Washington, D.C. formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, the District, or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States, founded on July 16, 1790. The City of Washington was originally a separate municipality within the Territory of Columbia until an act of Congress in 1871 effectively merged the City and the Territory into a single entity called the District of Columbia. It is for this reason that the city, while legally named the District of Columbia, is known as Washington, D.C. The city is located on the north bank of the Potomac River and is bordered by the states of Virginia to the southwest and Maryland to the other sides. The District has a resident population of 591,833; however, because of commuters from the surrounding suburbs, its population rises to over one million during the workweek. The Washington Metropolitan Area, of which the District is a part, has a population of 5.3 million, the eighth-largest metropolitan area in the country.

Article One of the United States Constitution provides for a federal district, distinct from the states, to serve as the permanent national capital. The centers of all three branches of the federal government of the United States are located in the District, as are many of the nation's monuments and museums. Washington, D.C., hosts 174 foreign embassies as well as the headquarters of the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Organization of American States (OAS), the Inter-American Development Bank, and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). The headquarters of other institutions such as trade unions, lobbying groups, and professional associations are also located in the District.

The United States Congress has supreme authority over Washington, D.C.; residents of the city therefore have less self-governance than residents of the states. The District has a non-voting at-large Congressional delegate, but no senators. D.C. residents could not vote in presidential elections until the ratification of the Twenty-third Amendment to the United States Constitution in 1961.

District Launches Housing Locator Service

(Washington, DC) – Mayor Adrian M. Fenty, with Department of Housing and Community Development Director Leila Finucane Edmonds, announced today the launch of the District’s new housing locator service, DCHousingSearch.org. The service is available free of charge to individuals looking for housing and to property owners/managers that want to list available dwellings located in the District of Columbia.

Mayor Adrian M. Fenty said the new service will make it “easier to identify where available affordable housing is located” in the city.

The new service allows people to locate available housing that best fits their individual and family needs using a wide variety of search criteria, including number of bedrooms and baths; rent and deposit information; location (with map link); special amenities; and accessibility features for people with disabilities.

“We are committed to building enduring communities for residents of the District of Columbia,” said DHCD Director Leila Finucane Edmonds. “DCHousingSearch.org magnifies DHCD’s ability to assist individuals looking for available quality housing.”

DCHousingSearch.org also connects people to housing resources through website links and provides helpful tools for renters such as an affordability calculator, rental checklist, and information about renter rights.

DCHousingSearch.org is accessible via the Internet 24 hours a day. Individuals without access to a computer can locate available housing through a toll-free, bilingual call center (1-877-428-8844) Monday – Friday from 9 am to 8 pm EST. This assistance is also free of charge.

Director Edmonds said all affordable housing development projects funded by DHCD will be listed on the site. The DC Housing Authority will also list all of its developments and managed developments on DCHousingSearch.org.

Socialserve.com, a nonprofit technology provider, was chosen through a competitive proposal process to develop, maintain and support the service for the District. Socialserve.com has successfully implemented online affordable housing locators in more than 20 other jurisdictions, including Maryland, New Jersey, Colorado, Florida, and Los Angeles County, California.

Find a Home

HomesDatabase HomesDatabase covers over 22,000 square miles in five states. It is the most comprehensive and up-to-date real estate website for the Mid-Atlantic region. Roomiematch.com Use this service to ensure the best possible roommate situation. Search for affordable housing exactly where you want to live, and with the right people. Washington City Paper The City Paper's classifieds include housing for sale or rent, but it specializes in housing to share (roommate or group housing situations). The Washington Times Find an apartment or home for sale or rent in the metropolitan area using The Washington Times’ real estate section. DC Homeownership Opportunities The Department of Housing and Community Development provides incentives to individuals who buy houses in the District and to developers who build housing for low- and moderate-income buyers. First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit This $5,000 federal tax credit is available to first-time home buyers in the District of Columbia. This tax credit is likely to be extended beyond 2005 and is retroactive to include property purchased before January 1, 2004. Home Buying Workshops The DC Housing Finance Agency (DCHFA) offers a one-stop resource for new home buyers.

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