Thoughts on moving to Arlington?

[Anonymous]

Major bubble in North Arlington

Too many other Metro accessible areas being built up. Developers have pulled their money and are investing else where. That is the Canary in the mine. Many houses over 1.25m are sitting and have no takers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Major bubble in North Arlington

Too many other Metro accessible areas being built up. Developers have pulled their money and are investing else where. That is the Canary in the mine. Many houses over 1.25m are sitting and have no takers.

Houses at 1.25 in our neighborhood still have multiple contracts and go same day. We are 2 miles from DC. 2 blocks to Metro.

It's up to 1.7 that they sit longer, but that's true in DC too--even during boom.

[Anonymous]

Cherrydale? Waverly Hills? Westover? All walkable neighborhoods.

I don't know what the person means about developers investing elsewhere. I have two friends who are developers in Arlington, and their problem lately has been finding property. Too much competition for the ranch houses and split levels that haven't been renovated yet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Major bubble in North Arlington

Too many other Metro accessible areas being built up. Developers have pulled their money and are investing else where. That is the Canary in the mine. Many houses over 1.25m are sitting and have no takers.

Snort.

Metro isn't a desirable amenity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Major bubble in North Arlington

Too many other Metro accessible areas being built up. Developers have pulled their money and are investing else where. That is the Canary in the mine. Many houses over 1.25m are sitting and have no takers.

Snort.

Metro isn't a desirable amenity.

Why don't you go back to wherever it is in flyover country you come from? I'm sure you can have a lovely car-bound existence in your 4000sf bland box and be very happy. Oh wait, they are hurting for jobs there.

[Anonymous]

What's the big deal? If this is the type of house OP wants, she can find one in Arlington. It wouldn't appeal to everyone, but apparently neither does living in Oakton.

http://franklymls.com/AR8229966

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Major bubble in North Arlington

Too many other Metro accessible areas being built up. Developers have pulled their money and are investing else where. That is the Canary in the mine. Many houses over 1.25m are sitting and have no takers.

Snort.

Metro isn't a desirable amenity.

Why don't you go back to wherever it is in flyover country you come from? I'm sure you can have a lovely car-bound existence in your 4000sf bland box and be very happy. Oh wait, they are hurting for jobs there.

No Metro in McLean and Northern Arlington and home prices are much higher there than wherever the hell the Silver Line is going, and will continue to be so. Metro is a horror show. People don't want to ride it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Major bubble in North Arlington

Too many other Metro accessible areas being built up. Developers have pulled their money and are investing else where. That is the Canary in the mine. Many houses over 1.25m are sitting and have no takers.

Snort.

Metro isn't a desirable amenity.

Why don't you go back to wherever it is in flyover country you come from? I'm sure you can have a lovely car-bound existence in your 4000sf bland box and be very happy. Oh wait, they are hurting for jobs there.

No Metro in McLean and Northern Arlington and home prices are much higher there than wherever the hell the Silver Line is going, and will continue to be so. Metro is a horror show. People don't want to ride it.

I looked at some statistics to see which high schools in Arlington and Fairfax have seen the largest growth in the number of white students in the last five years, on the theory that white students could serve as a proxy for middle and upper-income students, since there's not a lot of white poverty in either county. Here are the results:

1. South Lakes (+364) (largely due to redistricting of students from other high schools, but perhaps in anticipation of Reston Metro to some extent)
2. Marshall (+308) (near Dunn Loring and West Falls Church Metro)
3. McLean (+157) (near West Falls Church and future McLean Metro)
4. Washington-Lee (+135) (near multiple Orange Line stations)
5. Tie: West Potomac (+47) (near one Yellow Line station); Wakefield (+47) (near several Blue and Yellow Line stations)

One could view this as support for the conclusion that people like being near Metro if they can afford it. Of course, if you currently work out in a high-tech job out towards Dulles, Metro access isn't as relevant and won't be for a long time.

[Anonymous]

As a long-time Arlington resident, I think you really need to decide your desired lifestyle before you start looking. If you are living north of Lee Highway (e.g., 22207), I don't see that your life is going to be much different than living in bordering areas of Mclean, such as Chesterbrook. I live near Yorktown high school (Country club area) and can walk to a grocery store and a small number of shops/restaurants, and there are lots of lit sidewalks. But I hardly consider this to be urban living, and you certainly see plenty of parents in minivans/SUVs driving around their kids from place to place. I feel very safe in my neighborhood and, for example, my kids ride to school without locking their bikes. (Also, if it matters to you, my neighborhood is disturbingly non-diverse).

In terms of value, I think that the homes in Arlington, north of Williamsburg Blvd (such as the Rock Spring neighborhood) offer pretty good value compared to other Arlington neighbor hood because you pay similar prices for larger homes that are much better made. A lot of Arlington neighborhoods were originally cheap construction, but are now selling at high-end prices.

If you are closer to the metro lines, like Cherrydale and Lyon Park, then you have more of that urban feel with lots of restaurants, metro access, etc. (and inconveniences like difficult parking, street noise, and traffic).

