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Compass
660 Pennsylvania Ave., SE, #401, Washington, DC 20003
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Jeanne Phil Meg Team
In Washington, D.C., architectural style is a proxy for value. Understanding the difference between a Federal facade and a Victorian footprint is the first step in valuing your potential asset.
These are the bedrock of the D.C. market. They hold value through recessions due to land scarcity in the District.
The Look: Turrets, bay windows, and ornate brickwork. Usually built post-Civil War.
The Value Play: Victorians are often wider and deeper than their predecessors. The "Bay Front" adds significant square footage to the living room and master suite, commanding a higher price per square foot than flat-front homes.
Where to find them: Capitol Hill, Logan Circle, Columbia Heights.
The Look: Flat brick facades, understated symmetry, and smaller windows. Built 1780-1830.
The Value Play: These are the "Old Guard" of DC real estate. While often smaller than Victorians, their extreme age and location (usually Georgetown or Old City) make them a scarcity asset that appreciates like fine art.
Where to find them: Georgetown, Old Town Alexandria, Capitol Hill (West).
When touring a Victorian or Federal rowhome, look down. A separate front entrance to the lower level is one of the most valuable architectural features in the city.
Moving away from the city center, the value shifts from "Walkability" to "Lot Size" and "Air Rights."
The Look: One-and-a-half stories, wide front porches, and sloping roofs.
The Value Play: Found in "Streetcar Suburbs" like Del Ray and Takoma Park. These neighborhoods have seen explosive growth as buyers trade vertical rowhome living for horizontal porch culture.
The Look: Steep pitched roofs, stucco, and exposed timber.
The Value Play: Prevalent in Upper NW (Foxhall, Mount Pleasant). These homes typically sit on larger lots than rowhomes, offering a premium for private green space and garage parking.
Whether you are looking for a rental-income Victorian or a historic Federal, you need to know the numbers behind the bricks.
Schedule a Valuation Tour
Compass
660 Pennsylvania Ave., SE, #401, Washington, DC 20003
Jeanne Phil Meg Team