Fairfax vs Arlington

[Anonymous]

https://www.nvhomes.com/new-homes/communities/10222120152361/virginia/arlington/carlin-place (near Bailey's Crossroads)

https://www.eya.com/townhomes/falls-church-va/graham-park (near Falls Church)

https://www.nvhomes.com/new-homes/communities/10222120152086/virginia/fairfax/towns-at-boulevard-vi#homebuyingInfo (near Fairfax)

I'm torn between these three, they are within the budget and with relative close proximity to where I work.

Wants:
*New Construction (wish we could afford a SFH though)
*2 car garage
*Proximity to things to do like restaurants, shops, parks etc.
*Good schools (kids starting school in 2-3 years)
*Close to transit/metros so we can hop to DC if possible

Thoughts? Any other areas I should be looking at?

[Anonymous]

What schools are they zoned for?

Baileys crossroads isn't near a metro stop.

[Anonymous]

OP here. I know, it's just a want


https://www.nvhomes.com/new-homes/communities...lington/carlin-place (near Bailey's Crossroads)

SCHOOLS:
1/10
Carlin Springs Elementary School
Grades:
PK-5
Distance:
0.8 mi
4/10
Kenmore Middle School
Grades:
6-8
Distance:
0.8 mi
6/10
Washington Liberty High School
Grades:
9-12
Distance:
2.2 mi

https://www.eya.com/townhomes/falls-church-va/graham-park (near Falls Church)

SCHOOLS:
3/10
Westlawn Elementary School
Grades:
PK-6
Distance:
0.9 mi
5/10
Jackson Middle School
Grades:
7-8
Distance:
1.7 mi
3/10
Falls Church High School
Grades:
9-12
Distance:
0.5 mi


https://www.nvhomes.com/new-homes/communities...rd-vi#homebuyingInfo (near Fairfax)

SCHOOLS:
6/10
Providence Elementary School
Grades:
PK-6
Distance:
0.9 mi
7/10
Johnson Middle School
Grades:
7-8
Distance:
0.8 mi
6/10
Fairfax High School
Grades:
9-12
Distance:
1.5 mi

[Anonymous]

No to the Falls Church. Have you visited? These are surrounded in the parking lot of a strip mall. Traffic is horrible to access.

[Anonymous]

These schools are bad, code McLean or Langley high pyramid

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No to the Falls Church. Have you visited? These are surrounded in the parking lot of a strip mall. Traffic is horrible to access.

I did visit and it took me like 5-6 minutes to go through a stop that led to a traffic sign. Agreed that it could get harsh during rush hour.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:These schools are bad, code McLean or Langley high pyramid

Any townhomes in the area that are within that budget (1.1 to 1.2m)?

I saw that EYA has one and the schools are>
5/10
Westgate Elementary School
Grades:
PK-6
Distance:
0.8 mi
5/10
Kilmer Middle School
Grades:
7-8
Distance:
0.9 mi
7/10
Marshall High School
Grades:
9-12
Distance:
0.3 mi

Also there's this condo from Toll Brothers https://www.tollbrothers.com/luxury-homes-for-sale/Virginia/Union-Park-at-McLean-The-Lofts
I don't like the idea of a condo due to the fees

5/10
Westgate Elementary School
Grades:
PK-6
Distance:
0.2 mi
7/10
Longfellow Middle School
Grades:
7-8
Distance:
1.7 mi
7/10
Mclean High School
Grades:
9-12
Distance:
0.8 mi

Looks like these have similar ratings than the Fairfax one?

[Anonymous]

EYA Tysons Ridge in McLean link
https://www.eya.com/new-townhomes/tysons-va/tysons-ridge?utm_term=eya%20tysons%20ridge&utm_campaign=Tysons+Ridge&utm_source=adwords&utm_medium=ppc&hsa_acc=1426426423&hsa_cam=19079242215&hsa_grp=143736950789&hsa_ad=642328035312&hsa_src=g&hsa_tgt=kwd-1918895345442&hsa_kw=eya%20tysons%20ridge&hsa_mt=p&hsa_net=adwords&hsa_ver=3&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIx-LCtoC6gwMVBFRyCh3KTAdnEAAYASAAEgLtSPD_BwE

SCHOOLS:
5/10
Westgate Elementary School
Grades:
PK-6
Distance:
0.8 mi
5/10
Kilmer Middle School
Grades:
7-8
Distance:
0.9 mi
7/10
Marshall High School
Grades:
9-12
Distance:
0.3 mi

[Anonymous]

Baileys Crossroads is the absolute poorest area in NOVA. The third is the only I would consider.

[Anonymous]

Give up on needing new construction. You'll have far more options in these dense areas if you are more flexible. Location and schools are 1000000x more important than "new construction."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Give up on needing new construction. You'll have far more options in these dense areas if you are more flexible. Location and schools are 1000000x more important than "new construction."

Can't find anything nice at the 1.1 to 1.2 mil range to save my life. I could go without new construction.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Baileys Crossroads is the absolute poorest area in NOVA. The third is the only I would consider.

It did feel that way when I saw the place, looks like a lot of section 8 housing around the area?

[Anonymous]

https://redf.in/qh3Uin

This is a much better location than anything you’ve posted. Built in 2019 so not that old.

https://redf.in/1nyfy4

2002, so older but great location.

New construction with lower ranked schools (even if unfairly earned ratings) is going to be hit hardest if there is a downturn.

[Anonymous]

The Toll Brothers condo in McLean is much nicer than others listed, has better schools, and is in a superior location (0.4 miles from the McLean metro, <0.1 mile from Safeway and Westgate Elementary and Westgate Park, <0.2 mile from two approved future parks and a soccer field, <0.7 mile from Wegman’s). Longfellow and McLean are very good, and Westgate was recently renovated and now has among the most modern facilities of any Fairfax county school.

On the downside, it is two-floor ~2800 sq foot condo above a smaller ~1500 sq door two floor condo, and it has a $250/mo total fee ($150 condo + $100 HOA).

In all of these examples, you are paying a 20% premium for new construction. If schools are your #1 priority, you might consider recent-but-not new construction in the Cooper-Langley or Haycock-McLean pyramids. You should be able to find a 15-20 year old townhome in the same price range.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:https://redf.in/qh3Uin

This is a much better location than anything you’ve posted. Built in 2019 so not that old.

https://redf.in/1nyfy4

2002, so older but great location.

New construction with lower ranked schools (even if unfairly earned ratings) is going to be hit hardest if there is a downturn.

+1 I live a few blocks from the first one pp shared and this is a great location - walkable to westover shops, easy bike ride to ballston metro, great schools. Park and fields right in front. I would seriously look at those townhomes (there are a bunch there) over those you posted but would also consider the Fairfax city one. The other two I personally wouldn’t choose probably.