Tell me about your friendly neighborhood
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Anonymous
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For a couple of reasons we may want/need to move. Assuming we stay in this area (most likely), finding a neighborhood that has a lot of school aged kids and is friendly to newcomers would be ideal. Our kids are currently in 3rd and 6th grades.
Our budget is around $1.25-$1.5 million. We do not need to be super close to DC and tend to prefer northern and western Fairfax County or Loudoun County. Don’t want high density but don’t need a huge lot either. A quarter or half acre would be fine. We would like the schools to be good but they don’t need to be top tier. Would love to find somewhere that a new family (both kids and adults) could feel welcomed and part of the community as opposed to somewhere known for being closed off or cliquey. I’d rather be around down to earth people than the ones with all the nicest things. Does such a place exist?! I wish we had just moved to a new construction neighborhood when our kids were little, since everyone would have been new and looking to meet people. But at the time we both had commutes to factor in that are no longer a concern. |
Anonymous
| I’ve found Arlington to be extremely friendly. Would be hard to get good schools on that budget though. |
Anonymous
I was going to say Arlington (22205 specifically) but I think it’s too dense for OP. Town of Kensington and Garrett Park also meet the mark here, but they’re in MD. |
Anonymous
| Copenhaver and Willerburn Acres are lovely neighborhoods but they’re in Potomac. |
Anonymous
| Truro in Fairfax |
Anonymous
| Falls Church City. |
Anonymous
This. American dream type houses there that won’t break the bank but will put you firmly in elite schools. |
Anonymous
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Where do you live right now tbat you feel is not working for you?
I love South Riding in Loudoun. |
Anonymous
| Fairfax in the surrounds around Fairfax City fits those requirements. Good schools, friendly neighborhoods, nice size lots, unpretentious but well built houses. |
Anonymous
| Look into Poplar Tree/Rocky Run/Chantilly pyramid. I don't think there's any current inventory though. Most people tend to list in May or so, and the homes do go fairly quick. |
Anonymous
We like our home and neighborhood, but factors beyond our control are creating uncertainty as to whether it's a good idea (financially and otherwise) to stay long-term. At some point the stress of worrying gets tiring and we think it might be time regain a sense of control by moving. It's hard to get a feel for an area/neighborhood without living there, so if we are going to move I would love to know it's a place where people feel a sense of community and isn't a keeping up with the Joneses/hyper-competitive type of place. I worry about my kids being the new kids and how to break in. I am friendly but not super outgoing, and my spouse and one of my kids is the same way. We would do better in a community where people are very open to meeting and talking with others, where we don't have to initiate every conversation or gathering. It would be great to find a place where there is some built-in organized socializing among neighbors, where you don't have to be part of a certain group to have social opportunities. We would be leaving some friends behind if we move and I worry about being lonely/not having a built in group. With how busy everyone is, I know we would not see the neighborhood friends as much if we left. |
Anonymous
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My friends that live in brambleton really like it, but the lot sizes are much smaller than what you’re talking about. The west park section of brambleton is very new, so you’d be able to get that new build community that you’re looking for. I don’t know many people who live down in south riding, but I’m guessing that it also has a family friendly vibe.
Honestly, I think that you might want to go denser than what you’re thinking of. To me, half acre lots says that people value privacy and doing their own thing at home. If you don’t want to do a lot of searching and inviting, then I think that you might want a denser neighborhood with lots of public spaces (parks, playgrounds, hoa pool, walkable schools) where people are out and about all of the time. It’s just easier to make connections. |
Anonymous
| Wow. Hoping this post was intended to be satirical. If not, very curious to learn more about this “light skinned” community PP loves so much in Potomac… |
Anonymous
| Kings Park West |
Anonymous
| +1 for Falls Church City |