Any scoop on Great Falls, Va?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To what extent is the housing in Great Falls a job in and of itself? When I see homes there in architectural or decorating mags, I see homes near the river with ongoing erosion problems, specialty fixtures that require specialized repair people, and gardens that require a FTE staff member. How widespread are those issues?

I doubt that's widespread at all. The types of properties that get featured in architectural magazines are by nature unusual in terms of location and design. Most housing in Great Falls was built in recent decades and is similar to suburban housing elsewhere in NoVa, just on a much bigger scale.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I posted earlier about air quality...

No one wants to live next to a teardown or huge reno project on a tight lot or attached housing. That to be blunt would suck.

When househunting years ago there were places where I was clueless on my location. I assume many people posting have no idea exactly what is Mclean and what is great falls when on certain roads.

Of course they would like living next to a teardown, if the project were confirmation of how valuable their own property had become, the new house was an improvement over the house it replaced, and/or they liked the new house. Of course, construction is noisy, whether it's a teardown or new construction. But it usually takes a finite period of time.

Disagree. No one wants to be the nice house next to the crap house. But, in GF, it doesn't matter as much as say McLean, because in GF the lots are so much bigger. You don't live in GF to mind your neighbor's business.

I was reading "teardown" to refer to an older home that was already in the process of being torn down or was being marketed as such. And it's just fine to be in a nice house near an older, less expensive home if your neighbors are nice people who maintain their property. If the location is right, a newer house will go up eventually in due course.

Of course, people who can't deal with neighbors would be better off living on multi-acre lots where they never see them.

A rather enormous "if", no??!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I posted earlier about air quality...

No one wants to live next to a teardown or huge reno project on a tight lot or attached housing. That to be blunt would suck.

When househunting years ago there were places where I was clueless on my location. I assume many people posting have no idea exactly what is Mclean and what is great falls when on certain roads.

Of course they would like living next to a teardown, if the project were confirmation of how valuable their own property had become, the new house was an improvement over the house it replaced, and/or they liked the new house. Of course, construction is noisy, whether it's a teardown or new construction. But it usually takes a finite period of time.

Disagree. No one wants to be the nice house next to the crap house. But, in GF, it doesn't matter as much as say McLean, because in GF the lots are so much bigger. You don't live in GF to mind your neighbor's business.

I was reading "teardown" to refer to an older home that was already in the process of being torn down or was being marketed as such. And it's just fine to be in a nice house near an older, less expensive home if your neighbors are nice people who maintain their property. If the location is right, a newer house will go up eventually in due course.

Of course, people who can't deal with neighbors would be better off living on multi-acre lots where they never see them.

A rather enormous "if", no??!!

In our experience, no. But, of course, YMMV (and we looked at the condition of the neighboring properties before we bought a new house in our neighborhood).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Fairly isolated, lots of traffic, big lots, rural feel, no neighborhood feel and lots of rich people.

True. There is no community feel. No sidewalks and you will have to drive everywhere. Tons of traffice from west flows through local streets. A real big pain.

[Anonymous]

GF = septic tanks

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fairly isolated, lots of traffic, big lots, rural feel, no neighborhood feel and lots of rich people.

True. There is no community feel. No sidewalks and you will have to drive everywhere. Tons of traffice from west flows through local streets. A real big pain.

I think the people who post "you have to drive everywhere" like it's the ultimate insult ought to read the threads on various forums from people complaining about how awful service on Metro is and asking whether the system will eventually go bankrupt.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fairly isolated, lots of traffic, big lots, rural feel, no neighborhood feel and lots of rich people.

True. There is no community feel. No sidewalks and you will have to drive everywhere. Tons of traffice from west flows through local streets. A real big pain.

I think the people who post "you have to drive everywhere" like it's the ultimate insult ought to read the threads on various forums from people complaining about how awful service on Metro is and asking whether the system will eventually go bankrupt.

Lol. I suspect the people complaining about Great Falls don't actually live there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:GF = septic tanks

There are a few neighborhoods on sewer but yes this is true. Still love it anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I posted earlier about air quality...

No one wants to live next to a teardown or huge reno project on a tight lot or attached housing. That to be blunt would suck.

