Choosing Between Two Homes (McLean vs. Falls Church)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not aure why everyone is talking about Falls Church City when OP explained the house is in the McLean HS zone so its in (one of) the Falls Church area of Fairfax.

McLean is old and boring plus you will have to pay extra for the McLean tax district and you don’t get anything from that other than an obnoxious old citizens group (MCA) and a discount on classes at the MCC.

Well, I'm the one who posted that they recently left Falls Church, thanks to all of the traffic, development, etc, and our house was on the edge of FCC zoned to Mclean HS. So I was talking about "the Falls Church area of Fairfax" that OP is talking about.

I don't necessarily disagree with your statement that "Mclean is old and boring" though. I definitely think of the population as ... relatively ... senior.

I call that Giant the Geriatric Giant.

An apt name.

[Anonymous]

McLean because the return on your real estate dollar will be greater

[Anonymous]

I would need to know more about the first house and also about the slope of the second lot to answer this question

[Anonymous]

Just no that the Falls Church home is likely to get rezoned to Falls Church High School in the next 20 years. That said, Falls Church High School is a good high school, but if you're prioritizing McLean HS, it may not be for you. A smart kid is going to be successful in any FCPS high school, but if you're racist, then take this into consideration.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just no that the Falls Church home is likely to get rezoned to Falls Church High School in the next 20 years. That said, Falls Church High School is a good high school, but if you're prioritizing McLean HS, it may not be for you. A smart kid is going to be successful in any FCPS high school, but if you're racist, then take this into consideration.

This is simply incorrect. Nothing in Falls Church/20043 zoned to McLean HS is going to get moved to Falls Church HS. The feeder middle school - Longfellow - is in 22043.

The area further south in Falls Church/22046 might get moved at some point but for now that area is also staying at McLean HS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We’re deciding between two single-family homes and could use some input:
•Option 1: Flat, rectangular lot in McLean — great location, solid layout, but about $100K–$150K more expensive.
•Option 2: Corner lot with a slope in Falls Church (McLean HS zone) — a brand new 2025 build with all high-end finishes and modern design. Walkout basement.

I’m really torn — McLean has the location and lot shape, but the Falls Church home is new and beautiful inside and out.
Would love to hear thoughts on how others might weigh location, lot quality, and new construction in this situation. How much does it cost to flatten the slope (moderate) in general?

Only pick Falls Church if it is the city, not the mailing address.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We’re deciding between two single-family homes and could use some input:
•Option 1: Flat, rectangular lot in McLean — great location, solid layout, but about $100K–$150K more expensive.
•Option 2: Corner lot with a slope in Falls Church (McLean HS zone) — a brand new 2025 build with all high-end finishes and modern design. Walkout basement.

I’m really torn — McLean has the location and lot shape, but the Falls Church home is new and beautiful inside and out.
Would love to hear thoughts on how others might weigh location, lot quality, and new construction in this situation. How much does it cost to flatten the slope (moderate) in general?

Only pick Falls Church if it is the city, not the mailing address.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We’re deciding between two single-family homes and could use some input:
•Option 1: Flat, rectangular lot in McLean — great location, solid layout, but about $100K–$150K more expensive.
•Option 2: Corner lot with a slope in Falls Church (McLean HS zone) — a brand new 2025 build with all high-end finishes and modern design. Walkout basement.

I’m really torn — McLean has the location and lot shape, but the Falls Church home is new and beautiful inside and out.
Would love to hear thoughts on how others might weigh location, lot quality, and new construction in this situation. How much does it cost to flatten the slope (moderate) in general?

Only pick Falls Church if it is the city, not the mailing address.

A lot of Falls Church in the county is at least as nice as Falls Church City and McLean and Marshall are at least as good as Meridian.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would never buy on a corner, but having lived in McLean for 20 years, I would be fine with either location.
I would pay close attention to whether the part of Falls Church you are looking at is going to be rezoned to Falls Church HS though (if that matters to you).

