All Blog Entries by Mark Washburn

Photo: Geoff Livingston

Full of boutique stores, restaurants and historic appeal, Alexandria is a popular place to live and visit, but it seems Alexandria is also underrated. At least that’s what analysts with the commercial real estate blog CommercialCafe have to say.

The blog recently came out with what it considers “The Top 20 Most Underrated Cities in the Country”, and Alexandria is at the very top of the list. From a millennial’s perspective, the website sought out underrated cities that are a bit smaller, but also offer a great quality of life.

Analysts only looked at cities with between 100,000 and 250,000 residents. They then factored in things like home prices, local entertainment and earning potential. They also considered the crime

With friendly neighbors and easy downtown access, Kent offers a superb option for those searching for a new place to call home in Northwest Washington. In fact, it’s that combination that seems to attract many new residents to the neighborhood, and leads to many long-time residents, as well.

Mostly built up in the 1930s and 1940s, homes in Kent tend to be a mix of older Colonials, as well as some more contemporary, architecturally-diverse homes, most of which tend to be on the eastern side of the neighborhood. A majority of homes in Kent sit on large lots with a large amount of square footage.

It’s the kind of place where neighbors become friends, and potluck dinners are kind of a big deal. Because Kent sits on the northwestern edge of DC, it’s

From former Army post to planned community, Cameron Station enjoys a rich history in Alexandria. Built up on former military land, the Cameron Station of today is a more than 100-acre community of hundreds of condos, townhomes and single-family homes.

This thriving community sits in Alexandria’s West End, taking the place of a military base that closed in the mid 1990s. The first homes of Cameron Station went up in the late 1990s, with construction taking place over several different phases.

These days you’ll find a number of desirable residences to choose from, many of which were built with 18th and 19th century architectural elements in mind. The entire community was designed to create the vision of an American small town.

That’s why you’ll

Virtually secluded from some of its better known neighbors, it’s the mystique of Burleith that some find so appealing. While close to Georgetown and Glover Park, and just a short stroll away from the shops and restaurants of Wisconsin Avenue, the quiet residential community of Burleith offers its own distinct vibe.

Named for an estate built in the early 1700s, a majority of homes in Burleith began going up in the 1920s. At the time, the homes were deemed to be an affordable option for buyers in the area.

Now nearly a century later, the community remains one of DC’s best kept secrets. It seems some people living in DC haven’t even heard of Burleith, which for local residents is seen as part of its appeal.

While the homes of Burleith have

A brand new residential development of condos and apartments is headed to Rosslyn. The Highlands is a new three-building complex that’s expected to open sometime later this fall.

The first building is a 27-story condo building called Pierce. The tower is set to include space for more than 100 luxury condominium homes when complete.

Floor plans at Pierce range from around 1,100 to more than 2,000 square feet of living space. The sophisticated condos are priced from the $900,000s to some topping $3 million.

The units of this building come with top-rated appliances, wine refrigerators and quartz countertops in the chef-inspired kitchens, along with large islands. In addition, you’ll find oversized private balconies with most of the condos, and

Photo: Geoff Alexander

Situated at the meeting spot of the Potomac and Anacostia Rivers, Buzzard Point offers dramatic views and plenty of character. Located in DC’s Southwest quadrant, Buzzard Point sits on a peninsula at the confluence of the two rivers.

A similar name appears on maps as early as the 1600s when European settlers began exploring the area. It then went through a couple of more name changes over the coming years and decades.

At one point, George Washington and Pierre Charles L’Enfant, the man who laid out the original design for DC, designated the area we now call Buzzard Point for military usage. By the early 1800s, the arsenal had tripled in size and Congress had approved the construction of more buildings in the area.

Surrounded by parks on three sides, the Berkley neighborhood not only offers desirable green space, but also iconic embassies and educational institutions. This suburban neighborhood is situated in DC’s Northwest quadrant, and despite its pricey real estate, remains relatively unknown to many outside of the region.

With Wesley Heights Park to its north, Battery Kemble Park to its west and nearby Glover-Archbold Park just a stroll away, you’ll find no lack of green space in this enviable DC neighborhood. The location naturally isolates the homes of Berkley from some of their more urban counterparts.

While primarily a residential neighborhood, it just so happens Berkley is also home to the Embassy of Germany and its home to the Mt Vernon campus of

While the on-going pandemic has caused many people to change their work habits over the past year, others have completely embraced a work-from-home lifestyle. Just a few months ago, more than one-third of working adults said they were currently remote working or simply that they lived with someone who works from home.

While some workers are starting to head back to the office, other companies are actually changing their policies to allow more people to do remote work on a permanent basis. Money.com looked at nearly 2,000 towns and cities all across the nation to determine what it considers the best places to live for those who work from home.

When all categories were taken into consideration, Reston came in at the very top of the list. Analysts

A former office building in Old Town Alexandria is about to be reborn with a new life as a luxury condo building. The older building at 801 North Fairfax Street is in the midst of being transformed into a new boutique condo property.

When finished, 801 North will deliver more than 50 new luxury condos to the neighborhood in one- and two-bedroom layouts. There will also be some penthouse residences for buyers to choose from at 801 North.

The new condos are priced starting in the high $500,000s. It’s expected a two-bedroom floor will start out priced in the mid $600,000s, while a two-bedroom plus a den condo at 801 North will be priced starting in the low $900,000s.

Each home at 801 North features an open floor plan with high ceilings and walls

Italian finishes and easy access to the Red Line are just two reasons buyers are attracted to the new Rialto condos. Located extremely close to the Rhode Island Avenue Metro Station, the property also features 3,000 square feet of ground level retail space, topped off by more than 70 new condominium residences.

The one- and two-bedroom floor plans start at around 680 square feet of living space, but some of the largest units command more than 1,300 square feet of space. The units of Rialto are primarily priced starting in the low to mid $400,000s.

Some of the largest penthouse units, however, are currently priced in the $900,000s. Buyers can expect to find high-end Italian finishes and industrial-style architectural elements in the light-filled