Nobody has their finger on the pulse of DC Luxury Condo Sales like Life At The Top
August, 2019 DC Penthouse and Luxury Condo Marketing Activity Report
For the latest in the DC Luxury Condo Market, stay informed with our blog every month.
Most Units Sold
The Clara Barton in Penn Quarter had three sales in August. The full service condominium is the sister building of The Lafayette. With hotel-style living, landscaped roof deck, swimming pool, movie screening room and more, this upscale community is located in the beating heart of Washington’s Downtown. Also with three sales is the iconic Watergate in Foggy Bottom, designed by Luigi Moretti. Cooperatives at this famous address have unusually spacious floor plans while the complex itself is known for its many amenities. There were no fewer than six buildings with two sales each in August.
The 2020 Lofts along the vibrant U Street Corridor are known for their modern aesthetic while 555 Mass in Mount Vernon offers traditional luxury in a prime location. The Adagio in Bethesda, The Odyssey in Arlington, The Whitman in Mount Vernon and Union Row in the U Street Corridor also weighed in with two sales. Prominent buildings with one or more sales in August include Adams Alley in Adams Morgan, The Residences at CityCenterDC in Mount Vernon, City Vista in Mount Vernon, Dumbarton Place in Dupont Circle, Flour Mill in Georgetown and City Overlook in Columbia Heights.
Notably, City Overlook’s sale was its first since November 6, 2015! Unit #14 is a 2-bedroom, 2.5-bath loft residence with 18-foot ceilings, 1,460 square feet of living space, giant banks of windows, floating spiral stairs and a balcony offering city views that truly live up to the building’s name. The closing price was $1,175,000.
Highest Sales Prices
The top condominium sales price in the Washington, DC area in August is $3,025,000, paid for Unit #702 at The Lauren in Bethesda. The 3-bedroom, 3.5-bath luxury residence has a very spacious 3,223 square foot floorplan. A clean, contemporary white-on-white ambiance melds nicely with rich architectural details such as soaring tray ceilings. A direct access elevator, dark gray hardwood floors, vented gas fireplace, multiple balconies, large laundry room and expansive master bedroom suite are just a few of the other features. Coming in a solid second at $2,650,000 is Unit #1 at the Wormley School in Georgetown. It is the first sale at the historic brick schoolhouse building since August 24, 2018. Two ground floor units were combined to form this 2,700 square foot residence. At the center is a lovely gourmet kitchen with a family room to one side and an open living/dining space to the other. The master bedroom suite has a huge en-suite bath, while the second bedroom suite also has its own full bathroom. Delightful extras include an elegant foyer, a sunroom, a large laundry room and a private landscaped terrace that’s nearly as large as the home itself.
Third place goes to Unit #62 at Dumbarton Place in Dupont Circle. The 2-bedroom, 2.5-bath penthouse with a den and 2,002 square feet of space closed at $1,650,000. An updated gourmet kitchen includes Viking, Bosch and Sub-Zero stainless steel appliances while luxurious spa baths offer all the bells and whistles, including heated towel racks. Coming in fourth is Unit #504 at the venerable Watergate complex in Foggy Bottom. This striking cooperative apartment with 2-bedrooms, 2.5-baths, marble and parquet floors, 1,809 square feet of living space and a wraparound balcony with unbelievable panoramic Potomac River views, closed at $1,625,000. The unit also had the fourth-highest price per square foot at $898.29.
Fifth place goes to #402 at Hampden Row in Bethesda. With a sales price of $1,595,000, this recently constructed luxury condo has 2-bedrooms, 2.5-baths, 1,925 square feet of living space, rich dark hardwood floors, lovely wainscoting and custom wall treatments. Stroll to all the Bethesda Row shops and restaurants! Closing out the pack is Unit #201 at Somerset House in Friendship Heights which sold for $1,225,000. The 2-bedroom, 2.5-bath apartment with 1,795 square feet of living space has a welcoming foyer, hardwood floors that are laid diagonally, a formal dining room with built-ins, tray ceilings, dramatic room shapes, lavish baths and a large balcony overlooking the gazebo.
Highest Sales Price to List Ratio
The highest sales-to-list ratio in August is Unit #811 at Yale Steam Laundry in Washington, DC’s Mount Vernon neighborhood. The 1-bedroom, 1.5-bath flat has just 437 square feet of living space but it listed for $320,000 and sold for $329,000 or 102.81% of the asking price. Dating to 1902, the facility once washed the White House’s laundry before adding a 12-story tower to the original structure and converting to condos for sale. Coming in a close second is Unit #212 at Logan Station in Logan Circle. The 2-bedroom, 2-bath residence with 1,134 square feet of room, an open space layout, gourmet kitchen and balcony listed for $775,000 and closed at $795,500 representing 102.65% of the original price.
Unit #1210 at Clara Barton in Penn Quarter listed for $489,000 and closed for a clean $500K, representing 102.25% of the original price. The 1-bedroom, 1-bath flat with 730 square feet of space has hardwood floors, a tidy open kitchen with dark granite counters and stainless steel appliances, plus a balcony. Next is Unit #205 at The Odyssey in Arlington’s Rosslyn waterfront neighborhood. The 1-bed, 1-bath apartment has a roomy 862-square-foot floorplan and closed at $510,000 after listing for $505,000. That’s $5 grand over or 100.99% of asking for this cute apartment in a gleaming glass and steel waterfront tower.
