Best area for townhome

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm still leery about buying in DC. I lived there during the Barry years, and it seems like they are always one election away from corrupt mismanagement, again. It's also difficult to rent out your place.

If I were buying, I'd look at the new construction around Shirlington first, followed by McLean.

...

That is something I've never heard in reference to DC. But to each their own.

It's difficult to evict problem tenants; very tenant friendly law in DC

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When I hear "townhome", I'm thinking something newer with an HOA. Not an SFH in rowhouse form. Sounds like OP is looking for a rowhouse?

It is pretty much the same thing. "Townhome" is used for marketing purposes.

In DC region it seems like houses that have no shared walls (so built brick facade to brick facade) and share no structural components and are situated on a public streeet are rowhouses

Townhouses tend to share a structural wall (usually a cement block firewall), and this are not free standing. Also I think they tend to be on development build mini-streets or alleys owned by the HOA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm still leery about buying in DC. I lived there during the Barry years, and it seems like they are always one election away from corrupt mismanagement, again. It's also difficult to rent out your place.

If I were buying, I'd look at the new construction around Shirlington first, followed by McLean.

LOL. So you lived in DC between 1995-1999 or 1979-1991? Your 17-year-old+ information may be outdated re: renting. DC has some downsides (especially schools), but Marion Barry and an inability to rent out your place aren't two of them.

[Anonymous]

Buy a condo in Logan Circle somewhere between 13th and 15th (you can walk to McPherson or take the 14th st. bus if the weather is bad). I would stay away from Shaw; in the more walkable parts, condos are as expensive as Logan while not being as convenient to McPherson. Capitol Hill is also a possibility if you prefer neighborhoods that have more of a "classic" feel, though you will have a smaller selection there - even 2br rowhouses can go for 850+ there, and there aren't nearly as many condo buildings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Rent in Logan, buy in Arlington if you want to have kids soon. You can't beat the lifestyle for young and childless in Logan Circle... If you have a baby it gets more complicated unless you've budgeted for a nanny.

We bought young and childless in Logan and are still here many many years later - and there are plenty of other families here too. Agree with PP that said your budget is too low for a row house in Logan Circle proper, but it should be enough to get something in Shaw. Could you afford a higher budget if you had a basement rental unit to rent out? A lot of the places on my block are small row houses with 2/3 bedrooms upstairs with 1 bedroom basement apartments. That would probably be more like $1.2 M though. But I think the basements are renting out for around $2,000.

I don't think we would be comfortable renting out...Plus we probably could afford more but would need to save longer for a bigger downpayment. Afraid that prices will be going up? Is it better to buy small in a year and then later sell and upgrade to bigger place?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When I hear "townhome", I'm thinking something newer with an HOA. Not an SFH in rowhouse form. Sounds like OP is looking for a rowhouse?

It is pretty much the same thing. "Townhome" is used for marketing purposes.

No it's not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When I hear "townhome", I'm thinking something newer with an HOA. Not an SFH in rowhouse form. Sounds like OP is looking for a rowhouse?

It is pretty much the same thing. "Townhome" is used for marketing purposes.

No it's not.

Hi OP here. I really don't care how to call it, townhome or rowhome. I am coming from a place where when it's few floors and your own entrance called townhome, if you share garage -patio home, share entrance - condo/apartment.
So if for someone would be easier - we are looking for a rowhome( no backyard work but personal entrance).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When I hear "townhome", I'm thinking something newer with an HOA. Not an SFH in rowhouse form. Sounds like OP is looking for a rowhouse?

It is pretty much the same thing. "Townhome" is used for marketing purposes.

No it's not.

Hi OP here. I really don't care how to call it, townhome or rowhome. I am coming from a place where when it's few floors and your own entrance called townhome, if you share garage -patio home, share entrance - condo/apartment.
So if for someone would be easier - we are looking for a rowhome( no backyard work but personal entrance).

Rowhouse, not rowhome... the latter is a term invented by realtors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When I hear "townhome", I'm thinking something newer with an HOA. Not an SFH in rowhouse form. Sounds like OP is looking for a rowhouse?

It is pretty much the same thing. "Townhome" is used for marketing purposes.

No it's not.

Hi OP here. I really don't care how to call it, townhome or rowhome. I am coming from a place where when it's few floors and your own entrance called townhome, if you share garage -patio home, share entrance - condo/apartment.
So if for someone would be easier - we are looking for a rowhome( no backyard work but personal entrance).

Rowhouse, not rowhome... the latter is a term invented by realtors.

How difficult is everything