In Georgetown, 1620 29th Street, N.W. has changed hands for the first time in approximately fortyyears. The seller was Elizabeth Desan, the widow of Dr. Wilfrid Desan, aprofessor emeritus of philosophy at Georgetown University and a leadingauthority on Jean-Paul Sartre (whom he first met during WWII). Mrs. Desangot her asking price of $1,349,000 for the four-story Federal situated on one ofGeorgetown’s prettiest streets from new owners Kristin and Andreas Kristinus,who lost no time in restoring the historic old home and making much neededrepairs. Andreas Kristinus is a former population and environmental specialistwith the Wildlife Federation and the co-founder of the on-line eco-tourism travelagency “Manaca,” named for a Brazilian rainforest tree thought to have spiritualhealing powers. When Andreas is not in residence in Georgetown you mightfind him blazing a trail to one of the far corners of the earth with his wife andyoung daughter. Pardoe realtor Nancy Itteilag was instrumental in facilitating the sale.

Arthur Gardner who also recently lost his spouse, now resides at 3232 ReservoirRoad, N.W. He purchased the property from Margaret Tanham Carney for$1.2 million, less than half the amount his previous home on Woodland Drive inMassachusetts Avenue Heights sold for. Meanwhile, Gardner's niece, Holly, and her husbandReid Walker, have also parted with their neighboring property at 3200 Woodland Drive, N.W.for a rumored $2 million. Reid Walker is the director of global marketing communications forGE Global eXchange Services, an e-commerce subsidiary of General Electric. He and Hollynow own 2720 Chain Bridge Road, N.W. in D.C.'s Kent neighborhood. The five-bedroom home cost$1,020,000 and has been beautifully showcased by Outdoor Illumination,"landscapers who specialize in lighting."

2323 Tracy Place, N.W.

Almost a year after Qorvis Communications received a twelve-month,$3.8 million contract to help enhance the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's imagein the aftermath of 9-11, the PR firm's managing partner, Michael Petruzzelloand his wife Wendy are accepting bids for a contract on their Kalorama house.The Petruzzellos are asking $2.75 million for their six-bedroom home at 2323Tracy Place, N.W.

Katherine Tallmadge, the weight loss specialist whose "Diet Simple"approach made her a national celebrity, has also placed her house on the market.She is asking $849,000,for the four-bedroom red brick Victorian at 1828Corcoran Street, N.W., in the heart of Dupont Circle. It features a renovatedkitchen with cherry cabinets and “generous storage,” and a brick terrace fordining al fresco. Tallmadge chose Coldwell Banker/Pardoe realtor Jim Bell as herlisting agent.

Meanwhile, Jim Bell has sold the end-unit rowhouse he co-owned withMark Scott just two doors down at 1832 Corcoran Street, N.W., for $1,250,000.Dr. Seymour Hepner was the buyer. Highlights of the home include:louvered window treatments, beautiful wall moldings, hardwood floors,and balconies off the kitchen and sitting rooms overlooking a quaint walled garden.

1828 Corcoran Street, N.W.

Also in Dupont Circle, 1918 17th Street, N.W. is under contract. Stanfordgrad Paul Kollmer-Dorsey, a lawyer specializing in communicationsand technology, and his wife Sarah Kollmer-Dorsey, a fellow Stanford alumand lawyer with the Department of the Treasury, are selling the home wherethey wed in 1997. Now that the couple has a one-year old son in addition totheir five cats, they may be in the market for something with a biggerbackyard. Their historic property was listed with Coldwell Banker/Pardoe realtor JimBell and is expected to fetch $995,000. The Victorian home was designed andowned by Ferdinand Schneider, a relative of the famed architect ThomasFranklin Schneider, who designed some 2000 homes in Washington, includingmost of the 1889 Richardsonian-style houses along the 1700 block of Q Street,N.W. T.F. Schneider also designed the Cairo Condominiums at 1615 QStreets, N.W. Built in 1894, the former hotel was the tallest building everconstructed in the city and gave rise to the existing height restrictionsgoverning D.C.'s skyline. The Kollmer-Dorsey home is situated in the Federal City areaof the neighborhood originally known as Pacific Circle. It was built in 1903 andfeatures rich woodwork and beautifully appointed fireplaces. The blueprints forthe residence are said to be on file at the National Archives. The prospectivebuyers are Brett Copeland and Doug Johnson, who have been living in FallsChurch, Virginia.

1918 17th Street, N.W.

Dupont Circle is not the only part of the District where properties are selling like hotcakes.Elsewhere in D.C., list prices are consistently bid-up on one address after another. In theForest Hills neighborhood of northwest D.C., 3300 Fessenden Street,N.W. sold for $811,000,or $64,000 more than the seller Matthew Whealton originally asked. Zelda Hellerof Long & Foster represented Mr. Whealton. The purchasers, Bejoy and Ting Das Gupta,were represented by Long & Foster's Sheila Leiser. The Gupta's new home has archedentry ways with custom molding, four bedrooms, a finished basement, a sunroom,and a huge backyard with a stone fireplace. Forest Hills is also home to HillwoodMuseum and Gardens, the former estate of the late cereal heiress MarjorieMerriweather Post.

In adjacent Cleveland Park, 3317 Rowland Street, N.W., sold for above the listprice as well. The seller, Heller Trust, had asked for $919,000,but the purchasers Thomas Hentoff and Sarah Sloan paid $975,000 for the six-bedroom Colonial-style house situated on a double lot overlooking parkland.Mr.Hentoff is a partner with the law firm Williams & Connolly and regularlyrepresents members of the press. Long & Foster agent Zelda Heller assisted him inthe purchase of the property. Anne Weir of Sotheby’s International Affiliate,Washington Fine Properties, was the listing agent.

