New Yorkers moving to NOVA: need advice on where to move with young children

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you are artsy you might like del ray in alexandria. I don't know how the commute will be (coils he take metro?) and that price is probably a townhouse. Check zip 23301

http://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/del_ray_virginias_small_town_near_the_big_city/2903

I love del ray but one half zones into one of the worst elementary schools in the state (Jefferson-Houston) and the other half zones into a mediocre school (Mount Vernon). If schools are an immediate priority, del ray probably isn't a great fit.

[Anonymous]

Definitely look into the Town of Vienna for the family activities and sense of community. A clue for houses within the town limits - all will end with a suffix of NE, SE, SW, or NW (or N or S if directly on Center St). That area is the hub of "downtown" activity - there are parks, restaurants, ballfields, a library, coffee shops and other amenities. There are many older ranch homes in the town limits that are within your price range. Schools are great. Whole area is family friendly. Commute to George Mason should be 20 minutes or less.

[Anonymous]

Oh and also there's the express lanes now...might not be the worst commute if you love the neighborhood

[Anonymous]

Wrong! I'm from NYC and we left running from DC. DC is no NYC but people around here like to pretend it is. It's much better to accept suburban life than be around country bumpkins in the District who think they are so sophisticated. If your DH is a professor, education will be important to your family, and you will find public schools to be a problem. In DC, $650K would mean a pretty sketchy area too.

Anonymous wrote:NYC to FFX County....wow, yeah, rent.

We will be waiting for you in DC, where you will be running, screaming.....

[Anonymous]

I would say within Fairfax City Boundaries. It is liberal. It is close to DH's job. Very good schools. Fairly decent walkability for these parts. There is a neighborhood between Fairfax High School and the Catholic School and the public school that may have houses in your price range.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh and also there's the express lanes now...might not be the worst commute if you love the neighborhood

Del Ray resident poster here. This is a good point, and also I have to admit that I haven't actually tried this drive during rush hour in a while. So OP, it might be worth looking into Del Ray. I do love the neighborhood, and I think you'd like it too. If you can try the commute in person on a visit to the area that would be best, but if not you might be able to get a sense by inputting "Del Ray to GMU" into google maps during rush hour for a few mornings and looking at the "in current traffic" estimates.

As to the schools issue, I'm not going to rehash that debate here. OP, if you search "Del Ray/Alexandria schools" on this forum you'll find a lot of passionate opinions on both sides. It is a diverse area (ethnically, socioeconomically) and that certainly affects the schools and their test scores. My own kids aren't school age yet, but after talking with friends and neighbors I think I will be fine sending them to the neighborhood schools. Many others on this forum disagree with me.

[Anonymous]

OP here: Thank you all so much. I cannot tell you how helpful this has been for me just in terms of narrowing down some areas. We will look into Del Ray, Vienna, Fairfax City and Falls Church- they sound like the best options for us. (fingers crossed we can afford something in these parts) His commute will sometimes be at rush hour but depending on his class load, will vary. I am still sticker shocked at the prices in NOVA coming from NY, it is almost as expensive. Thank you so much for your thoughts!

[Anonymous]

We also moved from Manhattan where we lived for 11 years. We've been in North Old Town Alexandria for the past 4.5 years and love it. I agree with one of the posters that said to try renting first to get a feel for the area. Del Ray and the neighborhood right next to, Rosemont - are great areas for what you are describing and if you can get in the Maury school district that is better than some of the other schools in Del Ray. Also parts of Old Town Alexandria go to Lyles Crouch elementary which is one of the better schools in Alexandria city.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We also moved from Manhattan where we lived for 11 years. We've been in North Old Town Alexandria for the past 4.5 years and love it. I agree with one of the posters that said to try renting first to get a feel for the area. Del Ray and the neighborhood right next to, Rosemont - are great areas for what you are describing and if you can get in the Maury school district that is better than some of the other schools in Del Ray. Also parts of Old Town Alexandria go to Lyles Crouch elementary which is one of the better schools in Alexandria city.

