October 2013

There are some certainties in DC like……grid lock on the Beltway……beautiful cherry blossoms……Metro escalator breakdowns……K Street law firms…..camera toting tourists…..another Wizards losing season…….and never-ending disputes over the names of our neighborhoods. 

Newly popular neighborhoods are often torn between several names before one sticks.  Long time residents and real estate developers often use different nicknames to brand their neighborhoods.  For example, the Navy Yard neighborhood was given this name by residents as a testimony to the neighborhood’s historical landmarks, yet business and real estate developers chose a different name to reflect its geographic location.  It is also known as the Capitol Riverfront due to its real estate

 LivingSocial CEO Tim O’Shaughnessy just bought a newly renovated home near popular U Street for $1.4 million.  O’Shaughnessy and his wife bought a 3 bedroom, 1,708 SF townhouse near T and 15th Streets, NW, last month and are currently living in it.  He previously lived in this neighborhood and decided to return to T Street a year later, after living in DC’s Kalorama Heights neighborhood for a very short period of time. 

Previously, the daily deal entrepreneur sold a 4-bedroom, 3-bath Victorian rowhouse near the U Street corridor for $1.24 million.  O’Shaughnessy, cofounder and CEO of the deals company, LivingSocial, then bought a new home in Kalorama Heights for $2.15 million.  This home was much larger than his first home featuring 4 bedrooms and

Workers in 10 cities across the U.S. saw a big hike in their wages over the past year, including DC as one of the biggest, coming in at #6.  DC ranks 3rd nationally for wealth with Washingtonians earning 75% more than the national average.  DC only trails New York City and Santa Clara, CA in average wages.  DC ranks as one of the highest concentrations of wealthy residents, with 14% of households earning more than $191,465 annually.  Well-paid Washingtonians are taking advantage of low interest rates and buying condos or homes in the DC area. 

While the average worker in the U.S. saw their pay rise 1.7% over the past year, San Francisco lead the way as number one with the highest wage increases (up 3.7%), followed by Baltimore, Seattle, Atlanta, Dallas

For those with discerning taste, the Turnberry Tower in Arlington promises every luxury and amenity of high-rise urban living. The ultimate luxury lifestyle awaits you at the tallest luxury condo building in Metro DC located across the Potomac River in the nearby Arlington neighborhood of Rosslyn. 

This 26-story building with 247 units offers sweeping views of DC, and contemporary refinement with huge rooms; modern European gourmet kitchens and marble baths; walk-in closets; and 9’ to 11’ ceilings with floor-to-ceiling glass windows allowing for plenty of natural light; and expansive terraces for each unit.  The large open floor plan with floor to ceiling glass windows provides generous views of all of downtown DC overlooking monuments and well-known DC

DC Condo Boutique team member Donna Mank represented the buyer of a Flat at Union Row, located at 2125 14th St NW #529, Washington, DC 20009 in DC's U Street Corridor neighborhood.  This unit features 1 BR / 1 BA / 600 SF.  It closed on September 26, 2013 for $355,000 / $592 SF.

This flat features a gourmet kitchen with stainless appliances, Porcelanosa bath, maple hardwood floors and soaring 9 ft+ ceilings.  Union Row is located in DC's U Street Corridor neighborhood and is a full service building with concierge services and ground floor retail and dining.  The Flats at Union Row was developed by PN Hoffman and delivered in 2007.

New Color Scheme
DC Condo Boutique rolled out a new look today.  We have replaced the dark blue background and white font with a white background and grey colored font.  The new color scheme should be easier to view on the growing number on smaller-screen mobile devices that access our website.

Responsive Design
One of the keys of the new look is the responsive design.  The site will automatically adapt and resize based upon the size of the screen of the device that you are using.  No more pinching, squinting and excessive scrolling on your iPhone or Droid to see all the data on the site.  This responsive design capability also eliminates the need to download and install any kind of an app to effectively use the website.

Improved Listing Information
The

The Friendship Heights neighborhood is an upscale residential village in northwest DC, with a median household income that exceeds $100,000.  A mix of residents from school-age children to empty nesters live here and everything in between.  While known as a shopping mecca to area DC residents, it is the type of neighborhood for people who love to live in the city; enjoy a walkable neighborhood; have upscale retail at their fingertips and prefer lots of public transportation options.  For those lucky enough to live in one of Friendship Heights’ luxury condominiums, many say it feels more like a suburban than urban center while soaking up the comforts of suburban living.

Bounded by River Road to the southwest, Willard Avenue and Western Avenue to the north,

Indulge in one-level luxury living in Old Town Alexandria with sweeping panoramic views of DC, the Potomac River and the Old Town Alexandria skyline while living in the heart of Old Town in brand new construction at the upscale Oronoco.  The Oronoco offers living space from 1,600 to 3,500 Square Feet, more than 1,000 Square Feet of outdoor living space with expansive terraces and balconies, and chef-inspired gourmet kitchens with top-of-the-line appliances.  This boutique condominium residence has 60 units and feels like an urban hideaway with a prime setting for entertaining and just blocks from the Braddock Road Metro Station for an easy commute into DC.  Nearby National Airport is 5 minutes by car. The modern-style condos range in price from

Crystal City, Arlington’s largest downtown, is very convenient for both commuting to nearby DC and everyday living.  The Crystal City Metro Station on the Blue and Yellow Lines is located near residential high-rises, office buildings, fine restaurants, cafes, specialty shops, outdoor movie nights, bike trails, and an award-winning theater with Synetic Theater.  The buildings which surround the Metro station are connected by tree-lined streets and an underground system of walkways that take you to eateries, shops and personal services.  The underground system was designed to shelter residents and workers from inclement weather.

Crystal City is convenient for its amenities like pharmacies, banks, a post office, grocery stores, doctor and dental offices. 

One of DC’s most sought-after neighborhoods to live in, Cleveland Park is an ideal neighborhood for those who can afford to live here.  The allure of the lifestyle includes cosmopolitan and diplomatic neighbors, excellent public and private schools, and beautiful homes.  There’s a mix of people who’ve already raised their children, and younger people starting families or young, single professionals.  The tony residential neighborhood in the Northwest section of DC is bounded by Rock Creek Park to the east, Wisconsin and Idaho Avenues to the west, Klingle and Woodley Roads to the south, and Rodman and Tilden Streets to the north.

Its main commercial corridor lies along Connecticut Avenue, NW--where Cleveland Park has its own Metro Station on the Red