This week, in our Neighborhood Spotlight, we are taking a look at one of the most well-known of Arlington VA’s Urban Villages: Clarendon! This is one of Arlington’s most popular neighborhoods, with outstanding options for housing, employment, and recreation — but does it live up to the reputation? Let’s find out!
Every neighborhood of Arlington (and the other cities of the DMV) has unique features that make them easy to love. What do you love about your community? Let us know down in the comments below — we’d love to highlight them in future Neighborhood Spotlights!
And, as always, if you have any questions about Arlington real estate, please click here to contact the Keri Shull Team, Arlington’s #1 top-selling real estate team.
What is Clarendon?
Clarendon is a compact, urban neighborhood that serves as one of the cultural hubs of Arlington VA. Thanks to its prime location on the Orange Line, Clarendon sees lots of traffic from local and national businesses; over the years, it has grown into a thriving center for shopping, dining, and entertainment.
The neighborhood is broadly defined by proximity to the Clarendon Metro Stop, which is one of the better-known metro stations in NoVA. Clarendon is laid out in triangular blocks — rather than the rectangular grid of many other cities — that center around two major thoroughfares. Wilson Boulevard runs westbound through the area, while Clarendon Boulevard brings commuters eastward.
Along with Arlington’s other main metro stations (i.e., the Rosslyn Metro and Ballston Metro), Clarendon forms a line of highly desirable neighborhoods. Not only do these locales offer urban conveniences and top-notch dining, but their high walkability and transit options make them a dream for those living in Arlington VA. Even better, Clarendon is a bustling business district in its own right, making it a great place to live if you work in Arlington VA.
Clarendon Real Estate Market
Clarendon has a famously — or perhaps infamously — hot real estate market. Homes move quickly, and it’s not uncommon for bidding wars to break out on desirable properties. This is great news for people looking to sell their house now in Clarendon. With the right agent on their side, home owners can sell their homes fast and get a great price due to competing offers.
For people who want to buy a home in Clarendon, the hot market can be somewhat daunting. Sure, there are a lot of incredible properties on the market, but the competition is often fierce. That’s why, if you are considering moving to Clarendon, it’s a good idea to work with a real estate team who can help you find off-market homes and walk you through negotiating the best deal for your new home.
Renting Vs. Owning in Clarendon
Clarendon is primarily known as a renter’s community, with over 70% of residents renting their homes according to local surveys. However, there are still many people who choose to break free from their lease and buy a Clarendon home. Because the area is so consistently valuable — and because home values are going up all around almost every neighborhood in Washington DC and the surrounding area — owning a home in Clarendon is a good investment for many Arlingtonians.
What are the Most Common Home Types in Clarendon?
Like its neighboring locales, Clarendon is characterized by flat, apartment-style condominiums in larger buildings. Around ⅔ of the current Clarendon listings are this style of condo, and there are many different housing communities that dominate the Clarendon skyline.
With that said, there are still many single-family homes on the market. These come in the form of both detached homes and connected row homes — so no matter what kind of house you are looking for, Clarendon has an option for you!
Popular Clarendon Condo Communities
So, there are a lot of condos available in the Clarendon area — but which one is right for you? Here’s a list of some of our favorite condominium buildings in Clarendon:
The Phoenix
Located at 1020 N. Highland Street, The Phoenix is an 11-story contemporary condominium, built in 2007 with a total of 194 units. The community features many luxurious touches, such as a front desk concierge, rooftop pool, fitness center, and private courtyard. Condos are available in a wide variety of floor plans between studios, 1-bedroom, and 2-bedrooms.
Clarendon 1021
Clarendon 1021 is a 10-story condominium, built in 2005, with a total of 417 units. The building offers a 24-hour front desk, conference room, elevators, media room, rooftop pool with a grilling station, rooftop jacuzzi, fitness center, two private courtyards, and a parking garage!
Clarendon 1021 offers multiple floor plans including studios, 1-bedroom, 1-bed plus den, 2-bedroom, 2-bed plus den, and 3-bedroom units.
