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Buyer's Market for Arlington VA Real Estate in Clarendon -- NOT!

Posted by Jay Seville on Tuesday, June 5th, 2007 at 10:21am.

After reading the article feel free to view the current active listings in our area for these "hot searches"--and you'll find the other articles in the overpriced category to be much more humorous and biting so check out the menu bar to the left to access those other posts on overpriced listings.  Also for latest snapshot/discussion of the market see the "market data" tag at bottom of page.

  • Clarendon Condos 2BR $400,000-650,000
  • Orange Line Condos 1BR $250,000-480,000
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    There is a lot of talk out there about a buyer's market.  I hear the phrase from condo buyers weekly and need to set the record straight.  In general, for Arlington VA real estate there is definitely not a buyer's market.  However there is a particular price bracket where that is accurate.  And on the front end I do want to acknowledge some inspiration for this post from my comrade and blogroll partner at urban trekker who wrote Spotting Trouble in Metro DC Housing.

    Arlington VA Condos in the Clarendon Real Estate Area

    Usually when I write about the condo market I focus on the orange line corridor of Ballston, Clarendon, Courthouse and Rosslyn condos.  The condominiums along route are in demand and make for good long term investments.  I would highly recommend one considering a buy and hold attitude when buying real estate as I believe real estate is a good investment vehicle for retirement cash flow.  You want to focus on buildings w/ low fees, however since fees can increase, townhouses in my opinion in the right spots (i.e. walk to the metro) are the best investment vehicles for long term real estate investments.  Groups can rent them out for top dollar; the naughty secret about rentals and groups is that you can usually get more $$$$ renting to a group.  And most groups full of type-A personalities who are in grad school and working full time are probably going to take care of the home just fine so take the money are run if you are the investor.
    take money arlington condos

    Condos and Real Estate in Arlington VA -- Price Brackets Stats

    sellers market vor clarendon va condos in arlington

    For Clarendon condos in Arlington VA real estate in the $300-400,000 bracket there is a 1 month supply of condos (14 active listings and 13 under contract).  That's not a buyer's market at all.  It's a flat out seller's market.  Buyers your leverage in that bracket is not what it used to be as many prices have corrected and the low supply is helping sellers now.  I guess it seems like since most sellers will come down some in their asking price, it just feels like a buyer's market after what we went though for several years of multiple, multiple, multiple offers (3-18 on almost every listing--it was hell to work in that environment). 

    For the $400-500,000 condominium bracket there are 22 active listings w/ 10 under contract--a 2 month supply.  That still leans towards sellers.  But as we move up the pricing scale, the months of inventory increases significantly.  For the $500-600,000 range of condos in Clarendon and Courthouse there are 20 actives and just 3 or 4 under contract--5 month supply of inventory.  This gives buyers a lot of leverage.  But it gets more interesting....

    Clarendon Condo Prices for Arlington Real Estate

    In the $600,000-700,000 price bracket there are 28 active listings and only 3 under contract--a 9 month supply.  Buyers have TONS of power in this bracket!


    power plant real estate in arlington courthouse

    Many of the 2/2 listings out there with a bit of extra square feet such as 1100-1400 square feet are going to have to drop their prices....Make it happen buyers!  Get an excellent realtor to represent you and then make your case...sometimes to several sellers simultaneously and find out who will give you the best deal. 


    I would like to volunteer for that position


    Blog Tags

    16 Responses to "Buyer's Market for Arlington VA Real Estate in Clarendon -- NOT!"

    anon wrote:
    Does your comment about townhouses within walking distance apply to SFHs also? There are a number of older, not-very-well-maintained SFHs in Lyon Park and Ashton Heights within .5 miles to the Metro for sale for under $800,000 (where new houses in those areas go for 1.4-1.6 and old houses that have been kept up go for 900K and up)--do you think those are similarly good investments? Thanks.

    Posted on Tuesday, June 5th, 2007 at 2:20 PM.


    Here are some of those listings. Property in those areas will appreciate nicely over the next 2 decades. I've read in many places of the population forecast for this area going up significantly over the next 20 years. This article I just found today--I'm not saying the guy is accurate, but it shows the trend of definite and strong appreciation here for years to come. The only negative w/ houses is maintenance from an investor's vantage: http://www.examiner.com/a-755988~House_values_to_grow_significantly_in_region__Study.html

    And the listings under 700ish most of whom will negotiate:
    http://matrix.mris.com/Matrix/Public/Email.aspx?ID=19868407001

    Posted on Tuesday, June 5th, 2007 at 2:25 PM.


    anon wrote:
    Thanks Jay. That is very interesting. I think only the first 2 listings are really walkable. The latter 2 are just under a mile to the Metro, which is certainly walkable for some but not for all which makes it a little more dicey from a re-sale perspective.

    What is really intersting is the scarcity of SFHs within .5 mils or so from the Metro--even at any price--many parts of Lyon Park and Ashton Heights are not really walkable for all, and those that are often are filled with apartments and townhouses--making the rare SHF find a good deal even in this market, I think.

    Posted on Thursday, June 7th, 2007 at 10:51 AM.


    dewita wrote:
    Hi Jay,
    Thanks for the shout-out!!

