So where are all the nicer mid-century homes at?

[Anonymous]

Those families often get memberships at SHB&R or SHRA (the local pools) since they don't have lake privileges. Those homes are more 1960s subdivisions as opposed to MCM style.

[Anonymous]

Behind that preposition!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think what the OP is getting at is valid, and isn't a full-on attack of the DC area. The high priced homes in DC and the close-in suburbs are pretty nice. But that is the minority of the housing stock in the area. The bulk of the housing isn't too hot for the simple reason of timing: The best times in American house building were the 20's-30's, and then the 60's and early 70's. This area had its housing booms in the 50's, 80's, 2000's. The highest priced neighborhoods around here are populated with bungalows and craftsman styles from pre-1940, or with solid, handsome brick houses from the 60's. The lower priced neighborhoods are plain brick rectangles from the 50's and vinyl-siding split-levels from the 80's onwards. The OP has a point-- you have to have quite a bit of money in the DC area to avoid the brick rectangles and the vinyl siding. Other areas have a higher percentage of houses that are pre-war, or are 60's-70's brick low-lying ranches, because that is when those area experienced their housing booms. This is one of those factors that makes home buying any sort of budget in the DC area so frustrating. You are paying a lot, and not getting much of a house for the money, because there weren't that many great houses built in the area in the first place.

Spot on.

It's actually not close to being factually accurate.

ok, care to provide your own assessment of the situation?

[Anonymous]

Prices are a little higher in Lake Barcroft than the surrounding neighborhoods because you get access to the lake and the 5 sand-covered beaches with lifeguards and swimming during the summer and ice skating (at your own risk) during the winter. It's a tight community with a lot of events the biggest one probably being the Fourth of July parade and fireworks over the lake. If you want to check out a community event, there is an Earth Day event on Beach 5 on April 27. There will be boat tours, raptors, arts & crafts, food, bluegrass music, etc. On April 19 at 11am, is the 45th annual easter egg hunt where over 3,000 eggs are hidden on one of the beaches. I believe these two events are open to the public. Another one coming up in May is Sand Day and that is when the sand is delivered to the beaches. There is a celebration at one of the beaches that is planned by kids (helped my parents) and includes food, music, face-painting, and games (tug-o-war, penny pile, potato sack races, hula-hoop contest, etc.) on one of the beaches. I think that one may be residents and friends only though.

Here is the Lake Barcroft website (a new one is going to be launched very soon): http://www.lakebarcroft.org/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Prices are a little higher in Lake Barcroft than the surrounding neighborhoods because you get access to the lake and the 5 sand-covered beaches with lifeguards and swimming during the summer and ice skating (at your own risk) during the winter. It's a tight community with a lot of events the biggest one probably being the Fourth of July parade and fireworks over the lake. If you want to check out a community event, there is an Earth Day event on Beach 5 on April 27. There will be boat tours, raptors, arts & crafts, food, bluegrass music, etc. On April 19 at 11am, is the 45th annual easter egg hunt where over 3,000 eggs are hidden on one of the beaches. I believe these two events are open to the public. Another one coming up in May is Sand Day and that is when the sand is delivered to the beaches. There is a celebration at one of the beaches that is planned by kids (helped my parents) and includes food, music, face-painting, and games (tug-o-war, penny pile, potato sack races, hula-hoop contest, etc.) on one of the beaches. I think that one may be residents and friends only though.

Here is the Lake Barcroft website (a new one is going to be launched very soon): http://www.lakebarcroft.org/

The lake-front homes in Lake Barcroft are the most expensive in that area, but a typical home in Malbrook or Barcroft Woods typically will sell for more than a house in Lake Barcroft that's not directly on the lake, unless it's a really big house. Also, Malbrook feeds to Sleepy Hollow and Barcroft Woods feeds to Belvedere, which don't have the same issues with overcrowding as Bailey's, which is the assigned school for the northeast section of LB.

[Anonymous]

Does the typical family of a $1million+ owner in lake barcroft attend the public schools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does the typical family of a $1million+ owner in lake barcroft attend the public schools?

Not all, but many. It's not exactly a secret to prospective buyers that the schools are largely low-income Hispanic. You tend to see the higher-income families well represented on the PTAs every year.

And most of the homes in LB are more like $750K than $1 million or more in any event.

[Anonymous]

The lake-front homes in Lake Barcroft are the most expensive in that area, but a typical home in Malbrook or Barcroft Woods typically will sell for more than a house in Lake Barcroft that's not directly on the lake, unless it's a really big house. Also, Malbrook feeds to Sleepy Hollow and Barcroft Woods feeds to Belvedere, which don't have the same issues with overcrowding as Bailey's, which is the assigned school for the northeast section of LB.

There are some really nice houses on Malbrook and some of the surrounding streets off of Sleepy Hollow Road, but if you have two comparable houses, the one in Lake Barcroft would sell for more simply because it is part of the lake.

For example, this AWESOME mid-century house on Malbrook that is on 1.16 acres and just two or three houses outside of Lake Barcroft sold for $705,000. (This house is so beautiful in the Spring w/azaleas everywhere. The photos don't do it justice.)

