The metro line and the bus line offer great convenience getting around Washington DC. Your primary focus should therefore be getting a home as close to one of these spots as possible. Study the demography of the metro are and understand the neighborhoods that offer the best convenience and affordable prices that fit your budget.

DuPont circle, Foggy Bottom and Georgetown are some of the neighborhoods which merit a close examination. These are also the neighborhoods where you can find a large number of apartments, condos and basement apartments. Pentagon city in northern Virginia is a yellow/red metro stop and offers similar advantages as the other neighborhoods mentioned.

Local public housing authorities offer plenty of assistance to people looking for affordable housing. In Washington DC you have a range of options finding appropriate housing assistance. AptFinder works as the first best step and the local PHA can improve on what you find from the AptFinder.

While the measures above will constitute the basics of finding an affordable home in Washington some of the basic measures need to finally get you into your new home will include:

Doing a focused study of the real estate market in Washington DC closer to the date on which you intend buying a home. There are several websites offering vital statistics such as the heat map of the region, price movements, latest deals and so on. All these factors are important to you in ascertaining the value of your home.

Understanding the legal requirements on buying a home in Washington DC is also important and you should know that these requirements can be different from one state to the other.

If you are a first time home buyer and if you are planning to purchase a home in the nation's capital then you have to know some basic facts. These facts are not just about Washington DC itself but of the real estate property in DC in general.

Basic Washington DC Facts from About.com

http://dc.about.com/od/communities/a/DCFacts.htm

It is important to know that while Washington DC is home to the federal government and the world-famous National Mall, it also has diverse neighborhoods that range from urban communities, suburban communities to quiet rural spaces with a lot of green space.

Homes and other real estate properties for sale in DC are categorized into four groups(based on location) namely the northeast, the northwest, the southeast and the southwest. Examples of the more popular communities in DC include Michigan Park, Stanton Park, Dupont Circle, Columbia Heights, Brightwood Park, and Bloomingdale among others.

Washington DC Official Site - Real Estate

http://www.washingtondc.com/realestate/

Long and Foster Washington DC Real Estate Search

http://washington-dc-homes.longandfoster.com/

Washington DC continues to thrive economically and politically. It is home not just to popular structures and spots like the White House, Smithsonian Institution museums or the memorials of America's greatest presidents but also to 151 private and public universities, high schools and other educational institutions.

There are thousands of properties open for sale and resale. Good feedback in residential, retail, education, tourism and communication has contributed to the steady rise of people who want to have a share of DC real estate.

Washington DC Site Real Estate Agent Finder

http://www.washingtondc.com/realestate/buy.html

Washington Post Real Estate Page

http://www.washingtonpost.com/real-estate/index.html