Michael’s guiding principle in real estate is fun. Since moving to D.C. in 2003, he has developed a deep, contagious love of the city, and a commitment to helping his clients enjoy real estate as much as he does. With almost $30 million in sales in a variety of neighborhoods, Michael is poised to help clients buy and sell throughout D.C., Virginia, and Maryland. In 2015, Michael joined Compass to combine his passion for customer service with the best technology to serve his clients.
Michael began his real estate career with TTR Sotheby’s International Realty, where he won a variety of awards, including the 2013 GCAAR Rookie of the Year Award for his business success and contributions to the community. Before real estate, Michael spent over 10 years cultivating his negotiation and sales skills while building elite teams of salespeople at high-profile companies, including Apple and Pottery Barn.
As a resident of the Shaw neighborhood, Michael works closely with the Shaw Main Streets organization. He also serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors of The DC Center for the LGBT Community, and he is on the Executive Committee for the Lupus Foundation of America DMV’s Annual Gala.
As part of his commitment to the community and the real estate industry, Michael chairs the DC Association of Realtors (DCAR) Communication Committee, serves on the DCAR Board of Directors, and is the Vice-Chair of the Greater Capital Area Association of Realtors (GCAAR) Community Service Committee.
Michael enjoys spending time with his partner and their Miniature Pincher, and he stays active training with CrossFit, and engaging in a variety of social sports (badly). He ran his first (and only) marathon in 2010. Michael loves to travel, and to indulge in delicious food and good wine at the many fabulous restaurants right here in D.C. He has a love of movies and TV, including an unhealthy obsession with anything produced by Bravo.
Jay is native Mississippian but has called Washington, DC his home for the past 18 years. He fell in love with real estate after buying his condo in Adams Morgan in 1999. Even though the search was over, he kept attending open houses and exploring developing neighborhoods. Eventually, he found himself spending his weekends helping friends find places to live. So he decided to transition from a career in public relations and television to real estate.
After working several years with another brokerage, Jay joined Compass in 2015, believing the resources offered by Compass would complement his own skills as an agent and help him better serve his clients.
One of Jay’s passions is photography and he loves taking photos around the city. You might also catch him singing at Shaw’s Tavern on Wednesday nights.
A Washington resident for over 20 years and a real estate agent for over a decade, John has built his business on referrals and returning clients who trust him for his market expertise, attention to detail, and outstanding negotiation skills. For John, going the extra mile for his clients is the part of the sales process he enjoys most.
John credits his parents for his dedication to hard work and entrepreneurial spirit. Thanks to his family’s construction and real estate investment businesses, he was raised with the notion that hard work, smart business decisions, and loving your job are the ingredients for success.
John holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and a minor in Business Administration from Arizona State University. His years of working in Corporate Finance and Project Management prepared him to seamlessly handle complex transactions in real estate.
John’s interests include renovation projects, design, and architecture. He takes inspiration from his travels through Argentina, Brazil, Costa Rica, England, France, Spain, Mexico, Italy, Czech Republic, and Hungary. As an animal lover, John is a supporter of The Humane Society.
David Maplesden is a licensed Real Estate Agent in Maryland and Washington D.C. Licensed for almost 40 years, he has lived in the area for more than 40 years. David collaborates with Elliot Barber to form a Team that caters to Buyer and Seller needs from the beginning to end of a purchase or sale of a property. Elliot has sold over $42 million of property and David sales are $250+ million over the last 20 years. For 2017 they sold 44 properties. Associated with Long and Foster, formerly the largest independent real estate broker in the USA and now part of the Berkshire-Hathaway empire (Warren Buffet); it’s the dominant broker in the DC Region. David selected Long and Foster for the independent small company touch it still retains, with the advantage of a solid foundation that comes with the largest privately owned real estate company in the USA. David and Elliot have a skilled team of assistants, who make the sometimes difficult task of buying or selling a home as stress-free and pleasant as is possible. Their positive client feedback demonstrates they are on target with their goal of putting their client needs before their own. David says, “I reached the top 5% of agent’s nationwide by going the extra mile for clients and that is our goal” “We also believe in giving back to the community and volunteering where we can. David volunteers with “Meals on Wheels” from their Takoma Park location and supports Joe’s Movement Emporium of Mount Rainier. Contact David Maplesden and Elliot Barber, The Maplesden Group, for expert local advise on buying and selling property.
Recipient of the Top Washingtonian Agent Award for 2016.
As a long time resident of Washington, DC and a native of Maryland, Steve has a deep understanding of how neighborhoods in our growing metropolitan area change, expand, and become home. With over eleven years of experience in real estate, Steve remains committed to finding the best property for his clients by helping them to identify the place that is right for them both today and in the future.
Steve has deep connections with developers and homeowners around Washington. He promises to put those connections to work for you as he keeps his clients informed about new construction and properties not yet on the market. Thanks to many years of work in the hospitality industry, Steve is comfortable not only advising you on the home buying and selling process, but also on local restaurants to check out in your new neighborhood and what bottle of wine to bring home to celebrate when deals are done.
