S/O: Tell me about Mclean

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

OP, McLean is a VERY small town, you realize that right? Is this the lifestyle you want?

What are you babbling about? More than 50,000 people live in McLean and it has the region's largest concentration of upscale homes and most prosperous shopping areas, as well as excellent schools. Of course many people want that lifestyle, if they can afford it.

[Anonymous]

I'd argue that walkability is a factor to many. There is a trend in Vienna, for example, where people are selling their homes that are far from the town center, and buying near the town center, which is "walkable". People who value this, will find it. Unfortunately, commute for working spouse outweighs walkability for SAHS most of the time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not walkable, but a nice area.

No one cares about "walkable."

Really.

That is such an inconsequential part of the real estate equation.

Yeah, in your dreams.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd argue that walkability is a factor to many. There is a trend in Vienna, for example, where people are selling their homes that are far from the town center, and buying near the town center, which is "walkable". People who value this, will find it. Unfortunately, commute for working spouse outweighs walkability for SAHS most of the time.

There are a lot of teardowns near the central area of McLean, which is about as walkable as Vienna, as well. They probably are about 30-40% more expensive than similar properties in Vienna because McLean is closer to DC and equally close to Tysons.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not walkable, but a nice area.

No one cares about "walkable."

Really.

That is such an inconsequential part of the real estate equation.

Yeah, in your dreams.

Not inconsequential, but not really paramount for most NoVa buyers.

[Anonymous]

I was born in Mclean, grew up in three houses there, and now live there myself. There are many different aspects to Mclean, and depending on what you want----there is a good chance that you'll find a neighborhood that meets your needs. There are 2 zip codes, and what's weird is that they are like two different areas----22101 is more 'urban' with smaller lots, and 22102 is more 'suburban' with larger lots and privacy. Here's a quick run-through of 22101----Need the address, but don't have the cash---mclean broyhill, langley broyhill, or any of the 1950's splits near westmoreland street. Need the proximity to private schools---lynwood, evermay and potomac hills are all walking distance to potomac school, and all three of those neighborhoods are bound by culdesacs and kids. Need proximity and walking distance to mclean downtown----west mclean----pathfinder lane, cedar avenue, or the area near longfellow ave(rd?) near old chesterbrook rd, or salona village. Need proximity to arlington----franklin forest, or chain bridge forest, one is a neighborhood with walkable streets and sidewalks, and the other is more 'private' with a variety of housing styles. Need to impress your friends with a relatively new house that looks new---ballantrae or ballantrae farms, langley forest. Need a 'truman show' lifestyle with a perfect house but nobody walking the street---evans farm. Have a bunch of extra cash lying around and want a huge house that is either renovated, really new made to look old, or on the river---Turkey run, Langley fork, or crest lane/chain bridge road.

Finally----there are town homes as well----the top tier is merry hill or merry wood on the potomac, maybe evans farm, and then just below that is the area around the hamptons of mclean and madison of mclean. Most of the other stuff is just regular town homes with no garages, built in the 1960s---although kings manor stands out b/c it's the only really easily affordable town homes in the churchill/cooper/langley school district.

There are a lot of other neighborhoods-----but what you should do is get an idea of what it is you want (in town living, suburban feeling living, a community, isolation etc etc) and what your budget is. Then post here again, and I'll tell you(as will other people here) what neighborhoods fit your needs. I haven't even begun to discuss the 22102 zip code b/c it would just take too much time.

Bottom line---Mclean IS expensive for what you get. But it's got a lot to offer----it's close to everything without it being a destination, hence not a lot of traffic, great schools no matter what school district you are in, a diversity of population---all ethnicities, religions--- muslims, jews, christians, hindus, atheists, etc etc, the best shopping in the metro dc area(tysons), and lastly----everyone, for some some reason or the other, is pretty amazing at what they do------no matter what neighborhood you live in, there is something about the area that seems to just bring in these driven people----and that underlying drive makes the population more interesting.

[Anonymous]

"Need the address but dont have the cash..." that's funny.... tell more about the 22102 zip?

[Anonymous]

PP one last time. McLean, VA, is an absolutely wonderful, friendly, reassuring, almost Mayberry-like place to raise young children. When your children are a little older you can venture out into the "real world", and move to Los Angeles. Our family has loved living in both places.

[Anonymous]

For what it is worth, real estate agents will tell you that 22101 inside the Beltway is much more desireable that 22102

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For what it is worth, real estate agents will tell you that 22101 inside the Beltway is much more desireable that 22102

No real estate agent I've worked with in the last 20 years has ever said this. Because it's a silly thing to say.