Compare that to this house just around the corner (maybe 5 houses away but inside the Lake Barcroft neighborhood) that is a tad smaller and on .61 acres (s. 1.16) sold for $880,000. It has some updates but not $180,000 worth of updates.

And this one (http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/3424-Farm-Hill-Dr-Falls-Church-VA-22044/51848246_zpid/) directly behind the Malbrook house that sold for $828,000 or this one that sold a few years ago for $760,000 (http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/6208-Waterway-Dr-Falls-Church-VA-22044/51848214_zpid/) and would probably list for more now.

It's not that the houses are "better"--it's that people want access to the lake.

Bailey's overcrowding won't be an issue next Fall when the second campus (grades 3-5) opens.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does the typical family of a $1million+ owner in lake barcroft attend the public schools?

Yes, many of them do! It's a mix in the neighborhood of public, independent and parochial, but most kids in the neighborhood definitely go to the public schools. Many of the owners of the lake houses are older, but I can tell you on my street we have six $1m+ lake houses and three of the six houses have kids in the public schools or they just graduated from public school. The other three don't have adult children.

[Anonymous]

Why did this thread turn into lake barcroft?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

The lake-front homes in Lake Barcroft are the most expensive in that area, but a typical home in Malbrook or Barcroft Woods typically will sell for more than a house in Lake Barcroft that's not directly on the lake, unless it's a really big house. Also, Malbrook feeds to Sleepy Hollow and Barcroft Woods feeds to Belvedere, which don't have the same issues with overcrowding as Bailey's, which is the assigned school for the northeast section of LB.

There are some really nice houses on Malbrook and some of the surrounding streets off of Sleepy Hollow Road, but if you have two comparable houses, the one in Lake Barcroft would sell for more simply because it is part of the lake.

For example, this AWESOME mid-century house on Malbrook that is on 1.16 acres and just two or three houses outside of Lake Barcroft sold for $705,000. (This house is so beautiful in the Spring w/azaleas everywhere. The photos don't do it justice.)

Compare that to this house just around the corner (maybe 5 houses away but inside the Lake Barcroft neighborhood) that is a tad smaller and on .61 acres (s. 1.16) sold for $880,000. It has some updates but not $180,000 worth of updates.

And this one (http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/3424-Farm-Hill-Dr-Falls-Church-VA-22044/51848246_zpid/) directly behind the Malbrook house that sold for $828,000 or this one that sold a few years ago for $760,000 (http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/6208-Waterway-Dr-Falls-Church-VA-22044/51848214_zpid/) and would probably list for more now.

It's not that the houses are "better"--it's that people want access to the lake.

Bailey's overcrowding won't be an issue next Fall when the second campus (grades 3-5) opens.

Yes, my point was that many of the houses in the areas right outside Lake Barcroft are nicer than the houses inside LB, not that a comparable house in LB might not sell for more given the other community amenities. The lakes are fun.

As for Bailey's, the auxiliary will ease the overcrowding but some people will balk at sending their kids to schools at a converted office building in the heart of Seven Corners. Belvedere and Sleepy Hollow are traditional school buildings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why did this thread turn into lake barcroft?

Because it has one of the largest collections of mid-century modern homes in the region?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Yes, my point was that many of the houses in the areas right outside Lake Barcroft are nicer than the houses inside LB, not that a comparable house in LB might not sell for more given the other community amenities. The lakes are fun.

As for Bailey's, the auxiliary will ease the overcrowding but some people will balk at sending their kids to schools at a converted office building in the heart of Seven Corners. Belvedere and Sleepy Hollow are traditional school buildings.

Got it. I guess it's a matter of opinion on the houses being nicer, but I agree there are some really beautiful houses right outside of LB. I especially love Malbrook, Valley, and Juniper.

I agree that some people will balk although from what I've heard I think it will be an interesting school. Since it's the first urban school in VA apparently they want this one to be a model for others. We'll see how it goes. (My kids won't be there.)

Anonymous wrote:Why did this thread turn into lake barcroft?

Sorry about that!

[Anonymous]

To be brutally honest, I did not love any of the houses we looked at that fell into our budget. We ended up in a split foyer (gasp, I know) because of the location, decently recent kitchen, and walkability to elementary school when the time comes. I hated it at first. Full on hated it and even began working with my agent to move after only 2 years. Due to some personal family circumstances, we made the decision to stay and I can honestly say I like it now. With a small child, it has been great. I am never more than a half floor away and we use the bedroom downstairs as a playroom. The ceilings are pitched upstairs and the top point is 12 feet which makes it feel much more open and our neighbors are incredibly friendly. All of this is to say, that you might not love what you find but it is very possible to begin to really like it after awhile. (It also does not hurt that the housing prices have come up quite a bit in just a few years!)

Good luck in your search!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does the typical family of a $1million+ owner in lake barcroft attend the public schools?

Yes, many of them do! It's a mix in the neighborhood of public, independent and parochial, but most kids in the neighborhood definitely go to the public schools. Many of the owners of the lake houses are older, but I can tell you on my street we have six $1m+ lake houses and three of the six houses have kids in the public schools or they just graduated from public school. The other three don't have adult children.

Lots of TJ students as well in the Barcroft neighborhoods.