What's the smallest, most affordable, nicely located DC property I can buy that is NOT a condo.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are some really cute houses in Foggy Bottom that fit this.

+1. There are small historic townhomes in Foggy Bottom and some parts of Georgetown that are just 2 bedrooms/1 bath and can be had for under 1 mil, no HOA and no condo fees. They also have private patios

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can buy small rowhouses in Shaw, Foggy Bottom, and Capitol Hill at that price point.

Having lived in one, I'd question whether that's the right move given your needs/proposed use.

Older rowhomes require a lot of maintenance and upkeep. Given that you're only going to be there occasionally, it doesn't seem worth it to me. Condos do not require nearly that level of effort, and would seem like a better fit your needs.

While I think you're correct that there will not be substantial price appreciation for condos, (a) the appreciation of rowhomes is offset somewhat by the cost in money and time for maintenance, (b) I don't think we are going to see significant price appreciation in rowhomes over the next few years either, and (c) you'll benefit from a lower purchase price for a condo.

I wouldn't mind getting a small rowhouse like this in this area. How is the mouse/rat/roach situation given shared walls, proximity to restaurants, etc?

You need to control it because DC government does nothing about it. It's all up to owners. Trash can control and cleaning around the building helps as keeping patio doors closed as vermin can come from outside. These rowhomes aren't necessarily near restaurants on on busy streets, many are on residential streets not adjacent to any commercial. Maybe get a cat or two. I think DC needs an army of working street cats Unfortunately even in a condo building vermin can be a problem. You can have mice in a highrise. But with rowhomes I believe you have more control over extermination, laying down traps and proofing your residence vs in a poorly run building.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Meant to add. In older rowhomes, there is a greater chance that there's an infiltration point. This is because of years of wear and tear. And because there are plenty of ground level access points. Finding them usually isn't too hard if you know how to look (a good exterminator can help with this), and I've been able to eliminate them with a combination of steel wool and expanding foam.

Anonymous wrote:We have had issues, and hired exterminators over the years.

When I talk to the exterminators, they've always said essentially the same thing. No matter where you live, rodents are always nearby, and will get in eventually if there is an infiltration point. There are always more if there is an abundant food source nearby, such as food waste from restaurants. The key to eliminating them from your home is to close off the infiltration point, and kill or trap the rodents that are inside. If you don't find and close the infiltration point, the problem will persist, no matter how many you trap or kill.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can buy small rowhouses in Shaw, Foggy Bottom, and Capitol Hill at that price point.

Having lived in one, I'd question whether that's the right move given your needs/proposed use.

Older rowhomes require a lot of maintenance and upkeep. Given that you're only going to be there occasionally, it doesn't seem worth it to me. Condos do not require nearly that level of effort, and would seem like a better fit your needs.

While I think you're correct that there will not be substantial price appreciation for condos, (a) the appreciation of rowhomes is offset somewhat by the cost in money and time for maintenance, (b) I don't think we are going to see significant price appreciation in rowhomes over the next few years either, and (c) you'll benefit from a lower purchase price for a condo.

I wouldn't mind getting a small rowhouse like this in this area. How is the mouse/rat/roach situation given shared walls, proximity to restaurants, etc?

In our experience having lived in one years ago rodents come from the outside. You have to be vigilant with patio doors, not letting them open without paying attention as it's easy for a mouse to sneak in behind you. We had a cat and no issues with rodents taking hold in our place. I suppose rodents can smell its predator and its litterbox even if humans cannot or it could be that we weren't near any commercial food place. I really don't think it's any different than pest control in an SFH or an apartment having lived in all these situations. You have to exterminate pests you see early on (ants, roaches, spiders, etc) and keep your outdoor spaces neat and free of debris. because of urban living there are trash cans everywhere, so your neighbors taking care of their trash containers is also important. But so it is in suburbia and in an apartment building where your next door neighbor could have infestations you have to deal with. There is nothing really dramatically different

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Central to downtown / Farragut North - within a few stops of it? Looking for a commuter pad with an extra bedroom for my kids when we all use it. Not looking to rent it out.

I don't want a condo b/c I don't think they're great investments - convince me otherwise and maybe I'd consider it but was thinking I'd avoid. Budget up to $1M.

I don't think this exists.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Rowhouse would be ideal except that you would very much benefit from the lock and leave aspect of a condo. A rowhouse requires higher maintenance and security, when you really don't want to have to pay too much attention to the place you are describing. It will also have stairs, which will limit is as a retirement option.

