Why is Brightwood still so inexpensive? Will the Walmart help or hurt?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is less expensive because up until about a year ago it was still very much the hood. Nownitnis block by block. But it is still a transitional neighborhood, and probably 5 years from achieving the type of gentrification seen in petworth over the past decade. If you're not from around here, no one in their right minds was buying in petworth until a few years ago. Those that did now look like geniuses of course. And those that buy in brightwood probably will too in time.

Alternatively, the sw waterfront was touted as the next tat thing in the 80s, and despite its strong location, people who bought there have consistently lost their shirts.

So go in with. Long term focus.

That wasn't the experience of most of my neighbors when I lived in SW, I don't think. Appreciation was a bit slower than in other parts of the city, but so was depreciation and they got a nice bump in value in '91 or so when the green line got down there. In fact, most of them never left - I knew tons of folks who'd moved down there in the '60s and just stayed. It's a kind of fun thing about that neighborhood, although I'm sure it'll change if the waterfront development ever gets going.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is less expensive because up until about a year ago it was still very much the hood. Nownitnis block by block. But it is still a transitional neighborhood, and probably 5 years from achieving the type of gentrification seen in petworth over the past decade. If you're not from around here, no one in their right minds was buying in petworth until a few years ago. Those that did now look like geniuses of course. And those that buy in brightwood probably will too in time.

Alternatively, the sw waterfront was touted as the next tat thing in the 80s, and despite its strong location, people who bought there have consistently lost their shirts.

So go in with. Long term focus.

You still have to live in the present. No one will look down on you for moving to VA or MD except a few folks here who're seeking reassurance for their choices and trying to justify the petty crime and other annoyances.