Want to relocate to NoVa - where?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Arlington's great if you (1) bought before 2003, (2) have a HHI over 250k, and/or (3) are okay with living in an 800sf condo that doesn't have a washer and dryer.

Nope. On OP's budget they can still get a SFH.

[Anonymous]

I honestly don't get the appeal of Arlington, unless you can afford a brand-new McMansion in a place like Lyon Village. Otherwise, why spend a ton of money on a tiny, ugly house on a postage-stamp size lot for the privilege of riding an aging subway system with a lousy record of reliability?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Arlington's great if you (1) bought before 2003, (2) have a HHI over 250k, and/or (3) are okay with living in an 800sf condo that doesn't have a washer and dryer.

Nope. On OP's budget they can still get a SFH.

Didn't you see my post from 30 seconds later?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lyon Village meets all of the above. It is like the city in suburbia with great public schools. The new Clarendon Center by the Metro (where Trader Joes is going...and where bgr, pete's new haven pizza, circa, etc., etc.) has been a great recent update. TONS of young kids too with great parks and lots of impromptu parties with families. You won't need a car (this is not something ppl just say..but it is dead on true). I walk to the gym, groceries, movie theater, parks, preschool, elem.school, pharmacy, drs one metro stop. There are always kid activities--parades, parties, international bike races, etc.

I'm not bashing Lyon Village, because I LOVE the neighborhood and would live there in a heartbeat if we could afford it. I think other PPs are trying to give OP a few other options because it is one of (if not THE) priciest neighborhood immediately on the orange line, and has a very small inventory of homes that stay on the market for ridiculously short amounts of time.

OP, I agree that the neighborhoods that most readily meet all of your criteria extend from about the Clarendon metro station to EFC Metro station. Lyon Village, Lyon Park, Ashton Heights, Tara/Leeway, Cherrydale, Maywood, Westover, Madison Manor, and Falls Church City.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I honestly don't get the appeal of Arlington, unless you can afford a brand-new McMansion in a place like Lyon Village. Otherwise, why spend a ton of money on a tiny, ugly house on a postage-stamp size lot for the privilege of riding an aging subway system with a lousy record of reliability?

not being snarky, but what areas would you find more appealing than arlington that fit all of the op's criteria? or is your post more of a general dislike of arlington?

[Anonymous]

Old Town Alexandria!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Old Town Alexandria!

Crap public schools and the projects in the midst.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I honestly don't get the appeal of Arlington, unless you can afford a brand-new McMansion in a place like Lyon Village. Otherwise, why spend a ton of money on a tiny, ugly house on a postage-stamp size lot for the privilege of riding an aging subway system with a lousy record of reliability?

not being snarky, but what areas would you find more appealing than arlington that fit all of the op's criteria? or is your post more of a general dislike of arlington?

It has a hell of a lot more going on than a Metro. The amount of new restaurants, bars, stores, etc is HUGE. Not to mention the community for kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lyon Village meets all of the above. It is like the city in suburbia with great public schools. The new Clarendon Center by the Metro (where Trader Joes is going...and where bgr, pete's new haven pizza, circa, etc., etc.) has been a great recent update. TONS of young kids too with great parks and lots of impromptu parties with families. You won't need a car (this is not something ppl just say..but it is dead on true). I walk to the gym, groceries, movie theater, parks, preschool, elem.school, pharmacy, drs one metro stop. There are always kid activities--parades, parties, international bike races, etc.

I'm not bashing Lyon Village, because I LOVE the neighborhood and would live there in a heartbeat if we could afford it. I think other PPs are trying to give OP a few other options because it is one of (if not THE) priciest neighborhood immediately on the orange line, and has a very small inventory of homes that stay on the market for ridiculously short amounts of time.

OP, I agree that the neighborhoods that most readily meet all of your criteria extend from about the Clarendon metro station to EFC Metro station. Lyon Village, Lyon Park, Ashton Heights, Tara/Leeway, Cherrydale, Maywood, Westover, Madison Manor, and Falls Church City.

Sorry to hijack but are there many families living in condos in the orange line neighborhoods?

[Anonymous]

Definitely North Arlington. McLean is lovely too, but in a different way. It's more of a traditional suburb whereas most of Arlington has more of a small, livable city type of feel, and with very few exceptions it's the easiest commute to downtown you can find in Northern VA. Generally speaking, the houses in Arlington are closer together, the streets are more likely to have sidewalks, and you're more likely to be able to walk to the metro, shops, playground, restaurants, etc. Some people prefer a quiet cul-de-sac and a great big yard, and McLean has lots of that, but based on OP's preferences (not the preferences of the people who tout their neighborhoods at all costs (Burke? Seriously??), it sounds like she would be happier in Arlington or even Falls Church City.

