Work with top DC–area real estate professionals who guide you through every step — financing, touring, strategy, negotiations, and closing.
Our Approach to Buying
Buying a home in the DC metro area requires more than access to listings. It requires local insight, strategic guidance, and an advocate who knows how to navigate competitive markets.
Decades of experience in DC, Maryland, and Virginia mean we understand not just prices, but construction quality, resale potential, and how each block can feel very different.
We help you understand the “why” behind value—competition, timing, off-market opportunities, and how to structure offers that actually win.
From your first call to the day you get the keys, we guide you through financing, tours, offers, inspections, and settlement so you’re never guessing about the next step.
Buyer Insight
A clear, step-by-step handbook designed to help you buy with confidence in Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia — built from 25 years of experience and 1,400+ successful transactions.
Inside the guide you’ll learn:
How the buying process works from start to finish
What to expect with financing, inspections, and appraisals
How to evaluate neighborhoods, condo buildings, and resale value
Proven offer & negotiation strategies for the DC metro market
Buyer FAQs
Whether you’re buying in DC, Maryland, or Virginia, these are the most common questions we help our clients navigate.
Most buyers in the DC metro area go from search to keys in 30–90 days.
Timelines depend on inventory, competition, financing, and how quickly you find the right home. We help you streamline every step — from tours and offers to inspections, appraisal, and closing — so the process stays clear and predictable.
Yes, a pre-approval is essential before viewing homes seriously.
Sellers in DC, MD, and VA expect buyers to be financially qualified before writing an offer — and sometimes before touring competitive listings. A pre-approval helps you set a comfortable budget, strengthens your offer, and prevents surprises later.
Down payments vary based on loan type and property price. Many buyers put 3–5% down, while others choose 10–20%+ for stronger terms or lower monthly payments.
We’ll help you compare programs and understand your options so you choose what’s best for your financial goals.
Home inspections depend on the property, but most buyers complete a general home inspection, plus optional radon, pest, sewer scope, chimney, or condo document reviews.
We guide you on which inspections make sense for each property and how to negotiate repairs or credits based on the results.
The DC metro market moves quickly. Many well-priced homes receive multiple offers within days, especially in desirable neighborhoods like Capitol Hill, Dupont Circle, Logan Circle, Arlington, and Bethesda.
We help you understand pricing, evaluate competition, craft a strategic offer, and avoid overpaying.
Most buyers in DC, Maryland, and Virginia can expect 2–3% of the purchase price for closing costs, which may include lender fees, taxes, title charges, and escrow items.
We prepare a detailed estimate early in the process so you know exactly what to expect well before you write an offer.
Client Reviews
From first-time buyers to seasoned homeowners, our clients trust Wardman Residential for clear guidance, strong advocacy, and confident results throughout the buying process.
EXCELLENT Based on 195 reviews Posted on Sharon and Rob Homer-DrummondTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Charles, RJ & the whole team at Wardman Residential were just terrific! We could not have asked for more. They went above and beyond in every way. We were first time home-buyers and they helped us understand the process without making us feel under informed. They stayed in constant contact with us and helped us through every step. We cannot recommend them more highly!Posted on Brian & Creighton Ortiz - WillisTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Always a great experience with Tom & Evan. Thank you again for your efforts!Posted on Xue ZhangTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Joe DeFilippo is great! Super professional, efficient, and warm person to be around. He was our buyer's agent for the our first home purchase, and made the whole process so easy. We had a lot of questions, and he was very thorough and patient with all his answers. Fast and flexible, always ready with answers and solutions. My husband had a few hiccups with his work/timeline and Joe and the team he works with helped us navigate through everything. We really lucked out with Joe DeFilippo as our agent.Posted on Abigail StrayerTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I worked with Joe DeFilippo from Wardman Residential and he was simply the best to work with on buying a new home! He answered every question I had (there were many) and was available any time I called (which was multiple times a day). We looked at a number of homes and I felt like he truly knew exactly what type of home I wanted. Which came in handy when the home I bought came on the market (two days after his wedding) he rushed home to make sure I was the first person to view the house. I also felt like I had someone in my corner who was truly advocating for me, he was never pushy, just encouraging, and worked behind the scenes to make sure the deal got done. The team at Wardman was also incredibly helpful and communicative. I appreciated their timely emails communicating exactly where we were in the process, what the next steps would be, and what I needed to do to complete the transaction. They also had wonderful recommendations for movers and insurance brokers. I also trusted Joe with listing my condo, which is where I feel the Wardman team really shined. The listing photos and video were incredible and their marketing strategy was very effective. I gave Joe an extremely tight timeline to sell and he had the place under contract in under a month! No small feat in the current condo market. I can't recommend Joe or the Wardman team enough. They were true professionals and an absolute joy to work with during a very stressful time.Posted on Julie AllenTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Charles and Ronald were absolutely fantastic to work with. We always