Arlington Forest offers well-built colonials that are easily expanded.
For buyers, Arlington real estate can be expensive, with new single family homes priced at $2 million and up. For buyers wanting to live in Arlington, choosing an older, more modest home may be the only option.
Enter Arlington Forest. Although most Northern Virginia real estate agents would agree that all Arlington real estate is expensive, Arlington Forest offers a relative value. Within the neighborhood, a buyer can find a 3 bedroom colonial single family home in the $800s. These homes are well-built, are well located, offer quiet streets and have solid schools.
Arlington Forest is a large neighborhood stretching south from Ballston, down to (and slightly beyond) Route 50. For public transportation, the Ballston Metro is nearby as is bus service alog the Route 50 corridor. A private swim and tennis club is the social center of the neighborhood. The area’s homes were constructed in the 1940s, typically with all-brick construction. The typical Arlington Forest home offers a living room, dining room and small kitchen on the main level, with three bedrooms and one bath on the upper. The third bedroom is rather small, barely fitting a twin bed. Nearly all homes have basements, although they may be finished or unfinished. The homes are generally in two configurations — one with the main entry centered on the front of the house, and another where the door is on the side of the house and visitors enter through a side porch. On many Arlington Forest houses, homeowners have enclosed the side porch to create additional living space.
Although Arlington Forest homes may be modest, they lend themselves well to expansion. Many Arlington Forest homeowners have added two story additions onto the backs of their colonials, expanding the kitchen and adding a family room on the main level, and adding a full primary suite with walk-in closet and luxury bath on the upper level. So, a family on a budget might buy a basic, unimproved Arlington Forest home today. But as their family grows, they will have the opportunity to expand the property.
Interested in an Arlington Forest home, or wish to discuss Arlington real estate generally? Our Arlington agents and brokers would be happy to have a conversation. Contact us at mike@realtypeople.com.
