The Rhapsody, located on Vermont Avenue NW between Florida and W is positioned in the heart of the dynamic Mid-city Corridor.  Hop on the Metro which is a block away or walk to dining and entertainment venues of both the U Street Corridor and Logan Circle neighborhoods.  Located at 2120 Vermont Ave NW, the Rhapsody is among the most walkable developments in the District with a WalkScore ranking of 95.

The Rhapsody is an FHA-approved condo development which allows condo buyers to get approved for mortgages with a down payment as low as 3.5%.  Condo owners appreciate the pet-friendly policies of the Rhapsody, a growing rarity in the District.  Building amenities include a fitness room, 24-hour security and a rooftop terrace with grilles, seating and great views of the city.

Currently there are two units for sale at the Rhapsody including unit #5 featuring 2 BR / 2 BA / 1,200 SF / 2 patios and one parking space.  This unit is listed by TTR Sotheby's International Realty for $459,900.  Here is a resource to learn more about and view active Rhapsody real estate listings.

1900 Vermont is a new construction upscale town home development located in the U Street Corridor at the corner of Vermont and T.  These stone-front Victorian-style town residences offer an exciting urban alternative to traditional condo living in the heart of the the dynamic U Street Corridor.

1900 Vermont pricing has just been released:

1011A T Street (Lower Unit)
3 BR /  3 BA / 2.151 SF /  parking / rear patio / $994,000*

1011B T Street (Upper Unit)
2 BR /  2.5 BA / 2,138 SF / parking / roof terrace / $1,255,000

1013A T Street (Lower Unit)
3 BR / , 3 BA  /  2,015 SF / parking / rear patio / $959,500

1013B T Street (Upper Unit)
2 BR /  2.5 BA /  2,005 SF / parking / roof terrace / $1,245,500

Here is a resource to learn more about 1900 Vermont and other DC new construction real estate options.

*Subject to six month lease-back to Seller. Home conveys with window treatments and wall coverings.

In a recent study conducted by Realtor.com, Washington, DC ranked first in the nation for having the smallest size homes.  The study calculated the median square footage of all the homes listed for sale in September, 2011.

DC homes weighed in with a median home size of 1,000 sq. ft. and a median lot size of 2,375 sq. ft. Rounding out the top five smallest median home sizes were Hawaii, Michigan, Iowa and Ohio.  The DC top ranking makes sense as this study utilized state data rather than just urban cities or Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs).

Many of the smaller condos in the District are located in more venerable residential neighborhoods like Foggy Bottom and Dupont Circle with larger units more readily available in neighborhoods like Logan Circle and U Street that have had a significant number of new developments built in the last ten years.

Washingtonians looking for a sophisticated, yet hip condo in the 14th Street Corridor should definitely take a look at Union Row.  This project, developed by PN Hoffman includes both the Flats at Union Row and the Warehouses at Union Row. The Flats is a new construction 8-story building with 216 condos and the Warehouses features the re-development of two existing warehouse structures into 52 townhouse style condos.

PN Hoffman left the cookie cutter back at the office when they developed Union Row. The development has unique and visually interesting architectural features and the individual units units have a diverse array of floor plans.  This is not a seen one unit…..seen them all kind of place.

The re-sale market has been strong at Union Row with ongoing high demand for this project.  Currently, three units are listed for sale including a 1 BR + den/ 2 BA with 920 SF listed for $490,000, a 2 BR / 1BA with 910 SF listed for $569,000 and a 2 BR /  2 BA with 1,246 SF listed for $699,000.  Union Row is an FHA approved development.  Here is a resource to view active Union Row real estate listings.

The most expensive condo to sell in the District during May 2011 was in the West End at 22 West, located at 1177 22nd Street NW #8A, Washington, DC.  This 2 BR / 2 BA, 1,501 SF condo includes two parking spaces.  The selling price was $1.3M / $866 SF which was 98% of asking price.

Congratulations to Nadia Nejaime of DC Living Real Estate LLC for closing the most expensive condo sale in the District in May 2011.

Honorable mention for the 2nd most expensive DC condo sold in May 2011 was in the U Street Corridor at Woodson Row, located at 1922 12th Street NW #2, Washington, DC. This 3 BR / 2.5 BA, 2,112 SF condo includes one parking space.  The selling price was $1.275M / $603 SF which was 98% of asking price.

Congratulations to selling Realtor Lindsay Reishman of Lindsay Reishman Real Estate, Inc. for closing this transaction.

In May 2011 three DC condos sold for $1M or over,  on par with April 2011, down from five in both February & March 2011 and up from two in January 2011.

If you are interested in learning more about luxury condos, here is a resource to view DC luxury condos that are currently listed for sale.