As you get even closer to DC, like Woodmont, I find that many of the homes start getting quirky (like a three-level home with bathrooms only in the basement). If you like quirky, than you might really enjoy these neighborhoods

Another thing to note is that the Arlington commute is generally good, but the commute times vary a lot based on how far you are from the 66. I used to live near Balston and could get to Metro Center in 20 minutes. Now, I have to drive 20 minutes just to get near Balston, so I have a 40 minute commute each way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a long-time Arlington resident, I think you really need to decide your desired lifestyle before you start looking. If you are living north of Lee Highway (e.g., 22207), I don't see that your life is going to be much different than living in bordering areas of Mclean, such as Chesterbrook. I live near Yorktown high school (Country club area) and can walk to a grocery store and a small number of shops/restaurants, and there are lots of lit sidewalks. But I hardly consider this to be urban living, and you certainly see plenty of parents in minivans/SUVs driving around their kids from place to place. I feel very safe in my neighborhood and, for example, my kids ride to school without locking their bikes. (Also, if it matters to you, my neighborhood is disturbingly non-diverse).

In terms of value, I think that the homes in Arlington, north of Williamsburg Blvd (such as the Rock Spring neighborhood) offer pretty good value compared to other Arlington neighbor hood because you pay similar prices for larger homes that are much better made. A lot of Arlington neighborhoods were originally cheap construction, but are now selling at high-end prices.

If you are closer to the metro lines, like Cherrydale and Lyon Park, then you have more of that urban feel with lots of restaurants, metro access, etc. (and inconveniences like difficult parking, street noise, and traffic).

As you get even closer to DC, like Woodmont, I find that many of the homes start getting quirky (like a three-level home with bathrooms only in the basement). If you like quirky, than you might really enjoy these neighborhoods

Another thing to note is that the Arlington commute is generally good, but the commute times vary a lot based on how far you are from the 66. I used to live near Balston and could get to Metro Center in 20 minutes. Now, I have to drive 20 minutes just to get near Balston, so I have a 40 minute commute each way.

Fellow Arlington resident: this comment is spot-on. You have to decide on lifestyle, really: more car-centric and bigger/nicer houses, or more walk-centric and smaller/older houses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a long-time Arlington resident, I think you really need to decide your desired lifestyle before you start looking. If you are living north of Lee Highway (e.g., 22207), I don't see that your life is going to be much different than living in bordering areas of Mclean, such as Chesterbrook. I live near Yorktown high school (Country club area) and can walk to a grocery store and a small number of shops/restaurants, and there are lots of lit sidewalks. But I hardly consider this to be urban living, and you certainly see plenty of parents in minivans/SUVs driving around their kids from place to place. I feel very safe in my neighborhood and, for example, my kids ride to school without locking their bikes. (Also, if it matters to you, my neighborhood is disturbingly non-diverse).

In terms of value, I think that the homes in Arlington, north of Williamsburg Blvd (such as the Rock Spring neighborhood) offer pretty good value compared to other Arlington neighbor hood because you pay similar prices for larger homes that are much better made. A lot of Arlington neighborhoods were originally cheap construction, but are now selling at high-end prices.

If you are closer to the metro lines, like Cherrydale and Lyon Park, then you have more of that urban feel with lots of restaurants, metro access, etc. (and inconveniences like difficult parking, street noise, and traffic).

As you get even closer to DC, like Woodmont, I find that many of the homes start getting quirky (like a three-level home with bathrooms only in the basement). If you like quirky, than you might really enjoy these neighborhoods

Another thing to note is that the Arlington commute is generally good, but the commute times vary a lot based on how far you are from the 66. I used to live near Balston and could get to Metro Center in 20 minutes. Now, I have to drive 20 minutes just to get near Balston, so I have a 40 minute commute each way.

Fellow Arlington resident: this comment is spot-on. You have to decide on lifestyle, really: more car-centric and bigger/nicer houses, or more walk-centric and smaller/older houses.

I'm curious which neighborhoods match this description -- and how can you research such things?

[Anonymous]

How come no one on here ever mention Rosslyn (22209) or North Highland (22201). There are great selection of townhouses and some sfh in those two areas and are so incredibly convenient. A ton of people with money have moved into the area, now there's hardly a listing that is not a shabby condo in one the old 1950's building. The new condos are snapped up quickly. I have a friend that has been waiting for six months for a townhouse to come on the market there. I am surprised that all the savvy real estate people on here are so unaware of what's going on there. One developer has been so impressed with the price point and quickness some of the condos are selling, they have postponed plans for an office tower in favor of residential tower because the demand is so strong, particularly from people with deep pokers. Construction will brick ground January 21 last I heard. The school pyramid is Key/Williamsbug/Yorktown.

[Anonymous]

Arlington Metro commute advantage diminishes because most cars are full when they reach that point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Arlington Metro commute advantage diminishes because most cars are full when they reach that point.

Nope. We are 1.5 miles to the border- drive or bike depending on weather.

Most also have flex arrival so can work around crush.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Arlington choices for a million are sad. Look at the thread regarding the dump next to a 711 day laborer pickup area.

Sorry Debbie Downer, but the closed 7-11 at Lee Highway to which you are referring was never a pick up spot for day laborers. We have an entire County funded space for day laborers to be picked up for work in Arlington. Now your experience with the 7-11 on Little River Turnpike or in Hybla Valley where you live may be different but the only "laborers" at that 7-11 were those stopping in for slurpees during work and lunch breaks.