This neighborhood has incredible dining, world-class shopping, and luxurious living — but is it really the “new downtown” that it was designed to be?
In this week’s Neighborhood Spotlight, please join us as we give you a full breakdown of Ballston, one of the most desirable neighborhoods in Arlington, Virginia.
No matter where you live in Arlington VA, there’s something unique to fall in love with! What do you love about your community? Let us know down in the comments below, so we can highlight them in a future Neighborhood Spotlight.
And, as always, if you have any questions about Arlington real estate, please click here to contact the Keri Shull Team, the #1 top-selling real estate team in the Washington, DC area.
Where is Ballston VA?
Ballston is one of the main urban villages of Arlington VA, located in the northern part of the independent county. The neighborhood marks the endpoint of the Rosslyn-Ballston corridor, which is a major hub of commerce and urban living in Arlington. In the early 1980s, the county board laid out a plan to revitalize Ballston into being a “new downtown” for the Arlington area — and 40 years later, it’d be hard to argue with their success!
Ballston is very close to other popular Arlington neighborhoods such as Clarendon, making it a great place to live if you work in Arlington VA. Easy access to public transit and major roadways mean that Ballston also offers convenient access to Alexandria VA, Washington DC, and southern Arlington neighborhoods like Shirlington and Fairlington.
What is Living in Ballston VA Like?
If you ask a local to describe Ballston, they’ll likely paint a picture of conveniences. With one of the best public transit presences in all of the DC area — not to mention plenty of local dining and shopping — Ballston is as dense as any of the urban neighborhoods of DC proper.
What sets this NoVA locale apart, however, is the sheer variety of home types on the market. Unlike traditionally “city-like” neighborhoods, where you are limited to apartment-style condominiums, Ballston has a bit of everything.
If you want one of those flat condos, Ballston has you covered. If you would prefer a townhome, Ballston has those too. What about if you want a detached, single-family home in Arlington? Yup, Ballston still has a home for you!
When combined with the supreme walkability and great transit options, living in Ballston VA is a great option — no matter what you are looking for in a home!
What kind of homes are there in Ballston VA?
Interestingly enough, Ballston tends to be quite diverse in the types of homes on the market. High rise buildings — filled with the apartment-style units found in other Arlington condo communities — dot the Ballston skyline. But just a few blocks away, the neighborhood is filled with detached homes and townhouses. This housing variety ensures that there is something for you in Ballston, no matter what kind of house you love!
While renting a home in Ballston is a bit more common than owning one, those who do buy a Ballston home will likely have their home be worth more later. In general, owning a home in Ballston VA is a good investment, as home values have been steadily going up all around Arlington for a while now.
Because of the size of the community and how fast the market moves in Arlington, it can be challenging to find and win your dream home in Ballston. That’s why it’s so important to work with a real estate team that can streamline your search and help negotiate for you. In fact, the best thing to do is work with a team that can help find you off-market homes in Ballston.
Popular Ballston Housing Communities
Like the other neighborhoods along the Orange Line, Ballston is best known for its condominium communities. However, there are also plenty of rowhomes, townhomes, and freestanding houses available for purchase in Ballston. Here are some of our favorite housing communities in the Ballston area:
Ballston 880
Ballston 880 offers 123 pockets of luxury living across 10 floors, right in the heart of Ballston. The community features 1- and 2-bedroom units, both with open floor plans and luxury fittings like granite countertops and hardwood floors.
The Residences at Liberty Center
Across the street, located at 888 N. Quincy Street, are the Residences at Liberty Center. This is a 20-story building that offers some of the most enviable views of Arlington and DC! All 233 of the units come with high-end finishes including floor-to-ceiling windows and stainless steel appliances. Between the great location, stunning views, and luxury features, The Residences at Liberty Center is one of the most popular condo communities in Ballston right now!
Eastview
If you’re looking for a slice of nature in the Urban Village, then Eastview might be perfect for you! This community, which consists of 225 units, sits farther off Fairfax drive than other highrises. This means that residents get more green space and less traffic noise! On top of that, each unit offers a sunroom that is perfect for letting beautiful natural light into your home.
The Continental
Right around the corner from the Ballston-MU metro station is The Continental, a luxury, high-rise condo community. Available units range from studio to 2-bedrooms, and they all feature luxurious amenities such as floor-to-ceiling windows and personal fireplaces. The on-site fitness center, rooftop pool, and community theatre room ensure that you will love living in The Continental!
Ballston Green
Ballston Green is a collection of 28 luxury townhomes located right around the corner from all that Ballston has to offer. Each home features 3 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms, as well as elegant kitchens and spacious, 2-car garages in the rear of the townhouse.
Abingdon Estates
One of the most exciting new developments in Ballston real estate is Abingdon Estates, a collection of unique, detached homes built by Classic Cottages. This subdivision, located along a secluded cul-de-sac just a few blocks away from the Ballston Quarter mall, is a perfect blend of urban convenience with suburban privacy.
Schools in Ballston VA
Like other Arlington neighborhoods, there are a lot of great schools that serve Ballston. Some top-rated examples include Washington Liberty High School, Arlington Traditional Elementary School, and Swanson Middle School.
What to do in Ballston VA
Ballston is one of the “busiest” neighborhoods in the DC metro area — there are a ton of things to do in the neighborhood. In fact, there are far too many suggestions to list in this guide!
However, there is one feature of the Ballston skyline that houses a bit of everything — Ballston Quarter. Ballston Quarter is a newly renovated center for shopping, dining, and entertainment in Arlington. It replaces Ballston Common, a long-standing retail hub of the neighborhood.
Ballston Quarter represents a new wave in urban convenience. The redesigned mall features retail, a hip food hall in Arlington VA, and even an ice rink on top of the mall. The Quarter is home to some of our favorite eateries in Arlington, such as The Local Oyster and Punch Bowl Social.
How to find a home in Ballston VA
Let’s be frank — living in Ballston is pretty great for a lot of people. Residents get to enjoy perks such as:
- Incredibly high walkability and transit convenience
- Access to top-of-the-line dining and retail at Ballston Quarter
- Easy transit due to high employment opportunities
- Vibrant local culture
- Simple commutes to DC, Alexandria, and other parts of Arlington
Because of this, homes tend to move fast in Ballston. If you don’t approach your home search the right way, the chances of finding — and winning — the right home are very slim.
Simply put. you cannot afford to rely on inexperienced real estate agents and online search tools.
If you do, you might have serious trouble finding the right home now — but there is help 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!
