Stretching to Buy a home

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's wrong with this?

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/5840-18th-St-N-Arlington-VA-22205/51697207_zpid/

The backyard is a parking lot for a post office, hardware store, and beer garden.

So it’s walkable. That’s a positive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's wrong with this?

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/5840-18th-St-N-Arlington-VA-22205/51697207_zpid/

The backyard is a parking lot for a post office, hardware store, and beer garden.

So it’s walkable. That’s a positive.

Exactly what I was going to say.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's wrong with this?

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/5840-18th-St-N-Arlington-VA-22205/51697207_zpid/

The backyard is a parking lot for a post office, hardware store, and beer garden.

So it’s walkable. That’s a positive.

Exactly what I was going to say.

Two jokers here. You know the dumpsters and running car of the back parking lot are a real problem, that’s why its FSBO b/c no realtor would list at that price

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also, I never said anything about slumming. We both grew up in places were homes are like $80k, but we are just trying to find a solution that gives decent schools, commute, and a pleasant house to live in. There is no disparaging old homes, except that they seem to cost almost as much as a new home if you want layouts and function from this decade.

If you cared so much about schools you’d be looking at McLean, BCC, Whitman, WJ, Langley and Churchill. Arlington schools are not in the same league as these and you’d get a much nicer house for your money.

OP. Agreed, those are much better schools, and we seriously considered it. But the extra time commuting was too hard a trade off, as we would see the kids about 10 hrs a week less than we do now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe you should consider moving away from Arlington? You could buy both of these for $975,000 or less (you could bid the second one down below $900,000) and be in the Bethesda-Chevy Chase HS district and walkable to Metro. A much, much better high school than anything you can find in Arlington and an easy commute to DC.

https://www.redfin.com/MD/Chevy-Chase/7411-Ridgewood-Ave-20815/home/10643922

https://www.redfin.com/MD/Chevy-Chase/4207-Stanford-St-20815/home/10642274

Before you knock the idea, I suggest taking a walk in that neighborhood. It's nicer and more charming than any neighborhood in Arlington at that price point, with better amenities nearby and better schools. You could make either of these houses shine with $300,000 or $350,000 and this budget would give you far more than enough to build an addition if needed.

We actually would prefer CCDC, but with higher income taxes its an effective $100k+ 30yr cost to live there, even with cheaper housing you come out paying as much or more.

Further we both work in Capital South so the commute from Arlington is much better

Any thoughts on living in Garrett Park or Kensington and taking a 20-30 minute MARC ride to Union Station and walking to Capital South?

This is much nicer than anything in this price range in Arlington, a 3 minute walk from MARC, community pool close by and better schools.

https://www.redfin.com/MD/Garrett-Park/4701-Waverly-Ave-20896/home/10501974

I love Kensington, and I actually used to take the MARC for years before kids. The problem is that is a long commute like about an hr between parking, riding, and walking. More importantly, the MARC has such lower frequency it makes commuting very stressful — run 5 minutes late and miss your train and you end up 30 minute delay. Our jobs are not punch in punch like that where we can just leave and say “got to catch train”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe you should consider moving away from Arlington? You could buy both of these for $975,000 or less (you could bid the second one down below $900,000) and be in the Bethesda-Chevy Chase HS district and walkable to Metro. A much, much better high school than anything you can find in Arlington and an easy commute to DC.

https://www.redfin.com/MD/Chevy-Chase/7411-Ridgewood-Ave-20815/home/10643922

https://www.redfin.com/MD/Chevy-Chase/4207-Stanford-St-20815/home/10642274

Before you knock the idea, I suggest taking a walk in that neighborhood. It's nicer and more charming than any neighborhood in Arlington at that price point, with better amenities nearby and better schools. You could make either of these houses shine with $300,000 or $350,000 and this budget would give you far more than enough to build an addition if needed.

We actually would prefer CCDC, but with higher income taxes its an effective $100k+ 30yr cost to live there, even with cheaper housing you come out paying as much or more.

Further we both work in Capital South so the commute from Arlington is much better

Any thoughts on living in Garrett Park or Kensington and taking a 20-30 minute MARC ride to Union Station and walking to Capital South?

This is much nicer than anything in this price range in Arlington, a 3 minute walk from MARC, community pool close by and better schools.

https://www.redfin.com/MD/Garrett-Park/4701-Waverly-Ave-20896/home/10501974

I love Kensington, and I actually used to take the MARC for years before kids. The problem is that is a long commute like about an hr between parking, riding, and walking. More importantly, the MARC has such lower frequency it makes commuting very stressful — run 5 minutes late and miss your train and you end up 30 minute delay. Our jobs are not punch in punch like that where we can just leave and say “got to catch train”

That house is beautiful. But, would you hear the train?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What's wrong with this?

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/5840-18th-St-N-Arlington-VA-22205/51697207_zpid/

i'd be concerned with that up that thing is going to be built right in front of it

[Anonymous]

https://goo.gl/maps/3hwYY7KocCUz45U19

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's wrong with this?

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/5840-18th-St-N-Arlington-VA-22205/51697207_zpid/

i'd be concerned with that up that thing is going to be built right in front of it

The Reed elementary school? Would it be that bad it’s mostly walkers.