Best NOVA Beltway community for $2100/mo, 3 or 4 BR, 3 kids + husband and wife?

[Anonymous]

DCUM friends -- help me!! Hubby and I live in an apartment in McLean and we are planning to move to a SFH or TH. We'd like to move to Arlington, Falls Church, Oakton, or Vienna, but we're also considering Springfield, Burke, or Alexandria. My question is -- given our price point and our interest in a SFH or TH, what community would give us the best bang for our buck? We are not sure if we should go with a smaller, older home in Falls Church or a more spacious, newer TH in Burke. We're also interested in moving to a decent school district. We've noticed that Springfield and Burke are relatively cheap on CL, but we're not quite sure why?

[Anonymous]

Vienna.

[Anonymous]

Agree with Vienna, but given differences in commutes, I'm surprised you are considering all thes communities.

[Anonymous]

I doubt OP will get something for $2100 in Vienna. I would recommend Falls Church, 22043, or Falls Church City 22046 a smaller older home.

Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I doubt OP will get something for $2100 in Vienna. I would recommend Falls Church, 22043, or Falls Church City 22046 a smaller older home.

Good luck.

Vienna is a better chance because it is farther out.

[Anonymous]

Look at annandale neighborhoods in the Woodson pyramid

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DCUM friends -- help me!! Hubby and I live in an apartment in McLean and we are planning to move to a SFH or TH. We'd like to move to Arlington, Falls Church, Oakton, or Vienna, but we're also considering Springfield, Burke, or Alexandria. My question is -- given our price point and our interest in a SFH or TH, what community would give us the best bang for our buck? We are not sure if we should go with a smaller, older home in Falls Church or a more spacious, newer TH in Burke. We're also interested in moving to a decent school district. We've noticed that Springfield and Burke are relatively cheap on CL, but we're not quite sure why?

Where do you have to commute every morning? Personally, with 3 kids, I'd go for space. Burke and Springfield have great schools - some every bit as good as the ones always touted on DCUM in Vienna or Arlington. For instance many elementary schools in Burke feed to Robinson High School, which is a very solid school. On that same note, I'd avoid Central Springfield or North Springfield. West Springfield is really where you can get the most bang for your buck and into the great schools. I also second a PP's recommendation of the Woodson area of Annandale.

I think that most DCUMs think these locations are in the netherregions of the DMV; however, they are really centrally located to many different places. Frankly, if you use HOV or VRE, the commute to DC can be shorter from these areas than from Vienna or Oakton. I'll be honest though. The rental market is tight in Burke right now (I think West Springfield is similar), so I'd look into a lot of different options. I'd also avoid CL and look at militarybyowner.com (you don't have to be military to use it or rent from there). You'll find a lot of great options in the Burke / West Springfield area.

[Anonymous]

Springfield and Burke have good schools, but the commutes to DC and Tysons can be rough by car. (housing prices tend to be cheaper, which is why rentals are cheaper there too.)

Some of the houses feeding into Woodson are pretty close to Vienna or Dunn Loring metro, so you'd have that as an alternative option to driving. Hard to find a TH there, though - there aren't many in-bounds for Woodson. You can find an SFH for under $600K there.

[Anonymous]

You can't get homes in Vienna or Falls Church for $2100/month. We saw two exceptions: a home without A/C or one that was in significant disrepair. The lowest price for 3 Bdrm home is$2300/month and 4 bdrm $2600/month. You can get a 3-bdrm condo at McLean Gates (they are very nice and updated units!).

For that price you will have to look in Alexandria, Burke, Springfield, and possibly Reston.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I doubt OP will get something for $2100 in Vienna. I would recommend Falls Church, 22043, or Falls Church City 22046 a smaller older home.

Good luck.

Vienna is a better chance because it is farther out.

I really don't think so. Vienna is so close to Tysons and prices reflect it.