Apartments go condo to meet ownership desire

Easy access to work, Metro, restaurants, shops and night life is the major appeal of city life for empty nesters and young singles and couples who are the most common buyers of condominiums in the Washington area.

Even when the “city life” is lived outside the District, convenience and a low-maintenance version of homeownership bring buyers to Bethesda and Silver Spring.

Demand for condominiums has prompted developers to convert apartment buildings into condominiums as a way to increase supply faster than building brand-new buildings.

When developers remodel the homes, upgrading the kitchens, baths and flooring and sprucing up the exteriors of the buildings and grounds, it can be difficult to distinguish between a brand-new building and a conversion project.

At the Morgan, a gated cluster of condominium buildings at 12000 Chase Crossing Circle in North Bethesda, residents can walk to the White Flint Metro station.

A variety of restaurants and shops can be found in the area surrounding the Morgan, including upscale department stores, bookstores, coffee shops and grocery stores. White Flint Mall is nearby, along with the Music Center at Strathmore and the excitement of Bethesda’s art galleries and restaurants.

Developed by affiliates of the Meridian Group, the Morgan features two-bedroom homes with such options as lofts, dens, private garages and three-sided fireplaces.

The community clubhouse includes a resort-style swimming pool and sun deck, a clubroom with a kitchen, a business center and a fitness center, while the grounds include landscaped courtyards with grill and gazebo areas and a tot lot.

Inside, the homes include security systems, new flooring, cable and high-speed Internet service, a terrace or balcony, walk-in closets, a full-size washer and dryer, 9-foot ceilings, upgraded lighting and an upgraded kitchen with stainless-steel appliances and granite counters.

Priced from the upper $300,000s, the homes at the Morgan have monthly condominium fees of $250 per month.

The Apollo model, the smallest, with 845 interior square feet and a 52-square-foot deck, has a foyer entrance with an adjacent closet.

The combined open living and dining space includes a sliding glass door to the deck. The kitchen has an adjacent laundry room, and the two bedrooms share a full bath off the hall.

The Carnegie model, with 1,185 square feet and an 80-square-foot deck, has direct garage access from the first and second floors.

This home has two closets flanking the foyer entrance into the dining area, with an open living room with a gas fireplace and a sliding glass door to the deck.

The kitchen and breakfast bar are adjacent to the dining area. The laundry room is near the bedrooms, each of which has a walk-in closet and a private full bath.

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