felt like they were there for us and would not let anything slip through the cracks. Charles was always available to answer questions, he helped us figure out what we wanted to buy and importantly, he helped negotiate a great deal. Thank you all!Posted on TESFAMARIAM MEKURIATrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. My first home purchase felt overwhelming at times, but working with Charles from Wardman Residential—and RJ Maurera, the transaction coordinator—made all the difference. Charles went above and beyond: he drove out to countless showings with me, answered every question (and I had a lot), and always responded quickly. He has a gift for explaining and simplifying the process without ever rushing me. Patient, knowledgeable, and unfailingly professional and polite—he turned a stressful milestone into a masterclass in great service. RJ was just as reliable over email, keeping everything organized and on track. From start to finish, I felt supported, informed, and treated with honesty. I’m fully satisfied with my experience and truly grateful for the care they put into helping me buy my first home. Highly recommend Charles and the Wardman Residential team.Posted on Joy EckertTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Delighted to update my original review 6 years later and say that Tom, Evan, and the team at Wardman Residential are still outstanding. We worked with them for our first and second homebuying experiences. They are knowledgeable and personable and never miss a chance to go above and beyond. Even in times of uncertainty in the housing market, they were able to provide reassuring insights and, ultimately, help us find the right house at the right time. They stayed with us for every step in the process and remained our #1 resource. This is an updated review, and my original review is below. ---- We worked with Evan and Tom from Compass as our realtors for our recent home purchase. They were fantastic to work with! They are excellent communicators and did a great job making us feel comfortable and informed throughout the home buying process. They had expert insight about the DC market as well as vision for individual spaces. They listened to us and were able to identify tons of properties we wanted to see. Tom and Evan were supportive and encouraging during the offer and closing processes. They helped us find a place that is perfect for us. I highly recommend working with them!Posted on Ladan MohaddesTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I can’t recommend Reza enough! This was my first time selling a condo, and he went above and beyond to make the process easy and stress-free. He’s patient, positive, and always puts your best interests first. On top of handling the listing and sale, he even helped with renovation recommendations that made a big difference. I couldn’t be happier with the outcome and truly appreciate everything Reza and his team did for me.Posted on Debra HaasTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We were referred to Evan and Wardman Residential by a family member when we started the process of looking to make a life changing move. Our plan had been to meet with a DMV based realtor in an effort to find someone we could work with long-distance as we relocated from Texas. We had scheduled a few days before a family vacation to do some preliminary house hunting. No one was more surprised than us when we found a house, and decided to make an offer. Our offer was accepted, and Evan and his team worked with us for the better part of a month - after we returned to Austin - on inspections, repairs and a somewhat complicated closing. We could not have asked for a better partner or a more supportive and responsive team. We are grateful to Evan, and everyone at Wardman for helping us navigate not only the purchase, but insurance, finding a mover and all the other details that go with picking up your life, after 40 years in the same place, and starting over in a new location. If we could give them more than five stars, we would.Posted on sara banihashemiTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We had the absolute pleasure of working with Reza to buy our dream home, and we couldn’t have asked for a better experience. He was incredibly friendly, patient, and knowledgeable—and always made us feel like we were in good hands. We met almost every weekend, and now that the process is over, we genuinely miss seeing him! Reza went above and beyond in every step—he communicated directly with the seller on all matters to ensure the terms were fair and in our best interest. His professionalism, honesty, and excellent negotiation skills made the entire process smooth and stress-free. We’re so grateful for his support and highly recommend him to anyone looking for a dedicated and trustworthy realtor.
A smarter, more collaborative way to search for homes — built around your goals, neighborhoods, budget, and lifestyle.
We create a private, custom Compass Collection where you can explore listings, track changes, and collaborate directly with our team in real time — all in one place.
Why buyers love Compass Collections:
Access Coming Soon, Private Exclusive, and other properties not available on Zillow, Redfin, or public sites
Real-time updates from the full MLS, including new listings and status changes
Personalized alerts for price drops, new listings, and contract activity
Comment, favorite, and collaborate directly with our team in one shared space
Curated selections tailored to your exact criteria and priorities
Vibrant, walkable neighborhood known for historic architecture, dining, culture, and classic DC charm.
A dynamic urban hub with shopping, dining, high-rise living, and easy access to trails and Metro.
Iconic DC living with tree-lined streets, timeless rowhomes, parks, and unmatched access to the U.S. Capitol.
Sleek high-rise living with rooftop pool, 24/7 concierge, and unbeatable downtown access.
Modern luxury living steps from Dupont Circle’s restaurants, parks and Metro.
Quiet, leafy Reston community with easy access to Metro, parks and local dining.
Whether you’re buying your first home, upsizing, or investing, our team is here to guide you with clarity, strategy, and deep knowledge of Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia.