Falls Church, Alexandria or Arlington Schools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP check 22205. You might be able to find something for 1.2. It's not the best school district though. You could also buy a tear down in 22207 for $550k and then build. I've had neighbors do it and total cost is around $900k for average fixtures.

Mckinley Elem is in 22205 and it ranked number one in terms of advanced students on the state's standardized tests in Northern Va. My point is that it's not always easy to define schools by zip codes, especially as zip codes and school boundaries are not the same. The areas in Arlington and Falls Church the OP is considering all have good schools, and the original post said nothing about finding the best school. The further north in Arlington you go, and in the historic neighborhoods close to the Metro Orange line, the houses tend to be the most expensive and the schools tend to be the most sought after. And most all of those homes would be out of your range for newer construction. But if you're willing to do a teardown/rebuild of a small house on a decently sized lot, as the PP recommended, it might be worth it to stretch your budget.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Hate to break it to you, but your 1940s colonial in Arlington was probably built post-war for returning soldiers. It's the definition of cookie cutter.

Most of the Colonials and other styles that were built in Arlington's oldest neighborhoods were not cookie cutter at all. Those neighborhoods are some of the most attractive in Northern Virginia. But yes, most of the homes built in the mid-40s onward are cookie cutter.

[Anonymous]

would you consider building? You could find a teardown house in North Arlington for under $600K and build for several hundred thousand, I'd think.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Hate to break it to you, but your 1940s colonial in Arlington was probably built post-war for returning soldiers. It's the definition of cookie cutter.

+1

Arlington is full of cookie-cutter boxes for soldiers and New Deal bureaucrats.

LOL thats so true. A lot of these old pre/post WW2 houses were never intended to be permanent houses but i guess people kept them long enough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Hate to break it to you, but your 1940s colonial in Arlington was probably built post-war for returning soldiers. It's the definition of cookie cutter.

Most of the Colonials and other styles that were built in Arlington's oldest neighborhoods were not cookie cutter at all. Those neighborhoods are some of the most attractive in Northern Virginia. But yes, most of the homes built in the mid-40s onward are cookie cutter.

AGAIN an opinion. You know what made the north arlington neighborhood more attractive to me? Tearing down an original and putting a new one up



I mean come on you need at least 3000 SQRFT for an average family, and adding on to the existing would waste the lot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Hate to break it to you, but your 1940s colonial in Arlington was probably built post-war for returning soldiers. It's the definition of cookie cutter.

Most of the Colonials and other styles that were built in Arlington's oldest neighborhoods were not cookie cutter at all. Those neighborhoods are some of the most attractive in Northern Virginia. But yes, most of the homes built in the mid-40s onward are cookie cutter.

AGAIN an opinion. You know what made the north arlington neighborhood more attractive to me? Tearing down an original and putting a new one up



I mean come on you need at least 3000 SQRFT for an average family, and adding on to the existing would waste the lot.

Another option -- do a remodel. Here's a great before and after:

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Again, the OP likes those homes. She is probably is a normal american from outside of our area that is used to larger homes and not jaded by being a craftsman midget bethesda /arlington bungaloo dweller. This area changes people and makes them bitter to larger home because they can't buy or build one themselves. The homes pictured are NORMAL sized in every part of the country except for here.

THIS is a real Mcmansion. Note that the square footage is over 10000 not 3000-5000sqrft.

http://www.redfin.com/VA/Mclean/612-Rivercrest-Dr-22101/home/12038870

OP here. I'm actually from NY. I have never lived in a big house.

Without over analyzing too much, I want to live in a kid friendly neighborhood that is in a good school pyramid. I prefer to live in a large single family house. Large is relative. I consider 3000 sf large. Fairfax would be great, except that it is a bit too far out for us.

Eventually I would LOVE to tear down and build my own house. Right now, we don't have the resources (time and money) to do so.

Is Alexandria (Fairfax County) terrible? I've heard of TJ High, which is located in Alexandria. I never hear about the normal elem, middle and high schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Hate to break it to you, but your 1940s colonial in Arlington was probably built post-war for returning soldiers. It's the definition of cookie cutter.

