Leesburg?

[Anonymous]

I've been out of the country and haven't been out to this area in nearly 7 or 8 years. I took a drive today to pick peaches and was stunned by the amount of housing development along route 7. I always knew there was horse money/ wine money/ land money out there but I couldn't believe some of the bigger homes that look relatively new (to me at least since I've not been around). Like this one: http://www.redfin.com/VA/Leesburg/17057-Winning-Colors-Pl-20176/home/12071776

Which leads me to my question -- who is living in Loudon County these days??? Leesburg?! It used to be that people moved out there because they couldn't afford to live closer in but it looks like those days are over.

Also, this Beacon Hill neighborhood has names of streets like "Bold Venture" and "Black Gold." Weird.

What did I miss while I was gone? I'm really stunned.

[Anonymous]

Go west, young SAHM!

[Anonymous]

There are many people who work in Reston/Herndon/Tysons that have no interest in living in DC.

[Anonymous]

My office is in Reston. Most staff live out in Loudoun. Many in Leesburg. It's an exburb, for sure.

For the record, I live in Reston. Loudoun is just a bit too far for me.

[Anonymous]

I'd be very surprised if the seller gets anything like $1.3 million for that McMansion that far out in Loudoun.

[Anonymous]

Well, Loudoun does have the highest median HHI these days ...

250k+ jobs involve being a doctor, working in DC (or MAYBE Tysons), or owning a very successful business. So I suspect the 250k+ folks will continue to be drawn to North Arlington/OTA/Bethesda/NW DC.

But making 60-150k in Dullesland and/or Tysons? Very doable.

With a HHI of 200k, would you rather be living in Lansdowne, a nice place in downtown Leesburg, or Ashburn -- or a place in North Arlington that hasn't been touched since the Kennedy administration? If you're working outside the Beltway ... a lot of folks will choose the former.

Downtown Leesburg is easily one of the most walkable neighborhoods in the DC area.

Some of the post-1990 developments are decently walkable (although only for the THs, the SFHs still require you to cross a busy four-lane road or get in the car.)