Choosing Between Two Homes (McLean vs. Falls Church)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’d prefer the slope, it adds privacy and interest. Why flatten it?

One word: drainage.

slope has drainage issue?

[Anonymous]

At the price point these houses must be at an extra $100-$150k should not hold you back.

If the McLean house needs a lot of work then that makes a difference ...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We left Falls Church recently -- the constant road work, mess at Haycock and 7, increasing pop density and traffic, etc. Our street was a cut-through to the metro and the constant traffic was enough to make neighbors move away a couple of years before we finally did. Pay attention to the street you are on, and what kind of traffic it gets; it might be getting a lot more than you might think.

I'd vote Mclean. But go with the house you like best.

You must have been on Highland

[Anonymous]

Mclean house hands down

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Corner lots are always going to be less desirable. Traffic, headlights, noise from turning vehicles. A sloped lot can be a good thing if the slope drains water away from the house foundation. It's a real negative if the slope directs water towards the foundation, and also if the slope is steep enough to make mowing difficult. A sloped lot is also a negative if the driveway is sloped, making snow removal more difficult and more necessary.

McLean is a more uniformly expensive area, and is not subject to the whims of a small local government like Falls Church. I'd expect property values in McLean to stay higher than values in FC.

If you can afford to, I'd consider the McLean property with a view towards gradual renovations over time to modernize and improve the structure to your requirements and tastes.

Slope doesn’t always mean bad, but I would be concerned about a slope on a new house because not enough time has passed to assess the drainage. I have a 1970s house on a property that slopes towards the house, but it is appropriately drained and we have never had an issue; in fact, we are hesitant to do an addition out of fear it will disrupt the drainage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You need to think about which neighborhood would enhance your quality of life the most socially. McLean is nice but not the friendliest and neighborhoodie so not the most community oriented. Our culture is becoming more and more socially isolating because of various technologies. I would not pick to live in a neighborhood where friendliness is at a minimum. In the two areas you presented, Falls Church to me, has more the more community feel.

This very much depends on the block.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You need to think about which neighborhood would enhance your quality of life the most socially. McLean is nice but not the friendliest and neighborhoodie so not the most community oriented. Our culture is becoming more and more socially isolating because of various technologies. I would not pick to live in a neighborhood where friendliness is at a minimum. In the two areas you presented, Falls Church to me, has more the more community feel.

McLean south of 123 and the Falls Church areas zoned to McLean HS are very similar. You could be just north of Kirby and in McLean or just south of Kirby and in Falls Church and you wouldn’t really know the difference.

Fact.

-- someone who lived south of Kirby with a Falls Church address zoned to Mclean HS, with the house a short walk to the WFC metro.

[Anonymous]

I would never buy on a corner, but having lived in McLean for 20 years, I would be fine with either location.
I would pay close attention to whether the part of Falls Church you are looking at is going to be rezoned to Falls Church HS though (if that matters to you).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would never buy on a corner, but having lived in McLean for 20 years, I would be fine with either location.
I would pay close attention to whether the part of Falls Church you are looking at is going to be rezoned to Falls Church HS though (if that matters to you).

The latest FCPS boundary proposal does not move anyone with a Falls Church address out of McLean HS to Falls Church HS. It would move some kids with an Annandale address from Justice HS to Falls Church HS.

[Anonymous]

Mclean over Falls Church, land values much more and appreciates much faster, that 100k diff will grow even faster over time
older house over new built, you are paying a premium for that beautiful look and it has not depreciated and cost all fall on you
flat square lot over slope, foundation issues, drainage issues will come for you

[Anonymous]

mclean over FAKE-clean (falls church)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is #2 in Pimmit Hills?

If it's here, then no. Not #2.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not aure why everyone is talking about Falls Church City when OP explained the house is in the McLean HS zone so its in (one of) the Falls Church area of Fairfax.

McLean is old and boring plus you will have to pay extra for the McLean tax district and you don’t get anything from that other than an obnoxious old citizens group (MCA) and a discount on classes at the MCC.

Well, I'm the one who posted that they recently left Falls Church, thanks to all of the traffic, development, etc, and our house was on the edge of FCC zoned to Mclean HS. So I was talking about "the Falls Church area of Fairfax" that OP is talking about.

I don't necessarily disagree with your statement that "Mclean is old and boring" though. I definitely think of the population as ... relatively ... senior.

I call that Giant the Geriatric Giant.

[Anonymous]

appreciation will always be greater in a McLean zip code. fact

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:appreciation will always be greater in a McLean zip code. fact

Do you have kids in elementary? What’s the Mclean school? Haycock has a late start. That might impact my thinking and lean towards McLean but honestly that area of FC is great. I’m in Mclean but just on the other side of the line and it’s basically same area but there are just tons of families with kids in that area of FC, very friendly.