Alexandria vs Arlington, McLean or Bethesda

[Anonymous]

McLean, but avoid Langley High. Too many rednecks and hill billy types.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:* I'm the poster above- just adding that I have no idea who the traffic lady is (other than an obsessive OCD person) but I'm talking about how reputation in a small town matters.

Alexandria is not a small enough town that everyone knows each other. I’ve heard that party story but I have no idea who it is about (and don’t care-it’s not one of my friends and has no impact in my life.) I’m sure she got dropped by her friend group, but it’s not like she wears a scarlet A and can’t walk down the street without people whispering. I’m sure their are gossipy people who spend their time on this, but no one I know in Alexandria is like this. Likewise, I don’t spend all my days complaining about traffic. Please don’t take these insane people (either side of the last few posts) as representative of the City!!

If you're a white, umc mom of rec sports playing kids aged 5-13, the world is very small. The further east you go, the smaller the circle.

UMC in Alexandria? Really? Not.

No? You think people buying 1.5 million dollar houses and sending multiple kids to 30k a year private schools are lower class? That's a privileged perch you're sitting on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:* I'm the poster above- just adding that I have no idea who the traffic lady is (other than an obsessive OCD person) but I'm talking about how reputation in a small town matters.

Alexandria is not a small enough town that everyone knows each other. I’ve heard that party story but I have no idea who it is about (and don’t care-it’s not one of my friends and has no impact in my life.) I’m sure she got dropped by her friend group, but it’s not like she wears a scarlet A and can’t walk down the street without people whispering. I’m sure their are gossipy people who spend their time on this, but no one I know in Alexandria is like this. Likewise, I don’t spend all my days complaining about traffic. Please don’t take these insane people (either side of the last few posts) as representative of the City!!

If you're a white, umc mom of rec sports playing kids aged 5-13, the world is very small. The further east you go, the smaller the circle.

Sounds like you have some good parties though!

Signed,
Married Man

My high school kid actually told me about this incident. The kids all talk about which mom did this, but no information on which dad. I pointed out the inherent misogyny in this gossip. I am not making this up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:* I'm the poster above- just adding that I have no idea who the traffic lady is (other than an obsessive OCD person) but I'm talking about how reputation in a small town matters.

Alexandria is not a small enough town that everyone knows each other. I’ve heard that party story but I have no idea who it is about (and don’t care-it’s not one of my friends and has no impact in my life.) I’m sure she got dropped by her friend group, but it’s not like she wears a scarlet A and can’t walk down the street without people whispering. I’m sure their are gossipy people who spend their time on this, but no one I know in Alexandria is like this. Likewise, I don’t spend all my days complaining about traffic. Please don’t take these insane people (either side of the last few posts) as representative of the City!!

If you're a white, umc mom of rec sports playing kids aged 5-13, the world is very small. The further east you go, the smaller the circle.

UMC in Alexandria? Really? Not.

No? You think people buying 1.5 million dollar houses and sending multiple kids to 30k a year private schools are lower class? That's a privileged perch you're sitting on.

+1

There’s a lot of income diversity in Alexandria, a lot more than McLean for example, but there are a LOT of families who live in 1.5-2.5M+ houses AND send their kids to 35K+ private school.

If you look at Redfin you’ll see a lot more houses in that price range in McLean but part of the reason for that is the larger turnover rate there. In Alexandria people tend to buy and stay forever. There are also a lot more custom builds in Alexandria than in McLean that never show up on real estate sites. The regulations on new builds prevents builders from building on spec like they do in Arlington, McLean, or Bethesda because it’s not as profitable, but the new builds exist, are charming (ie, fit into the neighborhood rather than sticking out), and are typically in the 2M range.

[Anonymous]

^ also in the 2M range you actually get a lot less “house” - like, A LOT less - in Alexandria than in Arlington or McLean. Crappier schools, small lots, smaller houses. BUT what you do get is proximity to Old Town and a vibe that is not “McMansion” (not that I have anything against McMansions).

[Anonymous]

We have friends there and it does seem like the vibe there is more old South than in other areas of the DMV. I also think old town is cute but as a northerner, Bethesda seems more like someplace I’d fit in. And the houses in Alexandria are smaller for the price. And I like a neighborhood where people go to public school. But I do wish downtown Bethesda was more like Old Town in feel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:* I'm the poster above- just adding that I have no idea who the traffic lady is (other than an obsessive OCD person) but I'm talking about how reputation in a small town matters.

Alexandria is not a small enough town that everyone knows each other. I’ve heard that party story but I have no idea who it is about (and don’t care-it’s not one of my friends and has no impact in my life.) I’m sure she got dropped by her friend group, but it’s not like she wears a scarlet A and can’t walk down the street without people whispering. I’m sure their are gossipy people who spend their time on this, but no one I know in Alexandria is like this. Likewise, I don’t spend all my days complaining about traffic. Please don’t take these insane people (either side of the last few posts) as representative of the City!!