3309 Woodley Road, N.W. in Cleveland Park also sold for more than theasking price. The five-bedroom, four-level house built in 1922 listed for$795,000 but sold for $826,000. The sellers were Christine Dobie and Dr.Robert Dobie who specializes in hearing health. The current residents areChristopher Bertram and his wife Catherine, who is a lawyer anddirector of risk management at Georgetown Hospital. The Bertram’s new homepossesses a lot of charm and many functional accoutrements!-a huge kitchenwith a granite center island, a sunny breakfast room, a brick patio, a deckand a garage. Zelda Heller represented the sellers. Craig Davitian with Begg,Long & Foster assisted the buyers.

Elaine Carpenter has sold 1823 Belmont Road, N.W. Unit B for $750,000.The new owner of the three-bedroom penthouse in Kalorama Triangleis Gordon Swartz who is with MarketBridge, a leading marketingconsulting firm based in D.C. Swartz’s new condo has a modern airy feel with highceilings, white walls and white masonry, light hardwood and limestone floors,and two spacious balconies. Jim Bell was the listing agent.

1823 Belmont Road, N.W.

Also in Northwest, Richard Herriman and his wife Hanne, a renowned retailconsultant and former president of the now defunct Garfinckel's, have sold thehome they owned at 5032 Lowell Street, N.W. for $1,325,000. The new owner ofthe property is believed to be businessman David A. Deckelbaum who justlast year was reported to have bought 2606 Q Street, N.W. for $2.6 million.

Maryland

In Montgomery County, 4501 Drummond Avenue, has been let go for almost$3 million. Zelda Heller represented the buyers Deborah Miller and AdamStrickberger, M.D., who paid Robert and Nancy Wilson $2.9 million fortheir Chevy Chase property. The spectacularly renovated 99 year-old home hasbeen described by those in the know, as “just gorgeous,” and “so unique” with itsarts and crafts-influenced bowling alley, grand salon, five fireplaces, gourmetkitchen, library, solarium and mature English garden.

In Potomac, radiologist Alfonso Findley and his wife Pamela havesold the home they owned at 12516 Bracken Hill Lane for $1,300,000 to the Embassy ofthe Republic of Ghana. The property, which boasts a great room as well as a spaciousformal living room, chef’s kitchen and six bedrooms, will serve as the residence of Ghana’sAmbassador, His Excellency Alan Kyerematen. Parvin Navid of Long & Foster wasthe listing agent for the property located in Potomac’s Stoney Creek Farm subdivision.

The “McMansion” at 10804 Barn Wood Lane in Potomac has also beensold. The house, which was custom-built for Dr. Gurpreets Ahluwalia andhis wife, is situated on a deep lot with a long circular driveway. Now that theAhluwalias have reportedly moved to Boston, the manse belongs to Mr. andMrs. Ed Wang. Nancy Itteilag of Pardoe Real Estate was the listing agent for the$1,875,000 property.

Nancy Itteilag was also the listing agent for 7915 Sandalfoot Drive,also in Potomac. The property went to settlement just weeks ago with thesellers, Robert and Joyce Neuman, getting a mere $112,000 less than their$1,325,000 asking price. Mr. and Mrs. Harry Moy are the new owners of thebrick Georgian-style four-bedroom home which has hardwood floors, threefireplaces, an elevator, and one of the best views overlooking the lake at Avenel.The Neumans have reportedly moved to North Carolina where they are said to bebuilding a retirement home.

Virginia

In Fairfax County, 8406 Brookewood Court in McLean has sold for over $1.5million. The four-bedroom Colonial in prestigious Woodlea Mills Estates hasglass transoms in the entranceways to both the dining and living rooms andFrench doors leading to a spacious stone terrace off the breakfast room. Thebuyer, attorney Elizabeth J.Harper, paid $1.6 million. Sue Huckaby ofWeichert Realtors listed the property for the sellers James and Linda Alcock.

8406 Brookewood Court

Sue Huckaby was also the listing agent for 7443 Old Maple Square inMcLean’s Maplewood community. The six-bedroom house has four full and twohalf baths, an au pair suite, a library, an exercise room, a recreation room and athree car garage. The new owners of the spacious stone Colonial are Lisa andRobert Lutz. The seller was Jeffrey P. Brown. The price tag for the expanded“Baldwin Model,” one of Maplewood’s most popular models, was $1.2 million.

7443 Old Maple Square

Also in McLean, 1250 Dale View Drive has been sold for the asking priceof $1,499,000. Nancy Itteilag was the listing agent representing Bob andSara Timken in the sale of their property. The purchasers of the four-storyGeorgian-style residence are Daniel and Michela Gorham. The Gorham’s newhome boasts a state-of-the-art entertainment system and a private guest suite onits own floor.

In Great Falls, the newly constructed home at 9631 Georgetown Pike hasbeen sold by the builder, Middleburg Associates, L.L.C. for $1,750,000.Weichert's Sue Huckaby was the listing agent. Middleburg Associates wasfounded in 1991 and its managing partners Bob Moesle and Hugh Winsteadclaim a solid commitment to "innovative design and impeccable detail." Inthis case, the five-bedroom Georgian-style home is indeed rich inarchitectural detail. The lucky buyers are Cori and Jace N.Johnson.

9631 Georgetown Pike