Just a quick note, with much more to come on far more serious issues.

Look what Craig espied on his way into work!

But you know your neighborhood is hot when the Obama’s come for a quick meal. This morning Mr. Obama will be dining at Taylor Gourmet, on 14th Street NW, just 1/2 a block from our house here. The sky is filled with helicopters, there’s a big tent on 14, and security is redonk.

It’s often said after either Mrs. Obama or the President visit a local eatery, business booms. We hope it’s so for Taylor, and all the worthy surrounding places, too.

It may not put Taylor’s on the national map as happened at Ben’s (with tourists winding around the block every weekend for half smokes) but it sure will generate a little buzz.

Now I’m off to go see what all the hubbub is about.

UPDATE: So the President met with several local business owners – those of Taylor Gourmet and Yes (exclamation point) Markets, both of which we very much like. Nobody else was allowed in, or even near 14th, however. Taking GOTUS (the Greyhound of the United States) for a walk down Wallach proved a challenge, both because of the helicopters buzzing low, freaking the dog out, and the Secret Service officers who wouldn’t even let us get down the street.

We totally get it – POTUS deserves big security, and that’s fine. We welcome everyone to the neighborhood. But perhaps next time, with just a little less traffic snarl.

Tip 1: Follow Gen-Y
Generation Y, currently in their young adult years, is the later round of offspring from the baby boomers, and their finger is firmly secured to the “cool” pulse. If your 23-year-old nephew starts talking about a brand new artsy hipster bar in a neighborhood you always thought of as the ghetto, perk up and start paying attention immediately. Ask for their opinion of where the “good” part of that neighborhood is, and where the line lies between that and the “bad” section.

Tip 2: Forecast the Retiring Boomers
On the other end of the spectrum, baby boomers are starting to trickle into retirement, and that trickle will soon be a flood. Where will they want to live? Their parents loved Florida and the Southwest, but migration patterns are showing a steadily declining trend towards these areas for retirees, and a lot of vacant condos and lease agreement properties. You can be sure of a couple things tomorrow’s retirees will be looking for: affordability, walkability, and access to affordable services like housekeeping, groundskeeping, etc. As for the rest of what they want, ask as many older adults as you can find!

Tip 3: Trainspotting
Public transportation is being rebranded as something that middle class people can use, and in many cities the yuppies do use it. Keep an eye on where city planners are evaluating for public transportation stops, and keep a particular eye on subways and trains. Young professionals and artists often forego cars in their attempt to afford a lease agreement in an area with access to arts and entertainment, and to do so they need public transportation.

Tip 4: Watch the Artists
Most artists are poor, and can’t afford to live in pricey areas. Artists also like to live near others of their ilk, and will form little artsy clusters in inexpensive and often rough neighborhoods. They open little hole-in-the-wall galleries to showcase their art, and then with a little luck the area develops a reputation as the latest funky art hangout, which in turn attracts cafés, bars, and, of course, interest in living nearby. Soon the artists are priced out of the area, and are forced to sign a lease agreement in another rough area, and the cycle begins anew.

Tip 5: Tailgate
Is there buzz about a sports stadium coming? Stadiums can lead to a host of support businesses, such as restaurants, retailers, and bars, which complete the appeal of the neighborhood for young professionals. Investors beware, however – stadiums are big news, and every developer and real estate investor in the area will be acutely aware of what’s going on regarding stadium construction, so be careful of your competition, and watch lease agreement pricing to measure tenant interest in real time.

It’s not easy to predict where the next yuppie hotspot will pop up, but there’s plenty of money to be made for those who do it successfully. Keep an eye on lease pricing, watch city development plans, and follow the trends of where different groups of people want to live, and with a little luck you might pick up a bargain property, lease it out, and find yourself with triple equity in a few short years.