Talk to me about McLean Gardens...and condo hunting in NW DC

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's a very good value. We were in a few bidding wars and the condo association seems to be very pro-active about maintenance and healthy finances.

The prices have not appreciated too much in the DC real estate run-up. Just be aware that you won't likely see a massive amount of appreciation if your time horizon is less than two decades.

In what world is 1500 a month in HOAs a good deal? That’s a mortgage payment in many other parts of the country.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a very good value. We were in a few bidding wars and the condo association seems to be very pro-active about maintenance and healthy finances.

The prices have not appreciated too much in the DC real estate run-up. Just be aware that you won't likely see a massive amount of appreciation if your time horizon is less than two decades.

In what world is 1500 a month in HOAs a good deal? That’s a mortgage payment in many other parts of the country.

Itn most parts of the country that’s a dual mortgage payment. In DC - for an old building, two bedrooms and dated features that’s $500 over-priced.

[Anonymous]

OP, look in Glover Park - there are some nice new buildings that have gone up recently with very nice 2 BRs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a very good value. We were in a few bidding wars and the condo association seems to be very pro-active about maintenance and healthy finances.

The prices have not appreciated too much in the DC real estate run-up. Just be aware that you won't likely see a massive amount of appreciation if your time horizon is less than two decades.

In what world is 1500 a month in HOAs a good deal? That’s a mortgage payment in many other parts of the country.

Itn most parts of the country that’s a dual mortgage payment. In DC - for an old building, two bedrooms and dated features that’s $500 over-priced.

Did you mean to post this in response to the Watson Place co-op post?

Anonymous wrote:
This is zoned for Stoddert, Hardy and Deal.

https://www.redfin.com/DC/Washington/3900-Watson-P...20016/unit-B-G3C/home/77618846


Yes but the HOA is 1430 a month....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP from above -

https://www.redfin.com/DC/Washington/3259-Sutton-Pl-NW-20016/unit-A/home/9954462

https://www.redfin.com/DC/Washington/3249-Sutton-Pl-NW-20016/unit-C/home/9954420

We've been looking in Sutton Pl and McLean Gardens. How is the diversity over there?

Roughly same diversity as everywhere else in upper NW.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have you looked at the many condo buildings along Connecticut? They are zoned for Murch or Hearst, and I've seen several listed for less than $650K.

Looked at a few but some of the condo fees are insane. One we toured told us they had to do a 6,000 assessment that year to fix an elevator. Do you have specific suggestions of good buildings?

We are in tilden gardens. Zoned for Hearst. Have been very happy here with 3 kids

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a very good value. We were in a few bidding wars and the condo association seems to be very pro-active about maintenance and healthy finances.

The prices have not appreciated too much in the DC real estate run-up. Just be aware that you won't likely see a massive amount of appreciation if your time horizon is less than two decades.

In what world is 1500 a month in HOAs a good deal? That’s a mortgage payment in many other parts of the country.

Itn most parts of the country that’s a dual mortgage payment. In DC - for an old building, two bedrooms and dated features that’s $500 over-priced.

Did you mean to post this in response to the Watson Place co-op post?

Anonymous wrote:
This is zoned for Stoddert, Hardy and Deal.

https://www.redfin.com/DC/Washington/3900-Watson-P...20016/unit-B-G3C/home/77618846


Yes but the HOA is 1430 a month....

Yes. They shouldn't be charging more than $900/mo for that HOA and even then I'd want to see some amenities.

https://www.redfin.com/DC/Washington/3900-Watson-Pl-NW-20016/unit-B-G3C/home/77618846

[Anonymous]

You aren't going to find any condos in NW with low HOAs. Most average right around 1K, some as high at 1700. The lowest I've seen was around $600 but that was for no amenities. DH and I have been watching NW real estate for about 6 months now. You can get a 2 bedroom 2 bath for anywhere from 399K to 475K but the HOAs are going to be insane.

[Anonymous]

Watson should be a coop and it includes taxes. No pool, so mot sure why it is so expensive. No children in that building.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You aren't going to find any condos in NW with low HOAs. Most average right around 1K, some as high at 1700. The lowest I've seen was around $600 but that was for no amenities. DH and I have been watching NW real estate for about 6 months now. You can get a 2 bedroom 2 bath for anywhere from 399K to 475K but the HOAs are going to be insane.

I'd correct that and say - just UpperNW. I routinely find old buildings in Dupont/Logan/Mt. Pleasant with HOAs anywhere from $500/mo to at most $900/mo and that's for either huge space or brand-new.

So what's UpperNW's HOA problem?

$499K 2bedroom - $800 HOA
https://www.redfin.com/DC/Washington/1301-20th-St-NW-20036/unit-111/home/9059929

$550K - $877 HOA
https://www.redfin.com/DC/Washington/777-7th-St-NW-20001/unit-926/home/10193250

$594K - $627 HOA
https://www.redfin.com/DC/Washington/2001-12th-St-NW-20009/unit-412/home/10183233

$574K - $602 HOA
https://www.redfin.com/DC/Washington/811-4th-St-NW-20001/unit-810/home/12532187

$499K - $421 HOA
https://www.redfin.com/DC/Washington/1613-Harvard-St-NW-20009/unit-114/home/39900467

$570K - $385 HOA
https://www.redfin.com/DC/Washington/1404-11th-St-NW-20001/unit-102/home/9875730

$390K - $511 HOA
https://www.redfin.com/DC/Washington/1457-Park-Rd-NW-20010/unit-000403/home/11748181

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a very good value. We were in a few bidding wars and the condo association seems to be very pro-active about maintenance and healthy finances.

