Welcome Home to A DC Resident... who has lost so much...

From the Downtowner Newspaper

Ms. Smith, the First Lady of French ST NW has been long overdue for a sign from God or a moment of peace and joy to offset all the moments of loss and despair. On Nov 21, 2006, Herdina Smith got her moment - and what a big moment it was for her and those who love her.

Nine years ago, John Bratton purchased his first house in the city at 905 French ST NW where he met this amazin elderly couple Mr. & Mrs. Bernard Smith. It didn't take long before john adoped the darling seniors as his parents in the city. Mr. Smith "Pops" aka "The Mayor of the street", was the identical image if Johns memory of his own father that was killed in a car accident when he was only 3 years of age. This image was one of caring, giving, strength, wisdom and most of all the one of love of family. Long story short, for the first time in 30 years, John found another man deserving of the title "Pops". Over the next several years, Mr. & Mrs. Smith lost family member after family member to tragic medical and unfortunate circumstances. To make matters worse, like so many of our DC seniors, their financial burdens were just impossible to bare. The government talks allot about taking care of our military veterans and senior but the reality is drastically different. Bratton became determined to keep them in the home and care for them for life.


Mr. Smith "Pops" died of cancer two years ago at the VA hospital. In John's last visit on the eve of his passing, Mr. Smith said "thank God we found our son!" His last request was to take care of Mrs. Smith. It was a devestating loss to the family and community. Mrs. Smith has remained at 901 French St up until August 2006. She has been relocated 3 months while John Bratton has gutted and totally re-designed and renovated the home from top to bottom into a two-unit property. The upper unit is for Ms. Smith to spend the rest of her life in a very peaceful and beautiful space just for her. This gorgeous unit is like a high end condo at no charge that is complete stainless steel appliances, hardwood floors, breathe-taking granite kitchen counter top with breakfast bar, wonderful fixtures and an awesome bathroom. The layout is just perfect for the senior, she has a large foyer area to receive guests and just sit and chat without climbing the stairs to her upper level apartment. The unit has an open living room, dining room and kitchen area with skylight, oversized historic floor to ceiling window in the dining area, and plenty of natural light throughout. Additionally, Bratton furnished most of the home to give it that final touch.

The Holiday gift... on November 21, 2006 Ms. Smith was greeted by family and friends at her Welcome Home Celebration. She immediately started smiling when she saw the exterior painted the colors she loved from a previous project from Bratton/Rothermel. Once inside, she was speechless at the transformation, layout and colors. She walked the entire space holding her face and grinning from ear to ear. "it was priceless to see her face!" The never ending smile on her face said it all!

"To Mrs. Smith, let this new space be the beginning of so many more wonderful moments."

Are You Armed & Ready... To Live?

New book is part memoir and part survival guide that will equip us with the necessary skills to survive and thrive in life



Arlington, VA – In life, what we do and who we know define who we are. The events in our early years mold our character and prepare us to be Armed & Ready… To Live. Join author John H. Bratton as he shares his memories and helpful tips to help you survive in life in his part memoir and part survival guide.

Armed and Ready…to Live tells about the author’s life and the people who have played a defining role in his amazing life. Discover how he triumphs over hardship as a determined teen, courageous army officer and insightful life coach. This guide will arm young men and adults with tools and everyday survival strategies to thrive in the face of impending challenges and to improve their lives and their relationships with others. Only when one is equipped with the proper tools and knowledge can he be truly inspired to take action and excel in life.

Empowering and compelling, Armed and Ready…to Live proves through real stories that we can consistently elevate our quality of life. It also shows we can enhance our lives and the lives of others around us no matter what obstacles and hurdles we must overcome. Get a copy of this inspiring book and get Armed and Ready…To Live!

About the Author

John Bratton has devoted the last twenty-five years to helping youth and adults of all backgrounds enhance their lives through his life coaching techniques. He has had tremendous success with combating depression, abandonment and self-confidence issues in males of all ages. He is revered as the master of getting guys to open up and share so that they will grow. It is truly astonishing how he has transformed hundreds of lives with one conversation. Born in Eastern Shore, Maryland to a low-income African American family, Bratton attended Salisbury State University and served as 1st Lieutenant of the 1229th Transportation Company in the Gulf War. He enjoyed a successful career in higher education for ten years before building Bratton Realty, which he currently owns and operates out of Washington, DC.



>> Buy The Book Now!

