Can anyone provide a breakdown on areas of Mclean?

[Anonymous]

Would say I am familiar with Langley and McLean HS neighborhoods. Would also say that given the opportunity, would take the McLean neighborhoods over the Langley neighborhoods. Not a compliment to the latter, I might add, as the houses are just as old and run down OR half ass added onto.

[Anonymous]

OP, why so negative about the new homes? Some are quite nice, if you can afford them. If this is the market, do you expect to singlehandedly change it? What do you expect to buy for your price range? How much of a bargain, so to speak? You have to consider that this area was never considered wealthy when these homes were built, compared to some really wealthy parts of the country that go way back. (That is why some of the Mayflower and DAR posters are laughable, for example.) You will notice the box like brick structures of the 50's aplenty in Mclean and Arlington, which would never in a million years pass as posh elsewhere. Some on huge lots, some on tiny lots. Where are you from? Your expectations sound off. Just curious.

[Anonymous]

I grew up in McLean - my home elementary was Franklin Sherman although I ended up at Haycock, most of my friends were kids who would've gone to Chesterbrook so I'm very familiar with all those neighborhoods and have been in and out of a lot of those houses.

OP - I don't think you can go wrong with any of those schools - haycock is a gifted magnet school, if your child goes to Franklin Sherman but tests gifted, you can place him at Haycock (if you get in). All of these schools will be crowded, but all will also have very active and supportive PTA's that will help the schools with supply needs.

I think a good bet for you might be some of the older ramblers in the neighborhood surrounding Franklin Sherman (Salona Village) - it's easily walkable into McLean if you want to walk there, fairly easy commute into the city (123 to GW pkwy isn't bad from there), and those homes have really held their value over the years. No, the house you can afford with that price range probably won't have many, if any, updates, but it will be a decent size, have a decent yard, and meet your other criteria.

Here's one, with an admittedly ugly kitchen, but it's $750k near Franklin Sherman, good lot, walkable to McLean. I had a lot of friends who grew up in this neighborhood and it was a nice place to hang out when we were young and older. http://www.redfin.com/VA/Mclean/1447-Waggaman-Cir-22101/home/9407082

[Anonymous]

It is hard to believe that is $750. I see at least 200k worth of renovation. Really, it should be a tear-down but that is a pricey teardown.

[Anonymous]

Our budget was just slightly higher than yours, OP (up to $900K), and we found several good possibilities in various parts of McLean. There's one in particular in Potomac Hills that we think of as "the one that got away" because we hemmed and hawed and someone else bought it. I will say that it took us a full year of scouring the listings and looking at houses almost every weekend, and in that time we made 3 good offers, the last of which was accepted. All of the houses were in good neighborhoods with good schools and none of them needed work. (That's why they went so fast.) The first was in FC and the second was in McLean, and we ended up in Arlington. The search was grueling but there are good houses out there in your price range. You need to just know what you want and be ready to act quickly when you find it. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP here. I see so many criticisms, cynicism and negativity from a new home buyer. Why start your search this way?

If you are approaching Mclean with "really, I'm too good for this and I insist on calling any new house a mcmansion" idea of your own reality world, then yes, you will be disappointed. You are looking for status and can not buy it. You are looking for value. Good for you. So is everyone else. Do you want a pat on the back? No you are not close to guessing "what we own", nor am I willing to divulge. You do however, sound like you have an enormous chip on your shoulder, compensating for what, I ask?

You seem rather overly eager to pigeonhole. I need not apologize if I do not meet YOUR standard.

I dont' understand why you think that I am being critical and why on earth you would take this so personally? Seems like you are the one with the chip on your shoulder.

