All this talk of Loudoun County - is it really cheaper??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A typical Walk Score in Ashburn is between 15-20. It's car-dependent, generic, "safe" suburbia. If that's what you want, great, but don't pass it off as something it isn't.

I think what people are talking about is walking around the neighborhood and to parks etc... not being too poor to afford a car and walking everywhere like a homeless person.

[Anonymous]

there are parts of Ashburn that have more walkability than others. There are parts of DC suburbia that have more walkability than parts of downtown DC. There are also people who see things as walkable when others do not.

I have a walkscore around 50 way out in the burbs. I think my neighborhood is walkable to lots of things, but others may not see it that way. We try NOT to get in our car for everything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:there are parts of Ashburn that have more walkability than others. There are parts of DC suburbia that have more walkability than parts of downtown DC. There are also people who see things as walkable when others do not.

I have a walkscore around 50 way out in the burbs. I think my neighborhood is walkable to lots of things, but others may not see it that way. We try NOT to get in our car for everything.

Between the lack of walkability and the ever-increasing prices on the toll roads, Loudon looks like less and less of a bargain unless you work from home.

[Anonymous]

the toll road does blow. and the newer housing isn't really all that cheap. Some of the new developments have walkability, others do not.

I thought brambleton was supposed to be this walkable mecca, but my friends who bought there aren't really walkable to much other than the parks in their 'hoods. They are quite far from the town center area.

[Anonymous]

all of Arlington is not Clarendon or Ballston. If you live up north near the country club, off Glebe Or Military, you cannot walk to shit. The places I have visited in Ashburn are very walkable. Walk over to Giant, walk to restaurants, schools, lots of sidewalks. I was serious (I'm the Vienna poster) about saying it is more walkable than my house or most of my friends houses in N. Arlington or NW.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:there are parts of Ashburn that have more walkability than others. There are parts of DC suburbia that have more walkability than parts of downtown DC. There are also people who see things as walkable when others do not.

I have a walkscore around 50 way out in the burbs. I think my neighborhood is walkable to lots of things, but others may not see it that way. We try NOT to get in our car for everything.

Between the lack of walkability and the ever-increasing prices on the toll roads, Loudon looks like less and less of a bargain unless you work from home.

Until you pay $800k for a teardown in North Arlington.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:there are parts of Ashburn that have more walkability than others. There are parts of DC suburbia that have more walkability than parts of downtown DC. There are also people who see things as walkable when others do not.

I have a walkscore around 50 way out in the burbs. I think my neighborhood is walkable to lots of things, but others may not see it that way. We try NOT to get in our car for everything.

Between the lack of walkability and the ever-increasing prices on the toll roads, Loudon looks like less and less of a bargain unless you work from home.

Until you pay $800k for a teardown in North Arlington.

there is a large space between north arlington and ashburn, though. I think very few people have those 2 on the same list while house hunting.

I personally have nothing against ashburn. My husband used to work there, and we considered it. I find it very cookie cutter, personally. But I definitely see the appeal if you want to buy a newer property with lots of young families around you. I would NEVER buy there if I had to commute downtown, but for those who commute no further east than tyson's, its is a reasonable choice. We wound up staying in fairfax in an older, smaller home when other friends of ours have moved to ashburn. We made our choice, they made theirs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:all of Arlington is not Clarendon or Ballston. If you live up north near the country club, off Glebe Or Military, you cannot walk to shit. The places I have visited in Ashburn are very walkable. Walk over to Giant, walk to restaurants, schools, lots of sidewalks. I was serious (I'm the Vienna poster) about saying it is more walkable than my house or most of my friends houses in N. Arlington or NW.

That characterizes a far smaller part of Ashburn than it does Arlington or NW. It's really not open to debate, dear.

[Anonymous]

I am the OP and appreciate all of the input from everyone. I guess I should be a little more clear on our situation. I stay at home and we have two young children (3 and 3 months). Right now we live in a 2 bedroom townhome in Arlington. We love the area, love the commute for my husband (who works in DC), but overall feel that life is a little too fast, a little too crowded, and a lot too expensive. We are a one income household (around 100K a year) so our ability to live comfortably and buy bigger in this area, and even in Fairfax County, is quite limited. While Loudoun is far in both miles and lifestyle from where we live now, we think we are ready for a big change like that.

