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Here's a price report based on the last two years of sales and rentals.

Unit Type	For Sale	Rental
One Bedroom, about 750 sf	137,500 (111,500 to 150,000)	1150 (1000 to 1250)
Two Bedroom, about 850-1150 sf	160,000 (124,000 to 210,975)	1400 (1260-1500)
Three Bedroom, about 1370-1420 sf	229,000 (145,000 to 245,000)	1800-1900

Huntington Club is located near the intersection of Huntington Avenue and Telegraph Road in (Fairfax County) Alexandria, VA. With easy access to I-495/I-95, and Route 1 (Jefferson Davis Highway). Huntington Club was built in the 1967, and is a 20 minute commute to D.C.

Amenities include:

• Easy access to Huntington Metro (right next door)
• Outdoor pool
• Assigned and Guest Parking
• Electricity, Water, Sewer, (Heating and Cooling) included in Condo Fees
• Tennis Courts
• Party Room
• Community Washer/Dryer

About the Author ---  Ben Fornshell is a licensed real estate agent with Condo 1 Alexandria.  To learn more about available rentals and purchases in the area check out our free search.

This week I was in a condo selling for over a million dollars.  It was a beautiful condominium home with excellent views, a state of the art kitchen and all the upgrades one might expect ... except the unit didn't have a washer and dryer.

Because my office is in River Towers, and we also serve Belle View, I often confront the question of a washer and dryer in the unit. (Neither River Towers nor Belle View have laundry in the unit.) I've talked to the older residents of River Towers about this and surprisingly many of them resist the idea of putting laundry in the unit. They like their laundry-rooms right where they are---thank you very much.

This might seem baffling to some of the younger generation, but laundry rooms have a number of distinct advantages:

• community --- You get to know your neighbors in the laundry room. This creates a sense of community and you know who belongs in the secured areas and who is a stranger.
• maintenance --- You don't have to worry about buying a new washer when the old one breaks down. More importantly you don't have to worry about your personal laundry flooding a neighbor's condo.
• square footage --- Laundry takes up space. You have more space in your unit if you have a community laundry room
• more washers --- Many folks like to wait and do an entire week of laundry at one time. If you have a laundry room you're not limited to one small washer. You have many washers available.

In a luxury community, most people don't do their own laundry anyway, so they don't care if the laundry is outside the unit. My tip to folks who are shopping for homes in Northern Virginia: don't box yourself in. If you won't consider a unit with a laundry room, you're walking past some of the best neighborhoods in Northern VA.

The Huntington Club is on the Huntington Metro and is one of the few affordable locations in Northern Virginia where one can walk to the metro. I've just posted a new sale for $129k for a 2 BR. If that doesn't make your eyes pop, then you don't yet know how much things cost in this area. Contact me for more details.

Here are a few pictures I recently snapped at the Huntington Club in Alexandria VA / Fairfax County just outside Old Town and the Beltway.

This is looking up-hill at the 3 BR's and townhouses at the top of the community.

Here's 2626. I currently have a great deal for rent there. A two-bedroom condo with all utilities included: walk to the metro for less than $1400. Contact us for more information about this condo for rent.

Most units at Huntington Club have a balcony. Some units have a patio.

The patios can be quite pleasant and the community is generally very barbecue-friendly.

The children's play-ground is quite nice. The community has a basketball court for those who are interested.

The trees and flowers around the buildings are quite nice.

Huntington Club has many interesting architectural and landscaping details.

In 1966 bills were signed that allowed the creation of the Washington Metro Transit Authority in 1967. In the same year, the Huntington Club, a community of garden-style condos, were built between Huntington Ave. and North Kings Highway. About 15 years later, the Washington Metro and Transit Authority opened its first station in Fairfax County. This station was the Huntington Metro and it brought the Yellow Line to the Huntington Club. The Huntington Club is across the street from brand new condos called the Midtowns.

The Huntington Club abuts the Huntington Metro and its residents can easily walk to either entrance of the Metro. The Huntington Club is on a forested ridge which is a prominent geological feature in the region. These hill overlooks Old Town toward Shooter's Hill, the Carlyle Towers and the George Washington Masonic Memorial. Most units at the Huntington Club have balconies (some have patios) and the location often provides pleasant views toward the city.

