Day after Day, as new condo buildings are being built in the Washington D.C. Metro area and nearby Arlington, VA, I read new descriptions that say “cozy boutique condo building.” But what does a “boutique condo building” really mean? Here’s my personal (i.e. others may have other viewpoints) definition:
Dictionary.com defines “boutique” as:
“1. a small shop or a small speciality department within a larger store
2. any small, exclusive business offering customized service
So how does that apply to real estate?
I tend to think of a Boutique building as a smaller building, with fewer than 100 units, under 5 floors. Sometimes they have a front desk, but often they don’t. They also usually have fewer amenities, as the feel/atmosphere of the building is much like a single-family home/personal residence; it tends to be a nice foyer/lobby and that’s it. Often times, this results in lower condo fees.
Examples of Arlington VA Boutique Condo Buildings:
Examples of Washington DC Boutique Condo Buildings:
Harvard Lofts in Columbia Heights
Of course, there are more than the few examples I listed above. Have questions? Feel free to contact me.