a big reason for the housing crunch around DC

[Anonymous]

Good point OP

[Anonymous]

I agree that this is a complicated issue--- limited inventory, transportation--- but there is a big "lift all boats" view to this. We all work to improve all schools, and we all benefit from a greater selection of communities to live in. (Same with transport, safety.) Plus, there's that little thing that children would benefit... that should of course be our primary motivator!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

There really are slim pickings in this area. If there were more areas here that had better ("the desirable") schools, neighborhoods, etc., there wouldn't be such demand for so few neighborhoods.

Its such a joke when people go on and on about this area, yet there are so few schools (relatively) that people want to actually be caught dead in. Sad.

Totally agree with this. Parts of dc are very nice and others are horrible. The school situation is the worst.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is true everywhere, all the time. Everyone wants to live in walkable neighborhoods with good schools and amenities. Doesn't explain why there are so few houses for sale.

I think traffic plays a big role here... when I graduated from college in the 90s, people lived in Arlington starter houses when they got married, then moved further out (McLean, Great Falls, etc.) when they were making more money and wanted bigger houses. Now people add onto their starter homes close-in and don't leave for the further out burbs because who wants to double their commute time?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Fairfax County is not all that, if you have lived elsewhere.

We have lived all over the entire country, except for the upper northeast, and Fairfax County does indeed have the best schools in the country.

[Anonymous]

This is happening accross the board, from silver spring to Georgetown. All price ranges except above 2m. Your analysis is really very incomplete

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is true everywhere, all the time. Everyone wants to live in walkable neighborhoods with good schools and amenities. Doesn't explain why there are so few houses for sale.

I think traffic plays a big role here... when I graduated from college in the 90s, people lived in Arlington starter houses when they got married, then moved further out (McLean, Great Falls, etc.) when they were making more money and wanted bigger houses. Now people add onto their starter homes close-in and don't leave for the further out burbs because who wants to double their commute time?

New expensive homes continue to go up all over McLean, so I'd say there are quite a few people who will take a bigger house, higher-ranked schools and a 45-minute commute over the smaller house, lower-ranked schools and 20-minute Arlington commute. Of course, some of those buying such houses work in Tysons or further out, but many are DC professionals. Who wants to add on to their starter homes closer-in and have their neighbors complain about their additions and building up to the property line when you can move a bit further out and have neighbors who are less likely to complain?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Fairfax County is not all that, if you have lived elsewhere.

More good places to live there than anywhere else in DC area.

Says who? I wouldn't have been caught dead buying there. Largest county in the state? Sub-par public transportation? AAP-centric schools? For what, for a bigger yard? No, thank you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Fairfax County is not all that, if you have lived elsewhere.

More good places to live there than anywhere else in DC area.

Says who? I wouldn't have been caught dead buying there. Largest county in the state? Sub-par public transportation? AAP-centric schools? For what, for a bigger yard? No, thank you.

Lots of people. Nicest houses, best schools, healthiest residents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is true everywhere, all the time. Everyone wants to live in walkable neighborhoods with good schools and amenities. Doesn't explain why there are so few houses for sale.

I think traffic plays a big role here... when I graduated from college in the 90s, people lived in Arlington starter houses when they got married, then moved further out (McLean, Great Falls, etc.) when they were making more money and wanted bigger houses. Now people add onto their starter homes close-in and don't leave for the further out burbs because who wants to double their commute time?

New expensive homes continue to go up all over McLean, so I'd say there are quite a few people who will take a bigger house, higher-ranked schools and a 45-minute commute over the smaller house, lower-ranked schools and 20-minute Arlington commute. Of course, some of those buying such houses work in Tysons or further out, but many are DC professionals. Who wants to add on to their starter homes closer-in and have their neighbors complain about their additions and building up to the property line when you can move a bit further out and have neighbors who are less likely to complain?

All of us who would never leave Arlington to settle on FFX county.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Fairfax County is not all that, if you have lived elsewhere.

More good places to live there than anywhere else in DC area.

Says who? I wouldn't have been caught dead buying there. Largest county in the state? Sub-par public transportation? AAP-centric schools? For what, for a bigger yard? No, thank you.

Lots of people. Nicest houses, best schools, healthiest residents.

1) Nicest houses.... where?? Oh, you mean the builder-specials put up in less than 2 months with pressed wood and hardiplank? No, thank you. I'll take my original N. Arlington brick colonial.

2) Best schools? Don't even get me started on the divide among schools in the county. Oh, and you can keep all your AAP craziness, thank you very much.

3) No, I admit, this one has me stumped. HEALTHIEST residents?? Care to enlighten us?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Fairfax County is not all that, if you have lived elsewhere.

We have lived all over the entire country, except for the upper northeast, and Fairfax County does indeed have the best schools in the country.

Actually, you missed living where the best schools in the country are located.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's sort of ridiculous when you think about it. There really aren't any "bad" schools in Fairfax County (for example). There are just wealthier and poorer districts.

there are some bad schools in Fairfax County - my nanny's son got jumped twice in 1 month and he was FOUR years old in head start. Black eye, bloody nose, etc. their school in annandale is ghetto jams.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Fairfax County is not all that, if you have lived elsewhere.

More good places to live there than anywhere else in DC area.

Says who? I wouldn't have been caught dead buying there. Largest county in the state? Sub-par public transportation? AAP-centric schools? For what, for a bigger yard? No, thank you.

Lots of people. Nicest houses, best schools, healthiest residents.

1) Nicest houses.... where?? Oh, you mean the builder-specials put up in less than 2 months with pressed wood and hardiplank? No, thank you. I'll take my original N. Arlington brick colonial.

2) Best schools? Don't even get me started on the divide among schools in the county. Oh, and you can keep all your AAP craziness, thank you very much.

3) No, I admit, this one has me stumped. HEALTHIEST residents?? Care to enlighten us?

If wealth and lowest crime are the yardsticks, then NoVA is BY FAR the best place to live. You cannot argue this. It's just a fact. Sure, you may not like the "walkability" score, or maybe you don't like the architecture. But that's all tertiary to me when considering the best neighborhood for my children.

[Anonymous]

You do realize that both FFX and Arlington are in NoVA, right??