I sure don’t want to be the bearer of bad news for my fellow real estate agents in the metropolitan Washington, D.C. area, but if I lived here, I think I’d opt to rent.  I’ve been on a trek to find real estate books around town - I’m staying in Arlington, Virginia - just 8 or 9 subway stops from the Smithsonian.  I’ve only come upon one book and it’s not about buying.  It’s about renting apartments.

However, the hotel offers a fancy magazine called Capitol File which does feature some properties to purchase.  I know it’s an upper scale type magazine, but the least expensive homes I’ve found start in the $600s.  They don’t even add the rest of the zeroes, but I’m assuming there are three more.

Apartments seem to be more affordable.  There are some I’ve spotted for as low as $820 (for an efficiency) to the $3000’s per month.  For me, the biggest selling point would have to be the convenience to a metro stop.

These apartments are outside my hotel window.  I think they run about $1725 to start up to almost the three grand.  But oh my are they convenient!  If you can find a roommate or if you’re living on a double income, I think it would be worth every penny just to gain the experience of living in a metropolitan area so filled with charm, energy, and vitality.