"The perception of buying a condo has changed, and with it has come the whole movement towards luxury buildings," says Joe Himali, a Realtor and the founder of Best Address Real Estate (Washingtonsbestaddress.com). The Georgetown-based firm was inspired by James M. Goode's 1988 book about Washington's "Best Addresses," ($65, Smithsonian), a veritable who's who of residential architecture. Taking a cue from Goode's book, Best Address Real Estate prides itself on helping buyers score homes with architectural cachet.

Himali credits the trend to re-embrace urbanism as responsible for condos' shift toward opulence. As a result, these days, designer condos often hold rank with tony rowhouses.

» EXPRESS: What's the siren call of owning an older home?
» ABRAMOVITCH: People recognize that they just don't build houses like these anymore. These places were made by hand, by craftsmen who used exquisite materials, like first-growth wood paneling. They're gorgeous. It's so short-sighted when people remove things like that due to current fashion.

» EXPRESS: How can you update an old house without destroying its soul?
» ABRAMOVITCH: It's a question everyone who undertakes a restoration needs to ask. But I don't think there's a cardinal sin when restoring a house, except thinking that older houses are museum pieces and that they can't be relevant to modern life.

In addition, the Worker, Homeownership and Business Assistance Act of 2009 authorized a tax credit of up to $6,500 for existing homeowners trading in for new digs. Both credits are aimed at getting people who would have bought a place in the next few years to hurry it up a little. The government's hoping that driving up home sales will help shore up the economy.

We checked in with three people you'll be seeing a lot of if you decide to take advantage of these deals — a Realtor, a mortgage expert and an accountant — to find out how you can maximize your financial savings if you decide to buy.

"As a country, we have to make every home efficient," says Cindy Olson, the vice president of D.C.-based sustainable consulting firm Eco-Coach (Eco-coach.com). This time of year, that means weatherizing your home, and it applies to condo dwellers every bit as much as it does to house owners.

Olson holds certifications in energy auditing, sustainable agriculture, holistic management and more, which equips her to teach sustainable practices for both the business and home fronts.

"The decision was really based on the market," says Carylynn Larson, 30, who is the president and acting executive director of the nonprofit Rock Recovery. "We would have preferred to sell the condo, but the market is so bad. I bought that condo at the top of the market, so we would have had to take a hit for it."

If you're joining the millions of Americans taking the Great Recession as an opportunity to start something new — to go back to school, to launch a business or to just pick up a small job on the side to bring in extra income, you'll need a space that's dedicated to your work. And, of course, if you have papers strewn everywhere, that'll put a damper on your creative process.

Lauren Halagarda, a certified professional organizer, productivity expert and the owner of the Organization Connection in Alexandria (2OrganizeU.com) says the biggest issue she sees with her home office clients is paper — by far.

HOMEOWNERS, NEVER UNDERESTIMATE the value of being in the virtual loop. That's the lesson learned this summer by residents of the Rhapsody, a 162-unit condo building at Vermont and Florida avenues NW.

When a small fire suddenly sparked in one wing of the high-rise, it set off the sprinkler system, which, in turn, caused damage in many units. Unlucky residents in that part of the building might not normally have had much interaction with their neighbors at that point, but the community's Yahoo listserv came to the rescue.

Almost instantly, messages of good tidings flooded the listserv as neighbors offered help — and their homes — to those in need.

"It really helped create a sense of community, and it has sort of drawn us together," says the listserv's moderator Mike Dembski, 54, an information technology professional.

Think again. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Americans spend, on average, about 90 percent or more of their time indoors, where levels of pollutants may be two to five times — and occasionally even more than 100 times — higher than outdoor levels.

Grossed out yet? You're not alone. In June, Acting Surgeon General Steven K. Galson issued "The Surgeon General's Call to Action to Promote Healthy Homes," hoping to start a dialogue about how our homes can affect our well-being.

Expect Glenn Fellman to participate in that discussion. As the executive director of the Rockville-based Indoor Air Quality Association and Indoor Environmental Standards Organization, Fellman has 20 years of experience addressing indoor environmental concerns. He knows all about the allergens, pollutants and other things that can make your nose itch, eyes water and head hurt. Luckily, he also knows how to keep them out of your house.

We asked Fellman for tips on how to breathe easier at home, and then we found products to help you enjoy the great indoors even more.

"There has certainly been a surge in the under-$500,000 market, especially with condos," says Realtor Andrea Evers of Evers & Co. in Dupont Circle. "We expect a condo frenzy in the next couple of months as people try for that credit."

Whether the tax credit will rescue the flagging housing market remains to be seen, but some agents can't help but feel cheery watching the flood of first-time buyers jockey to outbid each other for prime real estate in the Washington area.

The tax credit expires Dec. 1. Translation? The time to hesitate is over. "Every buyer that is considering [purchasing] a home should make a move very fast," says Martina Burns, Realtor with RE/MAX Allegiance. "There's lots of competition out there."