Welcome to Kami’s Korner where we’ll take a deep dive into Arlington’s condominium market by focusing on what’s coming next. From emerging developments to shifting trends, this space will spotlight the opportunities and insights shaping the future of condo living in Arlington.
Thinking about selling your home and moving into a luxury condominium? For many empty nesters, the idea sounds wonderful in theory: less maintenance, better location, more time, lock-and-leave convenience. But then reality sets in. Where will all my stuff go? Will I have enough room? Can I still host Thanksgiving? What happens to my gorgeous furniture? And, most importantly, am I really ready to give up my house?
Most are worried about simplifying without feeling like they’ve diminished their life. Let’s explore some of the details you might look for to make that transition more exciting and less stressful. I’ll bet you have been comfortable in your house for three decades and now desire a lifestyle shift but don’t want to make a housing mistake.
There is an art to downsizing without downgrading.
Having sold thousands of new condominiums to Baby Boomers, I’ve learned that one of the biggest competitors for a new condominium isn’t another community. It’s the buyer’s existing home. There are certain elements which will help make this transition an enjoyable one where you don’t have to trade the things you love. In fact, finding a condominium that allows you to bring a lot of what you already value (while eliminating the parts of homeownership you no longer want) is the key to the perfect fit.
Will I have enough space? Remember the basement, attic and garage you’ve accumulated over three decades? They’re not coming with you.
The right condominium can make you realize you didn’t actually need all that stuff. The wrong one will have you wondering where you are going to hide the Christmas decorations.
Most empty nester couples cannot fit in less than 1,400 square feet unless they have another home elsewhere (like a family house in Rehoboth or weekend cabin in West Virginia.) 1,400 sq ft gets you a larger than average 2 bedroom with walk-in closets, 2 bathrooms (so no one is in your primary bathroom), and perhaps an additional powder room, linen closet, pantry, or spacious utility room. Anything smaller means you are on top of one another and likely won’t have the storage capacity you need.
The ideal size for this demographic in Northern Virginia is a 1,700-2,200 square foot 2 bed plus den or 3 bedroom, with 2.5-3 baths. The den is critical and its placement should be an extension of the living room, not down the hall and cut off from the rest of the layout. During a party it expands the entertaining space while leaving the bedroom areas private…but on Tuesday it becomes a cozy spillover room to watch TV, read, and relax while your partner is cooking or watching videos of the grandkids on the laptop at the kitchen island. Don’t worry, you can still shout to one another. Some traditions shouldn’t be lost.
Will I lose the ability to entertain? Most good plans nowadays follow an open floor plan concept with a combined living, dining, and kitchen… typically with ample windows and good natural light. The kitchen is still the command center and we often overdesign this space so there are plenty of name-brand appliances, high-end cabinetry, and thoughtful additions like appliance garages so they work overtime.
Social focused design here includes a triangle where the three main rooms blend to create a space large enough for everyone. For most people coming from a more traditional style home with separate rooms, this is welcomed. That’s particularly appealing to homeowners coming from traditional houses with formal rooms that were used only occasionally.
Not having enough room for a real dining table is a mistake if you are used to hosting dinner parties. We now think of kitchens as furniture, not rooms. Most new condominium kitchens have a dining island with space for stools on one side for breakfast or socializing with the cook, but find a plan that fits a table and seats 6 or more and leaves enough room for a buffet, bar, or serving piece.
The living room should be on the glass. That’s where you spend most of your time so the view to the outdoors is critical and furniture placement is entirely left to you. Keep in mind you have less interior walls now and more windows. Don’t waste them. Furniture tends to float between paths of travel. Focus on having enough seating for those you wish to have over often. That doesn’t mean you have to get rid of everything you love. It means being more intentional about what comes with you.
Will I miss my yard? This one is mostly about lack of privacy and feeling like you’ll be living in a cramped apartment. Make sure you pick somewhere familiar or at least a good location where you like the surroundings out the building front door. You might focus on finding a beautiful space for a morning walk with your dog, picking a plan with a large enough balcony to eat breakfast and catch up on the news in the morning while watching people start their day below, buying a plan at the end of the hallway or with a semiprivate elevator, and buying in a building that is well constructed so you don’t hear everybody’s everything.
Downsizers aren’t looking for less, just less responsibility. No mowing. No shoveling. No cleaning gutters. No blowing leaves. No rooms only the cleaning lady sees once a week. They want to do this without compromising independence or a sense of ownership.
They want an upgrade actually… not simply moving into a smaller box. The attraction to condominium living is this- trading obligations for freedom. Freedom to explore a more exciting urban location, travel, experience cultural environments beyond a boring suburban neighborhood, and make new lifelong friends on the 7th floor who also enjoy French wine.
What am I giving up? Control freaks beware. The condo association decides. You will have to give up some of this control to get the freedom but I have yet to sell to an owner that expressed regret leaving their house. Not one!
The best condominium transition doesn’t feel like a sacrifice. It feels like an evolution.
You keep the things that matter: a beautiful kitchen, comfortable bedrooms, a place to entertain, good storage, natural light, outdoor views and room for family and friends. After all, the goal isn’t to move from a big house into a small condominium.
Change is difficult and some never do it but there is a real promise in rightsizing. It’s to move from a house that requires your attention to a home that gives you more freedom. You keep the things that matter and stop paying—in money, time and energy—for the parts of homeownership you no longer need.
(The underlined words are my attempt to preserve the things of value, especially when making a new housing decision.)
Do send along your questions, inquiries, and design preferences for the next generation of condominiums to our market. My personal email is: [email protected]
