We just moved to Arlington 3 months ago. We looked for someplace along the Metro routes to maximize our public transportation options. Clarendon is definitely hopping with lots of restaurant options, shops, WF and TJ, but it is expensive (and not where we live). I can’t speak to what commuting is like since we’re retired and not often using public transportation at its busiest times.
S2 lives in Glover Park in DC (just north of Georgetown). I don’t know that that location would work for them since bus is the only option and commuting to Arlington might be more time consuming.
Thanks all. The job is in Crystal City, Arlington, right off the Crystal City Yellow Line stop. They aren’t interested in suburban life so much, though appreciate all the tips RE Virginia. As for price, they are looking to spend around $2,000 a month for a one bedroom, but are flexible on price.
Any thoughts on finding an apartment in their price range in Columbia Heights, Adams Morgan, Shaw, U Street Corridor, DuPont Circle, Logan Circle, Chinatown, H Street Corridor, Foggy Bottom, Waterfront and Cleveland Park? Those are neighborhoods they’d mentioned.
If they look at Arlington, note that Ballston is just south of Clarendon, on a subway line, and many apartments and other living choices. Very millennial. DD moved their from Silver Spring MD earlier this year and loves it.
My daughter lived in DC for 3 years, in the Cleveland Park neighborhood, and thought it was fine. But she worked in DC, not Arlington. Cleveland Park (and DuPont Circle and Woodley Park) are a long way from Arlington, and the commute by Metro involves changing trains, which lengthens the time considerably.
The studio apartment she rented now goes for $1600 a month.
One thing about living in DC: You had better like jury duty. You’re going to be called every 2 years, and no power on earth will get you out of it. My daughter was called for grand jury duty – which lasts for 5 solid weeks – with 2 extra days later on. Talk about disrupting your job!
My D and her H are shopping for a condo or townhouse in the DC area right now. Their real estate agent says prices are jumping in the Crystal City area due to the Amazon announcent. They are looking more in the Silver Springs (MD, near Red Line), so that is not as impacted. But real estate prices are still high. They rent in North Bethesda now, but were near Woodly Park for several years.
Is his job location known? Is it near one of the metro lines? Just wondering if he plans to commute on the metro, that could affect their choice of which line they want to live near. Of course you can transfer, but it adds time to the commute.
My daughter and husband lived in the Logan Circle area when they were in grad school—D at Georgetown McDonough and SIL at Johns Hopkins SAIS. They had an apartment in a renovated row house. Both of them walked to class—plus there was a metro nearby. There were shops and also a grocery store on 14th Street, which was a few blocks from their place. They sold their car before starting grad school, so parking wasn’t an issue. They both finished school in 2014 and left DC. This fall, they went back to DC for a friend’s wedding and stopped by their old neighborhood. They were surprised at how it had really taken off—many more restaurants, bars, stores, etc. They had a sublet and paid $1800 for a one-bedroom apartment.
I just went through finding an apartment for my son. He wound up in Clarendon, less than a 5 minute walk to metro, but he’s paying quite a bit.
We looked at a place in NoMa, but the area was just to sketchy for me. I asked a security guy (someone with a gun standing outside a building - he may have actually been a federal police guy) near metro if he would let my son, who was standing next to me, live in that area, and he said NO, and proceeded to tell us about people being shot, robbed, etc. I suspect in a couple of years that will be a nice area, but not now (can I mention a SMALL 2 br apt was going for $2800).
We focused on the Arlington area close to DC and the NW area near metro (WOODLEY Park, etc.).
I lived in Silver Spring for years, but moved over a decade ago. I do know real estate prices there went way up over the last several years, especially walking distance to metro. Someone I know lived there only a couple of years, and their house increased in value from about $400K to over 700K or so.
I now live way out in the MD suburbs, but feel free to PM me if I can help.
Parts of Arlington aren’t really suburban, especially along the Metro lines.
Do they have the opportunity to come down here so they can see what the commute would be like from some of their preferred neighborhoods? As others have said, some of them aren’t a short commute to Crystal City.
