Comparing Alexandria Condos (renter, neighborhood, buying)

[Anona Maus 2011]

Hi everyone:

I currently rent in West End Alexandria (5+ years) and want to buy a condo in one of three buildings: Templeton, Greenhouse, or Hallmark. To better understand what it might be like to live in these places, does anyone have personal experience (as owner, renter or employee) to share?

If it helps, below are six quality-of-life questions for which any insight would be deeply appreciated. Also, if you can think of other vital issues that should factor into the comparison, please do share.

Thank you!

1) Noise: Are the units reasonably quiet with respect to hearing your upstairs, downstairs, and next-door neighbors walk around, talk, and play music?

2) Cleanliness: Are the units and common areas free of ants, roaches, bed bugs, etc.?

3) Cost: Were there any assessments or large spikes in the condo fees during your time there?

4) Safety: Did you feel reasonably safe from bodily harm as you moved about the property and neighborhood?

5) Neighbors: Did the building seem more popular with renters/investors than live-in-unit owners?

6) Management: Was the property management company professional, competent, and responsive to residents?

[CityCat28]

I don't have any personal experience yet, but I'm also considering buying a condo in that neighborhood and would love to get feedback on any buildings in the Landmark / Edsall / Beauregard / Van Dorn area.

One realtor friend told me she had a friend who used to live at the Templeton, and they got slammed with a lot of terrible assessments. It sounded like the condo board and/or condo finances were mismanaged, so they had to start making up the shortfalls with assessments.

I've also noticed that a bunch of the high-rise buildings in the Landmark area have incredibly high condo fees. Maybe they were all mismanaged too...? What in the world causes such high condo fees? And are the management companies trying to do something about it? I can't imagine how anyone could be willing to put up with those conditions.

Any insights welcome!

[GustavoFring]

Originally Posted by CityCat28

I don't have any personal experience yet, but I'm also considering buying a condo in that neighborhood and would love to get feedback on any buildings in the Landmark / Edsall / Beauregard / Van Dorn area.

One realtor friend told me she had a friend who used to live at the Templeton, and they got slammed with a lot of terrible assessments. It sounded like the condo board and/or condo finances were mismanaged, so they had to start making up the shortfalls with assessments.

I've also noticed that a bunch of the high-rise buildings in the Landmark area have incredibly high condo fees. Maybe they were all mismanaged too...? What in the world causes such high condo fees? And are the management companies trying to do something about it? I can't imagine how anyone could be willing to put up with those conditions.

Any insights welcome!

Some older high rises always tend to have high fees, I'm guessing it has something to do with additional maintenance. Another thing to consider,in some of those older high rises, they have centralized HVAC systems (not individual per unit), so you may be paying for some sort of collective utility there.

[pcity]

Originally Posted by GustavoFring

Some older high rises always tend to have high fees, I'm guessing it has something to do with additional maintenance. Another thing to consider,in some of those older high rises, they have centralized HVAC systems (not individual per unit), so you may be paying for some sort of collective utility there.

This is true. The old buildings with the high condo fees generally include some, if not all, utilities in the condo fee.

[Anona Maus 2011]

Originally Posted by CityCat28

I don't have any personal experience yet, but I'm also considering buying a condo in that neighborhood and would love to get feedback on any buildings in the Landmark / Edsall / Beauregard / Van Dorn area.

One realtor friend told me she had a friend who used to live at the Templeton, and they got slammed with a lot of terrible assessments. It sounded like the condo board and/or condo finances were mismanaged, so they had to start making up the shortfalls with assessments.

I've also noticed that a bunch of the high-rise buildings in the Landmark area have incredibly high condo fees. Maybe they were all mismanaged too...? What in the world causes such high condo fees? And are the management companies trying to do something about it? I can't imagine how anyone could be willing to put up with those conditions.

Any insights welcome!

Thank you, CityCat - your insight is much appreciated.