CAPITOL ASSET REALTY GROUP
Welcome to GWU!
Your next step is to find a home......
Washington offers many interesting neighborhoods in which to live. There are many different factors to consider when choosing a new home; convenience, price, and atmosphere. Three important factors that are vital to your success in landing a suitable rental: credit score, rental history and deposit funds. Luckily, with the diversity of options found in the national capital area the right prescription is attainable with a little searching.
Many physicians choose convenience and live right in the Foggy Bottom neighborhood. If you want a more suburban atmosphere or are looking to spend a little less you can venture into Virginia or Maryland. Many areas of Arlington and Alexandria are right on the Metro Blue or Orange Lines, which stops at Foggy Bottom, home to the GWU campus. Maryland is also not far away but it is located on the Red Line which requires switching trains at MetroCenter usually a 30-40 minute commute.
Below is a little information on DC, Maryland and Virginia neighborhoods as well as average prices you might expect to pay. There are always exceptions to these prices but can be used as general guidelines.
WashingtonDC Neighborhoods......
Foggy Bottom (1 BR $1600 and up; efficiency $1500)
Foggy Bottom is GW’s campus and the surrounding neighborhood. Housing is convenient but tends to be expensive and limited. Find some roommates and your rent will go down. Housing options include high-rise apartments and townhouses. Also, living in close proximity to museums, cultural events, entertainment, and everything DC has to offer is an added bonus!
Georgetown (1 BR $2050 and up; efficiency $1500)
Georgetown is home of GeorgetownUniversity, along with an upscale neighborhood known for its historic feel and friendly locale. Restaurants, bars, movies, attractive architecture, and a hip shopping environment appeal to many visitors and students. Expect to pay premium prices for accommodations. Georgetown is not accessible by Metro but is a short 15-minute walk to campus and is easily reached by buses that leave from the Foggy Bottom Metro.
DuPont Circle (1 BR $1700 and up)
This neighborhood has been one of the trendiest areas of the city for some time. DuPont Circle features attractive streets and neighborhoods, nightlife, restaurants, private art galleries, limited parking, moderate to expensive apartments, and a Metro Stop (DuPont Circle) on the Red Line. Most of the shops and restaurants are on Connecticut Avenue, P Street and 17th Street. Like Foggy Bottom, rents tend to be high but there are a lot of owner-rented apartments that can be reasonable. Note that DuPont is on the Red not the Orange and Blue Lines, which result in a 20-30 minute Metro ride. However, there is a convenient Metro Bus and when the weather is nice a moderate walk or bike ride to the Foggy Bottom campus.
Adams Morgan (1 BR $1700 and up; efficiencies $1500)
Perhaps more than any other neighborhood in Washington, Adams Morgan boasts an international flavor. You will find shops and restaurants with South American, African, and European motifs. It’s also known for its nightlife. You will also find basement apartments and apartments in two- or three story buildings. This area is less expensive than DuPont Circle; however, parking is difficult and somewhat inconvenient as far as Metrorail is concerned. The closest stops are WoodleyPark and DuPont on the Red line and are a 15-20 minute walk from Adams Morgan housing.
Capitol Hill (1 BR $1800 and up; efficiency $1750)
Situated just east of the U.S. Capitol, the Capitol Hill area is a moderate Metro or bike ride from campus. The area offers tranquil, tree-lined streets, two- and three-story row houses built around the turn of the century and several small parks. The Library of Congress, Union Station, Eastern Market, and museums on the Mall are within easy walking distance. Capitol Hill is a friendly neighborhood with a mixture of long-time students, government workers and other professionals. Three Metro lines serve Capitol Hill-the Red, Orange, and Blue Lines.
Most who tend to choose this neighborhood will prefer to live within easy walking distance of the Eastern Market or Union Station, where there are a large number of shops, restaurants, and bars. Rental units are moderate to expensive. Both apartments and entire houses can be rented on Capitol Hill.
GloverPark (1 BR $1400 and up; efficiencies avg. $1250 and other Neighborhoods in the District. As you move further north onI Street, NW from GWU, there are a number of great neighborhoods, which although further from campus, may be something you prefer. East of DuPont is a growing area, full of quaint neighborhoods, local restaurants, music, clubs, bars, and the NE Ist development in the city. East of 17th street is a beautiful area, which is still walking distance to the DuPont Circle Metro Stop. Around 14th Street there are a number of music clubs and restaurants/bars. To the north of U Street, just northeast of DuPont Circle, there are a number of hip bars, small cafes, and clubs. There is a Metro stop here also, U Street Cardozo, which is on the Green Line. It is a 30 minute Metro ride from GW and you need to transfer lines, or it is a 30 minute walk or a 10 minute bike ride to campus. Logan Circleand Thomas Circleare historic areas, currently being revived and renovated and are within walking distance to U Street. Apartments in this area are typically recently renovated townhouses and can be pricey, but the area on Massachusetts Avenue from 14th Street to 17th Street has a lot of high-rise style apartments.
There are a few DC neighborhoods to consider even further north of Georgetown in distance by car or bike, but accessible by Metro. Many students and residents live in Glover Park, north of Georgetown on Wisconsin Avenue, which is a quaint neighborhood with its own nightlife, but it is not on the Metrorail. Further north on Wisconsin Avenue is the neighborhood of Tenleytown (home of AmericanUniversity) with a number of single-family homes and some rental apartment buildings. FriendshipHeights borders Maryland and is home to a couple of malls and a number of other shops and restaurants. Both Tenleytown and FriendshipHeights are on the Metro Red Line.