My husband would obviously have to get a job in Tysons (or more west) for this to even be a consideration because we are not doing the long commute. No amount of house is worth that in our opinion. But his prospects look good which is why we're discussing it.

I guess my fear is that we move out there and life really isn't cheaper, slower, or less crowded. Just a switch to a SFH would make things feel bigger for us (coming from 4 of us in a 2 bedroom condo!) and we could afford a SFH out there. We like the family friendliness of everything in the planned communities which we never would have liked as a childless couple but seem appealing now. The farms, wine country, more outdoor living, it just seems like a nice change from the hustle bustle of Arlington/Alexandria/DC that we are used to.

Am I totally off base in thinking this?

[Anonymous]

Ashburn is not what you seek, then.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I guess my fear is that we move out there and life really isn't cheaper, slower, or less crowded. Just a switch to a SFH would make things feel bigger for us (coming from 4 of us in a 2 bedroom condo!) and we could afford a SFH out there. We like the family friendliness of everything in the planned communities which we never would have liked as a childless couple but seem appealing now. The farms, wine country, more outdoor living, it just seems like a nice change from the hustle bustle of Arlington/Alexandria/DC that we are used to.

Am I totally off base in thinking this?

I don't think you're totally off-base, and the sad truth is that a HHI of $100k is going to make it hard to find a good place further in.

What I would do though, is spend several weekends in the areas where you are considering to move. Get there early, go for walks, see how life is, perhaps even meet some people.

That way you can make a more informed decision.

[Anonymous]

My neighborhood is better than yours.
No, my neighborhood is better than yours.
No, you're wrong! My neighborhood is better than yours...........

(I feel like I've ridden this ride before.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am the OP and appreciate all of the input from everyone. I guess I should be a little more clear on our situation. I stay at home and we have two young children (3 and 3 months). Right now we live in a 2 bedroom townhome in Arlington. We love the area, love the commute for my husband (who works in DC), but overall feel that life is a little too fast, a little too crowded, and a lot too expensive. We are a one income household (around 100K a year) so our ability to live comfortably and buy bigger in this area, and even in Fairfax County, is quite limited. While Loudoun is far in both miles and lifestyle from where we live now, we think we are ready for a big change like that.

My husband would obviously have to get a job in Tysons (or more west) for this to even be a consideration because we are not doing the long commute. No amount of house is worth that in our opinion. But his prospects look good which is why we're discussing it.

I guess my fear is that we move out there and life really isn't cheaper, slower, or less crowded. Just a switch to a SFH would make things feel bigger for us (coming from 4 of us in a 2 bedroom condo!) and we could afford a SFH out there. We like the family friendliness of everything in the planned communities which we never would have liked as a childless couple but seem appealing now. The farms, wine country, more outdoor living, it just seems like a nice change from the hustle bustle of Arlington/Alexandria/DC that we are used to.

Am I totally off base in thinking this?

Not totally but this sounds more like a Leesburg or Haymarket scenario than Ashburn to me. And you will have more, not less, traffic congestion than in Arlington.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My neighborhood is better than yours.
No, my neighborhood is better than yours.
No, you're wrong! My neighborhood is better than yours...........

(I feel like I've ridden this ride before.)

No one can contest that the houses in ashburn at the 5-700k mark are more desirable in terms of physical size and layout as well as neighborhood planning than those closer in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My neighborhood is better than yours.
No, my neighborhood is better than yours.
No, you're wrong! My neighborhood is better than yours...........

(I feel like I've ridden this ride before.)

No one can contest that the houses in ashburn at the 5-700k mark are more desirable in terms of physical size and layout as well as neighborhood planning than those closer in.

The "planning" is exactly what makes much of Ashburn so unattractive to many. You're 35 miles away from the center city, the homes are repetitive and unimaginative, with useless space, and they are crammed on small lots where you see what your neighbors are having for lunch. I'll take an older, smaller house with charm, craftsmanship and privacy over that any time, thank you.