House keys stock photo from mariyaermolaeva/Shutterstock.

Purchasing a home is likely the single largest financial decision that anyone will make. How do you know if you're ready, both financially and logistically, to buy a home? And what factors should you consider to make the right choice?

On Tuesday, March 19 at 6 pm, join GGWash and event sponsor Chanin Wisler at the District of Columbia Association of Realtors (1615 New Hampshire Ave) for a panel discussion to explore what prospective home-buyers need to do to start their search on the right track—from preparing finances and getting the right budget, to creating realistic criteria and honing in on the right neighborhoods for your family.

Follow along as two home buyers talk through their experiences and get advice from a panel of experts. We’ll have plenty of time for audience questions. Tickets are only $15, or FREE for GGWash Neighbors!

Celebrate our 11th birthday! Join Greater Greater Washington staff, volunteers, and friends on Thursday, March 14 from 6:30 to 9 pm at 2011 Crystal Drive in Arlington as we celebrate 11 years of news, advocacy, and community engagement. This event marks the end of our 2019 Member Drive. Will you support us by joining the GGWash Neighborhood? All Neighbors and donors receive a ticket to the party, which features special guest Christian Dorsey, Chair of the Arlington County Board and Vice Chair of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments. Get tickets here!

You can attend this event, and others throughout the year, for FREE when you join the GGWash Neighborhood, or make a one-time donation to attend.

Other events from around the region:

Tuesday, March 5

Connect the bike/pedestrian dots: From 6:30 to 8:30 pm, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) will hold a public information meeting at Fairhill Elementary School (3001 Chichester Lane, Fairfax, VA) “on plans to construct missing segments of the shared-use path along northbound Route 29 (Lee Highway) between Vaden Drive and Nutley Street (Route 243) to improve safety and accessibility for bicyclists and pedestrians. The project will also extend the Route 29 culvert over the tributary of Accotink Creek just west of Nutley Street to accommodate the shared-use path.” Head to the project page to learn more.

Thursday, March 7

Assure quality affordable housing: The DC Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) wants to know, “Do you think the QAP [Quality Assurance Plan for the Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC)] helps the District achieve its goals and priorities (examples include affordable housing preservation, permanent supportive housing, large units, and deep income targeting)?”

The agency is also interested in “what approaches do you find useful from other jurisdictions?” Join DHCD (1800 Martin Luther King Jr Ave SE) from 12 to 2 pm to help crowd-source affordable housing financing wisdom for its new LIHTC QAP. Find more information here.

Clang clang clang went the trolley: DDOT wants to introduce you to its feasibility study “to identify critical issues and challenges in developing a multi-use trail for pedestrians and bicyclists of all ages and abilities on the former Glen Echo Trolley line corridor, an area commonly referred to as the Palisades Trolley Trail… and [DDOT wishes to] provide opportunities for participants to share ideas.”

“The study area is in the District's northwest quadrant and is located along the former Glen Echo Trolley line between St. Mary’s Place, NW and Galena Place, NW in the Georgetown and Palisades neighborhoods. The study area includes the abandoned Foundry Branch Trestle Bridge in the historic Glover Archbold Park at Canal Road. A map of the study area can be found on the project website.” Head to the Palisades Neighborhood Library Meeting Room (4901 V Street NW) from 6:30 to 8:30 pm to learn more.

Saturday, March 9

The League of American Bicyclists assemble: From Saturday, March 9 through Tuesday, March 12 at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City (2799 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA), head to the the National Bike Summit, “the premier bike advocacy event of the year, uniting the voices of bicyclists on Capitol Hill and showcasing successes on the ground, learning how they happen, and exploring ways to expand their reach.” You must pay to attend; register here.

Becoming with bikes and brunch: At 11 am, meet other interested readers and riders at THEARC (1901 Mississippi Ave SE) where they'll be “biking to Bellevue/William Lockridge Library in Ward 8 to read Michelle Obama’s book, Becoming.” Stay for brunch at MLK Deli. The ride is about four miles roundtrip. The ride is free, but bring money for brunch. You can register to join here.

Check out more urbanist events at ggwash.org/calendar. Do you have an event you'd like to see featured in the weekly events post? Submit it here.

Jeb Stenhouse is a clean energy economist who wants to help everyone enjoy livable, walkable public places, and to reach them by as many clean transportation options as possible.  He studied in Montpellier, France and still marvels at the quality of life in its car-free downtown (and the 15 pounds he lost roaming its charming streets).  Between adventures, Jeb lives with his husband in Adams Morgan.