Landmark / Van Dorn

The Van Dorn area of Alexandria is an older part of town this has a lot of very nice people. It's inviting, but to be honest, if you're new to the area, you need to know that it's not very accessible to the Metro, and it has a much higher crime rate than the Eisenhower East or Old Town areas. On the flip sides, it's MUCH cheaper than those areas as well. It's a bit rundown so the resale values are less; however, it may be good for rental property purchases.

There is a wide variety of property types available. Condo living is the top choice for professionals. Depending on which community you choose you can get amenities such as shuttle service, an indoor workout center, indoor and/or outdoor pools, indoor and/or outdoor tennis courts, underground parking, and even more at some places. You need to make sure that condo fees don't intimidate your decision because some places include electricity, other utilities, and more. Single family homes are quite costly, rarely below $500k, and it's tough for a working person to keep one up during the winters. Well constructed condo buildings, most during the 1970s, hold up well, are not made of mere wood like newer ones. Do some research.