First Time Home Buyers

If living in the city is your preference, and financing your own home is a challenge, the professionals at Equity Fund Realty are the people you should call.

"During my early years in USAID I acquired five homes even while living the gypsy life style of an FSRO. Since then, I have helped others do the same. You don't need to take vows of poverty while in the foreign service; not if you can think outside the box."

Ray Solem, President and Broker, is a retired USAID officer who became involved in local real estate during his first assignment to D.C. in 1971. Since that time Ray has purchased, rehabilitated or built more than 200 homes for his own account, as well as doing historic rehabilitations in D.C. and Annapolis. Ray's focus, in recent years, has been on the very strong Georgetown and Capitol Hill markets.

"My favorite challenge is working with a young person without assets, and showing them how to buy that first home, and start on the path of wealth accumulation through real estate ownership. Today's market, with interest rates in the range of 5% accompanied by rapid inflation in real estate values, offers unprecedented opportunities to get started."

Since returning to Georgetown in 2001, Ray has purchased and rehabilitated four historic houses; two dating from the Federal period and two Victorians. These homes are featured in this website as examples of his craftmanship. Among them are two long-term rental homes and three luxurious, furnished short-term rentals.

"The older properties prevalent in Georgetown and on Capitol Hill hold many traps for the unwary. Any Realtor can help you to write a purchase contract, but if you want to understand the associated maintenance, construction and permitting risks that go with it, you need to hook up with someone who is also in those businesses."