodel they just completed, I inquire about who helped them with design or tile work. And, when a client passes a pizza shop and says, “This is my favorite pizza.”

Ever since Buyer’s Edge moved to our new office space on Rugby Avenue, I’ve been waiting for the warm weather to start enjoying the many outdoor eating options available in our new neighborhood. Tia Queta looked like it may be a good warm-weather option.

In late January/early February I took an informal poll in my office and asked all of the agents what they were experiencing so far in 2014. There was an overwhelming feeling that we were already in a full blown spring market. As snow continued to fall throughout February I began to feel that the momentum was lost.

Guest Blogger Kevin Dunn of First Portfolio Lending explains how buying a home in Washington, DC has never been more affordable thanks to a new program from the DC Housing Finance Agency (DCHFA) called “DC Open Doors”.