Anonymous
Post 06/06/2012 17:26     Subject: Moving to Northern VA
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:We are moving from MD to northern VA. My husband will be working in Mclean, VA. His office is not in Tysons but near old dominion/dolley madison. Our house is going under contract today so we need to start looking. We want to rent a place for a year or two first before we buy. Our budget for renting is under $3K/month. I want my husband to have a reasonable commute. At MOST 45 minutes. We would like to rent a townhome or single family home in a location where we could eventually afford to buy (under 700K) because we don't want to switch schools. School is very important as my oldest daughter will be entering kindergarten this year. Any recommendations? I considered Mantua but there are no rentals there. Oakton seems a bit far. Vienna has some great elementary schools but some others are not that great. Mclean is ideal but we probably can't afford to buy anything there in the future.



OP, we moved to Va about 2 years ago, and rented. Bought in McLean. You DEFINITELY want to rent, and get a feel for the area, before buying. Your kid is young, so, I wouldn't worrying about trying to rent in a town you want to rent in. Renting under $3K will be tough, if you want a house. Sounds like you will rent a condo/TH.
Nothing will prepare you for the traffic. But if you already live close enough, you know that.
For commuting, REASONABLE is relative. Going from 1 side of McLean to the other in rush hour could take 45 minutes. Oakton/Vienna are not that far, offer good schools, and more affordable for you. Maybe Great Falls?


Where did you rent before buying in mclean?
Anonymous
Post 06/06/2012 16:04     Subject: Re:Moving to Northern VA
there are no BAD Vienna ES. How ridiculous. And if you are working in McLean, you could really easily live in Reston or Sterling and have an easy commute. Id check out the Barristers area of Vienna, off Lawyers before Hunter Mill. Houses in the 700s and 800s and Vienna ES/Madison HS.
Anonymous
Post 06/06/2012 15:47     Subject: Moving to Northern VA
Anonymous wrote:We are moving from MD to northern VA. My husband will be working in Mclean, VA. His office is not in Tysons but near old dominion/dolley madison. Our house is going under contract today so we need to start looking. We want to rent a place for a year or two first before we buy. Our budget for renting is under $3K/month. I want my husband to have a reasonable commute. At MOST 45 minutes. We would like to rent a townhome or single family home in a location where we could eventually afford to buy (under 700K) because we don't want to switch schools. School is very important as my oldest daughter will be entering kindergarten this year. Any recommendations? I considered Mantua but there are no rentals there. Oakton seems a bit far. Vienna has some great elementary schools but some others are not that great. Mclean is ideal but we probably can't afford to buy anything there in the future.



OP, we moved to Va about 2 years ago, and rented. Bought in McLean. You DEFINITELY want to rent, and get a feel for the area, before buying. Your kid is young, so, I wouldn't worrying about trying to rent in a town you want to rent in. Renting under $3K will be tough, if you want a house. Sounds like you will rent a condo/TH.
Nothing will prepare you for the traffic. But if you already live close enough, you know that.
For commuting, REASONABLE is relative. Going from 1 side of McLean to the other in rush hour could take 45 minutes. Oakton/Vienna are not that far, offer good schools, and more affordable for you. Maybe Great Falls?
Anonymous
Post 06/06/2012 12:55     Subject: Re:Moving to Northern VA
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Thanks. Do you know of any specific elementary schools in Vienna that are good?


I think they are probably all good. Might ask more questions before commiting to rent or buy in the Cunningham Park ES district; not saying it's bad, just that it's had issues in the past that led to its inclusion of a list of FCPS "priority schools." Cunningham Park doesn't qualify for Title I assistance, but was still deemed to warrant special attention.


