A Clarendon couple’s search for a new home for their growing family will be featured on “House Hunters” tomorrow (Wednesday).
Alexa McGuire, a pediatric health care salesperson, and Mike McGuire, a business consultant, lived in their Clarendon condo on N. Highland Street for five years before going on the HGTV show. One of their main reasons for moving, the couple told ARLnow, was needing more space.
“With a toddler and another boy on the way, additional space was our number one priority and having a backyard for our dog was a close second,” the McGuires said in an email. “Metro access is also extremely important to Mike since he works in D.C. and does not want to deal with traffic and garage fees.”
In the forthcoming episode, “Investing in a Backyard,” the McGuires, alongside local real estate agent Elizabeth Hitt, consider three single-family homes with price tags all just over $1 million.
- Arlington (in the Donaldson Run neighborhood) for $1.05 million: 1,790 square feet, three beds, three baths
- Falls Church for $1.15 million: 2,300 square feet, four beds, three baths
- Vienna for $1.12 million: 2,576 square feet, four beds, 2.5 baths
After making their decision in April, the couple moved into their new home over the summer. They kept their old condo — which Mike McGuire purchased for $650,000 in 2016, after renting for 10 years — and they are currently renting it out.
“Market rent covers just about all of the mortgage, taxes, insurance, and HOA fee,” the couple said. “The rental market for condos in Clarendon seems to be very strong and we had no problem renting immediately.”
Lifelong locals with family in Northern Virginia, the McGuires offered several reasons why they chose to stay in the area.
“We love how we can travel easily from DCA or Dulles [and] Union Station if we want to take a train. There are a lot of clean and walkable neighborhoods in Northern Virginia … but if we want the full city experience, D.C. is less than 20 minutes away,” they said. “Both of us are also diehard local sports fans.”
The couple’s episode of “House Hunters” premieres Wednesday, Nov. 13 at 10 p.m. on HGTV. The show is streamable on Max and Discovery+.
Photo (3) via Google Maps, (4) via Rob Moir Realtor/Instagram