If you're a white, umc mom of rec sports playing kids aged 5-13, the world is very small. The further east you go, the smaller the circle.

UMC in Alexandria? Really? Not.

No? You think people buying 1.5 million dollar houses and sending multiple kids to 30k a year private schools are lower class? That's a privileged perch you're sitting on.

+1

There’s a lot of income diversity in Alexandria, a lot more than McLean for example, but there are a LOT of families who live in 1.5-2.5M+ houses AND send their kids to 35K+ private school.

If you look at Redfin you’ll see a lot more houses in that price range in McLean but part of the reason for that is the larger turnover rate there. In Alexandria people tend to buy and stay forever. There are also a lot more custom builds in Alexandria than in McLean that never show up on real estate sites. The regulations on new builds prevents builders from building on spec like they do in Arlington, McLean, or Bethesda because it’s not as profitable, but the new builds exist, are charming (ie, fit into the neighborhood rather than sticking out), and are typically in the 2M range.

Seems like a lot of made-up assertions about Alexandria housing and residential churn there. Please provide the actual data to back them up. As far as I’m aware there are more expensive listings in McLean because there are more expensive properties there than in Alexandria.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:* I'm the poster above- just adding that I have no idea who the traffic lady is (other than an obsessive OCD person) but I'm talking about how reputation in a small town matters.

Alexandria is not a small enough town that everyone knows each other. I’ve heard that party story but I have no idea who it is about (and don’t care-it’s not one of my friends and has no impact in my life.) I’m sure she got dropped by her friend group, but it’s not like she wears a scarlet A and can’t walk down the street without people whispering. I’m sure their are gossipy people who spend their time on this, but no one I know in Alexandria is like this. Likewise, I don’t spend all my days complaining about traffic. Please don’t take these insane people (either side of the last few posts) as representative of the City!!

If you're a white, umc mom of rec sports playing kids aged 5-13, the world is very small. The further east you go, the smaller the circle.

UMC in Alexandria? Really? Not.

No? You think people buying 1.5 million dollar houses and sending multiple kids to 30k a year private schools are lower class? That's a privileged perch you're sitting on.

+1

There’s a lot of income diversity in Alexandria, a lot more than McLean for example, but there are a LOT of families who live in 1.5-2.5M+ houses AND send their kids to 35K+ private school.

If you look at Redfin you’ll see a lot more houses in that price range in McLean but part of the reason for that is the larger turnover rate there. In Alexandria people tend to buy and stay forever. There are also a lot more custom builds in Alexandria than in McLean that never show up on real estate sites. The regulations on new builds prevents builders from building on spec like they do in Arlington, McLean, or Bethesda because it’s not as profitable, but the new builds exist, are charming (ie, fit into the neighborhood rather than sticking out), and are typically in the 2M range.

Seems like a lot of made-up assertions about Alexandria housing and residential churn there. Please provide the actual data to back them up. As far as I’m aware there are more expensive listings in McLean because there are more expensive properties there than in Alexandria.

What? Just because you didn’t previously know something doesn’t make it “made up”.

You don’t have to believe me, I don’t really care, but I’ve been speaking with custom builders who work across nova. The demand for 2M+ houses in Alexandria is much greater than supply because of all the restrictions Alexandria has on both new builds and renovations. Most lots can’t even have a forward facing garage, and all lots have tight restrictions on the footprint of the house compared to lot size. Arlington and McLean don’t have those restrictions so you see a lot more houses being built on spec - and a lot more so-called McMansions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:* I'm the poster above- just adding that I have no idea who the traffic lady is (other than an obsessive OCD person) but I'm talking about how reputation in a small town matters.

Alexandria is not a small enough town that everyone knows each other. I’ve heard that party story but I have no idea who it is about (and don’t care-it’s not one of my friends and has no impact in my life.) I’m sure she got dropped by her friend group, but it’s not like she wears a scarlet A and can’t walk down the street without people whispering. I’m sure their are gossipy people who spend their time on this, but no one I know in Alexandria is like this. Likewise, I don’t spend all my days complaining about traffic. Please don’t take these insane people (either side of the last few posts) as representative of the City!!

OMG. That's horrifying. The poor wife/husband of those 2 cheaters...and, my god, their kidS!!! Gossip like that flies.

[Anonymous]

I will add that we’re looking for a lot in Alexandria and will likely spend 1-1.2 just on the house to tear down, then another 1.2 on the new house. But turnover in Alexandria is low, so even potential lots are unlikely to move anytime soon. People who love Alexandria really LOVE Alexandria, and the same simply cannot be said of McLean, Arlington, or Bethesda.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t get the Arlington hype either but it appeals to many. I love living near old town and we take part in traditions like the Scottish walk, st. Pattys parade and first night every year. Or did in months covid times I mean. It’s a wonderful place. I do think it’s the schools. Many don’t want their kids to be in schools with kids who have lower income or who aren’t white.

There are some very white schools in Arlington, but other countries around here have plenty non whites in all schools.

Quality of schools is not positively correlated to whiteness. That’s a dumb thing to say.