Most of the Colonials and other styles that were built in Arlington's oldest neighborhoods were not cookie cutter at all. Those neighborhoods are some of the most attractive in Northern Virginia. But yes, most of the homes built in the mid-40s onward are cookie cutter.

AGAIN an opinion. You know what made the north arlington neighborhood more attractive to me? Tearing down an original and putting a new one up



I mean come on you need at least 3000 SQRFT for an average family, and adding on to the existing would waste the lot.

Another option -- do a remodel. Here's a great before and after:

YES but it is cheper to rebuild, you won't run into issues with the old house, you aren't constrained by the old house, you can put BUILT IN 2011 on the record for sale etc... the last is the most important for resale

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
YES but it is cheper to rebuild, you won't run into issues with the old house, you aren't constrained by the old house, you can put BUILT IN 2011 on the record for sale etc... the last is the most important for resale

True, but not all Arlington houses are tear downs. Especially if you spend 1 mill+ for a vintage 4 bedroom 1920s colonial revival or tudor in Lyon Village. In fact it would be a sin to tear down many of those old homes. And some Arlington neighborhoods that are historic districts like Maywood prohibit exterior alterations/teardowns. Unless it's a small, undistinguished house, families don't move to those neighborhoods to tear down homes. And in some neighborhoods like Dominion Hills (where there are no tear downs), the families that move there like the character of the small attractive homes that lend value to the neighborhood.

To answer the OP's question: In the Alexandria part of Fairfax County look into the schools that feed into West Potomac HS. You can purchase brand new 4 bedroom homes for under 800k in that area. Just look on Redfin. On this forum most believe that that school pyramid is the best in Alexandria.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP check 22205. You might be able to find something for 1.2. It's not the best school district though. You could also buy a tear down in 22207 for $550k and then build. I've had neighbors do it and total cost is around $900k for average fixtures.

Schools in 22205 are very good and many of them feed into Yorktown which is considered the "best" high school, although W-L is very good, too. As for tearing down and building, a friend of mine has been looking into this and basically has given up because it is really hard to find a house to tear down in 22205 or 22207 that is on a big enough lot and for a "good" price (i.e. under $700,000). OP, I live in 22207 and houses do come on the market for under $800,000, but they will not be new. Generally, they will be older with maybe a bump out and some renovations.

For example this:

http://www.redfin.com/VA/Arlington/1605-N-Taylor-St-22207/home/11233630

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
YES but it is cheper to rebuild, you won't run into issues with the old house, you aren't constrained by the old house, you can put BUILT IN 2011 on the record for sale etc... the last is the most important for resale

True, but not all Arlington houses are tear downs. Especially if you spend 1 mill+ for a vintage 4 bedroom 1920s colonial revival or tudor in Lyon Village. In fact it would be a sin to tear down many of those old homes. And some Arlington neighborhoods that are historic districts like Maywood prohibit exterior alterations/teardowns. Unless it's a small, undistinguished house, families don't move to those neighborhoods to tear down homes. And in some neighborhoods like Dominion Hills (where there are no tear downs), the families that move there like the character of the small attractive homes that lend value to the neighborhood.

To answer the OP's question: In the Alexandria part of Fairfax County look into the schools that feed into West Potomac HS. You can purchase brand new 4 bedroom homes for under 800k in that area. Just look on Redfin. On this forum most believe that that school pyramid is the best in Alexandria.

The above neighborhood$ with old small homes don't fit the requirements if the OP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP check 22205. You might be able to find something for 1.2. It's not the best school district though. You could also buy a tear down in 22207 for $550k and then build. I've had neighbors do it and total cost is around $900k for average fixtures.

We live in 22205. Our schools are McKinley/Swanson/Yorktown. PP is off base--these are definitely considered among the best. PP is correct that there are relative bargains in our 'hood. Not much brand new construction but plenty of major renovations that make the house feel more or less brand new. We got one of those for under $1 million, walkable to metro and to the shopping area in Westover. We couldn't be happier.