Steve continually exceeds client expectations with his dedicated, individualized service. He will enthusiastically work to address all of your concerns, questions, and excitement when it comes to buying or selling your home. Whether you want to meet for coffee, a meal or spin class, he is there to talk through the big decisions while enjoying the small ones along the way.
A Southern gentleman at heart, Donnell received his formal education in Virginia. Upon graduating from the College of William & Mary, he moved to Washington, DC and began his career in Financial Services. From retail banking branch management to investment banking to insurance services, he mastered the skills necessary to advise his clients on the best ways to manage their financial portfolio.
He obtained his real estate license in 2001. Drawing from his financial background and personal experience, Donnell is able to advise his clients on the best options for locating, financing and renovating their properties for personal use or for investment purposes.
He is happy to share his contacts with his clients and sphere of influence so that they have the same access to his network of experts.
Donnell specializes in residential real estate in DC and Maryland. He currently resides in the Brookland neighborhood with his partner and their two dogs.
Alex Dykes is a mortgage loan officer who brings a wealth of business knowledge to lending in the DMV. He is skilled in listening closely and understanding each client’s needs, and also excels at managing finances. Passionate about first-time home buyers and people buying under difficult circumstances, including renovation and 100% financing loans, Alex goes that extra mile to support his clients, always thinking about their future success.
He holds a B.S. in Economics from George Mason University and enjoys hiking, cooking, and traveling with his husband Mark. Alex is excited to help you start the path to your dream home with a home mortgage, refinance, jumbo, or renovation loan in Virginia, Maryland, Washington D.C., Pennsylvania, or North Carolina.
Jenn Smira combines relentlessness, diplomacy, negotiating skills, and a can-do attitude that sets her apart from the pack. She is every client’s advocate, working until each has found the best home or sold for the right price. Her many repeat clients are a testimony to her dedication and results, as is her ranking among the top 10 agents in the city.
Recognized for her leadership in the field, she was selected in 2014 for the DC Association of Realtors’ Board of Directors. She currently serves on the organization’s Board of Directors and the Public Policy Committee.
After years on Capitol Hill and then Shepherd Park, Jenn and her family now live in Chevy Chase. Jenn plays basketball, runs half marathons, and unleashes her creative side through her cooking.
Evan Johnson has been a proven top producing real estate agent in the Washington, DC, metro area since 1999. His dedication to helping home buyers and sellers meet their real estate goals is best shown through the glowing reviews past clients have happily written about their experience with him. Evan thoroughly loves real estate contract negotiations and positioning homes for sale through innovative marketing.
Now at Compass, Evan is part of the Evan + Mark Team, a strong force in the DC Real Estate market with sales of over $225 million and 500+ homes sold.
Taylor is the top choice for clients who want high-quality representation. An advisor to his clients, he fully understands his client’s needs and works diligently to attain the best result while smoothing the sales process. Whether it’s finding a home off-market, selling a unique property, or consulting with a buyer new to the DC area, Taylor’s strength lies in making effective decisions based on clients’ goals.
Known for expertly negotiating a competitive offer and thinking outside the box, Taylor has built a solid reputation amongst buyers and sellers working on one of their most important life decisions. With a degree in Business and Communications from Northeastern University and his work experience at Department of Defense, Hilton Hotels, and numerous small corporations, Taylor’s background provides him with the ability to create confidence and ease in his approach to all real estate transactions.
Taylor attributes his love for real estate to growing up in the architecturally stunning city of Newport, Rhode Island. His other passions include travel, photography, and hunting for D.C.’s best coffee. He resides in the H-Street neighborhood and can often be found biking around the city or walking his mutt, Ella.
A self-proclaimed military brat, Christopher moved six times before he was eight years old, which sparked his passion for real estate at a very young age.
After a career as a professional ballet dancer was cut short by injury, Christopher worked his way through college in Baltimore and enjoyed a tenured career as a marketing executive before he rediscovered his childhood passion and pursued real estate professionally, which Christopher proclaims as “the most fulfilling career decision I’ve ever made.”
Bringing more than 15 years of professional experience to each real estate transaction, Christopher’s proven ability to deliver specialized services to a wide variety of clientele demonstrates his “Client-Centered” approach to business, which continues to serve as his philosophy today.
Christopher helps Buyers and Sellers successfully achieve their real estate goals with remarkable business acumen and astute negotiation skills. His performance helping clients navigate the intricacies of the DC metro area’s complex real estate market has earned him several Top Producer awards and more than $60 million in closed transaction volume since 2012.
In 2015, after spending several years working side-by-side building successful careers as individual real estate agents, Christopher Bulka & John Peters merged their businesses and created Bulka/Peters Residential. The dynamic partnership between these two highly respected Realtors allows them to combine their superior customer service, innovative marketing techniques, skilled negotiation strategies and professional transaction management to enhance their clients’ home buying and selling experiences.
When he’s not working, Christopher enjoys dining out, spending time with friends and family, and being outdoors as much as possible. He is currently the Treasurer of the Crispus Attucks Development Corporation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit community organization, which owns and operates Crispus Attucks Park in Washington, DC’s Bloomingdale neighborhood, where Christopher and his partner recently completed a top-to-bottom renovation of their circa 1900 Victorian home.