Schools suck so make sure you budget for private school

[Anonymous]

Many grade schools in Alexandria are good. Maury, George mason are both in 22301 and walkable to Del Ray.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Good luck on the culture shock OP. City of Falls Church is probably the best culture fit, tough in that budget.

Agreed. Does it have to be Virginia? Most New Yorkers who moved to this area are more comfortable in DC or Maryland.

I had the same question. I'm sure you have a good reason, OP, such as commute or family. But if you are city folk, DC might be a better fit. And the schools are not universally bad. We bought our house in DC for under $500k and our kids happily attend a great public school.

You might want to read the shit-storm brewing on the DC schools right now before you advise someone to buy in the city. The upcoming boundary redistricting quagmire is causing pure chaos. I live in DC and want out like yesterday because of it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here: Thank you all so much. I cannot tell you how helpful this has been for me just in terms of narrowing down some areas. We will look into Del Ray, Vienna, Fairfax City and Falls Church- they sound like the best options for us. (fingers crossed we can afford something in these parts) His commute will sometimes be at rush hour but depending on his class load, will vary. I am still sticker shocked at the prices in NOVA coming from NY, it is almost as expensive. Thank you so much for your thoughts!

Hey OP,

Fellow NYer here. We live in the part of Falls Church (22043) that feeds into McLean and absolutely love our neighborhood. The people are great, there are tons of kids, and schools are excellent. We just had a Halloween parade and party last weekend and you really won't find a better group of people anywhere around here (IMHO). I know it's above your budget but there's one house in the neighborhood that needs updating but looks totally livable (from pics, at least) listed for 699k. I haven't been inside the house but it's on a great street with cul-de-sac. There are also some surrounding neighborhoods in 22043 that have the occasional listing pop up in your price range. An older but beautifully updated house in the neighborhood behind us sold for 685K a few months ago, so they do exist.

Anyway, I just wanted to suggest including 22043 on the McLean side in your search. Unfortunately, I don't know anything about the Marshall part of 22043, but I believe the prices are a little more reasonable and I hear Marshall is a great school, despite some people on this board getting down on it for reasons that aren't exactly clear to me.

Good luck with your search!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here: Thank you all so much. I cannot tell you how helpful this has been for me just in terms of narrowing down some areas. We will look into Del Ray, Vienna, Fairfax City and Falls Church- they sound like the best options for us. (fingers crossed we can afford something in these parts) His commute will sometimes be at rush hour but depending on his class load, will vary. I am still sticker shocked at the prices in NOVA coming from NY, it is almost as expensive. Thank you so much for your thoughts!

RENT RENT RENT

You do not want to buy without living here first. Really.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bravo!!!(I was the person recommending to rent) Given that you have kids, try and rent in an rea where you want them to go to school, which sounds like the public track. Pimmit Hills seems to touch a nerve on this borad, no idea why? Many are pro or anti-Pimmit Hills, to an extreme level. I have heard some issue there with crime and gang activity. Just saying that be be inciteful to some. If you live in FFX, and he drives to Mason, you are going opposiute the traffic, which is great. I would focus on the Falls Church, Vienna areas. I am not too sure how to shop for real estate via political outlook...good luck w that!

Trust me, there is no freaking GANG activity here in Pimmit - are you kidding me? At $480+ per sq. foot, thats not an issue here.

[Anonymous]

I don't have specifics on neighborhoods, but I will weigh in to say minimizing commute really will improve your quality of life. Del Ray is pretty great but the value add of a less frustrating commute is, I think, greater than that of a slightly nicer house, cooler 'hood. I wouldn't worry too much about the back and forth on politicals views - MD vs DC vs VA is kind of a thing around here but aside from some specifics the differences across the greater metro area really aren't that big, And,welcome! The DC area is a fun one to live in, especially if you're an academic.