$375K budget for NoVA - what should we do?

[Anonymous]

We have to stay in NoVA due to our job locations/commutes. DH works in NoVA, and I work downtown. Personally, with DH working 70 hour weeks and me about 55 hours, we don't have time for a long commute but hate to keep renting.

Do we have any options for buying a townhome or SHF?

[Anonymous]

Do you have kids? How important is it to have good schools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you have kids? How important is it to have good schools?

We do have 1 toddler, so unfortunately, schools are important. At least the E.S.

[Anonymous]

Condo?

[Anonymous]

Where do you live now? What is your tolerance for commute (i.e. what is the max time you would consider commuting?) Finally, are you open to a townhome?

[Anonymous]

If you are working that many hours, do you really want the additional timesuck of home ownership?

[Anonymous]

Maybe you can check out west Springfield area.

[Anonymous]

Try Springfield, but otherwise, I think you're in TH/condo territory.

Maybe Burke?

I'd say my neighborhood in Chantilly area, but I don't really recommend it to those working long hours in DC with a child in daycare. You could definitely get a SFH on that budget, though.

[Anonymous]

where in NOVA does your DH work?? I would try to stay close to there.
For that price range you might be able to get a townhouse in Fairlington---
Here is one that has been on the market for a while http://www.redfin.com/homes-for-sale#!market=dc&max_price=400000®ion_id=8804®ion_type=2&v=8

You could definitely get a 2bdrm condo in The Arlington/ Courtbridge/ Heatherlea- etc. (all garden style condo developments near Shirlington). These feed into Abingdon elementary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Where do you live now? What is your tolerance for commute (i.e. what is the max time you would consider commuting?) Finally, are you open to a townhome?

We live in Tysons now (renting a condo).

My tolerance for a commute each way (to downtown) is 1 hour max.

Townhomes are okay, but no condos - I'm so sick of being in a condo!!

WRT some other PPs, we personally would prefer not to be in Burke due to the commute or in Springfield due to some bad experiences with places we saw there (mold/rodent piss so bad the agent got a headache).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:where in NOVA does your DH work?? I would try to stay close to there.
For that price range you might be able to get a townhouse in Fairlington---
Here is one that has been on the market for a while http://www.redfin.com/homes-for-sale#!market=dc&max_price=400000®ion_id=8804®ion_type=2&v=8

You could definitely get a 2bdrm condo in The Arlington/ Courtbridge/ Heatherlea- etc. (all garden style condo developments near Shirlington). These feed into Abingdon elementary.

I'm the one in Chantilly now, but I lived in the Heatherlea in my 20s. I LOVE the Fairlington/Shirlington area. It is on a bus line to the metro - it took me a little more than half an hour into town. LOVED it.

Might you consider Reston? You could get to downtown in an hour. We enjoyed it there as a young family, and you could get a decent TH for that price.

[Anonymous]

Check out:
Leesburg
Chantilly
Ashburn
South Riding
Lorton
Sterling

[Anonymous]

For heading DT? Those will be hellish commutes. Op keep renting and saving for a bigger DP.

[Anonymous]

You might be able to find a townhouse in the Tysons or Oakton area, if you're willing to do some work on it.

Would you consider a fixer-upper or does it have to be move-in ready?

[Anonymous]

Can you rent a town house instead of a condo? I just don't think your budget is high enough to buy the kind of place you're looking for. Sorry.