Lightening Strikes Twice for Bratton & HGTV

HGTV has honored John Bratton by selecting not one but two of his creations to be featured on an upcoming new show, ‘Light it Up’. It is a rare occasion for HGTV to feature two separate projects from the same homeowner – as rare as lightening striking the same place twice. “It was one of the most exciting days of my career as a Broker, Agent and designer to have been selected by such a well respected media operation to film the first episode on my living & dining room, but when they called on me again to film a separate taping of my master bathroom, because the producers lightening expert, and filming crew insisted that the lighting and design was perfect for the show, I felt like a film star” said John Bratton.

Fans of Home and Garden television will be able to see the full length program this winter, if not sooner. This filming crew of Brainbox Production were just brilliant and talented in their ability to capture fabulous shots, angles, different moods, and atmospheres that each space conveyed. By the final wrap of the second project Bratton stated that the true honors and praise should go to the filming crew who pushed for perfection in every shot and every screen. I have more respect then ever before for the people behind the camera.

TOWNHOUSE LIVING IN THE CITY AND SUBURBS

“Is Buying a Townhouse the Perfect Fit For Your Lifestyle?”

What you should know about buying a townhouse or living in a townhouse over a condo or single family home. What should you consider when create your own profile for your home buying search. Owning a townhouse in the city or suburbs is a wonderful balance between condo living and a standalone dwelling. A townhouse is considered a fee-simple dwelling just like a single family home but it may still at times have a small monthly or yearly homeowner’s Association fee. A townhouse has one or more homes attached to it. You will share one party wall if it is a semi-detached home or two party walls if it is an interior home. If there is a yard, it may or may not have a fence on the property line. A townhouse community may be set up to have no common area or no Homeowner’s Association which means each unit is 100% independent of the other. This is often the case in all of DC but may be different out in the suburbs. Typically in DC, the only shared space is the party wall also called the firewall that is constructed in between each home. You own your property in most cases to do with as you please from renovations to landscaping to painting and adding rooftop decks as long as it is approved by the zoning office downtown.

WHY BUY A TOWNHOUSE?

• Owning a townhouse is a wonderful way to have independent living while still having a city or urban or main street vibe.
• Full responsibility, control and ownership of your property with only a moderate amount of exterior maintenance and yard work.
• Maintenance up keep in usually limited to just the roof, front and rear façade, foundation and yard which can easily be covered with a service plan or an hour of up keep per week.
• No high condo fees for common areas or for services that you may never use like party rooms, pools, rooftop decks and a front desk staff.
• No condo by laws that govern what size pets you can have or how many pets or when you can rent out your unit and no special assessments to upkeep common areas.
• Normally, a townhouse is built to minimize noise from neighbors and usually no one is above or below you unless you have a rental unit.

WHAT TO CONSIDER WHEN BUYING A TOWNHOUSE?

• Limited natural light especially if it is an interior unit. This is often helped by what is called a “dog leg” which is when a section of the rear part of the townhouse is cut out like a walkway to allow natural light to reach the bathrooms or dining room or bedrooms. Another thing to consider is which way the house is facing…south-facing homes generally get more natural light throughout the day.
• Your neighbor’s home can have a direct impact on the condition of your home if they do not keep up their maintenance or vice-versa. Although you have no real control over your neighbors living condition, you can always make your concerns know in advance to address an issue before it becomes a major problem. When buying a townhouse, it is important to also visually inspect all other attached townhouses for upkeep.
• Privacy can sometimes be a factor given in most cases the front and rear yards if any… are in plain view and earshot of attached neighbors and those across or behind you home. Keep this in mind if you are a fan of sun-bathing or if you are not a fan of window treatments.
• A key thing to be very mindful of with townhouse is the layout. This is critical for someone who has already acquired lots of furniture that they love and have no desire to get rid of or put into storage. Most townhouses are vertical and the wide is often limited to 14 to 20 feet. This requires serious advance planning before writing a contract as to how your belongings will fit in the new space. Areas that most have trouble with is the dining area, the kitchen layout and the master bedroom. Spend some time thinking about the layout of your furniture and how you like to decorate before make that final offer.

For more information about layout and design and the pros and cons of townhouse living, go to www.BrattonRealty.com or just call John Bratton who has living in a townhouse, condo and single-family home for years and share his personal experiences. He can be reached at 888-8222240.

THE U STREET CORRIDOR

"The U Street Corridor is hot hot hot!"

