Do you regret buying a CONDO?!

[Anonymous]

haha sorry, afternoon NOT afterneed!

[Anonymous]

We also have a condo in Clarendon that lives and looks like a townhouse -- our own front door, two stories, lots of parking. Like others have said, I love the amount of time it gives our family. Commuting is a snap (5-min walk to Metro) and errands are all within an easy walk. Plus we don't spend time mowing the lawn (there's a playground and soccer field across the street), shoveling snow (our assoc takes care of that), etc. The small footprint means it's easy and quick to clean and the (relatively) small mortgage means we were able to afford for me to stay home for a bit.

My son is 2.5, and so far I've actually loved not having a yard. Instead, I walk to any of the nearby parks, to the library, to Barnes & Noble, etc. and get to talk to other parents -- better than being all by my lonesome every day. Eventually we'll buy something larger, but it's been great for this time in our lives.

[Anonymous]

The bus service is great for rush hour commuting. The 9E went every 10 minutes.

I liked that I could walk to Carlyle Grand (which is great with kids if you get there early). There's a Harris Teeter in Fairlington now.

If fairlington is of interest to you, you might also like Wingate.

[Anonymous]

I live in a condo across the street from Fairlington - other side of Quaker Lane - in Alexandria. I commute downtown via 395. I can leave my house around 8:15/8:20, drop my son at daycare in Crystal City, and get back on 395/get to work downtwon (Penn Quarter area) before 9:00 most days. There are days when Quaker Lane/395 are really backed up, but there are other ways to go to get around the mess. Same for afternoons. I leave my office at 5, get to daycare around 5:20, and get home before 6 (going on Army Navy). Fairlington has great bus service to the Pentagon too.

[Anonymous]

14:17 poster, what condo are you in? Sounds like a good one.

[Anonymous]

14:17 here. It's called Barton Place, tucked away on a side street two blocks from Whole Foods. We love it.

[Anonymous]

we have two boys and lived in a 2/2 condo. we sold it and moved out when the younger one reached one. it was becoming impossible to keep them in that tight space. we are renting a SFH now and waiting for houses become affordable again.

i also had doubts on 'spending a lot of time out in the neighborhood' would work for everybody. our condo was in a very walkable neighborhood as well but when we felt we're 'forced' to get the the boys out of the house because of there was not enough of space, it became clear we're not enjoying the full benefits of owing a home anymore.

[Anonymous]

"Not enough space" is relative, of course. Coming from a much more tightly packed city, I'm always a little surprised where people here draw the line, and especially by how many other amenities they're willing to give up in favor of space. OP has to decide for herself and her family. But I think my point stands (I'm the "out in the neighborhood" poster): some people manage just fine with the space, and living close-in has other benefits that compensate.

[Anonymous]

PPP here.

i know it sounds dumb but Miranda's decision in Sex & The City to move to Brooklyn (or was it Queens?) sort of got us to think about what's best for us as a family, i mean, she had every reason not too but made the tough yet obvious choice, and seemed to be happy about the new lifestyle.

again i know it's dumb to bring up a TV show but just wanted to share.