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Rental Report: Arlington’s Most Walkable Neighborhoods

By WTOP Staff

Rental Report header

Editor’s Note: This biweekly sponsored column is written by Rick Gersten, founder and CEO of Urban Igloo, a rental real estate firm that matches up renters with their ideal apartments, condos or houses. Please submit any questions in the comments section or via email.

Arlington is considered a fairly walkable place with an overall Walk Score of 67. If you live in here, you know that some neighborhoods within Arlington score much higher. But for newcomers, here is a quick rundown of the most convenient neighborhoods on the Arlington Walk Score map.

Rosslyn-Ballston Corridor – These are the neighborhoods between the Rosslyn Metro Station and Glebe Road along Wilson Boulevard.  All of the subareas within the R-B Corridor (Ballston-Virginia Square, Clarendon-Courthouse, Rosslyn) score over 90. You can Metro, Bus, Cab, Walk or Bike to work, school, shopping and restaurants.

Shopping here includes Clarendon Market Common and the Ballston Mall. For groceries, there are Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, Harris Teeter and Giant. As for entertainment, there’s no shortage of nightlife along Wilson. Or if you are looking for something more low key, there is an AMC Theater just a short walk from the Courthouse Metro station. And if you get tapped out on all this area has to offer (which is tough to do) Georgetown is just over the Key Bridge from Rosslyn.

Crystal City/Pentagon City – Another active area is the Pentagon City/Crystal City area of Arlington. This area has two Metro Stations, plenty of bus access, and is right next to Reagan National Airport. There’s plenty of hotels and offices, and has easy access to GW Parkway, Highway 1 and 395. Of course you can’t forget access to miles of biking and running paths via Four Mile Run and Mount Vernon Trail.

Shopping here includes Costco, Nordstrom Rack and the Pentagon City Mall. In Crystal City you have access to food and shops underground, which is great for those cold and windy days. Need more info? Check out our article Reasons to Consider Crystal City and Pentagon City for more details about this all-inclusive location.

There are a few more spots of highly walkable areas that are worth a look. Living in these areas you may still need a car for getting to work, but for after work and weekend activity you may be just fine on foot.

Shirlington – Shirlington is a great little oasis off of 395 with some fabulous restaurants, unique shops and theaters. If you find yourself apartment hunting in Shirlington, be sure to stop by Guapos for some great Mexican cuisine. Don’t forget the guacamole made fresh tableside! In Shirlington you are also close to Four Mile Run for biking, walking and jogging. This central spot is a quick ride to Del Ray, Old Town Alexandria or Pentagon City. No Metro access here, but definitely a great area away from the hustle and bustle with all the comforts of a walkable neighborhood.

Columbia Pike – Columbia Pike is an area in transition. It has seen great revitalization in the last few years, with hundreds of new apartments, a new Giant shopping center and new restaurants. If you need a quick break from apartment hunting, be sure to stop at Rappahannock Coffee for coffee and a quick sandwich. In the spring and summer, head out on Sunday morning for the Columbia Pike Farmer’s Market. Columbia Pike has easy access to Route 50 and 395. Not to mention bus service which will take you to Pentagon City in just a few short minutes. And you are only a few miles from the Rosslyn-Ballston Corridor as well. Of course, there may be many more accessible neighborhoods with a new streetcar on Columbia Pike. This is another great central location that will get you a lot of the amenities of a walkable neighborhood, but may not carry the hefty price tag of a Metro accessible neighborhood.

Much of Arlington has easy access to just about anything apartment hunters desire. There are plenty more neighborhoods worth a look, but these top neighborhoods according to Walk Score have every convenience and more just outside your door.

 

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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