The U Street Corridor has been called by many names to include: North logan, North Dupont, South Adams Morgan and North Shaw. No matter what you call this area, it has emerged as one of the hottest area of the city for night light, restaurants, cafes, shops and a host of other everyday services. No longer considered the sister business district to Adams Morgan… it now stands alone with it’s own identity. This is U ST Corridor…come and visit or live here! The bumming night light of U Street is only matched by it’s vast diversity of shops, cafes, local hangouts, home furnishing stores, grocery stores and business offices. U Street is still an affordable place for small independent businesses to survive and thrive. The housing community that co-exist within three blocks of the commercial strip has benefited from the explosion of new condos, townhouses and a variety of rental apartment buildings in every price range. So many appealing features like historic Bohemian Carvern, Ben’s Chilli Bowl, The Lincoln Theatre and Howard University all adds to the richness of this bumming community. There are areas and communities all over the city that people like to put into categories like: pioneering, transitional, Developing, Established or Matured. No doubt, U Street is an Established neighbor in its own right. The popular newly constructed high-rise condo buildings like The Rooservelt, The Bourgard, The Lincoln, have all allowed for thousands of new home owners and renters alike to call U Street Corridor HOME. If you like the energy of a vibriant community that feels like the city that doesn’t sleep? Then go to www.Brattonrealty.com for more information about how Bratton Realty llc can help you make this hot area your next home!

DUPONT CIRCLE AND LOGAN CIRCLE

“DuPont Circle and Logan Circle are the two most desirable traffic circles in DC”

The DuPont Circle and Logan Circle are the most popular and well known traffic circles in all of DC. The power in the name of just mentioning Logan or DuPont to business colleagues or friends or family members that you live or work near one of these two circles is a positive. There are traffic circles all over DC and beyond but none that has built such a community and neighborhood and business district just based on the circle. DuPont Circle which is just east of Georgetown has long emerged as one of the most prominent and prestigious communities in all of Downtown Washington. The business district of DuPont has grown from small independent shops and office buildings to some of the most powerhouse international chains, brand names shops and the headquarters for many billion dollar corporations, mission critical government agencies and a host of embassies from all over the world. Like many other areas, DuPont also has a wide array of restaurants, cafes, gift shops, parks and entertainment for daytime and nightlife. It is like Georgetown but with metro! This well established area also has a devoted residential community that offers up some of the best brownstones, Victorians and townhomes in its inventory. There is no shortage of style and design in DuPont but the price point of living in this mature area is costly. Just one traffic circle to the east is Logan which is now just as desirable.

Logan Circle is without question the one of the coolest, chic, exciting and electrifying areas of the city. Logan has the ideal blend of so many wonderful features that an urban dweller is looking for in a downtown community. Sandwiched between the fabulous Shaw and the Prestigious DuPont, Logan is a living, working and business community that just keeps on getting better and better by the day. You want it …you got it in Logan Circle. Armed with a healthy balance between price, location and services, this area attracts the most demanding buyers. So many have made this their home because of the Whole Foods, the 14th St commercial strip, The P Street redevelopment and an endless string of brand new condo complexes all within three blocks of Logan Circle. At a price a bit more affordable than DuPont, Logan is the hub of Downtown Washington. This is the home of fashion, flare, artist, theatre, designers, home furnishings, pet lovers, fine dining, night light and maybe above all fitness and grooming. For a community that has everything to help you to LIVE and ENJOY life, make Logan Circle a place to consider in your home search.

For more information about Logan Circle or DuPont Circle, go to www.brattonrealty.com

COLUMBIA HEIGHTS MAKES A SPLASH

“Columbia Heights is now on the hot list for DC”

Columbia Heights is one of the latest areas in Northwest to earn a permanent spot on The Hottest Areas in The District of Columbia List. Wow! What a fast rise to fame and popularity. Once viewed as this area north of Florida Ave that was affordable and close to other hot spots like Adams Morgan, U ST Corridor and Mount Pleasant …now Columbia Heights is a unique and diverse urban community that stands on its own merit with pride and prestige. It has a very laidback and down-to-earth vibe that welcomes all. Homeowners new and old have benefited greatly from the growing business district and the surge of grocery stores, shops, restaurants, services, cafes, parks and most of all The TARGET Store. The news of Target opening in Columbia Heights and the restoration of the historic Tivoli Theatre into the Tivoli Center combined with the metro stops right in the heart of it all, has made a splashed that has rippled throughout the Washington Metropolitan Area and beyond. The supply and demand for housing in this area has responded to this splash with the offering of new lofts, condos, apartment buildings, and renovated townhouses on about every block of this community. Buyers looking for well priced historic Victorians or pristine Federals or restored Colonials with a separate rental unit can find it all here in one of the latest hot spots. The price point of this area is currently one of the most affordable while still being relatively close to the downtown area. Keep in mind that as this location will become even more desirable with time, the prices for condos and townhomes will rise accordingly which makes this a smart investment area.