I'm not even sure why people are giving the "edge" to McLean for schools. Both Fairfax County and Arlington schools are among the best in the country. Literally, the entire country. If you focus your search on one or the other due to school reputation alone, you're missing the forest for the trees.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lyon Village meets all of the above. It is like the city in suburbia with great public schools. The new Clarendon Center by the Metro (where Trader Joes is going...and where bgr, pete's new haven pizza, circa, etc., etc.) has been a great recent update. TONS of young kids too with great parks and lots of impromptu parties with families. You won't need a car (this is not something ppl just say..but it is dead on true). I walk to the gym, groceries, movie theater, parks, preschool, elem.school, pharmacy, drs one metro stop. There are always kid activities--parades, parties, international bike races, etc.

I'm not bashing Lyon Village, because I LOVE the neighborhood and would live there in a heartbeat if we could afford it. I think other PPs are trying to give OP a few other options because it is one of (if not THE) priciest neighborhood immediately on the orange line, and has a very small inventory of homes that stay on the market for ridiculously short amounts of time.

OP, I agree that the neighborhoods that most readily meet all of your criteria extend from about the Clarendon metro station to EFC Metro station. Lyon Village, Lyon Park, Ashton Heights, Tara/Leeway, Cherrydale, Maywood, Westover, Madison Manor, and Falls Church City.

Don't forget Highland Park-Overlee Knolls, also along that same corridor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Definitely North Arlington. McLean is lovely too, but in a different way. It's more of a traditional suburb whereas most of Arlington has more of a small, livable city type of feel, and with very few exceptions it's the easiest commute to downtown you can find in Northern VA. Generally speaking, the houses in Arlington are closer together, the streets are more likely to have sidewalks, and you're more likely to be able to walk to the metro, shops, playground, restaurants, etc. Some people prefer a quiet cul-de-sac and a great big yard, and McLean has lots of that, but based on OP's preferences (not the preferences of the people who tout their neighborhoods at all costs (Burke? Seriously??), it sounds like she would be happier in Arlington or even Falls Church City.

I'm not even sure why people are giving the "edge" to McLean for schools. Both Fairfax County and Arlington schools are among the best in the country. Literally, the entire country. If you focus your search on one or the other due to school reputation alone, you're missing the forest for the trees.

McLean has the edge for schools because the test scores are higher, the schools aren't overcrowded, and there isn't a major redistricting looming on the horizon. In addition, it's in Fairfax, so it's generally closer to TJ if that's an option.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Definitely North Arlington. McLean is lovely too, but in a different way. It's more of a traditional suburb whereas most of Arlington has more of a small, livable city type of feel, and with very few exceptions it's the easiest commute to downtown you can find in Northern VA. Generally speaking, the houses in Arlington are closer together, the streets are more likely to have sidewalks, and you're more likely to be able to walk to the metro, shops, playground, restaurants, etc. Some people prefer a quiet cul-de-sac and a great big yard, and McLean has lots of that, but based on OP's preferences (not the preferences of the people who tout their neighborhoods at all costs (Burke? Seriously??), it sounds like she would be happier in Arlington or even Falls Church City.

McLean has both cul-de-sac neighborhoods and older areas where the houses are on smaller lots and in walking distance to shops, restaurants and parks. Clemyjontri Park in McLean is the best playground in NoVa, bar none. The downtown is ugly, but functional, and the residential neighborhoods are prettier than those in North Arlington.

The commute from North Arlington can't be beat, if you want a NoVa suburb with decent schools, but it's very expensive for what you get. Once the Metro gets extended further out, it will be interesting to see if prices start returning to earth quickly. Personally, I'd rent in North Arlington rather than spend $1M on a house there right now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Old Town Alexandria!

Crap public schools and the projects in the midst.

Disagree with the crap schools part.

But if you want a SFH, Old Town is not for you. For walkability, commute, family friendly, it is awesome. Also, some very good elementary schools...

[Anonymous]

the schools aren't overcrowded,

Arlington schools are considered overcrowded because average class size is smaller.

My kindergartner is one of 19 kids in a class with a teacher and an aide. Are Fairfax schools like that?