A DC Co-op Primer

the chastleton cooperative - 1701 16th st nw

If you’re looking for DC housing in the New Year, you need to understand what you’re buying. While some people may use the terms condo and co-op interchangeably, they’re not the same. While many co-ops started in DC in the 1920s, the first DC area co-op started in the late 1800s, well before condos arrived in the city. These days more than 100 co-ops exist in DC.

With a condo, you take on a private unit within a multi-unit property, where ownership extends to common use of certain areas. Co-op owners, meanwhile, don’t actually own their own private residential units, but rather hold a share or interest in the entire building.

Residents collectively own and manage co-ops, but a nonprofit corporation holds the property title. As for the selling price, condos and co-ops aren’t all that different.

Co-ops sometimes include lower closing costs, yet you may find condos are easier to finance. Monthly fees for co-ops, however, can be higher because they’ll sometimes include not just maintenance and amenities, but also utilities, building property taxes and the mortgage.

Typically a co-op board has to approve someone new to come to the property. While this gives some control over new residents coming in, it may make it harder to sell because a new buyer is essentially buying into a corporation, and the board has the final say.

The process often involves an interview, something you don’t have when purchasing a condo. Residents also have to abide by certain regulations and rules.

Co-ops often put restrictions on renting out units too, and rentals usually have to be approved by the co-op board. Still, co-ops and condos do have some advantages that both share. They’re often less expensive than a single-family house, plus they both offer a sense of community and there’s no yard work involved.

DC Co-op Listings

DC Cooperatives For Sale

57 Properties
Page 1 of 5
$5,735,000
Neighborhood: Watergate
5
Beds
4F21/2
Baths
4,465
Sq.Ft.
1968
Year Built
28
Days on Site
DCDC2119796
MLS
$3,795,000
Neighborhood: Foggy Bottom
2
Beds
2F21/2
Baths
4,640
Sq.Ft.
1965
Year Built
1341
Days on Site
DCDC472232
MLS
$3,350,000
Neighborhood: Foggy Bottom
3
Beds
3F11/2
Baths
2,740
Sq.Ft.
1970
Year Built
9
Days on Site
DCDC2133318
MLS
$3,100,000
Neighborhood: Foggy Bottom
2
Beds
2F11/2
Baths
2,459
Sq.Ft.
1971
Year Built
121
Days on Site
DCDC2120438
MLS
$2,950,000
Neighborhood: Kalorama
3
Beds
3
Baths
3,150
Sq.Ft.
1917
Year Built
44
Days on Site
DCDC2127214
MLS
$2,350,000
Neighborhood: Massachusetts Avenue Heights
2
Beds
2F11/2
Baths
2,569
Sq.Ft.
1964
Year Built
15
Days on Site
DCDC2132010
MLS
$1,850,000
Neighborhood: Foggy Bottom
3
Beds
3F11/2
Baths
3,036
Sq.Ft.
1971
Year Built
127
Days on Site
DCDC2116956
MLS
$1,795,000
Neighborhood: Woodley Park
1
Beds
2F11/2
Baths
2,450
Sq.Ft.
1964
Year Built
71
Days on Site
DCDC2124492
MLS
$1,750,000
Neighborhood: Massachusetts Avenue Heights
1
Beds
1F11/2
Baths
1,850
Sq.Ft.
1965
Year Built
70
Days on Site
DCDC2125128
MLS
$1,595,000
Neighborhood: Foggy Bottom
2
Beds
2F11/2
Baths
1,815
Sq.Ft.
1970
Year Built
205
Days on Site
DCDC2106230
MLS
$1,250,000
Neighborhood: Cathedral Heights
3
Beds
3F11/2
Baths
3,000
Sq.Ft.
1931
Year Built
63
Days on Site
DCDC2126106
MLS
$1,100,000
Neighborhood: Kalorama
3
Beds
2
Baths
1917
Year Built
15
Days on Site
DCDC2132188
MLS

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