When househunting years ago there were places where I was clueless on my location. I assume many people posting have no idea exactly what is Mclean and what is great falls when on certain roads.

Of course they would like living next to a teardown, if the project were confirmation of how valuable their own property had become, the new house was an improvement over the house it replaced, and/or they liked the new house. Of course, construction is noisy, whether it's a teardown or new construction. But it usually takes a finite period of time.

Disagree. No one wants to be the nice house next to the crap house. But, in GF, it doesn't matter as much as say McLean, because in GF the lots are so much bigger. You don't live in GF to mind your neighbor's business.

I was reading "teardown" to refer to an older home that was already in the process of being torn down or was being marketed as such. And it's just fine to be in a nice house near an older, less expensive home if your neighbors are nice people who maintain their property. If the location is right, a newer house will go up eventually in due course.

Of course, people who can't deal with neighbors would be better off living on multi-acre lots where they never see them.

You are correct, and I used the wrong terminology. I don't like the new-builds sitting right next to the older homes. I get the concept of increasing the value/desirability of the neighborhood, so maybe it would be better to say I don't like the transition period? I used to live in McLean, before the new-builds became so prevalent. I lived in a cute little neighborhood that had a nice community feel. I loved to walk there. I went overseas for ten years, then came back and checked out my old neighborhood. Oh, my word! It was in transition. It was no longer cute, and I could not get a sense of it's "personality", if that makes any sense. Giant homes, tiny home, new homes, old homes, non-sensical additions... Not my thing. So I started to look elsewhere, and I found Great Falls. To a PP's comment, we are on public sewer and water, and threre is very little traffic that comes through our neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I posted earlier about air quality...

No one wants to live next to a teardown or huge reno project on a tight lot or attached housing. That to be blunt would suck.

When househunting years ago there were places where I was clueless on my location. I assume many people posting have no idea exactly what is Mclean and what is great falls when on certain roads.

That was my post. I would rather not live in a house where a close neighboring property is being torn down or renovated. What about being next to a rowhuse undergoing a 10 month reno? No need for me to live in close proximity to demo that looks like a twister hit the block. http://time.com/80720/tornado-south-alabama-mississippi-tennessee/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I posted earlier about air quality...

No one wants to live next to a teardown or huge reno project on a tight lot or attached housing. That to be blunt would suck.

When househunting years ago there were places where I was clueless on my location. I assume many people posting have no idea exactly what is Mclean and what is great falls when on certain roads.

That was my post. I would rather not live in a house where a close neighboring property is being torn down or renovated. What about being next to a rowhuse undergoing a 10 month reno? No need for me to live in close proximity to demo that looks like a twister hit the block. http://time.com/80720/tornado-south-alabama-mississippi-tennessee/

Fairfax county zoning and permitting/inspections are quite good. They will make sure that doesn't happen and you can easily report or check on progress.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I posted earlier about air quality...

No one wants to live next to a teardown or huge reno project on a tight lot or attached housing. That to be blunt would suck.

When househunting years ago there were places where I was clueless on my location. I assume many people posting have no idea exactly what is Mclean and what is great falls when on certain roads.

That was my post. I would rather not live in a house where a close neighboring property is being torn down or renovated. What about being next to a rowhuse undergoing a 10 month reno? No need for me to live in close proximity to demo that looks like a twister hit the block. http://time.com/80720/tornado-south-alabama-mississippi-tennessee/

Fairfax county zoning and permitting/inspections are quite good. They will make sure that doesn't happen and you can easily report or check on progress.

But some of the add-ons are still hideous.

If you are in a new house, you do not want to live next to an old house, and maybe vice versa. Some old house owners are offended that the new builds reveal how small the old houses are, in terms of today's space.

I think the buyers who choose GF have dealt plenty with neighbors, and may very well be over it. No one need to know what the next house is eating for dinner. Of course, those types of neighbors would not admit to it. (See above who reports their neighbor - really?) Again, less looky loo losers in GF, perhaps.

OP, if GF appeals to you, weigh heavily the positive responses, and ignore those who think their communities are the be all and end all; because often, they are not. GLa dn enjoy your new house and new community!