Any scoop on Great Falls, Va?

[Anonymous]

Two deal breakers for me are the septic tanks and the traffic jams.

Most homes in Great Falls are not connected to public sewer system. 85%+ of the homes are on the Septic Tanks. Kind of gross. Also they get massive amount of traffic EVERY DAY flooding through the local roads from outer-outerburbs from Loudoun Co and Reston area.

[Anonymous]

Well water is another drawback.

[Anonymous]

If you want or need to go into DC with any regularity do not move there. The traffic into DC is awful. A lot of houses are on main roads like Georgetown Pike or River Bend Road so you will not have much of a neighborhood feel. If you really like open spaces and commute is not a concern it could be a good choice because you can get much more for your money there than in closer in areas like Bethesda or Arlington. I think the population there is aging and not many young people are moving in so if you have young kids I would look into that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you want or need to go into DC with any regularity do not move there. The traffic into DC is awful. A lot of houses are on main roads like Georgetown Pike or River Bend Road so you will not have much of a neighborhood feel. If you really like open spaces and commute is not a concern it could be a good choice because you can get much more for your money there than in closer in areas like Bethesda or Arlington. I think the population there is aging and not many young people are moving in so if you have young kids I would look into that.

It might be nice to live somewhere where there are already schools with space. We have no interest in living in Arlington where it has become very crowded and the residents bicker over where to build schools and who'll get reassigned.

[Anonymous]

We are also considering GF and I wonder if the silver line will make traffic better for GF residents, since it'll serve Reston area...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are also considering GF and I wonder if the silver line will make traffic better for GF residents, since it'll serve Reston area...

So if you don't care about well water, and many other things listed- uhum- I guess the traffic may be better? Yet to see. GF is all of route 7- a metro stop somwhat >cough" nearby won't make me think it will dramatically change.

[Anonymous]

Come on, the metro is for average folks. Great Falls lawyers and their soccer mommy wives aren't metroing to Whiole Foods, McLean Raquet and Capital Grille.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow- ok. We live in GF and wouldn't live anywhere else. It's a small town feel with beautiful homes and friendly people. Great public schools with close access to private schools like Potomac, Langley, Nysmith. Easy drive to Reston, Mclean and Tysons.

Exciting stuff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow- ok. We live in GF and wouldn't live anywhere else. It's a small town feel with beautiful homes and friendly people. Great public schools with close access to private schools like Potomac, Langley, Nysmith. Easy drive to Reston, Mclean and Tysons.

Exciting stuff.

Lots of jobs there, and not everyone needs the adrenaline rush of risking their lives in some DC shithole.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow- ok. We live in GF and wouldn't live anywhere else. It's a small town feel with beautiful homes and friendly people. Great public schools with close access to private schools like Potomac, Langley, Nysmith. Easy drive to Reston, Mclean and Tysons.

Exciting stuff.

If not exciting, you mean, no fear of crime, I guess that's about right.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well water is another drawback.

Well water is a big plus. You have a filtration system and much better water without the massive amounts of chemicals needed for city or county water. Septic syste,s are also efficient and not gross. Unless you personally pump them about every five years. Great Falls is not for me because of commute, but you should not rule out because of well eater and septic systems. Of course the septic system ensures the large lots will not be filled with cookie cutter houses side by side a la Ashburn or Arlington

[Anonymous]

It depends on on your preference. If you like a more urban feel, Great Falls is not for you. I used to live in Arlington, but I felt so suffocated all the time. I love Great Falls because it is quiet, I am on 2 acres of my own land, and everything I could possibly need is down the road (Tyson's). When I go home at night, it is very relaxing to me. All the hustle and bustle is left behind. I can breathe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well water is another drawback.

Well water is a big plus. You have a filtration system and much better water without the massive amounts of chemicals needed for city or county water. Septic syste,s are also efficient and not gross. Unless you personally pump them about every five years. Great Falls is not for me because of commute, but you should not rule out because of well eater and septic systems. Of course the septic system ensures the large lots will not be filled with cookie cutter houses side by side a la Ashburn or Arlington

+1

More and more people want classier neighbors than other inner suburbs; and the space is priceless. Who wants to bicker with someone you don't even know, or care to know? More people over age 30 are choosing GF, if they are able to afford it. If they can't afford it, they will probably pretend to find another gripe about GF. You know, like the inner suburbs shit shack owners gripe about the new houses: "I would buy one, but I don't 'want' one". No one believes it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well water is another drawback.

Well water is a big plus. You have a filtration system and much better water without the massive amounts of chemicals needed for city or county water. Septic syste,s are also efficient and not gross. Unless you personally pump them about every five years. Great Falls is not for me because of commute, but you should not rule out because of well eater and septic systems. Of course the septic system ensures the large lots will not be filled with cookie cutter houses side by side a la Ashburn or Arlington

+1

More and more people want classier neighbors than other inner suburbs; and the space is priceless. Who wants to bicker with someone you don't even know, or care to know? More people over age 30 are choosing GF, if they are able to afford it. If they can't afford it, they will probably pretend to find another gripe about GF. You know, like the inner suburbs shit shack owners gripe about the new houses: "I would buy one, but I don't 'want' one". No one believes it.

I understand that snide remarks beget claims of sour grapes. Objectively, Great Falls/22066 has been lagging in recent years behind both McLean/22101 and Arlington/22207. Great Falls consists primarily of expensive properties, but the number of million-plus sales in 22066 to date in 2014 (108)( is behind McLean/22101 (175) and Arlington/22207 (158), and that doesn't include teardowns where someone buys an older house or lot for $800K and builds a more expensive home. I think the commute is the reason why, not well water or septic systems.

But neighborhoods ought to be about where individuals and families want to live, not what everyone else is clamoring for at the moment. There aren't many places like Great Falls as close to DC or Tysons for those who want that lifestyle and can deal with the commute (or, even better, don't need to commute).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fairly isolated, lots of traffic, big lots, rural feel, no neighborhood feel and lots of rich people.

+1

And this bad how? Great alternative to McLean or Arlington, where the houses are much too close together for most people I know. People seem much more down to earth, and more concerned with themselves than others. Some own horses. I don't see how that would be a negative, unless you really hate animals for some reason. Lots of pools. The country club is a great alternative to the neighborhood pools you see in some communities. Where would your commute be, OP? That might be a drawback.

OP. One of us need to be in DC few times a week and the other travels so the proximity to Dulles is a plus. Not mad about the septic and well water but love the rural setting...