The Observation Deck has a pillared structure that frames intriguing views of nearby site. From the Observation Deck, one can easily watch the planes come and go from Reagan National Airport. On most days both the Washington Monument and the US Capitol are plainly visible and much more obvious than they might seem in the picture below.

\

The social room at the Eclipse has a great billiard table and theater style seating in the media room.Click the Eclipse to see prices and listings of homes for sale at the Eclipse.

About the Author --- Will Nesbitt is the principal broker of Condo 1 Alexandria and Will Nesbitt Realty. Will specializes in condos, townhouses and single family residences in Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax County, Crystal City, and Kingstowne. Will resides in Belle Haven Estates just outside Alexandria VA in Fairfax County.

When you're shopping for a home, how do you price a view? The view above is from a balcony at the Representative overlooking Pentagon City in Arlington County. Does this view make this condominium home more valuable? If so, how much more valuable?

Like the Representative, Montebello sits atop the ridge overlooking the Potomac. Much of the best property in Northern VA is found on this ridge, because the elevation provides excellent vistas of the Potomac and the city.

The Alexandria House is not on the ridge, but down by the Potomac and surrounded by the smaller structures of Old Town Alexandria. Its balconies provide great views of the city and the river.

Who's to say what a great view is anyway? Some people like the city view. Some folks prefer a nature view. Some folks like the monuments. And others could care less about the view.

For myself, I never judge a view by standing at a window. Because when you live in a home, you don't stand at the window. You pass through rooms and halls on the way to do life's errands. I judge a view from the center of the room, or when seated at the couch. But in the end, it's all subjective. A view costs more, on that we all agree. But the value of a view is only known when the price a buyer will pay intersects with the amount a seller will accept.

About the Author --- Will Nesbitt is the principal broker of Condo 1 Alexandria and Will Nesbitt Realty. Will specializes in condos, townhouses and single family residences in Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax County, Crystal City, and Kingstowne. Will resides in Belle Haven Estates just outside Alexandria VA in Fairfax County.

Montebello is on the hill up over looking the Eisenhower Valley and the Potomac River. I took this picture yesterday while standing on a balcony at Hunting Creek Club. We were there to do a walk-through inspection for a sale that is closing tomorrow. The view here was actually very striking but I didn't take many pictures as I knew my camera wouldn't really do it justice. If you're seeking a nice view, proximity to the metro and you're trying to maintain a tight budget, Hunting Creek Club is a great one to consider.

About the Author --- Will Nesbitt is the principal broker of Condo 1 Alexandria and Will Nesbitt Realty. Will specializes in condos, townhouses and single family residences in Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax County, Crystal City, and Kingstowne. Will resides in Belle Haven Estates just outside Alexandria VA in Fairfax County.

The Alexandria House is located on Pitt St. in Old Town Alexandria VA. Alexandria House offers spectacular views from enormous balconies in the heart of Old Town. Alexandria House is one of a very few high-rises in Old Town so it commands views north to Washington DC, south down the Potomac, west to Arlington and the Blue Ridge Mountains and east to Maryland.

The 23rd floor is home to the Drake Club---a community party room that residents can reserve for parties and get togethers. On the roof is a pool with sweeping views of the city. A great place to relax on a hot summer day. Click Alexandria House for a check of prices, map of the area and more detailed information about condos for sale at the Alexandria House.

The Torpedo Factory Condominiums are located between the Alexandria's Potomac waterfront and the historic and famed Carlyle House. Click the link if you're interested in prices and availabilities at the Torpedo Factory Condos.

The Torpedo Factory condos are very close to the Torpedo Factory Art Center and as such are found in one of the most desirable locations in Northern VA. The Torpedo Factory is within walking distance of numerous restaurants, the waterfront, King Street and the King St. Trolley.

The roof lines and architectural details of the Torpedo Factory are very appealing and as you can see the grounds are very well-kept. Following an Old Town tradition, the walkways in the Torpedo Factory condo community are not concrete, but rather are paved with bricks.

In the summer, annuals and crepe myrtles blossom around every corner. Ever wonder what's in those dormers at the Torpedo Factory?

Solitude from a busy world.

About the Author --- Will Nesbitt is the principal broker of Condo 1 Alexandria and Will Nesbitt Realty. Will specializes in condos, townhouses and single family residences in Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax County, Crystal City, and Kingstowne. Will resides in Belle Haven Estates just outside Alexandria VA in Fairfax County.

On sale now at Montebello!

Montebello is a great community, located in Fairfax County VA just outside Old Town Alexandria on the Yellow Line at the Huntington Metro. Montebello has easy access to the Beltway (I-495) at the Woodrow Wilson Bridge and is convenient for commuters destined for Washington DC, Arlington, Crystal City or the Pentagon. Every so often a gem of a unit comes available and this one is it. Montebello is a resort-style condo with 24-hour security, gated entry and loads of amenities.

