Moving, estimating commute times, low budget, baby on the way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How about Shirlington, VA? I think you can get a nice renovated townhome under $400 and it is close to DC, walkable, and I believe the schools are good (that is what I've heard). Usually, there are two bedrooms on the second floor and one in the basement so not sure if that works for you.

+1.... many people do private schools or catholic schools, but it is a great community for young families.

[Anonymous]

I think on your budget, and desire to be close in, you should just give up on the idea of newer construction (i.e., less than 10 yrs old). If the idea of a new roof or other home maintenance is scary, and you are drawn to the idea of "nice, clean, easy" townhouse living, maybe you should stick to condo living for a while longer. It's not like the baby is going to really feel any deficit from not having outdoor space for at least the first year of his or her life, if not longer. But newer, close-in houses are hard to come by in this area at virtually any price point, let alone an affordable one.

[Anonymous]

the house posted from fairlington is adorable! I lived in shirlington for 3 years and loved it. Definitely look into it. The good thing about that area is that there are busses running through there constantly that take you right to the metro - so convenient.

I don't know how easy the commute would be to Foggy Bottom, but I have a friend who bought in Cheverly, MD and is constantly singing its praises. I think they send their daughter to a Montessori school, but I believe you could get a really nice SFH in your price range. It is right on the Metro line.

It isn't easy to find anything close in in your range, especially not new. You might consider up and coming/gentrifying areas of DC, but then you have a schools issue again.

I think the Shirlington/Fairlington area and the Parkfairfax neighborhood (it's Alexandria and right across 395) are ideal locations.

[Anonymous]

This is a lot of house in your price range in Cheverly:
http://franklymls.com/PG7701458

Again, I only know how my friend loves it. There is a metro station within a mile - not sure if it is walkable. But worth consideration.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think on your budget, and desire to be close in, you should just give up on the idea of newer construction (i.e., less than 10 yrs old). If the idea of a new roof or other home maintenance is scary, and you are drawn to the idea of "nice, clean, easy" townhouse living, maybe you should stick to condo living for a while longer. It's not like the baby is going to really feel any deficit from not having outdoor space for at least the first year of his or her life, if not longer. But newer, close-in houses are hard to come by in this area at virtually any price point, let alone an affordable one.

I agree with this. You can probably get a new(er) construction spacious 2 bedroom condo in your budget in Courthouse or Clarendon on the orange line so a quick and easy commute to Foggy Bottom but still a walkable area.

[Anonymous]

So you want to buy a place for $350,000-$400,000 with 3 BR, outside space, easy parking, walkable neighborhood, with a 30 minute (at most) drive to Foggy Bottom at the height of rush hour, that is at minimum not a fixer-upper and ideally new construction? I admire your optimism, but I'm not sure such a place exists. At least I don't know of one. I think you first task if to look at your list, rank things in order of priority, and decide what you absolutely need and what you can't live without. Because I don't think you can have it all.

[Anonymous]

I think the Shirlington option is good. Frankly, if you can't afford more than 400k, you probably won't be able to afford independent private school. The Arlington public schools are way better than the Alexandria City public schools. Or, you might be able to swing a Catholic school. Either way, Shirlington works.

[Anonymous]

I think you're really asking the impossible - SFH, newer construction, 3BR, easy commute to Foggy Bottom, and reasonable schools - all under $350k?? Something's gotta give. If I were you, I'd start with the size - if you really can't change your budget and you don't want a horrendous commute, you should look at 2BR options in NoVa whereever the schools / commute mix seems right. And whatever you choose, you need to accept that on your budget, you're not going to get new construction in any kind of close-in area.

And definitely focus your search on VA. I'm in MoCo and spent a few years working in Foggy Bottom. No one at, say, the State Dept lives in MD - they all are in DC or VA because the commute is much better. If you need to get to MD, you either have to switch metro lines, or else drive through the city, and it's really slow. I know one person who commuted from PG County, and he literally never saw his kids.

[Anonymous]

Oh, and OP? Unless your husband gets free parking, he needs to get over the "I'd rather drive than Metro" thing. On the budget you propose, the extra $100+/month could make a big difference.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh, and OP? Unless your husband gets free parking, he needs to get over the "I'd rather drive than Metro" thing. On the budget you propose, the extra $100+/month could make a big difference.

agreed. I don't get the "I refuse to use public transport" people. I'd beat my head against a wall if I had to commute by car into the district on a daily basis.

[Anonymous]

How about this one, South of Old Town


http://franklymls.com/FX7721201

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh, and OP? Unless your husband gets free parking, he needs to get over the "I'd rather drive than Metro" thing. On the budget you propose, the extra $100+/month could make a big difference.

agreed. I don't get the "I refuse to use public transport" people. I'd beat my head against a wall if I had to commute by car into the district on a daily basis.

I totally agree, but not the point. He can prefer his car all he wants; given their budget, he's in no position to insist on driving (absent subsidized parking).

[Anonymous]

There are houses in that range in Brightwood, near Takoma Park. I think it is an undervalued area - you can walk to the metro, and the Takoma rec center is awesome (beautiful park with huge oak trees, outside tennis courts, indoor Olympic pool and baby pool.

[Anonymous]

And there's also Brookland.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think on your budget, and desire to be close in, you should just give up on the idea of newer construction (i.e., less than 10 yrs old). If the idea of a new roof or other home maintenance is scary, and you are drawn to the idea of "nice, clean, easy" townhouse living, maybe you should stick to condo living for a while longer. It's not like the baby is going to really feel any deficit from not having outdoor space for at least the first year of his or her life, if not longer. But newer, close-in houses are hard to come by in this area at virtually any price point, let alone an affordable one.

I agree with this. You can probably get a new(er) construction spacious 2 bedroom condo in your budget in Courthouse or Clarendon on the orange line so a quick and easy commute to Foggy Bottom but still a walkable area.

Not really ... any 2bdrm in that price range is going to be small - under 1000sq ft.