Clarendon 3131
If you are interested in a pedestrian-friendly building, look no further than Clarendon 3131, which stands just two blocks from the metro and walking distance to the heart of Clarendon!
The building features 14 two-bedroom units and 2 multi-level townhomes with 4 bedrooms. The first-floor units have private front yards and the upper units have balconies. The townhomes have both yards and balconies!
Clarendon 3131 is a luxury building with the features you expect to see in a custom-built home: hardwood floors throughout, crown molding, granite, upgraded cabinetry, recessed lighting, and luxurious baths.
The Hartford
Built in 2003 with a total of 70 units, The Hartford is a mid-rise, boutique condominium. Homeowners enjoy a quiet lifestyle while still being able to walk to everything they need in Clarendon. The units at the Hartford have hardwood floors, granite countertops and provide lots of natural light with floor to ceiling windows. The Hartford offers 1-, 2-, and 3-bedroom floor plans. Some units have balconies as well as fireplaces!
The Residences at Station Square
Just a five-minute walk to the Clarendon Metro, The Residences at Station Square condominium is made up of a total of 309 units across three separate, high-rise buildings. Each unit has its own unique style ranging from loft-style to more classically modeled. Offering 1- and 2-bedroom floor plans, units can come with 1, 2, or 2.5 baths as well as an optional den. The units also offer a balcony, giving you your own private outdoor space right in Clarendon!
2000 Clarendon
The hottest new addition to the Clarendon skyline is 2000 Clarendon, which was completed just this year. This community is located at 2000 Clarendon Boulevard, with easy access to both the Clarendon and Court House metro stops.
This condominium building features 87 units in 1- and 2-bedroom floor plans. These units have high ceilings, enormous windows, chef’s kitchens, and gorgeous fittings. The building itself includes a fitness center and pool, as well as other entertainment spaces for community use.
The Culture of Clarendon
One of the most defining features of Clarendon’s culture is the abundance of good food. As you can probably tell from our previous Neighborhood Spotlights, we really care about finding and trying Arlington’s top restaurants — and that search has often taken us right into the heart of Clarendon!
Some of our favorite Clarendon restaurants include:
- The Pinemoor: This southern-inspired steakhouse also offers a wide selection of unique libations
- Spirits of ‘76: With nearly 100 different liquors to try, Spirits of ‘76 offers great food and drink in a truly inspired dining atmosphere
- Don Tito: While less traditional than some of the other great taco spots in Arlington, Don Tito is unmatched when it comes to combining fresh flavors, innovative drinks, and a fun ambiance!
What is there to do in Clarendon VA?
Besides chowing down on one of Clarendon’s many delectable food options, our second favorite thing to do around Clarendon is enjoy some fresh air in an Arlington VA park. Despite being one of Arlington’s more densely constructed urban villages, Clarendon has a few different great green spaces in which to relax.
These parks offer a great chance to enjoy some socially distant fun — try getting some of Arlington’s best takeout food from a local restaurant and have a picnic in a serene park!
Schools in Clarendon
You probably won’t be too surprised to hear that Clarendon has an excellent selection of schools. These include public schools like Yorktown High School and Arlington Traditional Elementary School, as well as private options such as St. Ann Catholic School, a National Blue Award Ribbon winner.
How do I find a home in Clarendon?
Demand for homes can be fierce in Clarendon, and for good reason. The neighborhood offers:
- Extremely High Walkability
- Easy commutes to the rest of Arlington, Alexandria, and Washington DC
- Outstanding local shopping and dining
- Plenty of options for outdoor recreation
This means that if you’re just relying on online search tools, you might have trouble finding (and more importantly, winning) a home in Clarendon right now — but there are other options out there! At the Keri Shull Team, we have hundreds of off-market properties that you cannot find online or anywhere else…and we want to give you priority access to these homes before they even go on the market!
And if you are selling a house in Arlington, it’s more important than ever to make sure you are taking the proper precautions to protect your investment. The best way to do that is to speak with a top-tier real estate agent and create a completely customized home selling strategy.
So what are you waiting for? Just click here to schedule a time for a free, no-pressure consultation with one of our Real Estate Needs Analysts!
