Help a first time parent pick a neighborhood

[Anonymous]

- Budget: $1.1M
- Wants: freestanding house because of two large noisy dogs, yard for exercise, reasonable commute to Arlington
- Other considerations: Baby due in December + we have an emotional repulsion to Arlington and would love to stay in DC

My partner and I rent in Capitol Hill now and our lease is up in September. We’ve been looking for places since late April and are really struggling to find anything we like.

I love the idea of living in Takoma, but nothing has been on the market and the commute to Arlington scares me. We’re kind of open to Alexandria, but it still worries me since I have no friends in NoVa. Anything beyond Alexandria seems unfathomable. Maybe a former DC elitist can tell me it will be OK? Will I ever see anyone I know again? My dream would be to live in Chevy Chase DC, but it’s not going to happen even though we net over $500k/year.

[Anonymous]

Old Town?

[Anonymous]

Or Del Ray?

[Anonymous]

If you work in Arlington, and you want a SFH with a yard, it makes sense to live there. Your emotional revulsion is dumb.

[Anonymous]

Up your budget and live wherever you want, you’re rich.

[Anonymous]

Also you’ll never see your friends again but it will be because of the kids, not the neighborhood. Having a kid is going to change your life so much that fussing over having a VA address will feel foolish in retrospect.

[Anonymous]

If you’re able to share your HHI you can share why you can only afford a 1.1 house.

[Anonymous]

Woodridge

[Anonymous]

OMG, you are too much.
Signed,
A former NYC hipster living in Arlington

[Anonymous]

OP responding re: budget. I’ve only been earning my salary for a year so I haven’t saved much yet. In order to get a loan for over $1M, you need 20% down, which we do not have right now. Also, student loans. Also, don’t want to spend too much before know the full cost of having a kid.

Yes, I know Arlington is the logical choice, which why I phrased it as an emotional repulsion. I just don’t think I’ll feel good about but something there and house purchasing is at least in part an emotional decision.

[Anonymous]

Brightwood or Takoma DC? I live on the Hill and have raised two kids here and still love it, but I totally understand the desire for unshared walls. I like both of those neighborhoods. In your shoes, though, I might keep renting and saving a ton and then buy in CCDC, if that what you really want.

[Anonymous]

I’d stay where you are for a few more years. Pay off loans and save more for down payment.

[Anonymous]

Can you clarify why you don’t like Arlington? I’m not a big fan myself, but I think for different reasons than you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Up your budget and live wherever you want, you’re rich.

NP..you show up every thread and sound jealous.

[Anonymous]

Spend two or three years saving up than buy a single family home in the Palisades area of DC. Commute across Chain Bridge or Key Bridge to Arlington. Or…

For Arlington maybe look at some of the neighborhoods with early 20th century suburban charm like Maywood, Cherrydale, Lyon Park, Westover Village. A plus for families is that most all schools are very walkable, and depending on the location ES, MS and HS could all be walkable. Arlington is older denser than the suburbs further out which is why stores, cafes, and schools are often a short walk away. Metro rail access is another benefit.

If you’re okay with the public schools in Alexandria then move there. Plenty of charm in Del Ray and Rosemont. The commute might not be all that great, depending on where in Arlington you work.