The latest FCPS boundary proposal does not move anyone with a Falls Church address out of McLean HS to Falls Church HS. It would move some kids with an Annandale address from Justice HS to Falls Church HS.

It's BS. That Justice move added 46 students to Falls Church HS: Justice 92%. FCHS 87%, Mclean no modular 115%. Mclean 100% with an old relocated 12 room modular and 4 trailers for instruction.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would never buy on a corner, but having lived in McLean for 20 years, I would be fine with either location.
I would pay close attention to whether the part of Falls Church you are looking at is going to be rezoned to Falls Church HS though (if that matters to you).

The latest FCPS boundary proposal does not move anyone with a Falls Church address out of McLean HS to Falls Church HS. It would move some kids with an Annandale address from Justice HS to Falls Church HS.

It's BS. That Justice move added 46 students to Falls Church HS: Justice 92%. FCHS 87%, Mclean no modular 115%. Mclean 100% with an old relocated 12 room modular and 4 trailers for instruction.

McLean will get relief with the Spring Hill ES kids moving to Langley and there’s a large development now planned in Merrifield that will feed to Falls Church HS.

[Anonymous]

As they say: location, location, location! I would pick McLean for both the general location and the specific lot.

[Anonymous]

location, location, location

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would never buy on a corner, but having lived in McLean for 20 years, I would be fine with either location.
I would pay close attention to whether the part of Falls Church you are looking at is going to be rezoned to Falls Church HS though (if that matters to you).

The latest FCPS boundary proposal does not move anyone with a Falls Church address out of McLean HS to Falls Church HS. It would move some kids with an Annandale address from Justice HS to Falls Church HS.

It's BS. That Justice move added 46 students to Falls Church HS: Justice 92%. FCHS 87%, Mclean no modular 115%. Mclean 100% with an old relocated 12 room modular and 4 trailers for instruction.

McLean will get relief with the Spring Hill ES kids moving to Langley and there’s a large development now planned in Merrifield that will feed to Falls Church HS.

Falls Church has The Mosaic District and all the adjacent developments, and young families are rediscovering the appeal of 50s-era ranch homes. It was in the Wall Street Journal a couple weeks back. Falls Church HS with its beautiful renovation should hopefully fill up within 5 years or so.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would never buy on a corner, but having lived in McLean for 20 years, I would be fine with either location.
I would pay close attention to whether the part of Falls Church you are looking at is going to be rezoned to Falls Church HS though (if that matters to you).

The latest FCPS boundary proposal does not move anyone with a Falls Church address out of McLean HS to Falls Church HS. It would move some kids with an Annandale address from Justice HS to Falls Church HS.

It's BS. That Justice move added 46 students to Falls Church HS: Justice 92%. FCHS 87%, Mclean no modular 115%. Mclean 100% with an old relocated 12 room modular and 4 trailers for instruction.

McLean will get relief with the Spring Hill ES kids moving to Langley and there’s a large development now planned in Merrifield that will feed to Falls Church HS.

Relief also from moving some Timberlane kids out of McLean at the beginning of school year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would never buy on a corner, but having lived in McLean for 20 years, I would be fine with either location.
I would pay close attention to whether the part of Falls Church you are looking at is going to be rezoned to Falls Church HS though (if that matters to you).

The latest FCPS boundary proposal does not move anyone with a Falls Church address out of McLean HS to Falls Church HS. It would move some kids with an Annandale address from Justice HS to Falls Church HS.

It's BS. That Justice move added 46 students to Falls Church HS: Justice 92%. FCHS 87%, Mclean no modular 115%. Mclean 100% with an old relocated 12 room modular and 4 trailers for instruction.

McLean will get relief with the Spring Hill ES kids moving to Langley and there’s a large development now planned in Merrifield that will feed to Falls Church HS.

Relief also from moving some Timberlane kids out of McLean at the beginning of school year.

None of the Timber Lane ES kids at McLean HS are currently slated to move out of McLean. FCPS has proposed to move some to Shrevewood ES but they would continue to Longfellow MS and McLean HS.