Arlington

Competition is stiff when it comes to DC real estate, especially in such locations as Alexandria and Arlington. Both were recently named among the nation’s “most competitive” cities for housing markets.

The ranking comes from Redfin. The real estate site used its Redfin Compete Score to rate the level of difficulty buyers experience in finding a home based on things like the number of competing offers and on waived contingencies.

The compete score also takes into account how fast homes go under contract and how much homes sell above list price. Both Arlington and Alexandria received an RCS score of 96, meaning buyers face the highest level of competition in the nation. The two cities tied with Grand Rapids, Michigan.

As for Arlington and

Graphic: Grooming Lounge

It’s already known as a great place to live, but Arlington now has something else to brag about. A new study by a DC-based men’s grooming company just declared Arlington the nation’s most handsome city.

The ranking comes from Grooming Lounge. While ranking one location as more handsome than another may appear to be purely subjective, the company says it dug deeper to measure the male population’s commitment to looking good.

The company says it took into account how much men living in the area shelled out for their shaving needs, including personal-care products and services. Researchers broke it down into how much each man spends individually on grooming and on apparel.

While Scottsdale, Arizona men actually spent the

Courtesy of Skidmore Owings & Merrill LLP

A plan to connect up Crystal City with Reagan National Airport could be even closer to reality. Called CC2DCA, the plan calls for a pedestrian bridge or tunnel to connect Crystal City to an airport parking garage.

If this happens, it could mean a five-minute walk to the airport. Not only would it be convenient for area residents and visitors, but it could also mean big news in terms of economic development and sustainability for the area.

According to a feasibility study by the Crystal City Business Improvement District, a new walkway would likely attract new development, new businesses and new residents. It could also potentially someday lead to high-speed rail service.

While the airport is only

The results are in, and once again the Arlington Public School District is tops in the state. Niche.com recently came out with its list of the “2020 Best School Districts in Virginia”, placing Arlington Public Schools in the top spot for the second year in a row. Niche looks at a variety of things when coming up with its ranking system, including data obtained from the U.S. Department of Education and test scores. It also considers millions of reviews and ratings from Niche users.

A large part of the ranking comes from academics. Niche assigns half of a district’s overall score based upon things like state assessment proficiencies, SAT/ACT scores and responses gained from students and parents.

It then factors in the teachers, culture and

Earmarked as Arlington’s next luxury condo building, The Pierce promises the enjoyment of large floor plans and upscale finishes. In all, the new condo building makes room for more than 100 units, with floor plans ranging from around 1,200 square feet to 2,400 square feet of living space.

Starting with a one-bedroom plus a den design, buyers will also have the choice of up to a three-bedroom floor plan. Some of the units are priced in the $900,000s while others are in the multi-million-dollar range.

Luxury finishes include continuous hardwoods, floor-to-ceiling windows and some direct-access elevators. In addition, the units will include contemporary-style design features, with chef-inspired kitchens, quartz countertops and some heated

Arlington’s population is growing, and as it grows it is only getting wealthier. According to recently released U.S. Census data, Arlington’s population grew about 14-percent from 2010 to 2018.

That’s considerably higher than other locations across the state and the nation. The statewide population increase totaled about 6.5-percent, while the national population rose about six percent during the same time span.

As of July 2018, the federal government estimates more than 237,000 residents live in Arlington. With a boost of around 2,500 residents, that’s about one-percent higher than the previous year. Census data suggests Arlington County’s population rose by about 4,900 people between 2016 and 2017.

The population isn’t the only thing on

Arlington is filled with great neighborhoods, but for some of the best value you may want to head to Clarendon/Court House. The true value comes in form of the available housing options and the many available amenities.

Located right next to each other, the two are so close they’re often interchangeable. Clarendon and Court House are connected via of a number of restaurants, retail stores and bars, most notably the chain retail stores of Clarendon Boulevard and the mom-and-pop offerings of Wilson Boulevard.

You’ll find traditional suburban venues like Starbucks and Whole Foods in Clarendon, but you’ll also find more unique restaurants and small entertainment venues nearby. Public transportation is easily accessible too, plus the area is covered

Support appears to be growing for a National Landing branding campaign. As the Crystal City Business Improvement District moves forward with absorbing portions of Pentagon City and Potomac Yard, some see a name change as the next logical step in the process.

With support from commercial property owners, the Arlington County Board recently approved a 76-percent boost in land for the BID. The land in question currently sits in Potomac Yard and Pentagon City, including land slated for the new Amazon HQ2.

Supporters say going by one name would help to better distinguish the area as one unified location. It’s not a done deal just yet. Proponents of a name change say they’re still interested in hearing what community and area stakeholders have to say

 If you’re single, that’s one more good reason to consider making a move to the DC area. DC and Arlington were both recently named top cities for singles.  The findings come from Apartmentlist.com. Last Valentine’s Day the website ranked the best and worst cities for dating, putting both cities near the top.

The list put the most weight on one particular category. That category measured how satisfied singles are with dating opportunities in their city. The study also took into account satisfaction with a city’s social life and dating affordability. For that particular category, analysts looked at the average price it costs for two people to go out to dinner and to a movie. Then they compared the cost to median earnings of singles in the area.

More and more people are starting to discover what locals have known about Arlington for years. Not only is Arlington a great place to live, but the Bluemont neighborhood is now ranked at the very top of a national list.

Niche.com, a well-known ranking website, recently came out with its list of the “2019 Best Places to Live in America”. Perhaps not surprisingly, Arlington’s Bluemont neighborhood took the number one spot.

Bluemont received an Overall Niche Grade of an “A+”, with a notable “A+” grade for its public schools, its nightlife and for being good for families. The neighborhood received a solid “A” for housing, outdoor activities and the commute, plus a “B+” for jobs and diversity.

According to Niche, Bluemont neighbors enjoy more of