Let me explain why I mention the term Mcmansion. Mcmansion is a new construction home that has replaced an older smaller home on an average, not large, size lot. Not all new construction is Mcmansion, the term is usually used for something that is overly large for the lot and the neighborhood homes around. People who bought the old home, must have felt that the street and area are worth it to tear it down and build a new expensive very large home, in other words, they made an investment in the area. I don't particulary find this undesirable, that is why I mentioned that I do not mind to be in the area having such homes as their owners obviously made a significant investment. Some Mcmansions fit into their lots and environment around better than others, some are just downright awkward as they are way too large for the lots and end up being way too close staring right into the windows of the neighboring homes. I would not want to be right next door to a home that is too close and infringing on my property line, I prefer a bit of privacy and trees around to look out of the window, not someone's walls. So, yes, I sort of have a love/hate relationship with Mcmansions. I think buying into the area that has them is good for my property value, but I would not necessarily want to be right next door to the one that has a building wall a foot away from my property line. I don't know if what I just said offends you, so go ahead and flame to your heart's content. This is what it is. I didn't invent the term, better for you to go vent on city-data forums they have plenty of threads specifically dedicated to this topic.

As far being negative about Mclean, I don't get your point at all. I am looking to buy into this area, I obviously find this very desirable. It has a good healthy mix of very expensive mansions and modest but well kept older homes on really nice sized lots with lots of trees and natural scenery and good privacy, something that I won't easily find in other parts of DC area that close to the city and other amenities. Add great schools district to that and you will see why this area is so expensive and desirable that people are willing to pay almost a million for a fixer upper.

[Anonymous]

I am the OP and want to thank all that have been supportive and providing great constructive advice. I've leaned a lot!

Sorry if I have offended anyone using some terms some may find derogatory, it was not meant to be this way.

I am hopeful that we will find something we are looking for if not this winter, then maybe during spring or summer months. We appreciate this areas amenities, location and especially beautiful natural scenery, which makes even ugliest boxiest homes look nicer. We are also considering neighboring areas in FC going to the same school district and parts of Arlington. thank you for mentioning and providing feedback.

Happy Holidays!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I grew up in McLean - my home elementary was Franklin Sherman although I ended up at Haycock, most of my friends were kids who would've gone to Chesterbrook so I'm very familiar with all those neighborhoods and have been in and out of a lot of those houses.

OP - I don't think you can go wrong with any of those schools - haycock is a gifted magnet school, if your child goes to Franklin Sherman but tests gifted, you can place him at Haycock (if you get in). All of these schools will be crowded, but all will also have very active and supportive PTA's that will help the schools with supply needs.

I think a good bet for you might be some of the older ramblers in the neighborhood surrounding Franklin Sherman (Salona Village) - it's easily walkable into McLean if you want to walk there, fairly easy commute into the city (123 to GW pkwy isn't bad from there), and those homes have really held their value over the years. No, the house you can afford with that price range probably won't have many, if any, updates, but it will be a decent size, have a decent yard, and meet your other criteria.

Here's one, with an admittedly ugly kitchen, but it's $750k near Franklin Sherman, good lot, walkable to McLean. I had a lot of friends who grew up in this neighborhood and it was a nice place to hang out when we were young and older. http://www.redfin.com/VA/Mclean/1447-Waggaman-Cir-22101/home/9407082

That house has been on the market for quite a while.

Great neighborhood, but I'm betting that this house may not have a level lot. Usually, the houses in that area with level lots that go on sale get purchased by builders like Buchanan-Price and Tradition Homes.

[Anonymous]

OP - One thing you'll find, if you haven't noticed already, is that there are a lot of tear-downs in the neighborhoods in McLean that have $800K homes. One thing that's nice about McLean is that the lots tend to be big enough that the new houses don't overshadow the older homes in the neighborhood to the same degree as in North Arlington.

Whether the new houses are "McMansions," or "too big for the lots," is a matter of taste. Obviously, these neighborhoods don't have HOAs, so you're somewhat at the mercy of the buyers not to construct something truly monstruous next door. Some of the builders do a very good job of site-placing and landscaping, and others just plow away, plop the new homes down and collect their fee.