All these condo conveniences come with a price tag OP doesn't want to pay. She can get security cameras for cheaper and buy a rowhome with metal grills installed on doors and 1st floor windows (very common). Also buying in a nice safe area with low crime. Apartments are not immune from problems that can happen when you are absent. My friend had his condo flooded by the upstairs neighbor when he was away.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Central to downtown / Farragut North - within a few stops of it? Looking for a commuter pad with an extra bedroom for my kids when we all use it. Not looking to rent it out.

I don't want a condo b/c I don't think they're great investments - convince me otherwise and maybe I'd consider it but was thinking I'd avoid. Budget up to $1M.

I don't think this exists.

People just pointed to several areas where this does exist. These are small rowhomes that usually have 1-2 bedrooms, they are old historic stock and they do exist in several neighborhoods, some even walkable from where OP works.

[Anonymous]

This reminds me of the Tic Toc video of guy who found the smallest legal apt in Manhattan to live in as was looking to have cheapest rent possible in Manhattan with no roommates.

It was 90 sf. Yes a 10 by 9 foot apartment. You can get cheap. But really do you always want cheap.

[Anonymous]

Sutton Place is a great place to live!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This looks perfect https://www.redfin.com/DC/Washington/19-Snows-Ct-NW-20037/home/9043554

Oh my god I love that rowhouse! I’d be so thrilled to stay there 3x nights a week. Pop into Trader Joe’s to grab food for dinner, walk on the river. Amazing!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This looks perfect https://www.redfin.com/DC/Washington/19-Snows-Ct-NW-20037/home/9043554

Oh my god I love that rowhouse! I’d be so thrilled to stay there 3x nights a week. Pop into Trader Joe’s to grab food for dinner, walk on the river. Amazing!

Not functional at all for OP. It would be hard to have more than one person in there at any point and requires stairs even for the bathroom, both of which reduce how long OP could live there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This looks perfect https://www.redfin.com/DC/Washington/19-Snows-Ct-NW-20037/home/9043554

Oh my god I love that rowhouse! I’d be so thrilled to stay there 3x nights a week. Pop into Trader Joe’s to grab food for dinner, walk on the river. Amazing!

Not functional at all for OP. It would be hard to have more than one person in there at any point and requires stairs even for the bathroom, both of which reduce how long OP could live there.

🙄 no one is trying to retire in their pied-a-terre

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This looks perfect https://www.redfin.com/DC/Washington/19-Snows-Ct-NW-20037/home/9043554

Oh my god I love that rowhouse! I’d be so thrilled to stay there 3x nights a week. Pop into Trader Joe’s to grab food for dinner, walk on the river. Amazing!

Not functional at all for OP. It would be hard to have more than one person in there at any point and requires stairs even for the bathroom, both of which reduce how long OP could live there.

OP can sell if it becomes an issue. In the meanwhile a rowhouse with no HOA/condo fee is likely to appreciate more than a condo, which is always been the case in DC or other cities with inventory of urban homes not just highrises. Also, new construction condos in that area and nearby West End are $$$ and per sq.ft approach Manhattan, same with Gtown where rowhomes are more expensive

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Would you consider being in Arlington? You’d have better luck finding a townhouse or small SFH that could meet your requirements.

There are a few within blocks from Ballston metro (quasi walkable area). Metro ride from Ballston to Farragut is about 12 min (plus tack on walking time).

https://redf.in/4KNAO7

https://redf.in/tkpqf2

https://redf.in/aCWzYl

As someone who lives in Arlington, I can say the local services are very good and there is the bonus that if you ever decide to hold onto it (or kids inherit it) as a rental, VA is much more landlord-friendly than DC.

We raised our kids in Arlington, which was great, and now live in the Logan Circle area of DC. There is absolutely zero comparison between the two. Arlington is a complete snore compared to living in town when you don’t have school aged kids (well, even when you do ha ha). Nothing about the two locations is similar.

I don’t think Arlington is the vibe that OP is looking for.

OP didn’t specify vibe or even a specific location. She said she wanted a “commuter pad” within a few stops of Farragut. Could possibly be related to RTO.

[Anonymous]

Buy a small condo on Capitol Hill or in Georgetown, both would be nice to use as a bachelor, commuter or retiree pad or to rent or Airbnb. You won't have much hassel of homeownership chores. In long term prices would go up, even if you break even, years of use or rent would make it a good investment.

[Anonymous]

There are a couple blocks or row houses around gumball park in Arlington, near the Virginia Square metro. That might work and it is a great neighborhood.