That said, the schools anywhere in N Arlington are great. Falls Church City too. Fairfax County schools are all good, but some in the Falls Church and Alexandria areas have larger populations of ESL and free-lunch kids, if that matters to you. As a recent homebuyer in your price range, my advice is to not focus in on one school district. There are many good schools but not many good houses, and it can be very frustrating if you get your heart set on one small neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

TJ is a highly selective science/technology school that takes kids from all over Fairfax County as well as a few from neighboring districts (Falls Church City, Arlington, etc.). It is not a neighborhood school and your kids won't go there unless they get in, which is HARD. Maybe a couple of kids from any given elementary school will end up there. So don't make your housing decision based on that.

Based on your preference for large homes, Arlington might not be your best choice. People love Arlington not only because of great schools and nice people but because it's close to metro and often walkable to amenities. The tradeoff is expensive, older/smaller houses, sometimes on busier streets. Arlington is in many ways a small city rather than a suburb, so the aesthetic isn't really the same
Some love it, some don't, but if you're looking for a big house and don't care about walkability, metro, etc., I'd focus on other areas. Have you considered McLean? There are plenty of lovely homes in the $1 million range that feed to Churchill Rd, Chesterbrook, etc. Maybe not brand new construction but a lot are nicely updated. If you can really spend $1.2, you'll have plenty of great options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
YES but it is cheper to rebuild, you won't run into issues with the old house, you aren't constrained by the old house, you can put BUILT IN 2011 on the record for sale etc... the last is the most important for resale

True, but not all Arlington houses are tear downs. Especially if you spend 1 mill+ for a vintage 4 bedroom 1920s colonial revival or tudor in Lyon Village. In fact it would be a sin to tear down many of those old homes. And some Arlington neighborhoods that are historic districts like Maywood prohibit exterior alterations/teardowns. Unless it's a small, undistinguished house, families don't move to those neighborhoods to tear down homes. And in some neighborhoods like Dominion Hills (where there are no tear downs), the families that move there like the character of the small attractive homes that lend value to the neighborhood.

To answer the OP's question: In the Alexandria part of Fairfax County look into the schools that feed into West Potomac HS. You can purchase brand new 4 bedroom homes for under 800k in that area. Just look on Redfin. On this forum most believe that that school pyramid is the best in Alexandria.

The above neighborhood$ with old small homes don't fit the requirements if the OP

Not every old house in Lyon Village, Country Club Hills and similar neighborhoods are small (some are quite large, but perhaps it's a matter of opinion). But the point was that not every house in Arlington is a teardown. The OP is looking for newer homes and I would not suggest that area as it is out of the OP's price range for houses and lots. There are excellent options in Falls Church and Alexandria that currently meet the OP's requirements.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
YES but it is cheper to rebuild, you won't run into issues with the old house, you aren't constrained by the old house, you can put BUILT IN 2011 on the record for sale etc... the last is the most important for resale

True, but not all Arlington houses are tear downs. Especially if you spend 1 mill+ for a vintage 4 bedroom 1920s colonial revival or tudor in Lyon Village. In fact it would be a sin to tear down many of those old homes. And some Arlington neighborhoods that are historic districts like Maywood prohibit exterior alterations/teardowns. Unless it's a small, undistinguished house, families don't move to those neighborhoods to tear down homes. And in some neighborhoods like Dominion Hills (where there are no tear downs), the families that move there like the character of the small attractive homes that lend value to the neighborhood.

To answer the OP's question: In the Alexandria part of Fairfax County look into the schools that feed into West Potomac HS. You can purchase brand new 4 bedroom homes for under 800k in that area. Just look on Redfin. On this forum most believe that that school pyramid is the best in Alexandria.

The above neighborhood$ with old small homes don't fit the requirements if the OP

Not every old house in Lyon Village, Country Club Hills and similar neighborhoods are small (some are quite large, but perhaps it's a matter of opinion). But the point was that not every house in Arlington is a teardown. The OP is looking for newer homes and I would not suggest that area as it is out of the OP's price range for houses and lots. There are excellent options in Falls Church and Alexandria that currently meet the OP's requirements.

In the rest of the United States 90% of the small north arlington homes are considered tear downs due to their small size, dated floorplans and lack of garages.