Ballston Court Apartments

and I've never felt unsafe at any point in the neighborhood, even when walking alone at night. It's close to a Harris Teeter, Ballston-MU Metro Station, and a Target (plus all of Ballston Quarter Mall) as well as the Custis Trail and Lubber Run park. The only downside to this building is that you can't control your own heating/cooling - it's either on for everyone or off for everyone. That's pretty standard with older buildings, though, and I'm totally fine with it given the price and quality of the unit. As of mid-2023, the rent includes all utilities and free parking for at least 1 car (2 parking spots included for 2 bedroom units). I paid a pet deposit and there's no pet rent. Laundry is $2.50/load in the communal area, as long as you avoid common times like Sunday afternoons there's usually not a wait for a washer or dryer. It's a great building and I hope to stay for a long time.

putting money on a laundry card you are given when you move in. My biggest complaint about the building is that the wash machines smell like mildew, but it doesn't seem to transfer to clothes, which is a plus. Each person gets a parking pass for a small parking lot, which works on a first come first serve basis (no guaranteed spots). There is also an uncovered bike rack in the parking lot for use as well. The building shares heat and air conditioning across units, so you are unable to control the heat (except by opening windows) and can only adjust the air conditioning once it has been turned on for the season. There are a few months in the spring and fall where you can't regulate the temperature because the heat is off and the air conditioning is yet to be turned on, but it hasn't posed a problem in the 2.5 years I've lived there. Building maintenance is good about coming to fix anything once you get a hold of them, but getting a hold of them can prove challenging at times. Price was really important to me when looking for a place and this building was substantially lower than others in the area and includes water and electricity. If you don't need a lot of space, I think you'll thoroughly enjoy living here like I have.