This 1-bedroom unit is affordably priced and is relatively spacious compared to nearby offerings at the Midtowns and elsewhere. These pictures really don't do the view justice. Look north from your 14th floor perch on Mount Eagle and you'll peer down upon the Carlyle skyline. In the distance Reagan National Airport and the Washington Monument are clearly visible. Straight-ahead you look down on the arches of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge. Then to the south the lucky resident overlooks National Harbor and the natural beauty of the Potomac River.

Call 703 765 0300 to tour this beauty before it's too late.

I recently went on an excursion to Braddock Place and several condos near the Braddock Metro Station. The homes in this area are reasonably priced with excellent commutes to Alexandria, the Pentagon, Crystal City, DC and Arlington. Here's the view from a typical balcony as it looks back toward Old Town and the Potomac.

This condo had a nice kitchen with a pass through that allows light in from the balcony into the kitchen.

This unit is just a few paces from the Braddock Metro Station passing through the circle and then overpass to the station.

All units have balconies in this condo community.

Fireplaces are another nice touch here.

Click Braddock Metro Station to see properties for sale that are a close walk to the metro. Or check out these search tips and tools:

• For sale --- Live data on all condos for sale in 22314 zip code.
• For rent --- Live data on rentals in 22314 zip code.

• Homes for sale --- All homes for sale less than $500,000 in 22314 zip code.
• Homes for sale --- All homes for sale from $300,000 to $700,000 in 22314 zip code.
• Homes for sale --- All homes for sale over $650,000 in 22314 zip code.

About the Author --- Will Nesbitt is the principal broker of Will Nesbitt Realty and maintains Condo 1 Alexandria. Will specializes in condos, townhouses and single family residences in Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax County, Crystal City, and Kingstowne. Will resides in Belle Haven Estates just outside Alexandria VA in Fairfax County.

The Alexandria House is located a few blocks from King St. on Madison St. in Old Town Alexandria between the waterfront and the Washington St. This towering landmark of a building boasts broad wrap-around balconies with views of the Capitol, National Airport, Old Town and the Blue Ridge Mountains. This condo complex is in a spectacular neighborhood, but to me anyway, the real appeal of the Alexandria House is the balconies and the views.

I have collected some snapshots to represent the views from these condominium balconies.

This is a view from the northeastern side of the building about 20 floors up. The view is over the north end of Alexandria toward the Blue Ridge Mountains. The high-rises of Arlington are easily visible to the naked eye but in this picture Arlington is just a few bumps near the horizon on the right.

In this unit the kitchen has a pass-through that allows the cook to look out to windows on three sides. In the distance one can see the Woodrow Wilson Bridge and the Potomac River.

The wrap-around balconies mean that even the bedrooms have balconies and tremendous views.

In this picture its obvious that Alexandria House is only a block or two from the waterfront. Down below one of Alexandria's many pleasure boats tools upriver toward Washington DC. Check these links for more views or information about the Alexandria House condos in Old Town Alexandria.

To search condo listings in Old Town Alexandria click here.

Montebello was built on a promontory overlooking the Potomac River. This knob, called Mount Eagle, has such a commanding view that it was used as a fort during the US Civil War.

The ridge upon which Montebello sits is part of an important geological feature that is tied to the "Fall Line". This ridge starts at Great Falls VA and runs along the Potomac all the way to Mt. Vernon. Much of the area's most valuable real estate is sits on this ridge. From the hieghts of Rosslyn to the Iwo Jima Memorial, to Robert E. Lee's Arlington House, to Arlington's Ridge Road to Belle Haven, this Ridge overlooks the Potomac.

The knob at Montebello is often called Mt. Eagle and is shared by Mount Eagle Park and the Huntington Metro.

As a result of Montebello's perch, many units have sweeping views of the surrounding area. Depending upon the unit's position in the complex, you'll see the Potomac River, the Woodrow Wilson Bridge, Old Town Alexandria, the USPTO, the Monuments and Capitol or Alexandria's West End and the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Residents and visitors know that Old Town Alexandria is a special place. Old Town Alexandria is at once colonial and historic, a seaport and city, urban and chic. Old Town is home to many shops, restaurants, boutiques and coffee shops. Much of Old Town is filled with elegant brick townhouses and rowhouse houses. Some of these (Abingdon Row for example) are new. But many are historic.

Another thread in the tapestry of Old Town are the high-rises near the waterfront at the north end of Old Town. is the condominiums on N. Pitt Street known as Port Royal. From the 16 floors of Port Royal one will find some of the best views in Old Town. The rear of the building overlooks the Potomac and the flight approach to Reagan National Airport. The lobbies and common areas of the building are well-maintained and pleasant.


