Help me think about Brambleton/Ashburn, please? (haters need not apply)
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Anonymous
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Considering a move to Brambleton from Arlington and here's my pro/con/unsure list so far. I'd love some input into what I'm missing, and any other factors I should consider, as well as any other communities I should be aware of that are at a similar price point and have a community feel. (just a heads-up that anti-Brambleton "zingers" will be ignored)
PRO More space: This is a big impetus for our early-stages house hunting. I work from home full time now, and we really don't have dedicated space for a home office that doesn't have to be used for other purposes. We aren't minimalists and likely never will be. To throw my husband under the bus, he really likes to hang onto his stuff, and instead of fruitlessly trying to change him, I'd like a little more space and storage so there's a place for everything. Even though there are only 3 of us, I feel like we've outgrown our current space. Commute: My husband works a few miles from Dulles and the commute from Brambleton (or elsewhere in Ashburn) would be MUCH shorter. This and space are the biggest pros over where we are now. It's also closer to older relatives we may need to help from time to time. Price: We are priced out of larger homes and townhomes in neighborhoods we like that are closer in and/or more established. We'd be looking at the smaller houses or townhouses in Brambleton. Community (as I understand it): I'm a scattered, busy mom to a young kid, and in this season of my life, I want social and recreational opportunities that don't require effort to access. My kid is an only child who is super social and loves being around other kids, so the kid-friendly feel is a big draw for me. We like the active condo association where we are now, which has family-friendly events and amenities like a pool and playground. Good-on-paper schools: Seem well-regarded if overcrowded CON Cookie cutter houses too big for their lots: Look, I get it. If I could afford a cute house in more organic communities in Arlington or Del Ray or Rosemont, I'd do that in a heartbeat, but I can't. This is not a dealbreaker for me given our income and family specifics and life is about making choices, but I know smaller homes in established communities hold their value better, so I suppose that should be a consideration. School uncertainty: Heading into K, and I feel like I poured my entire soul into researching school options where we are and I don't want to start over. But this is more about laziness than LCPS schools (which I know very little about). I do know we have more options (if the lottery goes in your favor) in Arlington. And it sounds like kids are getting shuffled around a bit since there's so much growth in that part of Ashburn. Half day K: If we moved before K (i.e., this summer) I'd have to figure out how to make this work. Far from ideal for us. Kid is already used to full-day school and I'm not wild about having to pay for daycare again. Distance from city: Much farther from DC/close-in suburbs, which we probably take for granted even if it feels like we don't take advantage of our location that much. UNSURE Age: We are in our late 30s, and based on a few posts, it seems like Brambleton attracts a younger set of families? I have close friends ranging from their late 20s to their 40s, so it's not like "I can only be friends with people ages 35-39," but I don't want to be the odd one out in the neighborhood if EVERYONE is ten years younger than us. Any thoughts on this are appreciated! Personality: I'm an adult, not a middle schooler, so I don't have to totally fit in with the crowd, but I would like to make some good friends in our new community, so I'm hoping there's a good chunk of people who chose Brambleton in spite of the not-great architecture and bland retail options rather than because of them. Like, mild weirdos who never envisioned themselves in a development like that but have wound up really liking it. My husband is not a joiner and my child would befriend a plant, so I'm not too worried about them on this count. I'm sure I'm missing some big things but I've been ruminating on this for long enough this morning...thanks in advance for any thoughts (and again, if there are other communities out there that we should consider, please let me know!) |
Anonymous
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I have a friend who moved out there. They absolutely love it. It's great for kids. They went to VA tech and they have a bunch of friends from college out there though. You can get a 5 bedroom for the same price as a year down in Arlington.
If your DH works out there, I wouldn't hesitate. |
Anonymous
| You will feel isolated. It would be better to get a smaller home in mclean and arlington and move up in a few years to a larger home. You can also get stuck in ashburn because housing prices drop dramatically and don't appreciate. |
Anonymous
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Brambleton is nice. I'm sure you'd like it.
Have you looked at Reston at all? It might be more of a compromise, its closer in, has the Reston Association which has pools and such, has Fairfax County schools which has full-day K, and you would be nearer shopping which might mean a shorter drive to sports and activities for your child. |
Anonymous
I think this is totally false. People are much more friendly out there. Through school and sports it's easy to make a community of friends. |
Anonymous
None of this is true. You will not feel isolated. Ashburn has a lot to offer and every community has tons of young kids and amenities. Your home will appreciate there, too. In your situation, it seems to be an ideal location. I have lived in Loudoun before and loved it. We are moving back that way this summer. |
Anonymous
If you are looking for further out areas I find reston and great falls much better investments and closer in to the rest of the dc society. Prices are still well below 2005 or homes barely appreciate. The homes are all the cookie cutter brick front vinyl siding, cheap finishes toll brother crap. 
https://www.redfin.com/VA/Ashburn/22090-Auction-Barn-Dr-20148/home/12003465 https://www.redfin.com/VA/Ashburn/42653-Cochrans-Lock-Dr-20148/home/14367362 https://www.redfin.com/VA/Ashburn/21859-Engleside-Pl-20148/home/12064537 |
Anonymous
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Are you Indian? If not, make sure you spend time in the neighborhoods to see if you'll feel comfortable/welcome.
I hate Ashburn but if you need to have new housing on a budget, that's a good place for you considering the commute. Not a good place if you're considering home value appreciation. Maybe rent out there for a year... |
Anonymous
| We moved out here and do not feel isolated, and we are not Indian. We are a biracial couple (black/white), with a child. The houses are only as cookie cutter as your particular neighborhood. LCPS are excellent, with no lottery needed. And we have felt very welcome by our white/black/Indian/Asian neighbors. Our kids all play together, and we chit chat together, and have been invited over to each other's home for dinner. We absolutely love it out here. |
Anonymous
| You have stated -- albeit at rambling length -- a solid case for making the move. Try to make it back to closer-in suburbs at some point, though. |
Anonymous
| Check out the lcps thread in the va school forum. It was helpful |
Anonymous
Reston has gotten VERY expensive since the metro came in. |
Anonymous
Why is it necessary to be in a close-in suburb? If she works from home, and husband works near Dulles airport.... Lets be honest, most of us dont spend every weekend at a museum. |
Anonymous
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Brambleton has a new library opening; that's a plus. The library system in Loudoun is excellent.
http://loudounnow.com/2017/02/24/library-partnership-celebrated-at-brambleton-groundbreaking/ |
Anonymous
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Brambleton is adorable. Being able to walk to the town center is great. So are all of the activities that they have. Much preferable to other parts of Ashburn (other than One Loudoun, another very cool walkable part of Ashburn).
FWIW, we moved from Arlington to the wilds of Western Fairfax County. I feared having no friends and was very excited when several of our friends moved out here as well, around the same time that we did. It turns out that we never see them although they are within 15 minutes...we are busy doing family/kid stuff. Or hanging out with people who live in our neighborhood/our kids go to school together, etc. |