This weekend I toured a number of condos with a client who was prequalified at around $200k. On her budget, she can afford a fixer-upper townhouse in a neighborhood like Bucknell Manor. She briefly considered the idea of buying a duplex townhouse. The idea of a duplex in a quiet 1950's neighborhood is quite appealing. The reality of owning that townhouse involves maintenance and upkeep that a young single gal probably wouldn't enjoy.
So instead we turned to focus on one and two bedroom condos, preferably under $200k. She has a number of choices, all in decent neighborhoods and with an easy commute to Ft. Belvoir. Here's where we stopped:
- Huntington Walk --- Huntington Walk is a tiny little garden-style condo community on Rt. 1 accross from Target. The units are very nicely priced and in good shape. The one she looked at had a nice new kitchen and a patio. The laundry is common, but the building is nice sturdy brick.
- Huntington Run --- Huntington Run is the younger sister of Huntington Walk. The units are about the same size, which is to say, very generously proportioned. The unit has laundry in the unit, but the building is siding. Huntington Run and Huntington Walk are well within this client's budget.
- Huntington Club --- Huntington Club is at the Huntington Metro. The condo fees here are a bit high, but the condo fee includes all utilities, heating, cooling and cable TV. Huntington Club offers a good deal of space and many units are in very good shape here. Some of the beat-up units have remarkably small price tags.
- Midtowns of Alexandria --- Sparkling, new, granite and fine cabinetry is what you'll find here. The roof-top deck is pleasant and the proximity to the metro is unbeatable. Easily the nicest of what's in the budget for this client, the downside is the size: the Midtowns will offer a small studio for slightly more than what my client wants to spend. Of course, every unit in the Midtowns has laundry facilities in the unit.
- Hunting Creek Club --- Hunting Creek Club condos are hi-rise apartments with large balconies. Most units here have very pleasant views, hardwood floors and large windows. Hunting Creek Club is in the middle of this client's budget and she was taken by the views afforded by the one bedroom here. When buying a condo it's important to remember that you can always change fixtures and wall coverings, but you can never change the view or the location. Hunting Creek Club has a laundry room on each floor. The unit that we viewed at Huntington Creek Club has a stunning view of the Potomac. The unit overlooks the Belle Haven Country Club. Hunting Creek Club is about 4 blocks from the Metro, close to Old Town and has easy access to the Beltway. Hunting Creek Club is right in my client's budget.
- Montebello Condos --- Montebello condominiums are hi-rises that sit on Mount Eagle at the Huntington Metro. The 37 acres of Montebello are surrounded by fences with 24 hour security roaming and at the gates. One of the big appeals of Montebello is the collection of amenities. Montebello has an indoor and outdoor pool, hot tubs, sauna, work-out rooms, convenience store, dry-cleaning, bowling, billiards, ping-pong and more. Every unit at Montebello has a balcony and most of these balconies are enclosed with sliding glass doors. Montebello has a washer and dryer in the unit. Montebello is walking distance to the Metro and has a shuttle if you don't want to walk. Montebello is at the upper end of my client's budget.
- Belle View Condos --- Belle View is a gem on the Potomac. These brick garden-style condos are only a few steps from the Belle Haven marina and the Belle View Shopping Center. They have the feel of grandma's house, most with hardwood floors, gleaming kitchens and windows on 2 or three sides. The exterior of Belle View is cute as a button and you can't get a better neighborhood anywhere and for any price. Belle View has laundry in the basement. Belle View is a bike-ride from the Metro and from Old Town, but it well served by the Fairfax Connector. A one-bedroom at Belle View is currently selling at around $210k, which is a little pricey when you consider the size. The price of Belle View puts it in the same category as Montebello and the Midtowns, but with a different value offered.
- River Towers --- Our last stop was River Towers. River Towers is nine-stories high and abuts Belle View condos. River Towers is unique in Northern Virginia because of its greenery. River Towers sits on 26 acres of land and is adjacent to a national park and a county park. The 1 bedroom units at River Towers are big and bright; many have brand new kitchens. The laundry room is on the first floor and has a dozen or more machines. The prices at River Towers are well-within this client's budget.
We took in a lot over the weekend and set an appointment for a closer look on a future weekend. It's a good idea to digest what was seen. And see how you feel about it after you've seen the properties.
I can think of a number of places that would also fall within this client's budget and still offer a very reasonable commute to Ft. Belvoir. But I wanted to get her impressions of these places before going on a bit deeper.
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About the Author --- Will Nesbitt is the principal broker of Condo 1 Alexandria / Will Nesbitt Realty LLC. Will specializes in condos, townhouses and single family residences in Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax County, Crystal City, and Kingstowne. Will resides in Belle Haven Estates just outside Alexandria VA in Fairfax County. |
