Choose an edition: Chicago | Wash DC

Spectrum in Falls Church Gets FHA Financing

by Will Smith

Spectrum in Falls Church has become the latest condo project in the DC area to be approved for FHA financing, the recently-popular federal program that enables consumers to make down payments of as little as 3.5 percent. The 189-unit Spectrum was built with eco-friendly principles including sustainable bamboo or cork flooring options, energy-saving utility components, and a green roof. It is located just off Route 7 about a ten-minute drive from the East Falls Church Metro station on the Orange Line (see map).

image
Rendering of Spectrum in Falls Church

New buildings that are not already FHA approved make it much harder for would-be buyers to secure FHA financing to purchase a unit, which in turn makes it harder for the building to sell units period. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has a website for consumers to search the entire database of FHA-approved condos. In many cases this won’t be necessary, as condo projects typically advertise their FHA approval prominently if they have it.

The Wall Street Journal reported last month that the FHA guaranteed over 185,000 mortgages in June, the most it had ever guaranteed in a single month in its 75-year history. FHA mortgages have exploded in popularity as tightened lending standards have made it one of the few remaining sources of low-down-payment loans.

See other articles related to: falls church condos, dclofts

This article originally published at http://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/spectrum_in_falls_church_gets_fha_financing/1238

1 Comment

  1. Tejas said at 10:49 pm on Tuesday October 6, 2009:

    Well, great! If you take 3.5 percent down on a two bedroom at the spectrum, which is roughly 15k of approximately 435k, based on this, one’s mortgage is roughly 2,200/mo + 400 condo fee (est.) + PMI + taxes. You’re roughly looking at around 3,000 to 3,500 per month for a payment for a two bedroom condo a mile from the Metro not in the city. Oh, I forgot to add in utilities. Come on, is the Spectrum really worth it?

Join the discussion



* required fields

Tyler Garrison

TTR Sotheby's

202-256-2132

Serving:

U Street Corridor

Capitol Hill

Logan Circle

UrbanTurf Archive

Following are past UrbanTurf stories, organized by topic for your convenience.

Neighborhood Profiles more »

Kalorama: A Posh View From Embassy Row

Kalorama: A Posh View From Embassy Row

Shilpi Paul
May 11th | 4 Comments

The small neighborhood of Kalorama emerged during a period of rapid development in DC's history,... read »

Editor's Choice more »

DC Area Home Prices Rise 11.2 Percent

DC Area Home Prices Rise 11.2 Percent

Shilpi Paul
May 10th | 7 Comments

DC area home prices rose 11.2 percent in April, the largest increase for prices in almost six... read »

New Condo Profiles more »

New Boutique Condo Project Hits the Market in Columbia Heights

New Boutique Condo Project Hits the Market in Columbia Heights

UrbanTurf Staff
April 24th | 1 Comment

A new 5-unit condo project hit the market in Columbia Heights today from the same developer that... read »

The DC Condo Market more »

Abdo Returns to Logan With 30-Unit Project

Abdo Returns to Logan With 30-Unit Project

UrbanTurf Staff
May 2nd | 8 Comments

Developer Jim Abdo made his name in Logan Circle, and is now returning to the neighborhood with a... read »

Green Real Estate more »

Should DC Follow LA in Teaching Residents How to Green Their Homes?

Should DC Follow LA in Teaching Residents How to Green Their Homes?

Shilpi Paul
May 7th | 2 Comments

While LEED certification is quickly becoming standard for new buildings in DC, residents in the... read »

Deal of the Week more »

Deal of the Week: Georgetown on the Cheap

Deal of the Week: Georgetown on the Cheap

UrbanTurf Staff
May 8th | 1 Comment

Georgetown is known for a lot of things, but reasonably priced homes for the mere mortal is not one... read »

Renting more »

Lovely: Making Apartment Hunting Less Painful

Lovely: Making Apartment Hunting Less Painful

Shilpi Paul
3:45 PM EDT | 3 Comments

Tired of scrolling through the minimalist, black and white Craigslist interface when searching for... read »

Market Watch more »

Market Watch: Logan Circle, Columbia Heights, Dupont Circle

Market Watch: Logan Circle, Columbia Heights, Dupont Circle

Keith Gibbons
November 28th | 5 Comments

Housing Market Watch returns this week after a little hiatus as Keith Gibbons takes a closer look... read »

Unique Spaces more »

This Week’s Find: From Pie to Hooch to Heroin to Home

This Week’s Find: From Pie to Hooch to Heroin to Home

Shilpi Paul
March 28th | 7 Comments

Built in 1860, This Week's Find has a past that includes life as a pie factory and clearing house... read »

This Week's Find more »

This Week’s Find: A 33-Foot Wide Living Room in Kalorama

A 33-Foot Wide Living Room in Kalorama

Shilpi Paul
May 17th | 1 Comment

In This Week's Find, we take a look at a home whose layout reaches into the house next door. ... read »

UrbanTurf Reader Asks more »

UrbanTurf Reader Asks: Do I Deserve Financial Compensation?

Do I Deserve Financial Compensation?

UrbanTurf Staff
May 7th | 11 Comments

In this installment of UrbanTurf Reader Asks, a reader who recently moved into a rental building in... read »

What X Buys You more »

What $330,000 Buys You in DC

What $330,000 Buys You in DC

Shilpi Paul
May 16th | 6 Comments

In What X Buys You this week, UrbanTurf takes a look at properties on the market in the $325,000 to... read »

Best New Listings more »

Best New Listings: A Tudor, A Co-op and Chocolate Mint in the Garden

Best New Listings: A Tudor, A Co-op and Chocolate Mint in the Garden (Week of May 18th)

Shilpi Paul
May 18th | 0 Comments

In this week's edition of Best New Listings, we look at a Tudor tucked away off 16th Street, a... read »

Luxury Real Estate more »

The Priciest and Largest Plot of Land in DC Hits the Market

The Priciest and Largest Plot of Land in DC Hits the Market

UrbanTurf Staff
May 18th | 2 Comments

UrbanTurf has learned that a 1.25 acre plot of land has hit the market in Cleveland Park, making it... read »

Choose an edition: Chicago | Wash DC