DC Condo Boutique http://www.dccondoboutique.com/blog/tags/urban-lifestyles/ Urban Washington, DC condos and lifestyles including information about popular District neighborhoods including Adams Morgan, Capitol Hill, Columbia Heights, Dupont Circle, Foggy Bottom, Georgetown, Kalorama, Logan Circle, Mount Vernon Triangle, Penn http://www.dccondoboutique.com/blog/trade-the-empty-nest-for-downtown-district-digs.html http://www.dccondoboutique.com/blog/trade-the-empty-nest-for-downtown-district-digs.html mark@dccondoboutique.com (Mark Washburn) Trade the Empty Nest for Downtown District Digs Slice the commute with an inbound move

The following video about the growing challenges associated with commuting into the District from the suburbs should hit home with many of our regions empty nesters.


 

Is it time to get back a couple hours a day spent commuting by selling the suburban home and moving into the city?  This inbound migration is a very popular lifestyle change and the overwhelming majority of our clients who have taken this plunge never look back.  Many find the biggest hurdle to move like this is psychological....what to do with all the stuff that fills the suburban 4 BR house.

Significant new construction in the last decade has changed the face of the DC stock of DC condos.  Moving back to the District doesn't mean that you will be stuffed in to a low-ceilinged, boxy cramped unit like you rented in your early 20s after college.  Newer DC developments offer interesting and unique interiors with high ceilings, luxury finishes and outdoor living space.

If you are considering a move back into the city, DC Condo Boutique is a resource to learn more about condo developments available in popular District neighborhoods and also view available listings.

]]> Fri, 23 Jul 2010 07:20:27 -0400 http://www.dccondoboutique.com/blog/the-suburban-century-is-over.html http://www.dccondoboutique.com/blog/the-suburban-century-is-over.html mark@dccondoboutique.com (Mark Washburn) The Suburban Century is Over Interesting report in the minnpost.com detailing a housing experts predictions for shifts in American housingdc_beltway_traffic_250 demographics away from suburban sprawl to urban central cites and suburban town centers.  This lifestyle shift was discussed in a presentation delivered to the Urban Land Institute of Minnesota by housing researcher John Mcllwain.

For many years, the Washington DC area has been at the forefront of this suburban to urban shift described by Mcllwaine. The development around both Metro stations and town centers throughout the entire region is staggering.

Here in the District, even 25 years ago who could have predicted a renewed 14th Street Corridor....how about a revitalized Columbia Heights or luxury high-rises in the Capital Riverfront?  Probably not many, but at this point even in the midst of a real estate bubble there is great hope for renewal and revitalization across the entire city.

photo courtesy of Flickr user derango

]]> Fri, 25 Jun 2010 09:08:21 -0400 http://www.dccondoboutique.com/blog/dc-walk-scores.html http://www.dccondoboutique.com/blog/dc-walk-scores.html mark@dccondoboutique.com (Mark Washburn) DC Walk Scores Walking is the essence of the DC urban lifestyle.  It doesn't matter if you are a K Street attorney with a pair of cordovan Allen-Edmonds oxfords or a lobbyist adorned in a pair of Jimmy Choo pumps and a secret pair of New Balance running shoes stashed away for the daily commute.........walking around the District is part of your daily routine.

Walk Score is a company that has graded properties and neighborhoods across the country for their walkability.  Washington, DC comes in very high at #7 on the national ranking of major cities only trailing the likes of San Francisco, New York, Boston and Chicago.  Walk Score uses a 100 point grading system and some of the District's neighborhoods have extremely high walkability rankings:

  1. Dupont Circle 99
  2. Logan Circle 98
  3. Downtown 97
  4. U Street Corridor 97
  5. Foggy Bottom 95
  6. Mount Vernon Square 95
  7. Adams Morgan 93
  8. Kalorama 92
  9. Friendship Heights 90
  10. Georgetown 90

Any neighborhood with a ranking in the 90s is categorized as a walkers paradise - Most errands can be accomplished on foot and many people get by without owning a car.  Walk Score utilizes a complex algorithm to measure distance from an address to thirteen amenities including: grocery store, restaurants, bars, parks, coffee shop and other daily necessities.

The DC Condo Boutique offers a Walk Score rating for every property listed for sale in the District.  To view the Walk Score of a listing, simply click on the black Walk Score tab located near the top of the listing just under the address.

walk_score_tab_400 

The Walk Score detail for each listing displays as follows:

walk_score_400

 

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