Ok, let’s get rolling on condos. Lately there is a lot of inventory, and prices are dropping. So this could be a good time to get into one. But watch out for which building and factor in the condo fee. I just heard of a building that bumped up their monthly condo fee from the mid-$200’s to over $700 to cover all the work coming due on the building. I actually had taken a client of mine to this buidling, where we could see a lot of water damage. Guess that was why there were so many units available in the building. Thank goodness she landed elsewhere — a good solid old-fashioned building. Now I don’t mean to show a bias, really, truly I don’t. Many of the newer buildings are absolutely beautiful.
This story really typifies the types of condo buildings you may look at. There are a number of older buildings like the Cardinal House, the Chatham, and the Hyde Park, all in North Arlington, built before 1975. They are very solid brick buildings with good sized units. They have nice lobbies, and amenities like a gym, pool, and social room. They are very well-built buildings that could serve you well.
BUT………… they aren’t contemporary and modern, and unless the owner has renovated they don’t have all the nice up-to-date fixtures and features that the newer buildings offer. Some of the condo buildings built on the Orange Line like Station Square, Clarendon 1021, and Ballston East and West are really beautiful and fit the modern aesthetic since they were built in the much more recent past. But, they are more expensive and have less square footage in a unit than some of the older condos. Another important factor: many of the newer buildings are closer to the metro (and you pay for that convenience).
Finally, there are some amazing condo buildings just newly built and very upscale. Lyon Hill is a good example of this type of building — absolutely gorgoeus, very hip, and very convenient. Upscale lofts with gorgeous city views are also available in buildings like Wooster and Mercer. These fall into the Dream House category, with units priced between $1-2+ million. If a First Time Home Buyer lands here, please let that person be my client!
So hang in there with me. It promises to be a very busy week, but I plan to highlight some of these different condo buildings so you can get a general idea of what’s out there. I can always get as specific as you’d like, if you want to call or email me.
Here’s to a good week!
Chris
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703-362-7764
This story really typifies the types of condo buildings you may look at. There are a number of older buildings like the Cardinal House, the Chatham, and the Hyde Park, all in North Arlington, built before 1975. They are very solid brick buildings with good sized units. They have nice lobbies, and amenities like a gym, pool, and social room. They are very well-built buildings that could serve you well.
BUT………… they aren’t contemporary and modern, and unless the owner has renovated they don’t have all the nice up-to-date fixtures and features that the newer buildings offer. Some of the condo buildings built on the Orange Line like Station Square, Clarendon 1021, and Ballston East and West are really beautiful and fit the modern aesthetic since they were built in the much more recent past. But, they are more expensive and have less square footage in a unit than some of the older condos. Another important factor: many of the newer buildings are closer to the metro (and you pay for that convenience).
Finally, there are some amazing condo buildings just newly built and very upscale. Lyon Hill is a good example of this type of building — absolutely gorgoeus, very hip, and very convenient. Upscale lofts with gorgeous city views are also available in buildings like Wooster and Mercer. These fall into the Dream House category, with units priced between $1-2+ million. If a First Time Home Buyer lands here, please let that person be my client!
So hang in there with me. It promises to be a very busy week, but I plan to highlight some of these different condo buildings so you can get a general idea of what’s out there. I can always get as specific as you’d like, if you want to call or email me.
Here’s to a good week!
Chris
<IMG style=”WIDTH: 134px; HEIGHT: 58px” height=87 src=”/images/99168-91904/logo_with_clear_background_good_for_website1.gif” width=276 border=0>
703-362-7764