The Huntington Club has bright and airy units with ample windows. The condo fees include gas, trash, water, sewer, electricity and cable. The grounds are well-maintained and the swimming pool was completely refinished in the Winter of 2008. Prices at the Huntington Club relatively affordable and the neighborhood has a friendly and comfortable feel. I feel quite confident that if you want to live on the Metro, the Huntington Club may be one of the best buys in the National Capitol Region.

Resources

• Huntington-Club.com --- Pictures and information about an affordable condominium community on the metro at Huntington Station
• Huntington-Club.info --- Official information about the Huntington Club condominium association
• Huntington Club Market Update --- A list of properties for sale at the Huntington Club
• Huntington Club Map --- A map of the Huntington Club with real estate for sale at the Huntington Club
  

This is part of series of articles comparing the benefits of condos in close proximity to the Huntington Metro

• Huntington Club
• Hunting Creek Club
• Montebello
• Midtowns

Amenities are an important part of any condo buying decision. Amenities such as a pool and fitness room are pretty standard in most condos, but some condos offer a bit more. It is no different in the four complexes surrounding the Huntington Metro.

No matter how you compare them, the best amenities on the block are at Montebello. Montebello's community center is home to most of these amenities and it is well-maintained and pleasant. Here's a list of some of the features of Montebello.

• Parks & Grounds
  • Trails
  • Playgrounds
  • Gazebo
  • Picnic Areas
  • Parking
• Security
  • 24-hour security
  • gated community
• Indoor Activities
  • billiards
  • bowling alley
  • bridge room
  • club room
  • dance/yoga/aerobics studio
  • hobby rooms
  • ping-pong
• Convenience & Services
  • community shuttle
  • convenience store
  • dry cleaner
  • hair salon
  • path to metro
• Party Rooms & Common Areas
  • restaurant
  • party room
  • party deck
  • lobbies
• Health & Fitness
  • exercise equipment
  • sauna
  • tennis
• Pools
  • indoor pool
  • outdoor pools
  • hot tub

The runner-up in this category is at the Midtowns at Alexandria. The Midtowns have an absolutely gorgeous lobby and lounge (a cyber cafe) on the first floor. The pool at the Midtowns is on a roof deck located half-way up the building. From this party deck, one has great vistas toward the Blue Ridge and the city of Alexandria. There are barbecue stations and more to enjoy here on the deck. The party room is first class and state of the art. It's the type of place you'd be proud to bring guests or enjoy as a resident.

The Huntington Club and the Hunting Creek Club are far behind the first two on this list. These two condos have more pedestrian offerings that are standard fare. Both have a pool, party room and fitness room. (Huntington Club recently renovated their pool.) Hunting Creek Club has a nice tennis court.

This is part of series of articles comparing the benefits of condos in close proximity to the Huntington Metro

• Huntington Club
• Hunting Creek Club
• Montebello
• Midtowns

If you need a balcony or patio in your condo, you've come to the right place. All four of these complexes have balconies or patios in most units. The Huntington Club, the Hunting Creek Club and Montebello all have balconies, patios or verandas in every single unit. Now obviously the new units have slightly more appealing balconies, but to sort them from top to bottom, this comparison focuses on the views.

If a good view is something you absolutely must have from your condo and balcony, you're best chance of finding that view is at Hunting Creek Club. Nearly every unit in the building offers a panorama over the city or toward the Potomac.  Some of these units have absolutely breathtaking views.  You must see them to appreciate them as 400 pixels of cyberspace can't approximate what you'll see.

You'll find good views at all the others. Many decks at Huntington Club look toward the US Patent & Trademark Office, the Carlyle skyline and the Masonic Temple at Shooter's Hill.  Montebello has many pleasant views into and above the treetops.  At the Midtowns you'll find a nice view here and there.  So, it is possible to find good views at any of the others. But at Hunting Creek Club you will consistently find sweeping and pleasant views.

A buyer recently asked me to do a comparison of condos that are at and around the Huntington Metro. For those who don't know the Huntington Metro is the last stop on the Yellow Line, in Fairfax County Virginia, just outside Alexandria. The Yellow Line is my favorite Metro line because it doesn't have many stops and the ride from Virginia to DC is generally pleasant with nice views of Alexandria and the Potomac. The Huntington Metro has plenty of parking, but it is surrounded by condos and townhouses that have easy access to Huntington's upper and lower levels. The upper level of the Huntington Station exits onto North King's Highway. The lower level of Huntington Station exits onto Huntington Ave. Both exits have plenty of support from buses, but the lower level has better support from taxis.