North of DuPont Circle on Connecticut Avenue (on the Red Line) are the neighborhoods of Woodley Park and Cleveland Park, situated to the south and north of the Washington Zoo, respectively. WoodleyPark is a 15-minute walk to Adams Morgan. ClevelandPark also has the neighborhood feel with several restaurants and bars. A lot of the living quarters in these two areas are beautiful detached homes, and rental apartments can be found.
MarylandNeighborhoods......
Bethesda (1 BR $1350 and up; 2 BR $1400-$1950; 3 BR $1750-$3250) Bethesda borders DC just to the north, and it is home to many young professionals in the area. Bethesda has hundreds of restaurants, most of them within convenient walking distance to the Metro stop on the Red Line. There are a lot of high-rise apartments in downtown and two-story and three-story apartments within walking distance to the Metro. Rents tend to be as expensive as some parts of DC. Bethesda is home to the National Institutes of Health.
Takoma Park (1 BR $900 and up; 2 BR $1500 and up)
Served by the Takoma stop on the Red Line, the Maryland town at the DC border is home to many artists and professionals. In contrast with much of DC, people live in single family detached homes. Apartments are available and entire houses are for rent or sale. Many people find the area ideal for raising families. This is an up and coming area and rents are increasing as a result. Parking is available.
Silver Spring Area (1 BR $1,400 and up; 2 BR $1800-$3000)
Just north of the DC city limits on 16th Street is Silver Spring. Rents are cheaper than in most areas of DC, although the commute on the Metro can be 30-45 minutes. There are a number of high-rise apartments here and some garden style too, but it does not have much of a neighborhood feel in most areas. Most places are Metro accessible tothe Red Line andmay require a short bus ride. Parking is available.
Northern VirginiaNeighborhoods......
Northern Virginia has many advantages. It is only one or two Metro stops away on the Orange and Blue Lines. Rents tend to be lower than in Foggy Bottom, DuPont Circle or Georgetown. Arlington and Alexandria have a lot to offer as far as shopping and entertainment, and if you want to bring your car you can usually find parking.
Orange Line – Arlington/ Fairfax County
(Efficiencies $1000 and up; 1BR $1400 and up)
Rosslynis one stop away from Foggy Bottom, accessed by both the Blue and Orange Lines. The area immediately around the Metro stop is very commercial, but apartments and single-family homes are located in a 15-minute walking radius or closer. Rosslyn is convenient and offers some restaurants but is busiest during work hours. The area is gradually becoming more trendy and popular, with many students moving there. A nice bicycle path along the Potomac River starts in this area and Rosslyn is the home of the Iwo Jima Memorial.
Courthouse
A little livelier than Rosslyn and also on the Orange Line, this area has a number of bars, restaurants, and the AMC Courthouse movie theater. The apartments are primarily high rise luxury apartments but there are also a number of smaller two-story or three-story units in the vicinity. You can live very close to the Metro (5 minute walk).
Clarendon
Three stops away on the Orange Line, Clarendon has some wonderful ethnic and other popular restaurants and a vibrant nightlife with a cluster of some of Washington’s favorite neighborhood bars. Fresh Fields (an organic supermarket) is located here, along with a new outdoor shopping area with popular stores like Barnes & Noble and Pottery Barn. The housing tends to be brand new luxury apartments but shared, large homes are also within an easy walking distance of the Metro.
Ballston
Five stops away from Foggy Bottom -12 minute ride. The area offers mostly high-rise luxury apartments and some single family, duplexes, and town houses. The Metro stop is right next to Ballston Commons Mall. There are some restaurants, retail complexes, and a movie theater in the Mall.
East & West Falls Church, Fairfax
At the sixth and the seventh stop out from Foggy Bottom you’ll find the East Falls and West Falls Metro (located just off the map above) stops. These areas have primarily single-family homes and may be the best places to consider if you have a family with children as Fairfax County is known for its public and private schools. You may have a Metro commute of 20 minutes or so. The plethora of nearby stores, parks, and restaurants would add to your unique suburban experience.
Blue Line – Arlington/Alexandria (Efficiency - $1000 and up; 1BR $1200 and up)
Pentagon City
Pentagon City is an area that is rapidly growing and only 10 minutes by metro to Foggy Bottom. There are luxury high rises and smaller one and two family homes. It is also the home of the Fashion Center at Pentagon City, a four-story mall, complete with food court, and many popular stores. More apartment complexes and retail establishments (including a grocery and ice skating rink) recently opened.
Crystal City
You may find units in two-or three story buildings, but most of the units will be high-rise structures in this very commercial neighborhood. Crystal city is a 12-minute ride to Foggy Bottom. The area is convenient to shops (notably Crystal City Underground Shops) and to Foggy Bottom.
Old Town Alexandria Accessible by the Braddock Road and King Street Metro stations, this historic neighborhood boasts restaurants, shopping, and the homes of Robert E. Lee and George Washington. The Carlyle area is growing with new high-rise residences and a large AMC theater. The Del-Ray neighborhood is a very diverse, up and coming area bordering Old Town at the Braddock Road Metro stop.
Should you have any housing or relocation questions, I am happy to speak with you. I can be reached at r 202-330-8393. To find out more about the Metro (public transportation system in DC) please visit
Again, welcome to GWU and I wish you the best in the upcoming year!
Ivan D. Miller, Jr.
Realtor
Capitol Asset Realty Group
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