    Posted on Monday, June 11th, 2007 at 2:07 PM.


    million wrote:
    hey Jay,

    Clarendon's not so much a buyer's market yet but is becoming a foreclosure/REO market. 5 so far in Clarendon 1021 w/ only the first one re-selling, the fifth one showed up in the WaPo legal notices yesterday: a nice 2/2. If buyer's can wait, then they will stand to save a considerable sum buying at auction on the courthouse steps as there's a GLUT of inventory (as you mentioned in your article) especially in the bigger 2/2 units that are crushing the specuvestors w/ PITI payments (sans the "P" of course as flippers used OPM and leverage).

    Posted on Tuesday, June 26th, 2007 at 10:21 AM.


    There are a ton of overpriced 2/2s out there as I stated. And most notorious of all for this is Clarendon 1021 as you've demonstrated. Many of those 2/2 listed for 630K for example should be listed at 549 for example. But I have not run the numbers for 2 weeks. Prices dip in the summer so they are even more messed up now. You don't sell a 2/2 w/ 1100 sq. ft in the 600,000--totally stupid to try....the only exception might be a dead on view of the monuments.

    j

    Posted on Tuesday, June 26th, 2007 at 10:24 AM.


    SAZ wrote:
    Hi Jay.
    I have a purchase contract in Phoenix condominimum - 1020 Highland street. One BD condo on the top 11 floor. I did the walk through and was not impressed.
    They claimed that it\\'s a luxury condo but in my oppinoin it\\'s not. 770 sqt condo is selling for 454K. Do you think it\\'s close to right price?
    Thanks,
    SAZ

    Posted on Sunday, July 8th, 2007 at 10:57 PM.


    Sol wrote:
    Hi Jay.
    I have a purchase contract in Phoenix condominimum - 1020 Highland street. One BD condo on the top 11 floor. I did the walk through and was not impressed.
    They claimed that it's a luxury condo but in my oppinoin it's not. 770 sqt condo is selling for 454K. Do you think it's close to right price?
    Thanks,
    SAZ

    Posted on Monday, July 16th, 2007 at 9:56 AM.


    million wrote:
    hey Jay,

    there's a 2/2 listed in today's (7/14/07) foreclosure/legal notices at WashPost.com in Clarendon 1021 for $514k. maybe poster SAZ above can check out that 2/2 instead of buying a ONE BEDROOM for 454k? just a thought.

    -million

    Posted on Monday, July 16th, 2007 at 9:56 AM.


    Been out of town in Myrtle Beach while juggling several new contracts so sorry I've not been able to respond everybody. Will try soon.

    For what it's worth, Sol, the 1Br + den at 1800 Wilson were going in the $450,000s (they just sold the last one to my client) w/ 830 sq. ft. So that is on the high side, but I don't know enough about it to comment in depth. Views? I don't think there are serious amenities are there?

    j

    Posted on Monday, July 16th, 2007 at 9:59 AM.


    Surfing wrote:
    i just read on another realty blog that many are going rentals joule zoso and phoenix. This blog reports that only 60% of zoso has sold

    Posted on Tuesday, July 17th, 2007 at 7:19 AM.


    Surfing wrote:
    I really do not think this blog is good. COmments that do not agree with the realtor are deleted and he seems biased towards certain places, maybe because he gets a commission. It just does not inspire my confidence and Im going with another realtor.

    Posted on Tuesday, July 17th, 2007 at 8:13 AM.


    Oh brother give me a break, Surfing. Since the blog has been up I've deleted just a couple comments ever. Why wouldn't I have biases towards some places. What you call biases I call opinions. Don't you have any opinions on particular condos and their features or value?

    Regarding the info Joule & Zoso, that was reported in this blog months ago and I allowed the comments by my good friend and very excellent realtor Frank of franklyrealty. go with him because he's also excellent, Surfing.

    And I think this blog just got better since you're leaving it. What do you think everybody?

    Posted on Tuesday, July 17th, 2007 at 8:19 AM.


    karen nelson wrote:
    It costs approx. $450.00 per square foot to build a condo. That doesn't include buying the land. Assume the land is $60.00 a ground foot. A developer will expect at least a 20% return - which isn't much a day, month or year considering how long it takes to build a condo. $500.00 per square foot plus 20% equals the minimum selling price. Decide how much over that you'd like to pay.

    Posted on Tuesday, September 25th, 2007 at 9:22 PM.


    Madhuri,

    Please read this story immediately:
    http://www.justnewlistings.com/arlington-virginia-blog/jay-seville/ouch-buyer-lost-40000-dont-be-a-floater-dude/show/

    And do not pay upper 500s for 90% of 2/2s in the area. I'm negotiating right now with 1800 wilson and you will not believe the difference in list price and where I have the counter offer now....

    Call me at 703-624-3270 AFTER reading the article so I can help you.

    jay seville

    Posted on Tuesday, April 1st, 2008 at 3:11 PM.


    Madhuri wrote:
    Jay
    I am looking at a 2/2 condos in Arlington. I have looked at the condos this past weekend and am primarily interested in The Hawthorn condo since they have all the amenities I am looking for and reasonable condo fee. Their listing price is in the high $500's . Do you think thats a reasonable listing range ? They have currently 25 units available . I am hoping I could go for a low 500's . What is your advice on this ?

    Posted on Tuesday, April 1st, 2008 at 10:00 PM.




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