Philosophy: I believe in educating sellers and buyers in the process of successful real estate transactions. If I could sell you today the Taj Mahal for $500 and you don’t understand the process well enough to be comfortable to make the purchase, you won’t buy it. I want to simplify the process for you. I also want to make it as pleasant as possible. Most sellers and buyers can live with good news or bad news, but they hate surprises. So do I. I want you to know what to expect at each stage of the transaction and I strive to fulfill those expectations.

Company: I founded City Houses in 1982 to be a small service oriented, full brokerage company. We primarily sell properties but also manage rental properties, usually for clients who previously bought their properties through us. We take pride in having attractive properties for sale and rent and work hard with sellers and landlords to make them so.

Success: I am a Life Member of Top Producers of the Greater Capital Area Association of Realtors. In 1999 I was selected for the prestigious honor of being both the Realtor of the Year for the Greater Capital Area Association of Realtors and for the Washington DC Association of Realtors. I have been President of both the Great Capital Area Asociation of Realtors and of the Washington DC Association of Realtors and have been a member of the Board of Directors for the Metropolitan Regional Information System, the local MLS with over 30,000 users. I am pleased to use my over 25 years of real estate experience to help you!

I became a homeowner in 1977 and it was the best business decision I ever made. I acted as general contractor and got to know the ins and outs of renovation. All of my friends were Realtors, and I learned about the business long before I earned my Real Estate license. My Real Estate career began in 1985 when I traded in a management position in Guest Services at a local hotel. I began selling in a good market, soon turned into a horrible market in the early 90s only to revive again in the mid-90s. It has been great ever since! We learn to roll with the times.

The advertising banner I have used for the last ten years states, "This Man Knows His Way Around Town." And it is a true statement. As Guest Services Manager in the Hotel business, it was my job to train and manage the employees who came in contact with our guests; the areas they needed to know were the neighborhoods that are so vibrant and make D.C. an interesting place to be.

I continue to "know my way around town"-this is what I like to share with my Real Estate clients. I specialize in D.C. homes-not the suburbs. Whether you are looking for Victorian row houses, mid-century homes, detached colonials or chic lofts, I know where to find them. If you are selling, the experience of renovating my own home is invaluable; you may want painters, plumbers, electricians, or ideas to "stage" our home to put its best foot forward. My web site is www.SellingDCHomes.com --please take a look-there is a lot of good information there!

An Associate Broker affiliated with City Houses, Jo Ricks focuses her business on Washington, DC's downtown neighborhoods. A licensed Realtor since 1979, Jo is a member of the Greater Capital Area Association of Realtors (GCAAR) where she annually receives recognition for her sales achievement. She has served on GCAAR's Education, Realtor Fair, and Greivance Committees. Additionally, Jo currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Washington, DC Association of Realtors (WDCAR) and has co-chaired WDCAR's Episcopal Caring Response to Aids Art Auction benefiting Washington's Whitman-Walker Clinic.

A thirty-year resident of Washington's Logan Circle neighborhood, Jo has served on the Logan Circle Community Association (LCCA) Board of Directors, was a principal organizer of the 14th Street Festival of the Arts and assists annually with the Logan Circle House Tour.

Jo's professional credentials include being an Associate Broker, Certified Buyer Representative (CBR) and a Graduate of the Realtor Institute (GRI).

Great adventures for Jo have included a photographic safari on the Serengeti Plains of East Africa, bareboat chartering in the Caribbean, and white water rafting down Wyoming's Snake River. Passions include music, primarily blues and jazz, boating and travel.

Jo Ricks has the credentials, the experience and the knowledge to professionally represent you regardless of your real estate needs in the Washington area. Call and find out why she was selected in 1997 as the Washington DC Distinguished Sales Associate of the Year.

I love real estate! Whether it's the opportunity to get a property ready for the market with my Sellers or the fun of showing properties to my Buyers. While I really enjoy the "people" part of my career, I also love managing the details (maybe it's the former math major in me) and will keep track of everything that needs to be done so that your sale or purchase will be as trouble free as possible.

Let's not pretend, real estate is a complicated and stressful business and you will need someone knowledgeable and patient to help you through it all. I am an Associate Broker at City Houses and have been with the company for about five years. While I am able to practice real estate on my own, I really enjoy the company and the people I work with. Also, I want to continue to be associated with a company that is known for it's high level of personal service. In addition to my Associate Broker's license, I have two professional designations: GRI (Graduate of Realtor Institute) and CBR (Certified Buyer Representative). These designations all add up to an extensive knowledge of real estate principles and practice. What it will mean to you as my client is that working with me means fewer headaches along the way.

A Washington, DC realtor for more than thirty years, Alice Wilson specializes in making homes for sale - or lease - zing.

Known for her attention to detail, superb marketing skills, and stellar real estate track record, she is also a professional interior designer, whose staging expertise has been highlighted several times in the Washington Post and acknowledged by the White House.

As interested in community as she is in real estate, Alice served as vice president of CHAMPS, the Capitol Hill Chamber of Commerce, for several years and headed both the fund raising and membership committees; roles that covered everything from membership drives to holiday parties to silent auctions.

She has also served on the board of directors of her condo near Georgetown, working tirelessly on the building's activities committee.

Alice loves traveling to exotic places, when she's not reading about them, and has piloted her own airplane.