Suitcase Sally Strikes Again!

Over the past 5 years I have had the pleasure and honour of meeting some truly fine people here in the District. A great many have come about because of my 2 best friends Dbud and Mr. M. Since our infamous meeting I've come to know and love many of the same friends they have had for years.

Suitcase Sally as Mr. Dbud refers to him, is definitely one of them. I actually met him shortly thereafter I met those two boys... in fact Ira (his real name) has known me as 'gay' the entire time I have known him - even though I clearly didn't know (or wasn't admitting) myself. When I came out he was one of the few who were truly shocked... almost beside himself. "You mean he wasn't gay before? Right...." was probably said as soon as he picked himself off the floor after convulsing with laughter for about a week. You see he'd always and only seen me out and about gay DC - boys trailing and me throwing a one man gay pride parade everytime I walked down the street.

Well besides calling him my friend I also have done some excellent business with him. And each year he has a neat lil thank you party for all of his clients - I was happy to be invited to this year's event as not only a friend (Ira is known to throw nothing less than a classy fun affair - like the Amex Centurion card, membership has its privledges) but also as a client. Not to sound like an informerical but he is probably the best realtor in town - well ok he is the best realtor in town. He is Mr. DC - having grown up, lived, worked and owned businesses in DC for a longass time. He not only knows EVERYONE and probably everything about the nicest (and not necessarily the most expensive) hoods in town but he's got the experience and charm to back it up. Let's face it, when you need a realtor, you need a pro - not some queen who thinks she can do it "in her spare time for fun and a little extra cash."

Ira and his crack team of pro's (also my friends! nice to have people you both can know, trust and want to have a drink or a meal with) made my dreams possible this year. After sticking it out in the burbs for a long (and yes - successful time) he and his team made it possible for me to find my square in the urban renaissance that is U St DC. Not only did he get me to FINALLY figure out what I wanted & where I would like to be - he made sure to set me up with the right mortgage people (his sister processed my loan! and the woman she works for beat every bank by at least .25% and 3/4 less paperwork!) but also took the time to explain the myriad of options to me... in a way I could understand (over a nice glass of wine... no - I mean... well yeah ;-) and where many others would have tried to upsell me - he kept sane and down to earth.

Leap forward - I'm living where I want, sold my place in VA for way more than I could have asked for - and yes it was all because of his high-touch, high class customer service and experienced staff. I'm very lucky to have him both as a friend and a realtor. His lil shindig at Merkado - was a blast. All my friends were there! And yes - like me they were there in both capacities... some having worked with him in multiple instances! Referrals speak for themselves - the unsolicited testimonials like these are why he's been so successful. Unlike most things in DC - the incredible service you receive is there no matter what you are - 2nd time scaredy cat buy like me, my young hetero couple friends soon to be married or millionaires...

This wasn't supposed to be a sales pitch... it was really to say thanks for all the lovely food and drink and the time to catch up with friends in a nice setting... but after being there and laughing and smiling over many a real estate story, one thing is clear - if you want to be somebody in DC and need a home - you can't deal with just anybody, well except for Ira and Company. You won't be sorry - plus if you're really nice he might tell some funny stories about me, Dbud and the other cast of characters that runs the DC coolpeople scene ;-)