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Anonymous
| Is the Buckingham area (the parts closest to Ballston) improved/improving? I note substantial new construction being sold at high prices, but wondering what people in and around the area think. I know this area used to be marginal, and there are still plenty of lower-income garden apt. complexes around. Is it a good area to buy? Is crime still an issue? What's your take on the area both from investment/livability angles- we are interested in the new development. |
Anonymous
| I lived very close to there about 4 years ago and absolutely loved it-everything is close by and most of the roads away from Glebe Road are quiet and with nice neighborhoods. I felt pretty safe (I was a single woman living in an apartment complex at the time). however, I did not walk around after dark but that's a standard precaution. During the day, i walked everywhere and then at night, i would drive if I needed to go to Harris Teeter or the mall, etc. I would love to buy a townhouse there but was priced out. |
Anonymous
| That area is getting really nice, and it's so convenient to everything. I lived in Ballston for several years when it was still a little slummy, but still spend a lot of time in the area. it's gotten so much nicer lately. The only area that still seems a little sketchy is that little section of Glebe road around the CVS, but even that seems a bit better. (there's just a lot of guys loafing around outside all the time.) |
Anonymous
| interesting views...OP here...has anyone seen/bought one of these new THs or know someone who has? are they worth it.... |
Anonymous
| I have friends who've bought in some of the newer TH communities walkable to Ballston, but not in that particular development. I think you'd want to run the comps on all the TH developments walkable to the Rosslyn-Ballston corridor and see how the prices compare. there is a huge range in prices. don't forget to take the condo fees into account - I've seen a range from $50/month to $350+/month. |
Anonymous
| It is priced like a neighborhood that is already nice, but it is not that nice. |
Anonymous
| I looked up recent sales in that TH development- it looks like their largest models were selling for around $850k for 3100 sq feet, so that's $271/sq foot. That's a lot lower than the $350 or so per sq foot something the equivalent 3000 sq ft Bromptons TH unit on the 'better' side of Ballston would go for, so I think the larger units are definitely showing a discount for the fact that it is a mixed-SES sub area that is still 'emerging'. Generally in a walkable to metro area in the Rosslyn to Ballston corridor you couldn't get a 3100 sq feet unit for $850k. |
Anonymous
| Arlington is nothing special. The Buckingham area is one of the few areas that used to have some low-key charm. |
Anonymous
|
If it's priced that much lower than the Bromptons, might be worth a closer look. Try to avoid getting something right on George Mason, though (or maybe even Henderson) - a lot of folks use that as a commuter route. (I'm one of them.)
3,100 square feet is a lot of house. it's hard to find that around here. I'd probably look at Clarendon too, though, for that amount of money. I feel like Clarendon has a lot more cool stuff to do (more restaurants, etc.) than Ballston right now. And frankly, if I had over $700K to spend, I'd be looking for a single family home. |
Anonymous
You just got a lot less SFH for the dollar- 700-900k does not buy you much of an SFH in these areas anymore. It would likely be much smaller and much less well finished than the TH. In Clarendon, 2000 sq foot THs go for $850k+. All about the trade-offs. |