For more information on where to invest and what the other key benefits of buying and living in Columbia Heights are, just go to www.brattonrealty.com or call John Bratton 202-744-2642

CHINATOWN/PENN QUARTERS/GALLERY PLACE…TRUE DOWNTOWN

“The True Downtown Residential Area of DC”

Back in the day, Chinatown was the hottest area around if you were in search of authentic Chinese food. This was Chinatown and everything was owned and operated for the most part by the Chinese community. Due to the push to create a living community downtown where downtown wouldn’t just be a place to work and bolt, Mayor Williams launched a development surge. This push to give tax credits and special incentives to developers to create residential space rather than commercial space was the beginning of the end of Chinatown. Year by year, more and more buyers and renters began to call Chinatown home. The unfortunate result is that Chinatown has little left that is authentic and Chinese and the only sign of its rich history is the Chinatown Gateway at 7th & H NW. The new name for this shopping, dining and living hub is Penn Quarters or Gallery Place. Now, instead of business only…where downtown was more of a ghost town after business hours, it is jamming 24/7. The restaurants, shops, coffee houses, galleries and night clubs are all booming with foot traffic. This was all a direct result of the MCI Center now called the Verizon Center. This area has very little to offer in the form of townhouses or single family dwellings but WOW...the abundance of condo units from Penn Ave to Mass Ave and from 3rd Street to 10th Street is astonishing.

For more information about Chinatown, Penn Quarter, Gallery Place and Downtown Living log onto www.brattonrealty.com or contact John Bratton at 202-744-2642 or 1-888-822-2240

BEST LISTING AGENT IN DOWNTOWN DC

“Bratton Realty LLC has broke and still holds a record in The MRIS and MLS System”

John Bratton and Bratton Realty is responsible for breaking records in the MLS and MRIS Database. The townhouse at 1223 10th ST NW is the highest listed townhouse to ever sell and the highest sold price to ever close in the history of the MRIS Database. Listed at a price of $1,350,000 and sold at a price of $1,280,000 with no closing cost help, this transaction set a new record for townhouses and single family houses for the entire 20001 zip code. No other single home has yet to come close to breaking this record that didn’t have multiple buildings or multiple lots. Wow, what a marvelous accomplishment for a small brokerage firm and for a small independent designer and developer. Bratton not only broke records as the Listing Agent, but he was also the Designer, the Developer and the Seller of the home. The home was featured in a HGTV Special called “Light It Up” which boasted about the Master Bathroom in this home. Most people would assume that this extraordinary sale took place in the booming year of 2005 but to the contrary, it closed and settled in November 2007 which was considered a down market. It is transactions like this and the sale of 1315 Naylor Court NW for $1,050,000 which broke a record for the highest selling Fee-Simple Loft. This goes to highlight Bratton Realty’s point that you don’t need a big brokerage like Long and Foster or Coldwell Bankers or Keller Williams to selling a property, you just need one good agent who knows how to price, promote and protect your great investment. Bratton has years of experience in staging, pricing, designing, developing, marketing and above all, SELLING which all adds up to getting top price for his listings. There are many great agents in the DC, MD and VA area but to not at least interview Bratton Realty during your search for a listing agent may lead to regret later. John Bratton (Agent and Broker) will always tell you the truth about pricing and not just what you want to hear as a seller. ..even at the risk of not getting the listing.

For more information on other records and successes of Bratton Realty and for the video of the HGTV Special on two of John’s properties, go to www.BrattonRealty.com or call 1-888-822-2240

Posted by T. Moore

ALL ABOUT CONDO LIVING

“What to know about condo living, why buy, and what to consider?”

Condo living is often an only choice for buyers due to their own wants and needs. The choice to buy a condo over a townhouse or a single family home is just the first step in creating a buying profile for your purchase. The second step is to determine what type of condo complex or building you wish to own a condo and even beyond that step is determining what rights and privileges or limitations that you are willing to accept in the by-laws that governs the subdivision or complex and maybe as a final step, determining the pros and cons of the amount of the condo fees attached to each unit. It is often difficult to make a final decision about which condo to buy because there are often multiple factors to consider those changes from one unit to the next and one building to the next and one location to the next. Making a selection of a condo is closely related to the quality of life you wish to live and what is your overall budget for month expenditures. Going condo over a townhouse or single family home is not just price anymore. Truth be told, many condos are more expensive than houses especially new construction. So why buy a condo and what to consider when making a final decision?

