Today it is home to more than 550,000 residents, according to the 2003 Census. It serves as the headquarters for international giants World Bank and International Monetary Fund. It is the proud sponsor of the Washington Redskins, Washington Wizards, Washington Mystics and D.C. United. Washington D.C. is also the primary source for national landmarks and museums. With nearly 150 million items in its collections, including the legendary Hope Diamond, the Smithsonian Institution is one of the foremost museums in the world. Since its completion in 1855, it has received more than twenty million visitors. The cornerstone upon which the capital was built is the Declaration of Independence and The Bill of Rights, both of which are housed with the National Archives and Records Administration. Situated north of the National Mall on Constitution Avenue, this independent agency opened in 1935, and is formally charged with preserving and documenting historical records. Visitors can peruse documents like the Constitution here, secured under layers of protective glass. Another popular tourist stop is the Washington Monument, a massive white obelisk structure commemorating George Washington, majestic in all its marble, sandstone and granite glory. Towering at 555 feet and 5 1/8 inches, its silhouette can be seen in the Reflecting Pool, not far from the Lincoln Memorial.

The city's location as a power center for politics has driven many to this historical area. Over the years, Washington D.C. real estate has climbed the ranks of the zip codes with the greatest appreciation, peaking at eighth place nationwide. Forbes.com reported that the city experienced an 89 percent appreciation from 2003 to 2005. With a 2005 median sales price of $440,000, the breakdown of appreciation for new and existing homes were 103 percent and 64 percent, respectively. The National Association of Realtors also reported first quarter estimates for 2006, setting the average selling price at $422,500.

Capitol Hill is among the oldest neighborhoods with members of Congress and civilian residents enjoying vistas of the Capitol from nearly every angle. Prime real estate on East Capitol Street can set home buyers back more than $400,000, a princely sum for being near history in the making. Reasonably priced housing can be found further east, where new Capitol Hill town homes start around $350,000. Just north of the National Mall sits Dupont Circle, the city dweller's cure for urban living named after military hero Samuel Francis du Pont. Condominiums are the norm here, steeped at $250,000. Gentrification and affluent resurgence has driven the median sale price up by 20 percent, as single family homes now cost about $600,000. Picturesque Georgetown boasts waterfront views of the Potomac River and Rock Creek, Tudor and Colonial architecture as well as proximity to renowned Georgetown University. Former residents include a who's who of American History from Francis Scott Key to Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Today it offers housing options from single family detached homes to condominiums, most starting in the mid $200,000s. There is also a $5,000 tax credit for first-time District home buyers, so search for Washington D.C. real estate today!

Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington,_DC
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burning_of_Washington
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smithsonian_Institution
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Archives_and_Records_Administration
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_Monument
http://www.forbes.com/realestate/2006/03/09/home-price-appreciation-cx_sc_0310home_ls.html
http://money.cnn.com/pf/features/lists/nar_1q06/homes_bychange.exclude.html
http://www.dupontcircle-realestate.com/
http://digitalcity.homestore.com/Cities/washingtondc/CapitolHillGN.asp?poe=homestore
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgetown,_Washington,_D.C.
http://www.georgetown-homesforsale.com/