HELP!! - Military Relocation to DC Metro Area - Where to Live!?!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would look at 22003/ Camelot/Wakefield Chapel area. Amazing/safe communities with lots of families. 10 minutes to Merrifield, 35 minutes to Navy Yard.

+1, good schools and prices are starting to level off and come down some.

If it was just you and DH, I would buy in WNY, good amenities and there is constant construction on SW Waterfront which means you might be able to get some appreciation in 3 years.

Or gasp, could hold onto as a rental after the 3 years.

I don't appreciate when military members move on and turn their home into a rental. The military owned rentals stick out like sore thumbs in my neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would look at 22003/ Camelot/Wakefield Chapel area. Amazing/safe communities with lots of families. 10 minutes to Merrifield, 35 minutes to Navy Yard.

+1, good schools and prices are starting to level off and come down some.

If it was just you and DH, I would buy in WNY, good amenities and there is constant construction on SW Waterfront which means you might be able to get some appreciation in 3 years.

Or gasp, could hold onto as a rental after the 3 years.

I don't appreciate when military members move on and turn their home into a rental. The military owned rentals stick out like sore thumbs in my neighborhood.

Are you living in the slums? In our area the homes rented to military families are usually very well maintained.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Good Afternoon DCUM!

First time poster so I apologize if this topic has been beaten to death already. My family and I just moved to the DC metro area and are will be purchasing a home ideally within the next two months. We are currently in temporary house in Pentagon City. My husband will be working at the Washington Navy Yard and I will be working at the Mosaic District in Merrifield.

Due to living the military life, we will most likely only be living in this area for 3 years before my husband's next assignment.

Can anyone make any recommendations for areas to buy? Keep in mind that moving expenses, realtor fees, closing costs, etc. will be covered by the Government - just in case someone was going to tell us that buying is a bad decision since we are only staying for 3 years!

About us / What we are looking for:
- Family of 3 - me, my husband, and our 1 year old daughter
- Looking for a family friendly community with good walkability
- "Easy" commute for both of us - under 30 min drive. Husband will have the ability to have flexible hours to drive off-peak rush hour.
- Budget is ~$750k
- Even though our 1 year old won't be old enough to be in school by the time we leave - great school district is a big plus for us due to resale ability
- Short term return on our investment. Any places people would suggest that are "untapped" or have great room for ROI??

I threw that last bullet in there for my husband He's always trying to make smart housing decisions with big upside.

Looking forward to your responses. THANK YOU in advance for those that are able to reply!

Nancy

With that budget, you can afford a rambler or tri-level in Vienna. The commute would be very easy for you, especially from a house south of 123. And, during off-peak hours, your husband would not have too much trouble getting to the navy yard. Vienna is a great town for young families (excellent schools, lots of local events, W&OD trail, etc.). And, we have the metro.

[Anonymous]

You don't have to care about schools, so look at South Arlington. We're in Shirlington and LOVE it. It's great for young families.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would look at 22003/ Camelot/Wakefield Chapel area. Amazing/safe communities with lots of families. 10 minutes to Merrifield, 35 minutes to Navy Yard.

+1, good schools and prices are starting to level off and come down some.

If it was just you and DH, I would buy in WNY, good amenities and there is constant construction on SW Waterfront which means you might be able to get some appreciation in 3 years.

Or gasp, could hold onto as a rental after the 3 years.

I don't appreciate when military members move on and turn their home into a rental. The military owned rentals stick out like sore thumbs in my neighborhood.

+1

ITA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would look at 22003/ Camelot/Wakefield Chapel area. Amazing/safe communities with lots of families. 10 minutes to Merrifield, 35 minutes to Navy Yard.

+1, good schools and prices are starting to level off and come down some.

If it was just you and DH, I would buy in WNY, good amenities and there is constant construction on SW Waterfront which means you might be able to get some appreciation in 3 years.

Or gasp, could hold onto as a rental after the 3 years.

I don't appreciate when military members move on and turn their home into a rental. The military owned rentals stick out like sore thumbs in my neighborhood.

Really? We were paying $4,500 per month for a huge 4 bed house in Bethesda in 2009 from a military family. It was a beautiful house and 5 mins walk to all that Bethesda has to offer. I don't think it "stuck out like a sore thumb" - though maybe we did?

[Anonymous]

Another thing to consider is that your daughter will be 3 in a couple of years and DC public and charter schools offer free preK. On the other hand, daycare may be cheaper in some of the VA burbs than near Navy Yard.

[Anonymous]

Definitely some areas of Annandale, Falls Church, Vienna would work.
If you think a townhouse would work, Dominion Heights in 22043 is walkable to shopping, library, playground and very close to 66/495 for commute to Navy Yard and 10-15 minute drive to Mosaic. I don't know that you'd make any money, but should be able to resell OK. I don't live there but it's someplace I'd be considering if I were in your shoes.
Or if you're more interested in SFH, then look in 22043 in some of the neighborhoods off Shreve Road, or in Pimmit Hills. Both would be family friendly neighborhoods with easy access to your commuting destinations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would look 22003/ Camelot/Wakefield Chapel area. Amazing/safe communities with lots of families. 10 minutes to Merrifield, 35 minutes to Navy Yard.

+1, good schools and prices are starting to level off and come down some.

If it was just you and DH, I would buy in WNY, good amenities and there is constant construction on SW Waterfront which means you might be able to get some appreciation in 3 years.

Or gasp, could hold onto as a rental after the 3 years.

Totally agree that you should consider Navy Yd and, perhaps, SW as having better commutes and appreciation potential.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would look at 22003/ Camelot/Wakefield Chapel area. Amazing/safe communities with lots of families. 10 minutes to Merrifield, 35 minutes to Navy Yard.

+1, good schools and prices are starting to level off and come down some.

If it was just you and DH, I would buy in WNY, good amenities and there is constant construction on SW Waterfront which means you might be able to get some appreciation in 3 years.

Or gasp, could hold onto as a rental after the 3 years.

I don't appreciate when military members move on and turn their home into a rental. The military owned rentals stick out like sore thumbs in my neighborhood.

Really? We were paying $4,500 per month for a huge 4 bed house in Bethesda in 2009 from a military family. It was a beautiful house and 5 mins walk to all that Bethesda has to offer. I don't think it "stuck out like a sore thumb" - though maybe we did?

This was not the house of an enlisted family (the majority of military families)--most cannot afford to buy in Bethesda by a long shot. This must've been the home of some high-ranking officer.

[Anonymous]

DH is Military. We met here in DC, left for a few years and came back. We plan on staying here when DH is done in 2 years. If you are planning on retiring here, buy. If not, rent.