Totally agree with you, which is why when people talk about how "great" Arlington schools are, they mean "white." APS is a train wreck.

-APS parent

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:* I'm the poster above- just adding that I have no idea who the traffic lady is (other than an obsessive OCD person) but I'm talking about how reputation in a small town matters.

Alexandria is not a small enough town that everyone knows each other. I’ve heard that party story but I have no idea who it is about (and don’t care-it’s not one of my friends and has no impact in my life.) I’m sure she got dropped by her friend group, but it’s not like she wears a scarlet A and can’t walk down the street without people whispering. I’m sure their are gossipy people who spend their time on this, but no one I know in Alexandria is like this. Likewise, I don’t spend all my days complaining about traffic. Please don’t take these insane people (either side of the last few posts) as representative of the City!!

OMG. That's horrifying. The poor wife/husband of those 2 cheaters...and, my god, their kidS!!! Gossip like that flies.

“Think of the children!!”

What color pearls were you clutching when you typed this? People already think this area is full of boring, repressed, Puritanical prudes. Don’t give them any more ammunition.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:* I'm the poster above- just adding that I have no idea who the traffic lady is (other than an obsessive OCD person) but I'm talking about how reputation in a small town matters.

Alexandria is not a small enough town that everyone knows each other. I’ve heard that party story but I have no idea who it is about (and don’t care-it’s not one of my friends and has no impact in my life.) I’m sure she got dropped by her friend group, but it’s not like she wears a scarlet A and can’t walk down the street without people whispering. I’m sure their are gossipy people who spend their time on this, but no one I know in Alexandria is like this. Likewise, I don’t spend all my days complaining about traffic. Please don’t take these insane people (either side of the last few posts) as representative of the City!!

If you're a white, umc mom of rec sports playing kids aged 5-13, the world is very small. The further east you go, the smaller the circle.

UMC in Alexandria? Really? Not.

No? You think people buying 1.5 million dollar houses and sending multiple kids to 30k a year private schools are lower class? That's a privileged perch you're sitting on.

+1

There’s a lot of income diversity in Alexandria, a lot more than McLean for example, but there are a LOT of families who live in 1.5-2.5M+ houses AND send their kids to 35K+ private school.

If you look at Redfin you’ll see a lot more houses in that price range in McLean but part of the reason for that is the larger turnover rate there. In Alexandria people tend to buy and stay forever. There are also a lot more custom builds in Alexandria than in McLean that never show up on real estate sites. The regulations on new builds prevents builders from building on spec like they do in Arlington, McLean, or Bethesda because it’s not as profitable, but the new builds exist, are charming (ie, fit into the neighborhood rather than sticking out), and are typically in the 2M range.

Seems like a lot of made-up assertions about Alexandria housing and residential churn there. Please provide the actual data to back them up. As far as I’m aware there are more expensive listings in McLean because there are more expensive properties there than in Alexandria.

What? Just because you didn’t previously know something doesn’t make it “made up”.

You don’t have to believe me, I don’t really care, but I’ve been speaking with custom builders who work across nova. The demand for 2M+ houses in Alexandria is much greater than supply because of all the restrictions Alexandria has on both new builds and renovations. Most lots can’t even have a forward facing garage, and all lots have tight restrictions on the footprint of the house compared to lot size. Arlington and McLean don’t have those restrictions so you see a lot more houses being built on spec - and a lot more so-called McMansions.

What you just posted doesn't speak at all to the "turnover rate" in the two areas or whether there are more custom builds in Alexandria that never show up on real estate sites. All you're addressing now is why it's hard to build in Alexandria. There are also many custom builders in Arlington and McLean who work directly with buyers, don't set foot at all in Alexandria, and build a large number of new homes that never appear on MLS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I will add that we’re looking for a lot in Alexandria and will likely spend 1-1.2 just on the house to tear down, then another 1.2 on the new house. But turnover in Alexandria is low, so even potential lots are unlikely to move anytime soon. People who love Alexandria really LOVE Alexandria, and the same simply cannot be said of McLean, Arlington, or Bethesda.

You could not be more wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Flooding. I also like old town but the nearby neighborhoods seem to have major water issues during big storms. As sea levels rise it will only get worse. Initially I though flooding was isolated to old town but I have learned how wrong I was. Also, I like to live in an area with good public schools as a backup even though my kids don’t go to them.

OP here. This is good to know, I thought the problem was confined to old town. But it seems like places like Rosemont and Beverly Hills don’t have those issues, do they? And those neighborhoods seem really lovely and a short drive to old town (as I said I want a suburban feel but a quick drive to a downtown).

The issue is not so much the flooding of the streets, which does happen to a limited degree at the end of King St. The sewers back-up which pushes raw sewage into your house. My basement flooded with raw sewage several times when I lived in North Old Town. Two times it was bad enough that I needed to rip out drywall and carpet to fix it.

I moved. Not a problem where I live now.

Same thing happened to us in Beverley Hills. We also moved after refinishing our basement twice.