Unit #627 at The Lafayette in Penn Quarter listed for $489,800 and sold for $491,900, 100.43% of the asking amount. The contemporary 1-bedroom, 1-bath residence with an open 810-square-foot layout has wide-plank hardwoods floors, granite counters, stainless steel appliances and sliders to the balcony. At 100.39% of the original price is #617 at 555 Mass in Downtown’s Mount Vernon community. The 1-bedroom, 1-bath luxury apartment has 811 square feet of living space, gleaming blonde hardwood floors, an open kitchen with stainless steel appliances and pretty white cabinets over granite counters. The asking price was $519,000 and the sales price was $521,000.
Highest Prices Per Square Foot
The highest price per square foot honors in August goes to Unit #518 at Lofts 14 in Logan Circle. The 2-bedroom, 2.5-bath loft has 1,134 square feet of living space but it seems even larger with its soaring two-story ceiling and floating iron stairs. Bamboo hardwood floors, exposed ductwork and sliding bedroom doors add to the funky chic at this former car showroom building along Auto Row. The closing price was $1,128,000 or $994.71 per square foot. In second place is Unit #1 at the Wormley School in Georgetown. The 2,700 square foot residence sold for $2,650,000 or $981.48 per square foot. This was also the second-highest sales price in August and the first sale at old schoolhouse, originally built in 1885, since August 28, 2018. From original architectural details to an expansive layout and giant landscaped private patio, this Georgetown home is truly memorable.
Third place goes to Unit #702 at The Lauren in Bethesda. This was the most expensive sale in the DC area in August at $3,025,000. The spacious condo’s 3,223 square feet of living space translates to a very sturdy $938.57. Private elevator, dramatic gray hardwood floors, tray ceilings and multiple balconies contribute to the elegant ambiance. Next up is Unit #504 at the iconic Watergate complex in Foggy Bottom. This was the fourth-highest sales price in August at $1,625,000 as well as fourth-highest price per square foot at $898.29. Marble floors, a gigantic living area, walls of windows and a wraparound balcony that extends 120 feet and offers incredible river views are just a few of the delightful features.
In fifth place is Unit #713 at CityCenterDC in Washington’s Mount Vernon Triangle. The super-sized 1-bedroom, 1-bath flat has 940 square feet of living space and sold for $815,000 which translates to $867.02 per square foot. Northern European floors, a sleek kitchen with Molteni cabs and Bosch and Miele appliances, and giant windows are some of the features in this modern condo. Our last entry is Unit #1207 at the Residences at Market Square in the heart of DC’s Penn Quarter. The 1-bedroom, 1-bath plus den corner apartment has 710 square feet of living space. The sales price of $600,000 equals $845.07 per square foot. Floor-to-ceiling windows, an open kitchen with brand new stainless steel appliances and two private terraces are all part of the package!
August Highest Price New Listings
The priciest new listing in Washington Metro during August is more like a mansion than a condo. Unit #1403 at the prestigious gated Somerset House community in Friendship Heights is priced at $6,700,000! With 3-bedrooms and 4.5-baths, the 5,086 square foot apartment sports a private elevator, a wood-paneled library, fireplace, formal dining room, exercise room and a family room that is plumbed for a fifth full bath. Also worth noting is the gorgeous kitchen, extraordinary millwork, two covered balconies and a master bedroom suite with two full baths and two walk-in closets. The second highest listing is also at Somerset House. Unit #1002 is offered at $3,395,000 with 3-bedrooms, 3.5-baths and 3,399 square feet of living space. The third bedroom is currently configured as a library and there is also a formal dining room, a family room off the gourmet kitchen, fireplace, giant wraparound deck, a master bedroom suite and a guest bedroom suite.
Third place goes to Unit #2 at The Caroline in Logan Circle. The beautifully restored and renovated 3-bedtoom, 2.5-bath duplex penthouse is part of a recent boutique project from MTG Design Group comprised of three connected row homes. With an asking price of $2,195,000, the residence offers 2,475 square feet of living space with herringbone floors, marble baths, a modern open kitchen, a balcony and a private roof deck. Next up is an incredible three-story residence at the historic Bell Tower at Stanton Park on Capitol Hill. The former church with its rich Romanesque Revival design was recently converted to six luxury condominium units. Unit #6 is listed at $1,980,000 and has exclusive access to a winding spiral church staircase leading to the bell tower itself. This unique home with its private elevator melds modern design with numerous original architectural details and should be seen to be appreciated.
The fifth-highest priced listing is already pending—Unit #126 at Quarry Springs in Bethesda had a $1,850,000 price tag and went under contract in just one day! The 3-bedroom, 3-bath apartment has 3,405 square feet of living space with a private elevator, wide-plank floors, a modern country kitchen, marble baths and a large private terrace. Our final entry is Unit #801 at The Shaw in the neighborhood of the same name. This new construction penthouse has 2-bedrooms, 2.5-baths and 1,354 square feet of living space which does not include three private terraces! From the incredibly chic kitchen to stunning skyline vistas, this is modern urban living at its best.
