DC Buyer: California Couple Relocating to DC Area

• July 22nd 2010

by Martin Smith

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DC Buyer is a series on UrbanTurf where we look at buyers from various demographics and provide available housing options for them in the current DC market. If you are a prospective buyer and would like to be featured in DC Buyer, send an email to editor2010@urbanturf.com. See all of our past DC Buyer articles here.

This week, we are working with Emmy and Jack, a couple that is living on the west coast, but moving to the DC area soon. Jack is a captain in the U.S. Army and will be reporting in Ballston, while Emmy is an attorney who will be practicing at a local firm. In total, they expect an annual income of around $210,000, and they have about $100,000 to put as a down payment. Jack has the stronger credit score at 750, though Emmy still has a good score of 710. They will be shopping in the $450,000 to $600,000 range.

Emmy and Jack have a young daughter, so they are looking for a property with a minimum of 1,250 square feet with at least two bedrooms, preferably with a den or finished basement to convert into a playroom. If possible, they would like to find something that also offers off-street parking. Lastly, a relatively short commute to Ballston is important. Their daughter will be in daycare during the day, so they would like to live somewhere that they can have as much time together as a family as possible, rather than giving those hours up to long drives or subway rides.

The first option for Emmy and Jack is 1051 North Stafford Street, just around the corner from the Ballston Metro station. This two-bedroom plus den townhouse hits almost every single one of Emmy and Jack's criteria. Jack could walk to work, and Emmy has a quick ride into the city. It measures out at 1,356 square feet, a parking space is included in the list price and it has a den that could be converted into a playroom. All these things come at a price, though: 1051 North Stafford Street is listed for $589,900, the top of Emmy and Jack's price bracket.

Our second choice for Emmy and Jack is a two-bedroom, two-bath unit in the Rhodes Hill Square development a few blocks from the Courthouse Metro. Emmy and Jack did not specify new construction, but this development seems to meet their location requirement, however at 1,105 square feet it is about 150 square feet shy of what they were hoping for in terms of space. The key thing here is that everything is new, so no renovations would be needed, the building is very secure and the listing price includes a parking space. The condo is priced at $599,900.

Lastly, we wanted to offer Emmy and Jack an in-town alternative to suburban living. 1321 Potomac Avenue SE is a renovated townhome just a block from the Blue and Orange Line Metro stop at Potomac Avenue. It is across the street from a Harris Teeter grocery store, and only a few short blocks from Barracks Row, where the family could take in the Friday evening parade at the oldest Marine barracks in the country. Intricate woodwork, a large landing at the top of the stairs, a beautiful private garden, and garage parking are just some of the highlights of this 1,300 square-foot home. Best of all, there is a finished loft area over the garage, that can easily transform itself into a play space for their daughter. 1321 Potomac Avenue SE is the lowest-priced option we featured, listed for $535,000.

Given these three choices, where should Emmy and Jack put in their offer?

This article originally published at https://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/dc_buyer_california_couple_relocating_to_dc_area/2287.