Recommend a neighborhood for first-time home buyers? Late 20s, no kids, $425k-ish budget

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can't really speak to your commute but we live in Fairlington and I think that would be a great spot for you, and where you are life-wise. Its a young area, lots of professionals with kids and dogs and everyone says hi to one another. You can get a 2 bed, 2 bath townhouse with finished basement for the low to mid 400's and the market in Fairlington is always, always hot. If you bought and lived in the townhouse for a few years and then decided to move when you were thinking about another child, you'd have no issues selling.

No metro access but lots of metro and ART buses. My DH takes the bus to Pentagon and into Foggy Bottom and he is there in about 45 minutes.

I'd say go with a townhouse that you can live in for 5 years. That will get you in the market and then you can try to move up to something bigger if you want. Lots of people live in Fairlington with 2 kids with no issues.

I should add, the rental market in Fairlington is also really hot. You can easily rent places and quickly too, for $2100-2500/month depending on upgrades. So you couldn't necessarily need to sell down the road. Lots of renters there, including me!

[Anonymous]

how about a condo in Cathederal Heights? Depending on what side of the street you live on it is either in bounds for Mann or Stoderd - both are solid options in DC

[Anonymous]

We looked at Fairlington and didnt love it, but I know many do. But anyway, what would the commute look like from there to NW DC and MoCo? Ugh.

[Anonymous]

I have never understood the appeal of Fairlington. It is a depressing amount of same, same, sameness everywhere you look! I got lost every time I visited friends there, because it all looks the same,

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We looked at Fairlington and didnt love it, but I know many do. But anyway, what would the commute look like from there to NW DC and MoCo? Ugh.

I commute from Shirlington (which is essentially Fairlington) to NW DC. Depends what time you leave. If I leave at 7:20-30, I can get in by 8:00 (sometimes quicker) going down Rte. 50 and across the Memorial Bridge. I often leave later though, say around 8:15-8:30, and can be in by 9:00-15, judging on traffic. Also take the express metro bus to the Pentagon then metro in, it's about a 30-35 minute commute door to door. Really not bad at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We looked at Fairlington and didnt love it, but I know many do. But anyway, what would the commute look like from there to NW DC and MoCo? Ugh.

If you like the general area, you could also check out Parkfairfax (which is in Alexandria, across 395) or some of the townhouses and condos in the Shirlington area -- Heatherlea, Windgate, etc. It's a great area overall -- friendly people, very dog and young child oriented.

[Anonymous]

Arlington - Pentagon City, Ballston, Crystal City. That's it on your price range as far as I know. Farilington has no metro. _ if that doesn matter Farilington adn Shirlington are great too

[Anonymous]

You can get a 2 bed, 2 bath townhouse with finished basement for the low to mid 400's and the market in Fairlington is always, always hot.

You know, we looked at 2BR/2BA places in Fairlington seven years ago and they were priced at... the low to mid 400s. While the market in Fairlington might be busy -- it's definitely a popular place -- I think there's always a lot of competition among similarly-sized and -priced units. If buyers don't like one, there are likely six other options within walking distance. Good when you're a buyer. Not so good when you're a seller.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks for all the advice! Lots of food for thought The responses are much appreciated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are a lot of young couples, some with their first child, others with no children in Woodside in Silver Spring. Walking distance to metro and dining/shopping in downtown Silver Spring, plus close to NW.

You can't buy anything in Woodside for $425.

[Anonymous]

What about Cameron Station? We are TTC and live here now and love it.

[Anonymous]

I'm totally perplexed by why people are suggesting VA when you work in NW and MC. We lived in Bethesda for several years as a newly married couple until my DD turned three and we had a second on the way. We had a two bedroom in the Whitehall, which can easily be purchased for 25K under your budget. (Which by the way you REALLY should bank for the extra expenses that come with kids.)

I remember those days very fondly. We were able to walk to everything Bethesda had to offer. There were often other parents with kids toddling about the lobby, and two nice playgrounds in walking distance. On date nights we cold walk to our choice of a hundred bars and restaurants. We could run out for bagels......

[Anonymous]

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/2924-Hideaway-Rd_Fairfax_VA_22031_M51325-14089

[Anonymous]

Do not buy a condo --- chances are you will end up losing money when you try to sell it down the road. And honestly, you might run into similar problems with a townhome unless it is in a highly sought after neighborhood (many older townhomes eventually flip to rentals which drive the resale prices down). $425k for a SFH is only doable if you look further out in Olney or Brookeville (20832 and 20833). FWIW, many families from close-in burbs move out there for the affordable large homes in great school districts (check out Belmont and Greenwood Elems). I suggest buying a place that you could conceivably stay in for the longterm. Once babies arrive, you might want to stay home --- and if not, your childcare costs will likely be higher than you predict --- so you can't always count on trading up.

[Anonymous]

I have a friend who bought a single family house in Silver Spring last year in the $400s. I don't know about the schools there, but it's a cute house is across from a playground in a neighborhood full of kids.