Everybody Asks, "Which House Did Conrad Cafritz Buy?" This One.

THE ROTH HOUSE AT 3044 O STREET NW

We're a relatively small village here in Georgetown and when we buzz it's about a few different topics, but chiefly real estate. The buzz the past few weeks has been that Conrad Cafritz bought the Roth house at the corner of 30th and O Streets. I've heard it several times. I do know the house sold and the price was $8.7  million. (The asking price was $9.2 mml)  I also know that Conrad was "looking."

The other day I saw Mr. Roth on  the street, as he was packing up some furniture, and asked if he had sold the house and was moving. "Yes," he said. "At the end of the month."  The Roths are moving across the river, leaving behind for the new owner a home with 9 bedrooms, 7 full baths, 12 fireplaces, swimming pool and a three-car garage, and almost $50K in annual property taxes.

Conrad, who is a developer, and who uses email quite a lot, did not respond when I wrote to ask him about the purchase, which probably means I was on to something.

Conrad's brother, Calvin Cafritz, also lives in Georgetown, in an art-filled house near the mansion that formerly belonged to Katharine Graham but is now owned by Mark Ein.

Just down the street, Rick Rickertsten reportedly sold his really sweet house for $7.6 million. 

In recent history, the Roth house is best known as the home of Hugh and Janet Auchincloss, during the time when her daughter, Jackie Kennedy, lived at the White House. Later, Mrs. Auchincloss moved to Volta, to a house bought for her by her by Jackie and her other daugher, Lee Radziwill, or so it goes according to Georgetown real estate legend.

The Roth house also later belonged to Jennifer Phillips, an ex-wife of Conrad Cafritz. 

So, again, if the rumors are true, and the question is asked, that's the house. As a landmark, it is directly across the street from Christ Episcopal Church. That particular interesection has a remarkable structure on each corner. George and Dina Perry on one corner, Steve Rales on another corner, the church on the other. It's why that intersection, or any real estate nearby, is considered the most prized in Georgetown.