WHY BUY CONDO?

Turn Key Peace of Mind ~ If you have an extremely busy life or travel long term a lot for work or simply have no time for yard or exterior maintenance or value the security of living in a locked or secured building, then you would be considered a Turn-Key buyer. Someone who just wants to walk out their front door and turn the key with nothing to worry about for days, weeks or even months.

Maintenance Free Homeownership ~ If you would rather spend time doing anything other than maintenance or overseeing contractors or earning sweat equity points, especially yard work, then you may want to buy a condo that only requires your input on interior projects and appliances which can all be covered on a maintenance plan.

Location ~ A condo will often allow you to live in an area that you would be otherwise priced out of for a single family home or townhouse. Given that with condos, you can tailor the size or age of unit or floor level to get into a location that you desire the most. It is a constant trade off of design, layout, size, floor level, fees and location to determine what is better for your purchase.

Size ~ Square footage is one of the most important features when buying and selling a condo. It is amazing what can be done with just 600 or 800 square foot of space but you really need to have a good understanding of space and layout in relation to size. Layout and flow of space is just as important because a unit can have more square footage but less useable space. This is why it so crucial as a buyer to understand your needs and desires…for example if you never cook or entertain, having a large dining area and a tiny bedroom may not be the best buy for you even if the overall size is bigger. Size also relates to whether a studio, loft, Jr 1BR, 1BR or 2BR+ is best for your needs. It is fine to think about re-sale value when selecting a unit but it is smarter to think about yourself and own needs first.

Mixed-Use/One-Stop/All-In-One Condo Complex ~ this is the latest rave. Developers are creating planned multi-purpose housing and shopping complexes all over the Washington metro area. This all in one mixed-use condo complex usually consist of shopping, fitness, banking and other services on the street level and condo units above. The fees are generally higher but the convenience is often worth the cost to buyers who value dropping off their dry cleaning, grabbing a bite, hitting the gym then grocery store and meeting friends in the café all just below their unit.

WHAT TO CONSIDER WHEN BUYING A CONDO?

The Condo fee is a monthly expense when buying a condo. Most often than not, the fees will go up and sometimes by a considerable amount. Fees must be paid or you can loose your unit due to none payment. The fees will typically cover the Master Insurance Policy, Trash Removal, Snow Removal, Water and Maintenance of the Common Areas. Beyond that, it is important to read the condo documents to see what else is covered in the fees.

Buyers are granted 72 hours for an existing re-sale unit to read the condo documents or 10 to 15 days for brand new construction to read and review and ask questions about the condo documents (Public Offering) and by laws of the building or complex. This allows buyers to completely walk away without any penalties within that time period. Things to pay close attention to is pet policies, move-in policies, special assessments if any, financial records, management company and mail/packages policy, front desk, security, building maintenance policies. Also the documents should be researched to see if there are any pending lawsuits against the subdivision.

Noise levels between units and from the common areas is something to seriously consider. If you are a light sleeper or easily disturbed by noise, then you should research the construction of the party walls and the floor and ceiling sound barriers. Other things to think about are the traffic volume which passes your unit or how close you may be to the elevators or trash shoots/ dumpsters. These are things that are often not obvious during a tour so a bit of homework, and research should be done before purchasing.

Storage Space and Parking is often spelled out in the listing advertisement but it is important to make sure you know the size and location of both the spot and the storage space. Also, be sure to clarify whether it is included in the price or deeded separately. Make sure that if parking is assigned, that your vehicle can actually fit in the allotted space. If storage is provided, you should determine if it has temperature controls or free from moisture or dirt and water.

Is the building a walk-up or does it have an elevator. This is extremely important based on what floor your unit is on. Keep this in mind for moving in and out as well as weekly shopping and guest or visitors that may have trouble with climbing steps.

The view from your unit. It is important to have a good understanding as to how much natural light your selected unit will be getting throughout the day and what your view or lack of view is all four seasons of the year. If you are buying a unit for the view, then make sure that view will last. Again, do research to see if any new tower development projects are slated which will block your view or if newly planted trees will grow to erase your desired view or maybe the changing seasons may leave your unit more exposed then you wish in the winter or late fall. If a view is very important for your quality of life or having natural light is a must, then make sure you do your homework before signing off on the offer.

For more information about buying a condo and what to look for in the condo docs or how to evaluate and compare condo to condo and building to building, go to www.BrattonRealty.com or call John Bratton at 202-744-2642.