For Westchester New York Transplants Which neighborhoods are most similar in NoVA and MD?

[Anonymous]

i grew up in Westchester and my family and friends all live/lived in Scarsdale, New Rochelle, Larchmont, Mamaroneck and Bronxville. We metro train route without several transfers. We're open to commutable from Maryland too.

Alexandria 22307 and 22308 fit the budget of $700-$850K but there is something about it that we find depressing each time we look at homes there. I can't put my finger on what it iI is but each time we drive through there we gut instincts say no.

We like Del Ray, but houses in the area at that price are fixers or tear downs. We saw three in Arlington that we bid on but each went way over asking and needed a ton of work beyond modernizing i.e., structural, electrical work, landscaping, crab grass lawn and dangerous slate paths in need of repair. Same thing happened in Bethesda. Great house but again tons of work needed. We're in a temporary rental in Mark Center, don't feel comfortable there and it's a small apartment. Half of our belongings are in storage and we don't have that much. We're looking for a home with 3+ bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths and room for guests in one of the spare bedrooms or an office or finished basement where we can set up sleeper sofas or a trundle bed. I never expected how different it would be here from what I'm familiar with in NY. We didn't like Rockville or Silver Spring.

I miss walking to town to grab coffee or people watch. I miss meeting friends for a quick bite at the local eatery. I miss the charm of these areas.

Do any of my fellow Westchester transplants relate? Where did you relocate in the area? Any suggestions?

Thank you.

[Anonymous]

Vienna, Falls Church, Fairfax City, etc. in Virginia.

[Anonymous]

Takoma Park?

[Anonymous]

Garrett Park MD
Kensington MD
Both near commuter train stations

[Anonymous]

Hard to get what you want at that price point. This area just isn’t built around villages like that part of NY. I think you have to let go of the idea of replicating what you had in NY at that budget.

[Anonymous]

You get Old Town or Takoma Park. That’s it. We were New England transplants that suffered through 4 years in Nova. We finally threw up the white flag and went home.

[Anonymous]

You need to look at the effective cost of housing. Taxes in NoVa are much lower than in Westchester.

[Anonymous]

Have you adjusted your affordability to DC area property taxes? They are significantly lower than DC such that you can purchase a lot more house.

I am not sure what school district you are moving from - but from friends in Westchester in those areas they are paying more than double in property taxes than you do here - so you can probably afford $1K more a month in mortgage (~ 200K more house)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have you adjusted your affordability to DC area property taxes? They are significantly lower than DC such that you can purchase a lot more house.

I am not sure what school district you are moving from - but from friends in Westchester in those areas they are paying more than double in property taxes than you do here - so you can probably afford $1K more a month in mortgage (~ 200K more house)

Triple more like it.

[Anonymous]

I am from north jersey but felt the same when we moved here. above posters are right that you need to let go of the idea of replicating AND given the lower property taxes here we moved our budget up. we bought in chevy chase dc and are happy, although our 3 br house is older (with updated but not fancily done bathrooms and kitchen) and is on a busy street. however there is a great neighborhood feel, the kids walk to school and we can walk to restaurants, coffee, bookstore in about 20 min.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have you adjusted your affordability to DC area property taxes? They are significantly lower than DC such that you can purchase a lot more house.

I am not sure what school district you are moving from - but from friends in Westchester in those areas they are paying more than double in property taxes than you do here - so you can probably afford $1K more a month in mortgage (~ 200K more house)

As long as you choose to drive old or cheap cars, yes this is true.

[Anonymous]

This isn’t Westchester County. If that’s what you want, stay there.

Don’t be like my neighbor who has lived here for 10 years and complains nonstop about how this isn’t like Rhode Island. You’ll make yourself and those around you miserable.

[Anonymous]

Try Alexandria City 22302. We are in walking distance of great parks. A couple of restaurants and shops within a 5 minute walk. Very short distance from Del Ray (1.5 miles) and Shirlington (1 mile). We just bought in your price range after moving from DC. We thought it would feel less walkable but it actually has been more walkable than our old neighborhood (Hill East).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This isn’t Westchester County. If that’s what you want, stay there.

Don’t be like my neighbor who has lived here for 10 years and complains nonstop about how this isn’t like Rhode Island. You’ll make yourself and those around you miserable.

I’m from North Jersey and the way some people who moved here from there describe it is not the way I remember it. I never once regretted leaving myself. Took me about a day to forget about it. I think some people just want to make sure you know where they’re from.

[Anonymous]

That feeling is because Alexandria is definitely The South.
Also hybla valley and Mount Vernon / route 1 there have always been sketchy from a crime perspective.