The prices have not appreciated too much in the DC real estate run-up. Just be aware that you won't likely see a massive amount of appreciation if your time horizon is less than two decades.

In what world is 1500 a month in HOAs a good deal? That’s a mortgage payment in many other parts of the country.

The McLean Gardens HOA is usually half that or less.

Here's a 4BR/2BA duplex that sold recently with a $762/HOA. This is one of the more expensive units. Most units are around $500/month. About half the units have a deeded parking space.

https://www.redfin.com/DC/Washington/3551-39th-St-NW-20016/unit-A511/home/81828768#property-details

HOA fees include Water, Sewer, Snow Removal, Trash, Reserve Funds, Insurance, Management, landscaping, pool, and all exterior building maintenance. There are on-site full time maintenance staff. The condo association is in the middle of a multi-year project to replace the windows of all units. They don't do assessments and instead prudently set aside funds for long term projects.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the suggestions. Can anyone speak to my question about if expanding the kitchen in a McLean Gardens condo is even possible? I have looked at a lot of the units and those kitchens all seem incredibly small and cramped. Am assuming that and the spiral staircases can’t be changed—is that right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for the suggestions. Can anyone speak to my question about if expanding the kitchen in a McLean Gardens condo is even possible? I have looked at a lot of the units and those kitchens all seem incredibly small and cramped. Am assuming that and the spiral staircases can’t be changed—is that right?

Owners are responsible for maintenance of all interiors spaces and utilities. The building maintains the exterior, including windows and skylights.

When we looked into buying, we were told that the condo board must sign-off on all renovations. You would need to specifically inquire with the condo board regarding allowable changes. Most people prefer to keep the spiral staircase in order to maximize square footage. I think you could probably make the change with a licensed structural engineer and contractor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You aren't going to find any condos in NW with low HOAs. Most average right around 1K, some as high at 1700. The lowest I've seen was around $600 but that was for no amenities. DH and I have been watching NW real estate for about 6 months now. You can get a 2 bedroom 2 bath for anywhere from 399K to 475K but the HOAs are going to be insane.

I'd correct that and say - just UpperNW. I routinely find old buildings in Dupont/Logan/Mt. Pleasant with HOAs anywhere from $500/mo to at most $900/mo and that's for either huge space or brand-new.

So what's UpperNW's HOA problem?

$499K 2bedroom - $800 HOA
https://www.redfin.com/DC/Washington/1301-20th-St-NW-20036/unit-111/home/9059929

$550K - $877 HOA
https://www.redfin.com/DC/Washington/777-7th-St-NW-20001/unit-926/home/10193250

$594K - $627 HOA
https://www.redfin.com/DC/Washington/2001-12th-St-NW-20009/unit-412/home/10183233

$574K - $602 HOA
https://www.redfin.com/DC/Washington/811-4th-St-NW-20001/unit-810/home/12532187

$499K - $421 HOA
https://www.redfin.com/DC/Washington/1613-Harvard-St-NW-20009/unit-114/home/39900467

$570K - $385 HOA
https://www.redfin.com/DC/Washington/1404-11th-St-NW-20001/unit-102/home/9875730

$390K - $511 HOA
https://www.redfin.com/DC/Washington/1457-Park-Rd-NW-20010/unit-000403/home/11748181

Insane, and in some of these buildings you dont even have your own washer and dryer. $500 HOA to use an old dirty shared laundry room, probably with your own quarters. Sorry, I just dont see the value.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You aren't going to find any condos in NW with low HOAs. Most average right around 1K, some as high at 1700. The lowest I've seen was around $600 but that was for no amenities. DH and I have been watching NW real estate for about 6 months now. You can get a 2 bedroom 2 bath for anywhere from 399K to 475K but the HOAs are going to be insane.

I'd correct that and say - just UpperNW. I routinely find old buildings in Dupont/Logan/Mt. Pleasant with HOAs anywhere from $500/mo to at most $900/mo and that's for either huge space or brand-new.

So what's UpperNW's HOA problem?

$499K 2bedroom - $800 HOA
https://www.redfin.com/DC/Washington/1301-20th-St-NW-20036/unit-111/home/9059929

$550K - $877 HOA
https://www.redfin.com/DC/Washington/777-7th-St-NW-20001/unit-926/home/10193250

$594K - $627 HOA
https://www.redfin.com/DC/Washington/2001-12th-St-NW-20009/unit-412/home/10183233

$574K - $602 HOA
https://www.redfin.com/DC/Washington/811-4th-St-NW-20001/unit-810/home/12532187

$499K - $421 HOA
https://www.redfin.com/DC/Washington/1613-Harvard-St-NW-20009/unit-114/home/39900467

$570K - $385 HOA
https://www.redfin.com/DC/Washington/1404-11th-St-NW-20001/unit-102/home/9875730

$390K - $511 HOA
https://www.redfin.com/DC/Washington/1457-Park-Rd-NW-20010/unit-000403/home/11748181

Insane, and in some of these buildings you dont even have your own washer and dryer. $500 HOA to use an old dirty shared laundry room, probably with your own quarters. Sorry, I just dont see the value.

Hello - the $1,400/mo HOA that the others are recommending on here is SHARED LAUNDRY too. Now you think $500/mo is too much, how about 3X that?

https://www.redfin.com/DC/Washington/3900-Watson-Pl-NW-20016/unit-B-G3C/home/77618846