House budget of $450k. Looking for good schools. Where to buy?

[Anonymous]

Try searching in Pimitt Hills neighborhood in Falls church. It's an evolving neighborhood. Close to 66 then 495.

[Anonymous]

In Burke, you should find some very decent townhomes under your budget. You may find some homes too - here is one: http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/10456-Calumet-Grove-Dr_Fairfax_VA_22032_M64439-63931?row=33

[Anonymous]

What about prince william county? I've seen great houses in areas like Lake Ridge and Montclair or on the western end in that range. Yes, the commute will such but if you have a fed job with set hours the VRE and slugging might make sense.

[Anonymous]

Burke/west Springfield

Great area, great schools, and great families

[Anonymous]

Look in the 22153 zip code. Convenient for commuting - near VRE, i-95, and fairfax co. Pkwy. Nice neighborhoods but still fairly affordable by dc area standards.

[Anonymous]

This one just went under contract. (Of course, it may fall through.)

http://www.redfin.com/VA/Springfield/6404-Greeley-Blvd-22152/home/9773409

If this type of house is acceptable to you, older and not very large, then there are SFHs in your price range and good schools.

[Anonymous]

I'm gping to get a lot of hater responses, but pimmit hills is in your budget and the schools are great, they were 9/10's until this past year when the SOL testing was computerized and the scores sank because some FARMS kids arent computer literate enough.

we had the same budget a year ago and PH made the most sense for us. we were also looking in burke, but we wouldve had a TH rather than a SFH, and the commute wouldve been longer. on the plus side, their schools are fantastic and the TH wouldve had more sq ft.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm gping to get a lot of hater responses, but pimmit hills is in your budget and the schools are great, they were 9/10's until this past year when the SOL testing was computerized and the scores sank because some FARMS kids arent computer literate enough.

we had the same budget a year ago and PH made the most sense for us. we were also looking in burke, but we wouldve had a TH rather than a SFH, and the commute wouldve been longer. on the plus side, their schools are fantastic and the TH wouldve had more sq ft.

The only score that sank was the elementary school to a 7, the middle and high school are back up to 9s after a correction.

In fact, almost all elementary schools in fairfax county sank after they implemented mandatory computer based testing for the elementary school students.

One positive is that Westgate purchased a bunch of computers for students to use so at least the school is reactive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Friends of mine really love the Westlawn and Sleepy Hollow Elementary area. Great walking communities. FARMS rates are high, but the class sizes are lower.

Sleepy hollow ES is fine, but the middle school and high school are not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm gping to get a lot of hater responses, but pimmit hills is in your budget and the schools are great, they were 9/10's until this past year when the SOL testing was computerized and the scores sank because some FARMS kids arent computer literate enough.

we had the same budget a year ago and PH made the most sense for us. we were also looking in burke, but we wouldve had a TH rather than a SFH, and the commute wouldve been longer. on the plus side, their schools are fantastic and the TH wouldve had more sq ft.

Ugly neighborhood full of chain-link fences and little shacks that have gotten expensive because they aren't far from better areas.

[Anonymous]

I was the 21:00 poster about Pimitt Hills. Yes there are areas that aren't as nice as others in this large neighborhood but we looked 5 years ago and it looks much different now. Lots of people tearing down and building new. Younger families moving in because its still relatively affordable. It won't be in 3 years. With the silver line starting and the new developments they are planning off of Magarity pricing will sky rocket. Very close to Tysons, 66, 495 and Rt 7. Whole Foods , Trader Joe's, Safeway, restaurants, coffee and fro yo. Plus whatever else the new developments bring.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was the 21:00 poster about Pimitt Hills. Yes there are areas that aren't as nice as others in this large neighborhood but we looked 5 years ago and it looks much different now. Lots of people tearing down and building new. Younger families moving in because its still relatively affordable. It won't be in 3 years. With the silver line starting and the new developments they are planning off of Magarity pricing will sky rocket. Very close to Tysons, 66, 495 and Rt 7. Whole Foods , Trader Joe's, Safeway, restaurants, coffee and fro yo. Plus whatever else the new developments bring.

It's an ugly area and will be so for decades to come. Dilapidated older homes and cheap new McMansions do not make for a desirable neighborhood. The housing stock is just dreadfully bad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also, we are commuting to Old Town

If you're commuting to Old Town, then check out 22309 - 22308 might be out of your price point, however, you might be able to find a small house that needs updating in the Waynewood school district. MS and HS aren't the greatest, but Waynewood (nickname Whitewood) is a great ES. We live in 22308 and couldn't be happier, although our children attend St. Mary's in Old Town.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Friends of mine really love the Westlawn and Sleepy Hollow Elementary area. Great walking communities. FARMS rates are high, but the class sizes are lower.

Sleepy hollow ES is fine, but the middle school and high school are not.

Do you speak from experience? I live in that area and the people I know who send their kids to Glasgow and Stuart are happy with them.

[Anonymous]

!st listing is VERY close to metro. You can walk via the Oakton HS path and be at metro very quickly

http://www.mrishomes.com/homes-for-sale/VA/VIENNA/22181/9854-OAKDALE-WOODS-CT-117774950

Mosby Woods/Jackson/Oakton HS

http://www.mrishomes.com/homes-for-sale/VA/OAKTON/22124/3203-SILVERSTONE-CT-119046974

http://www.mrishomes.com/homes-for-sale/VA/OAKTON/22124/10465-WHITE-GRANITE-CT-117238638

Oakton/Jackson/Okaton HS

Fairfax Connector bus 466 is the way to metor - a very short bus ride.

Both neighborhoods are nice with professionals as neighbors. Very family friendly neighborhoods.

Mosby Woods and Oakton ES are both very good schools. GL