The condos that I selected for this comparison are Huntingon Club, Hunting Creek Club, the Midtowns of Alexandria and Montebello Condos. I selected these condos because they are within walking distance of the metro. Each of these condos offer different values for different folks. I'm going to break down some of the features of condos in general and then speak to the differentiators between these condos.

• Walk to Metro
• Amenities
• Size / Square Foot Price
  
• Appeal / condition
• Views / Balconies

• For sale --- Live data on all condos for sale in 22303 zip code.
• For rent --- Live data on rentals in 22303 zip code.

• Homes for sale --- All homes for sale less than $500,000 in 22303 zip code.
• Homes for sale --- All homes for sale from $300,000 to $700,000 in 22303 zip code.
• Homes for sale --- All homes for sale over $650,000 in 22303 zip code.

This is part of series of articles comparing the benefits of condos in close proximity to the Huntington Metro

• Huntington Club
• Hunting Creek Club
• Montebello
• Midtowns

In each of these articles I'm doing a head-to-head comparison of these complexes and then selecting a winner from each category. I'm making these selections based upon my personal opinion, and you might not agree with my opinion, but I've put it out there as a starting point for a home buyer's discussion.

If you want the most space in your condo, for the least amount of cash, then Huntington Club the pick from this category. Most Huntington Club one bedroom units sell for well-under $200k; many are currently less than $175k. Many Huntington Club two bedroom units sell for less than $250k, most for less than $200k. You can even find a three bedroom at Huntington Club for well under $300k. The rooms in these units are large and open. There is ample closet space. When one compares the price of the unit to the amount of living space you get, Huntington Club is the value buy at the Huntington Metro.

Hunting Creek Club is nicely proportioned. The rooms do not feel abbreviated. Even the studios at the Hunting Creek Club are larger than 1 bedrooms at some of the area's newest complexes.

Montebello also "feels" big compared to many newer condos. This is in part due to the floor plans, but the smaller 1 bedrooms at Montebello measure in at 850 sq ft.

As one might expect, the Midtowns of Alexandria---the newest condos in this lot---offer the least amount of space for the most amount of money.

This is part of series of articles comparing the benefits of condos in close proximity to the Huntington Metro

• Huntington Club
• Hunting Creek Club
• Montebello
• Midtowns

This might be the most subjective criteria I've selected for comparison. Let me underscore that this is just a personal opinion, entirely subjective. You may find reason to disagree with this analysis and more power to you if you do. The purpose of this comparison is to offer a starting point for discussions if you're looking at the Huntington Metro for condo living.

Also, keep in mind that these are condos, individually owned and individually maintained. There are units that are gorgeous in each of these complexes---I know because I've seen them myself. The Midtowns are so new you'd be hard pressed to find a ruined unit there, but I've seen units in poor condition in all the other communities in this comparison. The point is that this is a generalization of what I've seen and an overall impression. It's not a ranking of any one condo unit.

All that aside, and without further adieu, my top choice for appeal has to be the Midtowns of Alexandria. The Midtowns are elegant, chic and very nearly brand new. The lobbies are first rate. The amenities are sparkling. The hallways nearly smell of new carpet and fresh paint. The structure itself is architecturally interesting. The Midtowns definitely have the most allure.

Montebello has no shortage of appeal as well. The 37 acres surrounding the buildings are a huge plus and appeal to me personally. Montebello has a pleasant design that has stood the test of time. Montebello was built in 1983, but it is meticulously maintained and I would say challenges many new structures in the appeal category. The lobbies at Montebello are stately and yet cozy and functional. Montebello is very pleasant.

The Huntington Club has a certain appeal with its quirky windows, large closets and ample floor plans. The grounds are well-maintained. The common areas aren't possessed with any special appeal, but they are clean and functional. Certainly the laundry room outside the unit diminishes the appeal of these condos in the eyes of most buyers.

Hunting Creek Club faces very stiff competition in this field. The building itself does not compel interest. The grounds are clean and well-maintained as are the lobbies and common areas. The lobby has lost little lustre, but the color choices and furnishings don't speak to my heart. If you're prime concern when buying a condo is the design of the lobby, Hunting Creek Club would probably not be your first choice.