Getting desperate: What would you suggest to a first time home buyer?

[Anonymous]

I feel like there's a lot of space between a and b. Can you buy something in the right location that you don't hate, or that can be remodeled? Buy something in a similar close-in neighborhood that will meet your needs?

I'd never buy a house I hated or couldn't put up with indefinitely. FWIW, we moved heaven and earth to buy in a certain school district. The next year, covid hit, and by fall DC was enrolled in private school. I like our house well enough but I wouldn't have bought here if I'd known we'd leave the school.

[Anonymous]

B. It’s not worth hating your house, neighborhood, or commute.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Surely there is a middle ground between close in and exurbs? If you give budget and wish list, people could give suggestions.

Good point: 825k or so, 4 bedroom +den/office, within 1 hour or so commute of DC, preferrably somewhere in Nova. It's OK if it needs cosmetic work, but we need the space and decent (middle pack) schools.

[Anonymous]

Burke

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Burke

That and maybe Springfield. How do you define “decent” schools? Plenty of people seem to be happy with 22042, but the Great Schools ratings aren’t so hot.

[Anonymous]

Impossible to answer your question without a budget, but I have no idea why you'd buy something you don't want to live in. That makes no sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Surely there is a middle ground between close in and exurbs? If you give budget and wish list, people could give suggestions.

Good point: 825k or so, 4 bedroom +den/office, within 1 hour or so commute of DC, preferrably somewhere in Nova. It's OK if it needs cosmetic work, but we need the space and decent (middle pack) schools.

Even Burke is hard on your budget.

I would look in Silver Spring, Rockville.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Impossible to answer your question without a budget, but I have no idea why you'd buy something you don't want to live in. That makes no sense.

Posted budget 23:06. $825k.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Surely there is a middle ground between close in and exurbs? If you give budget and wish list, people could give suggestions.

Good point: 825k or so, 4 bedroom +den/office, within 1 hour or so commute of DC, preferrably somewhere in Nova. It's OK if it needs cosmetic work, but we need the space and decent (middle pack) schools.

You are being ridiculous for a 4 bedroom den and office.

1) how many kids do you really have?

2) you can use MBR as 1 office and then basement, dining room etc as 2nd office. In a house occupied by two adults, you only need 1 of you to have a door, as no one else will be making noise.

PG or Calvert or AA county are worth considering.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Impossible to answer your question without a budget, but I have no idea why you'd buy something you don't want to live in. That makes no sense.

Posted budget 23:06. $825k.

Well, at $825K you have options all over Fairfax County just outside the beltway with good schools: places like Fairfax, parts of Annandale, Burke, West Springfield. And inside the beltway you could try a few transitional areas between Falls Church and Annandale but the houses will be smaller and the schools not great.

[Anonymous]

Burke does not have that many houses with 5+ bedroom in that price range. Clifton?

PG County isn't close in and definitely not worth it if the commutes are DC and VA or even MD. No jobs in PG county.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Surely there is a middle ground between close in and exurbs? If you give budget and wish list, people could give suggestions.

Good point: 825k or so, 4 bedroom +den/office, within 1 hour or so commute of DC, preferrably somewhere in Nova. It's OK if it needs cosmetic work, but we need the space and decent (middle pack) schools.

Even Burke is hard on your budget.

I would look in Silver Spring, Rockville.

Not OP but I prefer to stay in Virginia.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I mean you definitely aren't getting 5-6 bedrooms close in for under 3 million...

False! You can get that in a bunch of places in PG county.

PG? scoff scoff scoff

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think you should continue to rent.

+1 Do not buy when you are desperate.

[Anonymous]

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/5303-Neville-Ct-Alexandria-VA-22310/51920162_zpid/