DMV real house hunts: Suburban sprawl

Fiancés Evan Nielson (L) and John Díaz. Picture: Evan Nielson

D.C.’s pandemic industry has been bewildering for customers and sellers — from lower-stock sparking bidding wars to superior home loan premiums drying up the competitors.

Why it issues: We arrived at out to subscribers to find out about their homebuying journeys. We’ll bring you their tales, just about every at distinct price tag factors, in excess of the next few weeks.

These initial-time buyers want to distribute out

👋 Who: Occasion planner Evan Nielson and his fiancé John Díaz, an IT supervisor, rented a Pentagon Town condominium for most of the pandemic, but last summertime the pair decided it was time to acquire a little something of their possess.

“We appreciate collecting and setting up LEGO sets, so we required a area to display these,” Evan tells Axios. More area for by themselves was an included reward, far too.

Their LEGO selection includes a fully useful rollercoaster and a Star Destroyer.

Evan treks downtown two to a few days a week even though John operates from residence. In advance of they started out their residence research neither owned a auto, and they hoped to maintain it that way.

💰 Price range: $500,000 – $600,000
📍Wished-for site: Arlington or Alexandria
🔎 Started off looking: June 2022
❤️ Would like record: Storage area, transit obtain, huge kitchen

🏡 Selection 1: Cozy condo

Two-bedroom, two-rest room | 880 square toes | Ballston | $579,900
Professionals: Place, place, site. And tons of closet place.
Cons: Rather little. Didn’t love that it’s on the to start with ground.

The kitchen of a Ballston condo. — A cozy kitchen to match the condo’s cozy vibe. Image courtesy of the Goodhart Team

🏡 Alternative 2: New construct in the ‘burbs

Two-bed room, two-bathroom | 1,397 sq. feet | Reston | $555,900

Execs: Fashionable, brand new, and fully current.
Drawbacks: Locale, location, location. Reston is significantly.

A living room inside a newly built condo. — Tons of area to distribute out and normal light-weight. Photo courtesy of Evan Nielson

🏡 Possibility 3: What kitchen desires are made of

A few-bed room, 2.5-toilet | 1,642 square ft | Alexandria | $549,000
Professionals: They loved the kitchen and storage.
Downsides: As well significantly from bus and Metro.

The dining area and living room of an Alexandria condo. — All those arches 😍. Picture courtesy of Tyson Le, New Home Image

🎉 Winner: Option 2! Evan and John fell in adore with the shiny new Reston rental, shelling out $555,900 for extra area and fashionable finishes.

They compromised significant-time on area – Evan usually takes a bus to get to the Metro for his hour-plus commute. And they caved on the motor vehicle, much too, much easier for outings to the grocery shop in the suburbs.