Construction on a row of new townhomes is getting underway at Crystal House Apartments, with completion expected in about a year.
The Highlands Row development of 42 townhouses along S. Fern Street — each with three bedrooms, two and a half baths and a price tag of about $1.2 million — is currently expected to begin foundation work next month and finish in May 2027, ARLnow is told.
The median rent remains down year over year in Arlington, though the local market is showing price upticks as winter transitions to spring.
The county’s median apartment rent of $2,585 in March was up 1.4% month over month, contributing to a cumulative 2.4% from the start of the year, Apartment List said in its monthly report, released earlier this week. Nevertheless, the median rental rate remains down 1.7% from a year before.
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.
Many of you have asked about best practices when it comes to buying a new condominium. Some of us only want new and are willing to pay a premium for the best in current design. There are several recommendations and insights here that will help you get what you want.
First decide what type of condominium you need… size, number of bedrooms, bathrooms, parking needs, or separate office, followed by a list of wants such as level of building service, amenities on-site, space for dining for six, balcony, open floor plan, and natural light. (Here she goes again.) Not to be sexist about it, but females generally are better shoppers and come with a preconceived set of non-negotiables.
Identify the areas you would consider living, such as Arlington or Old Town… but not wanting to go as far as Tysons, Reston, or DC. People don’t buy condominiums in places they aren’t familiar with or already spend time in, unless relocating entirely. Many upcoming communities put up signage and a website first which makes early interest hyperlocal. Register as a VIP on the website early and you will get regular communication, time to consider the offering, and learn when pre-sale will begin.
Once open, come early in pre-sale. You’ll get the pick of the litter. This is particularly important if you want something larger and are interested in the best views. Prospects are smart and pick the best floorplans first. If you have some idea of your ideal size and price point it makes good use of everyone’s time. Once you make a selection, expect to leave a 10% deposit as this is pretty standard in the industry. The developer generally has their own contract and it’s written much in their favor but not unreasonably so. Pricing this early is usually not negotiable… the price is the price. But you can purchase with some confidence since all buyers are getting the same terms and the developer has a shared interest in protecting values through delivery while sales are ongoing.
You do not need to be fully qualified for financing to come out and look but it’s wise to have some idea of what you can afford. Most builders give incentives for paying cash or using their title company and lenders. Often your contract might even offer a short financing contingency in exchange for considering them.
Once firmly under contract, a buyer might have 12- 18 months to prepare for the move. How blissful. This is one of the best parts of buying early in pre-sale. Moving is daunting, especially if you have been in your current homes for 30 years and the thought of moving seems excruciating. Decide what to take, sell/donate, and hire a proper interior designer to space plan and create a unique home that reflects your tastes. All with the time to do it properly.
Something to note. Finishes have gotten more high end, brands carry weight, and there is less customization offered these days. Gone are the days of going to a design center. If you know you are getting a Sub Zero refrigerator included you probably won’t ask if there are other options available. (more…)
Falls Church City Council members are hoping to have a new city manager ready to go just when their current one retires in just over five months.
Council members at a March 25 government-operations committee meeting outlined general plans and a hoped-for timetable in finding a successor to Wyatt Shields.
Lucky Lockbox Find — An Arlington woman claimed the final $1 million prize in Virginia’s New Year’s Millionaire Raffle after discovering a forgotten ticket in her lock box. The ticket, purchased at the 7-Eleven on Mt. Vernon Avenue in Alexandria, was a Christmas gift from a friend. [Patch]
Driver Flees Into Pentagon Lot — A minor crash on S. Fern Street at Army Navy Drive in Pentagon City reportedly became a hit-and-run after the driver fled north on Fern, onto the Pentagon reservation. [Dave Statter/X]
Warner Sounds Election Alarm — Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) argued in a New York Times op-ed that the greatest threat to American elections now comes from inside the federal government, citing a reported draft executive order that would invoke emergency powers to override state election authority. [New York Times]
It’s Wednesday — Mostly sunny this morning with a high near 86 degrees, but showers and thunderstorms become likely by mid-afternoon with a 50% chance of precipitation. Overnight lows drop to around 59 as storms continue, with a 70% chance of rain. [NWS]
Support local journalism. Join the ARLnow Press Club to boost our reporting and to get upgraded newsletters.
Join Arlington for Palestine and NAACP Arlington Branch for a movie night and community discussion about Israeli apartheid.
We will watch two short Palestinian films about life under Israeli apartheid, hear from a member of Arlington for Palestine about their trip to Palestine last year, and discuss together what all this means to us living in Arlington .
Good Tuesday evening, Arlington. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar.
The following articles were published earlier today — Mar 31, 2026.
Here is what’s going on Wednesday in Arlington, from our event calendar.
Expect mostly sunny conditions with a high near 86, and a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms after 3 PM. Southwest winds will be 8 to 10 mph, with gusts up to 18 mph. Showers and possibly a thunderstorm are likely Wednesday night until 2 AM, with a slight chance of showers afterwards. It will be mostly cloudy, with a low around 59. Winds will shift from south to east at 5 to 7 mph after midnight, with a 70% chance of rain. Rainfall could be between a tenth and a quarter of an inch, with higher amounts in thunderstorms. See more from Weather.gov.
“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?'”
– Martin Luther King Jr.
The MonumentCam screenshot above is used with permission of the Trust for the National Mall and courtesy of EarthCam.
Thanks for reading! If you have something to say about an issue of local note not covered today, feel free to post it as a letter to the editor on our new forum.
A plan to redevelop two Rosslyn office towers and a parking garage has gotten a refresh, more than a decade after it was first approved.
Developer Monday Properties is back with a new proposal for two vacant, 12-story buildings at 1401 Wilson Blvd and 1400 Key Blvd, along with a parking garage that played a notable role in the Watergate scandal.
A newly released audit calls for stricter controls to ensure that developers provide the community benefits that they promise county leaders.
The report, detailed at a March 23 meeting of the county’s Audit Committee, found a lack of “formal policies and procedures” within the county government to track benefits proposed by developers in exchange for zoning changes.
Plans for a new juice bar across from the Ballston Metro station are moving forward despite the arrest of one of its co-founders earlier this month.
Signs advertising Paradise Juice Bar have recently appeared at 4219 Fairfax Drive, where co-founders Saleh Salim and Sam Ahmed have planned the business since last summer. The juice shop still intends to open within the next month, following Salim’s March 18 arrest as local authorities investigated a regional drug trafficking ring.
For the average price of a home in the United States — $400,000 — the typical homebuyer in Arlington is only able to get a 755-square-foot property, a new analysis found.
The county ranks 16th from the bottom in a new PropertyShark survey of 100 large urban areas, which examines how many square feet homeowners can purchase for the sales price of the average U.S. home.
