Moving to Arlington in April, having trouble finding apartments (Orange: for rent, condos)

[implet]

I'm transferring jobs to work at a DC office starting in April. I decided I really want to live along the orange metro line in Arlington.

I've been finding statistics for those neighborhoods (Clarendon, Courthouse, V Square, Ballston, Rosslyn) and I keep finding that the average 1 bedroom/bathroom price is around $1200 or so. Every place I'm finding for rent seems to be much more money than that. Does this average take rents for larger places and factor that in to the equation somehow?

I'm not finding many low-rise or privately owned places for rent. So far I've been finding info on the bigger high-rise buildings, where rent is pretty high with lots of fees. Besides craigslist which I haven't been having luck with, how do people find house apartments or maybe even condos to rent? I don't need to be on top of the orange line since I will be driving to work, something .5 miles or a bit more to a subway stop is fine for me. Also, size doesn't bother me, I'm fine with a teeny studio if need be.

I'm not open to having a roomate, and I have a small dog to complicate things. Ideally, I would like to keep things to $1500-$1600 (or less!) including heat and electric. My upper limit is $2000 including everything (pet fees, pet "rent", etc.).

I've found more reasonable rents in the Crystal City/Pentagon area. I'll be driving in to SE DC for work and being a bit removed from the Orange line area wouldn't bother me during the week. On weekends when I want to stay out late I worry about getting back to my house from that area. Not sure how I feel about taking a taxi alone as a young female.

Any ideas are appreciated!

[saganista]

Well, you'll be a young female until that young part wears off, but I wouldn't let it hold you back too much. Most of the Ballston Corridor is meanwhile supposed to be smart-growth, high-rise, high-density, walkable urban space. It's also expensive as you are seeing. There are alternatives, but they can be tough to catch. MilitaryByOwner currently lists a 1/1 condo on N Queens Lane sort of behind Ray's Hell Burger for $1750. It's between Courthouse and Rosslyn, so a longish way from both. But if you used Rosslyn to go places, and Courthouse to come back, the walk would be downhill in both directions. Hard to beat that.

Anyway, to use MilitaryByOwner, click Rent, choose a state (VA), click Ft Myer as the base, put your price range in, and click Search.

[BoomBoxing]

Try Riverhouse in Pentagon City. Very pet friendly you can be below $1700 including everything. The area certainly isn't as happening as North Arlington, but you are right next to a mall and a decent selection of bars and restaurants (23rd street, Pentagon Row, Crystal City). Taxis are generally fine, especially in Arlington, so that won't be a problem.

There are probably a few other complexes in Pentagon City/Crystal City that would suit your needs...and they are generally a couple hundred less than comparable apartments along the orange line. Plus you'll be closer to work.

[mrchanello]

Honestly, you may find yourself going out in both the clarendon/courthouse area and the DC area. The yellow line spots like crystal city or pentagon city work just fine for that. the yellow line is easy to get in to the city with, of course, but cabs are easy to find to DC or to Arlington from that area.

I'm male so it's hard for me to judge if you'd feel safe taking cabs alone at night, but I know many women who feel safe doing just that. Often, it's not that much more expensive to take a cab than to take the metro if you're sharing the cab ... alone, it certainly costs more but is far more convenient depending on where you're going. If you're close to the metro in Pentagon city, for example, it's really not that bad of a metro ride to the orange line spots - you're just stuck with the transfer in rosslyn. That's a matter of convenience, however - you'd always be able to get home easily using either method.

[joeclyde]

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