@shellfell is right, they need to come here and see/feel the neighborhoods. I have been in Arlington for almost 35 years - I was in a house raising kids in suburbia, then I sold that and bought the condo in the Clarendon/Courthouse area. Night and Day! My DS and DIL are in this neighborhood too. They rent, a stone’s throw to Metro ~700SF I think $2100/month. My DD has a small condo in Fairlington (south Arlington - buses, no Metro) and can get $2000 in rent. Prices are appreciating with the Amazon HQ2 - folks are deciding to hold on rather than sell so there may be more private rental opportunities. Roslyn is a walk to Georgetown and on the Orange/Silver/Blue Metro lines. Blue and Yellow serve Crystal City - so if living in Roslyn it would be one ride - about 4 stops - to work.
Roslyn is the last stop in VA before heading across the river. I live one stop west of that and head downtown often for Meetups, museums, hair salon, Nats and Caps games, etc. Navy Yard and Waterfront areas are newly developed, fun and hip restaurants, etc. but new buildings means new amenities, and corresponding prices.
$2k for a 1 BR within walking distance of a Metro station is going to be pretty typical in DC or the close-in burbs. i Definitely play with Metro’s Trip Planner. I looked at the new apartments going up near us and it’s $1600+.
DH works near the West End. I like that area (though GWU has bought out a fair number of buildings so they can expand) and it’s a VERY short walk to DH’s office. Blue and Orange lines stop at GWU, Red Line at Farragut North. It’s also a short walk to Georgetown. Dupont Circle is likely more expensive, but West End overlaps a lot of the go-to places (it’s about a 15 min walk from West End to Dupont).
He sublet a studio for $600/mo in the West End in 1988 when he was down here doing an internship. The 1 BR down the hall then went on sale for $55k. Wish we could have grabbed a spot in that building back then, as it would have been a great rental and would be a perfect location for us now. Alas, the price has increased seven-fold. Sigh…
Our S lives the Ballston Commons area. He originally moved into a place in Reston but greatly prefers the Arlington community. It seems like a great place especially for singles and couples who are in 20s & 30s. It’s around Pollard Street and the Ballston Shopping Center. There are lots of places to eat, Mercedes dealership, a park and public library. It’s also near the metro—about 1-2 blocks away. His rented condo building has covered parking with a gate, plus a concierge. He has lived in several other areas before settling with this place where he’s lived for 4+ years.
I have no idea about school districts and such as he’s still single and that’s not currently on this radar. His GF lives nearer DC.
Would strongly advise renting before buying. His current and former landlords both didn’t intend to be landlords and gave me the impression they would rather not be but bought and didn’t want to sell at a loss after market stagnated.
I honestly wish my D and SIL would move out of DC instead of buying in the area. I feel like they are getting themselves on a treadmill for high mortgage payments. Both went to private schools growing up and had parents who could pay for their college educations — I’m not convinced they will be able to do the same for their kids, and think they are assuming they’ll be able to.
We suggested S not buy until he has a better idea of how long he plans to live in DC/VA. So far, he’s put off buying. His rent is about $2000/mo for very nice 1bedroom, 1bath condo with hardwood floors.
Our youngest son and his wife live in Rosslyn and really, really like it. They do both work in Arlington so no need to be in D.C. but it’s a great location. Literally just across the river, five minutes from the Kennedy Center. He walks or bikes sometimes to grad school classes at Georgetown. It’s expensive. $$$$
Re NoMa - my D did a semester with the Washington Center, living onsite in NoMa (K and 3rd) - walked everywhere and never felt unsafe. No robberies, shootings, etc. She loved the proximity to the Capitol, Union Station, Union Market, H Street restaurants, and her favorite Indian eatery, Indigo. Not necessarily suggesting it for OP, but just wanted to share her personal experience of that neighborhood, as a young woman. My niece also lived in NoMa (F Street) for 3 years after graduation. She enjoyed it as well. Like any city dweller, they stayed alert when out and about, but neither girl experienced the level of security concerns raised in a previous post. D is hoping to move to DC after graduation, and I would be totally fine with her living in NoMa. (Note D did say that the far eastern end of NoMa is sketchy, but not the area that’s in walking proximity to the capitol and Union Market, where she was.)