The thread for the, "buying under $600,000," crowd.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That is a tough commute from Springfield/Burke to DC.

It is really not bad. I solo drive every day and find 395 to be easy and quick about 90% of the time. When the HOT lanes come, it will be easier than many closer in spots. If public transit is for you, Sprongfield is great - metro and VRE are really easy options, is the slug lines

At what time of day, really? My coworker commuted from Burke to Farragut North area driving and she was miserable - sometimes it was an hour (like on weeks where there was a holiday/break) but usually more like 90 minutes and sometimes (when raining etc) more. She commuted at normal times (left home at 7am).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That is a tough commute from Springfield/Burke to DC.

It is really not bad. I solo drive every day and find 395 to be easy and quick about 90% of the time. When the HOT lanes come, it will be easier than many closer in spots. If public transit is for you, Sprongfield is great - metro and VRE are really easy options, is the slug lines

At what time of day, really? My coworker commuted from Burke to Farragut North area driving and she was miserable - sometimes it was an hour (like on weeks where there was a holiday/break) but usually more like 90 minutes and sometimes (when raining etc) more. She commuted at normal times (left home at 7am).

She must be either a terrible driver or afraid of the highway. It barely takes that long on snowy days.

[Anonymous]

I lived in Alexandria and at 8am 395 into DC is a nightmare.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I lived in Alexandria and at 8am 395 into DC is a nightmare.

Agreed. It's absolutely the worst way into DC from Virginia because it's a multi-lane highway, often jammed, where people are always trying to change multiple lanes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That is a tough commute from Springfield/Burke to DC.

It is really not bad. I solo drive every day and find 395 to be easy and quick about 90% of the time. When the HOT lanes come, it will be easier than many closer in spots. If public transit is for you, Sprongfield is great - metro and VRE are really easy options, is the slug lines

At what time of day, really? My coworker commuted from Burke to Farragut North area driving and she was miserable - sometimes it was an hour (like on weeks where there was a holiday/break) but usually more like 90 minutes and sometimes (when raining etc) more. She commuted at normal times (left home at 7am).

She must be either a terrible driver or afraid of the highway. It barely takes that long on snowy days.

+1 my average from Springfield is 35-40 minutes. HOV would be better but I have car seats so cannot really get 3 in the car

[Anonymous]

So share your route.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So share your route.

395. Or alternate routes if there has been an accident. It's pretty easy to stay on back main roads to go around if necessary. My commute is shorter than many friends who love in Alexandria or parts of Arlington. Don't believe me? Drive it for yourself. When HOT lanes come, my commute will be amazing. Would be now if I could HOV.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I lived in Alexandria and at 8am 395 into DC is a nightmare.

Yes, but leave 30-45 minutes earlier, and it's usually not as bad. I could be to DC (Downtown) in 30 minutes from my Alexandria house, which is about 3-5 minutes from 395 (Seminary exit). I almost always take 395, unless there's something going on, and then I take backroads. It takes me 15 minutes to get to Crystal City, usually arriving around 8 am.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP here. I know its already been said on this thread, but seriously, PG County is a great place to live and you can spend way less than 600K and get a great house with a yard very close in to DC.

Where in PG? We are tempted but I'm not familiar with the area and wouldn't know which areas to avoid. DH commutes to Old Town and I commute downtown. We have one toddler.

PP here. My family is in Mt. Rainier, and we love it. Cheverly is a bit closer to Old Town and is very nice. I haven't found a lot of charm in the areas south of Cheverly - seems more like cheaply built stuff from the 1970s or so. Or new construction. But I may be missing something.

The idea of what "areas to avoid" is just so subjective. Your personal feel for different neighborhoods will have to guide you. And you'll only get that feel by visiting and hanging out in those areas. And you could create a new thread with a subject line of "recommend your PG County neighborhood."

Here is one in Cheverly:
http://www.redfin.com/MD/Cheverly/2811-64th-Ave-20785/home/10539175

Other areas in PG that are a bit more charming and desirable include historic Hyattsville, University Park, College Park, and Riverdale.

[Anonymous]

Crystal City is Arlington not DC.
Alexandria to K St NW DC, a route I traveled daily at 8am would easily take me 40-45 min. To Pentagon City 15 min sure. But then get on Blue Line to DC and another 20-25 min.

From Springfield, further away from DC than Alexandria, not any easier.

[Anonymous]

Getting to OT Alexandria from MD is actually pretty easy.

[Anonymous]

This one just hit and it's pretty nice and completely renovated with tons of space

http://www.redfin.com/VA/Falls-Church/7414-Paxton-Rd-22043/home/9471718

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This one just hit and it's pretty nice and completely renovated with tons of space

http://www.redfin.com/VA/Falls-Church/7414-Paxton-Rd-22043/home/9471718

omg! The outside looks like a shack!

insane

Inside is nice, however.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Purcellville

Miserable commute

To where? DC? Not everyone works in DC, hon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This one just hit and it's pretty nice and completely renovated with tons of space

http://www.redfin.com/VA/Falls-Church/7414-Paxton-Rd-22043/home/9471718

omg! The outside looks like a shack!

insane

Inside is nice, however.

I don't get it. Why spend the money to renovate a shack? Isn't that a tear down?