While 11th Street NW doesn't get as much ink as other higher profile DC numbered streets like 14th and 16th Streets, it is awakening in the Logan, U Street and Columbia Heights neighborhoods. A recent NY Times article described the 3200 block of 11th Street in Columbia Heights as the "Hip Strip."  The article included a slide show featuring the hot 11th Street entertainment spots including the Wonderland Ballroom, Meridian Pint, Room 11 and Bloombars.

In the last five years 11th Street has come alive as a residential corridor with several new developments including:

Logan Circle: The Eleven, Lofts 11,  Logan Park, The Providence and Renaissance at Logan

U Street: 2121 11th, The Beauregard, The Fillmore, The Lacey, The Lincoln

photo courtesy of Flicker user Mr. T in DC

If you are like most of our clients, high on your list of "must haves" for your new condo is a unique, interesting layout.  No one wants boxy....low-ceilinged....small windowed....galley kitchen configurations.

A newer development in the District that delivers interesting, unique configurations is Union Row.  Competed in 2007 by PN Hoffman, Union Row is located in the U Street Corridor along bustling 14th Street.

Union Row is a mixed-use project with ground-floor retail including Yes! Organic, CVS, Georgetown Valet and Eatonville.  Union Row weighs in with a WalkScore of 94/100 (Walker's Paradise) and a TransitScore of 96/100 (Rider's Paradise) and is located just .16 miles from the U Street Metro Station.

New construction units at Union Row are sold out, but several interesting re-sales are currently on the market at both the Warehouses and the Flats.  Currently, there are five active listings at Union Row ranging from $355,000 to 879,000.  Here is a resource to view active Union Row listings.  Union Row is an FHA approved development and does qualify for down-payments as low as 3.5%.

The results of a recent survey on home design trends by the American Institute of Architects reads like a play book for recent DC new construction. It is refreshing to see several of the trends that we all appreciate about the DC market becoming more prevalent across the nation.  Community design trends that are gaining in popularity include infill development, access to public transportation, mixed-use facilities, and dedicated open space. 

Here in the District, it is easy to trace the development that followed the extension of Metro lines throughout the city.  The vast swaths of vacant land created by the 1968 riots provided a critical mass of infill space that have allowed for neighborhood transforming development in the Columbia Heights and U Street Corridors.  It is no coincidence that investment in these neighborhoods didn't come until after the Metro stations were opened.  Today with over 800,000 daily riders it is hard to imagine what the District would look like without the Metro System.  Certainly, the inner-District investment in housing infrastructure may have shifted further outside the Beltway.

Mixed-use facilities are another housing trend cited in the AIA survey as gaining in popularity.  The all-important neighborhood review process here in the District has in many cases forced developers to build welcoming street-level retail space.  Popular newer condo developments with active ground floor retail include Metropole in Logan Circle, Union Row and Langston Lofts in the U Street Corridor, City Vista in Mount Vernon Triangle and the Georgetown Madelon in Georgetown.

The inclusion of open space is another growing trend cited by the AIA survey.  Thanks to the L'Enfant and McMillan Plans and several administrations that pushed through open space initiatives, the District is blessed with an abundance of open space.  Much of the recent development in the District have been infill projects where new development is completed between existing structures.  Many of these infill projects have invested in creating exciting roof-top common space.  Some of the better rooftops with common "open space" built in recent years include The Whitman, and City Vista in Mount Vernon Triangle, Jenkins Row on Capitol Hill, Kenyon Square in Columbia Heights, 3303 Water St in Georgetown and Clara Barton and Madrigal Lofts in the Penn Quarter. 

Yes, we are fortunate to have so many of these trends are already widely adopted here in the District.

As reported in the WaPo, VIDA fitness center and Bang hair salon owner David von Storch has a knack for picking great locations for his establishments.  A Bang or VIDA opening is a huge stamp of approval on a District neighborhood.

Busy Washingtonians with very limited windows of time to exercise are drawn to the exclusive and upscale VIDA fitness centers.  VIDA targets clients in the 25-49 age range with incomes over $80,000.....who are able and willing to pay a few more dollars a month for a less crowded gym with high-end finishes.  From the fingerprint scanners to endless pools and Japanese soaking tubs, VIDA delivers the goods.

If you are interested in working out a a VIDA Fitness Center, what could be better than living near one of these facilities.  Here are selected condo developments located close to VIDA Fitness Centers:

VIDA Verizon Center (Penn Quarter) - 7th & F NW

• 555 Mass
• Clara Barton
• Cosmopolitan
• Gallery Place 
• Mather Studios

VIDA Metropole (Logan Circle) - 15th & P NW

• Cooper Lewis
• Lofts 14
• Lofts 14 Two
• Matrix
• Metropole

VIDA Renaissance Hotel (Penn Quarter) 9th & K NW

• Quincy Park
• Whitman

VIDA U Street (U Street Corridor) 1600 Block U Street

• Beekman Place
• Balfour
• Durant Manor
• Meridian Crescent
• Northumberland