[Anonymous]

Honestly OP, in terms of value, you're probably not going to lose your shirt on anything inside the beltway with good schools--this includes all of McLean, Falls Church city, and North Arlington. You may want to avoid the parts of Falls Church that are in Fairfax County, as the schools there tend to have higher numbers of lower-income kids, which some people think makes them not as good. I disagree, and you can often get a bigger/nicer for your money in those areas, but it's up to you. But I don't think splitting hairs between small neighborhoods in McLean makes sense, especially at your price range. Decent houses under $800K are few and far between in that whole area, and if you hold out for one neighborhood you could be waiting a long time for the right thing. Remember you do have to live in this house, so you have to balance your desire to live in the "right" neighborhood with the things that you will enjoy day to day--a good layout, a pleasant kitchen, nice play space, enough bathrooms, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Honestly OP, in terms of value, you're probably not going to lose your shirt on anything inside the beltway with good schools--this includes all of McLean, Falls Church city, and North Arlington. You may want to avoid the parts of Falls Church that are in Fairfax County, as the schools there tend to have higher numbers of lower-income kids, which some people think makes them not as good. I disagree, and you can often get a bigger/nicer for your money in those areas, but it's up to you. But I don't think splitting hairs between small neighborhoods in McLean makes sense, especially at your price range. Decent houses under $800K are few and far between in that whole area, and if you hold out for one neighborhood you could be waiting a long time for the right thing. Remember you do have to live in this house, so you have to balance your desire to live in the "right" neighborhood with the things that you will enjoy day to day--a good layout, a pleasant kitchen, nice play space, enough bathrooms, etc.

Schools in Falls Church/22043 in Fairfax County (for example, Haycock ES, Longfellow MS, Marshall HS) have equal or higher scores than the schools in North/Central Arlington (for example, Washington-Lee and some of its feeder schools). So, honestly OP and PP, if you're OK with North/Central Arlington, you should probably be more than OK with the West Falls Church area of Fairfax County.

[Anonymous]

PP here very familiar with McLean. OP, you still don't seem to know what you are talking about. You are willing to label something not deserving of the label; and indicating that maybe you are probably not a good match for that area. Get it?

PP is also trying to tell you, albeit more diplomatically, it depends on the lot. Knock downs in McLean are generally generously spaced. The new sideways houses might be the exception. It that to what you refer?

Properties are closer in the other areas cited. But really, you are comparing apples and oranges. That is my point of contention. You need to be better versed in the areas you are looking if you insist on using this or that label. Which by the way, you should know as an adult able to afford a house, might be derogatory to some. My new house is not a Mc-whatever, so it is not offensive to me personally, since you insist on making this about me. However, many of my friends have rather large new homes. I tell you one thing, I would not utter that word in their hard earned beautiful new house. Show some class. Where are you from? You sound rather naive.

There is nothing worse than a cad who can't afford something, but can't keep their mouth shut criticizing (passively aggressively or otherwise) what they can't afford.

Anyway, sounds like PPs are more than willing to enlighten you about other areas. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Honestly OP, in terms of value, you're probably not going to lose your shirt on anything inside the beltway with good schools--this includes all of McLean, Falls Church city, and North Arlington. You may want to avoid the parts of Falls Church that are in Fairfax County, as the schools there tend to have higher numbers of lower-income kids, which some people think makes them not as good. I disagree, and you can often get a bigger/nicer for your money in those areas, but it's up to you. But I don't think splitting hairs between small neighborhoods in McLean makes sense, especially at your price range. Decent houses under $800K are few and far between in that whole area, and if you hold out for one neighborhood you could be waiting a long time for the right thing. Remember you do have to live in this house, so you have to balance your desire to live in the "right" neighborhood with the things that you will enjoy day to day--a good layout, a pleasant kitchen, nice play space, enough bathrooms, etc.

Schools in Falls Church/22043 in Fairfax County (for example, Haycock ES, Longfellow MS, Marshall HS) have equal or higher scores than the schools in North/Central Arlington (for example, Washington-Lee and some of its feeder schools). So, honestly OP and PP, if you're OK with North/Central Arlington, you should probably be more than OK with the West Falls Church area of Fairfax County.

PP here. I was mostly talking about the Yorktown pyramid in Arlington, but I think west falls church area is great too. I can just tell by OP's posts that it's probably not going to be what she's looking for.