Thoughts on this house in Arlington (Bluemont)?

[Anonymous]

14:31 - NP here - Arlington doesn't have enough pools to meet the demand. People stay on waitlists for years to get into Overlee, Dominion Hills, Arlington Forest or Donaldson Run. KOC has memberships but they do sell out.

So that might be one amenity the PP was thinking about. We do have a lot of sports fields, tennis courts, parks, libraries, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:There is now way I am spending over a mill for a home in Arlington. I could live in Bethesda or McLean at that price point.

Agreed. Arlington sucks.

I wouldn't go that far, but I'm not paying over a million dollars for a house in Alrington either. As PP said, you can buy in much fancier neighborhoods. North Arlington is a fantastic area for between 750k and 950k. I just don't like it at higher price points. I know there are some nice parts of North Arlington that regularly sell at the higher price points, but I wouldn't be one of those buyers.

You either got the coins or you don't.

If you work in city, then Arlington is a natural choice for good schools and commute time.
I live in Arlington in over $1M home because to me time is a prime asset in life. I love knowing I can drive-in 15 minutes or this week in 10 minutes to DC.
Schools may be overrated but I like being able to be there to help my kids with their homework.

Nothing wrong with your choice, but I agree with the PP. Arlington does not have the name recognition, prestige, amenities or schools that I would want at that price point. I'd certainly prefer Bethesda, McLean or Chevy Chase over Arlington at that price point.

I'm trying to understand.

Name recognition and prestige are two things I'm not willing to spend a penny on.

Exactly. You have to pay me extra to live around those snobs. I'm looking for Beltsville, with decent schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:14:31 - NP here - Arlington doesn't have enough pools to meet the demand. People stay on waitlists for years to get into Overlee, Dominion Hills, Arlington Forest or Donaldson Run. KOC has memberships but they do sell out.

So that might be one amenity the PP was thinking about. We do have a lot of sports fields, tennis courts, parks, libraries, etc.

It's so strange that PG County has so much better pool availability [1] than a place like Arlington.

[1] Lots of excellent public pools, plus private clubs without waiting lists, not to mention the Six Flags Water Park(!).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:14:31 - NP here - Arlington doesn't have enough pools to meet the demand. People stay on waitlists for years to get into Overlee, Dominion Hills, Arlington Forest or Donaldson Run. KOC has memberships but they do sell out.

So that might be one amenity the PP was thinking about. We do have a lot of sports fields, tennis courts, parks, libraries, etc.

It's so strange that PG County has so much better pool availability [1] than a place like Arlington.

[1] Lots of excellent public pools, plus private clubs without waiting lists, not to mention the Six Flags Water Park(!).

It's because land is cheaper.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:14:31 - NP here - Arlington doesn't have enough pools to meet the demand. People stay on waitlists for years to get into Overlee, Dominion Hills, Arlington Forest or Donaldson Run. KOC has memberships but they do sell out.

So that might be one amenity the PP was thinking about. We do have a lot of sports fields, tennis courts, parks, libraries, etc.

That is true. I can't think of other "amenities" lacking though...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's overpriced for that neighborhood. Definitely.

are you kidding? That's a lot of house for 1.2m...can't get a new build for less than that without serious micro location issues

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is now way I am spending over a mill for a home in Arlington. I could live in Bethesda or McLean at that price point.

Definitely the flame bait post of the night. There are plenty of neighborhoods in N Arlington that compare favorably with the those areas, and better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is now way I am spending over a mill for a home in Arlington. I could live in Bethesda or McLean at that price point.

Agreed. Arlington sucks.

I wouldn't go that far, but I'm not paying over a million dollars for a house in Alrington either. As PP said, you can buy in much fancier neighborhoods. North Arlington is a fantastic area for between 750k and 950k. I just don't like it at higher price points. I know there are some nice parts of North Arlington that regularly sell at the higher price points, but I wouldn't be one of those buyers.

The average new home in 22207 is now 1.6-1.8 M. And they sell fast. Enjoy talking to yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is now way I am spending over a mill for a home in Arlington. I could live in Bethesda or McLean at that price point.

Agreed. Arlington sucks.

I wouldn't go that far, but I'm not paying over a million dollars for a house in Alrington either. As PP said, you can buy in much fancier neighborhoods. North Arlington is a fantastic area for between 750k and 950k. I just don't like it at higher price points. I know there are some nice parts of North Arlington that regularly sell at the higher price points, but I wouldn't be one of those buyers.

This. Arlington is okay, but only for under a million. I would not even look at anything over 950 in North Arlington. I get that many people are fine with it as evidenced by sales, but I would prefer something in McLean. Lower McLean has better resale and schools at the 900k-1.5m price point.

[Anonymous]

If you don't have kids in public school, that is a good house. But no way to pay so much to send kids to Kenmore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is now way I am spending over a mill for a home in Arlington. I could live in Bethesda or McLean at that price point.

Agreed. Arlington sucks.

I wouldn't go that far, but I'm not paying over a million dollars for a house in Alrington either. As PP said, you can buy in much fancier neighborhoods. North Arlington is a fantastic area for between 750k and 950k. I just don't like it at higher price points. I know there are some nice parts of North Arlington that regularly sell at the higher price points, but I wouldn't be one of those buyers.

This. Arlington is okay, but only for under a million. I would not even look at anything over 950 in North Arlington. I get that many people are fine with it as evidenced by sales, but I would prefer something in McLean. Lower McLean has better resale and schools at the 900k-1.5m price point.

I don't understand this argument. What does your price have to do with one area vs. another extremely similar area?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is now way I am spending over a mill for a home in Arlington. I could live in Bethesda or McLean at that price point.

Agreed. Arlington sucks.

I wouldn't go that far, but I'm not paying over a million dollars for a house in Alrington either. As PP said, you can buy in much fancier neighborhoods. North Arlington is a fantastic area for between 750k and 950k. I just don't like it at higher price points. I know there are some nice parts of North Arlington that regularly sell at the higher price points, but I wouldn't be one of those buyers.

This. Arlington is okay, but only for under a million. I would not even look at anything over 950 in North Arlington. I get that many people are fine with it as evidenced by sales, but I would prefer something in McLean. Lower McLean has better resale and schools at the 900k-1.5m price point.

I don't understand this argument. What does your price have to do with one area vs. another extremely similar area?

Because Lower McLean is a much nicer town with better schools. It is not "extremely similar" to Arlington.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's overpriced for that neighborhood. Definitely.

are you kidding? That's a lot of house for 1.2m...can't get a new build for less than that without serious micro location issues

It's still overpriced. I'd say by $50k at least. Cut-through street and crappy middle school don't help.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How the hell do so many people afford houses at a million or over? Our HHI is 260k, we're doing well, but think this would be out of reach. Are people overextending themselves or paying less than 20% down, or is everyone just at lawfirms, or...

I am PP who lives in Bon Air. For those of us who purchased before 2007, the prices were much lower. So there are a lot of federal employees. But for those who purchased the newer homes in the last five years, the prices generally are 900k-$1.5m. Those are a different income bracket. Lots of big firm lawyers, doctors, execs at tysons tech companies.

+1. True in many Arlington neighborhoods. Tear-downs in my immediate area go for $800K, and new construction is $1M+. But most of us on the street bought pre-2005, when prices were much lower, and many of us are government employees of some sort.

[Anonymous]

We live in that neighborhood, and my son and his friends had nothing but great experiences at Kenmore. They are in high school now, but don't bash Kenmore until you've tried it. Most of his favorite teachers are gone now, and it has a new principal since he was there, so maybe it's changed, not sure, but when we were thinking about moving, DS did not want to leave Kenmore.