Port Royal has a variety of models from studios and up.  The units vary in condition, but most are very nice and have been recently renovated. Contact Condo 1 Alexandria Alexandria to arrange a tour of available condos at Port Royal. To view the interiors of units and to browse properties online, please check the following links:

• For sale --- Live data on all condos for sale in Port Royal's zip code (22314).
• For rent --- Live data on rentals in 22314 zip code.Rental info at Port Royal.

• Homes for sale --- All homes for sale less than $500,000 in 22314 zip code.
• Homes for sale --- All homes for sale from $300,000 to $700,000 in 22314 zip code.
• Homes for sale --- All homes for sale over $650,000 in 22314 zip code.

Skyline Plaza, a two tower 26-story condominium residence located in Falls Church is on a premium location seven miles away from the Reagan Airport and five miles from the Pentagon. The towers are surrounded by 10 beautiful acres of highly maintained landscaped ground. Skyline Plaza has easy access to I-395 which grants easy access to DC and destinations around the Beltway such as Tysons Corner. If you are new to the idea of a condominium and you're curious about the benefits and drawbacks of condo life may find CondoBenefits.com useful.

The towers of Skyline Plaza were developed in the 1970s near historic Bailey's Crossroads. Skyline Plaza is just minutes away from many strip malls (such as the Skyline Shopping Mall and Bailey's Crossroads Shopping Center) malls (such as Landmark and Pentagon City), and urban shopping spots (like Old Town Arlington and Wilson Blvd. in Arlington).

The neighborhood is filled with all of life's conveniences highlighted by a plethora of affordable ethnic cuisines and neighborhood restaurants. Walk Score rates this as a highly walkable neighborhood. I dispute this slightly because the Skyline neighborhood is heavily trafficked and serviced by 6 lane roads in some cases. Everything is close to Skyline, true. But not everything is walkable from Skyline. On the other hand, Skyline Plaza is has very active and clean bus service with quick shuttles to nearby metro stations.

Public schools near Skyline Plaza include Edison High, Thomas Jefferson High, Stuart High, Twain Middle, Holmes Middle, Glasgow Middle, Bailey's Elementary, and Glen Forest Elementary.

On site, Skyline Plaza offers a variety of recreational activities. If you like playing pool there is a billiard room located on the Penthouse level of the North building. The billiard room contains two regulation size tables with cue racks. (No one under 12 is permitted in this area and ages 12 to 18 must be accompanied by an adult.) The billiard room is accessible everyday from 10 am to 10 pm.

If you have the need to entertain large number of guests, Skyline Plaza has you covered. Each tower has a party room with a fully functional kitchen in the penthouse. There is ample room for dancing and dining and the penthouse has its own furniture. The views from the penthouses are spectacular. The rooms must be reserved by the residents and there is a nominal fee associated with use of the party room.

A card room is also located on the penthouse level in both towers. The card room holds less people then the party room but fully furnished as well. The card room is also only available by reservation. The hours of availability for the card room and party room are 10 am to Midnight from Sunday through Thursday. The party room and card room are open until 1 am on Friday & Saturday.

Another feature of the Skyline Plaza is the media library, housing over 2,500 titles. The media room is located on the B1 floor of the North Tower. Also in the basement of both towers, there are well-maintained fitness rooms. Both fitness rooms include a locker room, jogging machine, weight machines, free weights, saunas, showers, steam rooms, and bathrooms. All who wish to use the fitness rooms must be at least 18 years old. The fitness rooms are available are from 6 am to 11 pm daily. Be advised that the cleaners are in the fitness room from 2 pm to 3 pm.

The pool at Skyline Plaza can be used by old or young, children under the ages of 12 must have an adult accompany them at all times (children's pool also included). The rooftop terrace is one of the most wonderful aspects of Skyline Plaza giving you a panoramic views of Old Town Alexandria. The terrace is accessed from the Penthouse level and from the party room.

The typical unit at Skyline Plaza has of 2 bathrooms, 2 bedrooms, with washer, dryer, stove, refrigerator. The unit itself is approximately 1200 square feet. Of course, check with me to find out what is currently available.

Skyline Plaza published the SKYlines newsletter every month updating residents on up coming events in the community.

Skyline Plaza provides quality, comfortable living at very affordable prices. Whether your single, retired, or married, Skyline Plaza has options that can fit your living needs.

• For sale --- Live data on all condos for sale near Skyline Plaza (22041 zip code).
  

• Homes for sale --- All homes for sale less than $500,000 in 22041 zip code.
  
• Homes for sale --- All homes for sale from $300,000 to $700,000 in 22041 zip code.
  
• Homes for sale --- All homes for sale over $650,000 in 22041 zip code.
  

• Search Tools --- Tools to search live data on area sales and rentals