As long as you're not within a block or two of the Vienna Park Apartments, you'll be fine. That is what makes CPES higher in FARMS and lower in test scores, there can be some parking/noise problems in the SFH areas immediately around the Vienna Park Apartments. With that said, some people are fussier about their FARMS and test scores than others.
Anonymous
Post 06/06/2012 11:04     Subject: Re:Moving to Northern VA
how about something like this?

http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/2041-Reynolds-St-Falls-Church-VA-22043/51780551_zpid/

There are bunch on zillow if you search by rentals, zip codes and 3+ bedrooms.
Anonymous
Post 06/06/2012 10:11     Subject: Moving to Northern VA
I agree with the other posters - some good suggestions here. (Oakton actually isn't too far, but the traffic between work and home might make it too far.) Definitely don't rule out Arlington, as we live in 22207 and have a very quick commute to Tysons/McLean up Old Dominion, but your money would probably go farther in Fairfax and the parts of Falls Church that 9:58 mentioned. (very tough to find something under $700K that's very big or very nice, as we learned last year.)
Anonymous
Post 06/06/2012 10:11     Subject: Re:Moving to Northern VA
Anonymous wrote:Thanks. Do you know of any specific elementary schools in Vienna that are good?


I think they are probably all good. Might ask more questions before commiting to rent or buy in the Cunningham Park ES district; not saying it's bad, just that it's had issues in the past that led to its inclusion of a list of FCPS "priority schools." Cunningham Park doesn't qualify for Title I assistance, but was still deemed to warrant special attention.
Anonymous
Post 06/06/2012 09:58     Subject: Re:Moving to Northern VA
Look at vienna/dunn loring woods area (22180). Also look at parts of 22043 that feed into Mclean HS, and 22046 (Falls Church). All have excellent schools and houses to be had for under 700k. There are a few houses under 700k in the 22101 older part of mclean, but that is more rare. I would even look at 22207 and 22213 zips of N. Arlington (the furthest west part). Those would be a really easy commute to old dominion in mclean.
Anonymous
Post 06/06/2012 09:56     Subject: Moving to Northern VA
Ditto the PP. To give you an idea of houses that would be in your (eventual) price range consider:

http://www.redfin.com/VA/Vienna/9207-Bois-Ave-22182/home/9365351

I'd definitely shoot for something in the Wolftrap ES district. It's supposed to be an excellent elementary school.
Anonymous
Post 06/06/2012 08:55     Subject: Moving to Northern VA
You can get an older SF or newer TH near Westbriar or Wolftrap ES for under $700,000. I think you could find something to rent near Westbriar - I see For Rent signs out occassionally around there. Its an easy commute to McLean, maybe 15-25 minutes depending on your exact location.
Anonymous
Post 06/06/2012 08:53     Subject: Moving to Northern VA
There are some rentals in the areas that feed Canterbury woods and Wakefield forest elementary schools, just across Little River turnpike from Mantua
Anonymous
Post 06/06/2012 08:50     Subject: Moving to Northern VA
There are some townhomes in Venna close to Tysons that I would guess go for about that. Look at homes that feed into Westbriar ES and Freedom Hill ES. If you live in a neighborhood that feeds into one of these schools, your husband's commute won't be bad at all.
Anonymous
Post 06/06/2012 08:45     Subject: Re:Moving to Northern VA
Thanks. Do you know of any specific elementary schools in Vienna that are good?
Anonymous
Post 06/06/2012 07:35     Subject: Re:Moving to Northern VA
$700K limit will keep you out of most SFH in McLean. I'd look in Vienna/22180 or Dunn Loring. Schools are fine and it's a better commute than Oakton.
Anonymous
Post 06/06/2012 07:23     Subject: Moving to Northern VA
We are moving from MD to northern VA. My husband will be working in Mclean, VA. His office is not in Tysons but near old dominion/dolley madison. Our house is going under contract today so we need to start looking. We want to rent a place for a year or two first before we buy. Our budget for renting is under $3K/month. I want my husband to have a reasonable commute. At MOST 45 minutes. We would like to rent a townhome or single family home in a location where we could eventually afford to buy (under 700K) because we don't want to switch schools. School is very important as my oldest daughter will be entering kindergarten this year. Any recommendations? I considered Mantua but there are no rentals there. Oakton seems a bit far. Vienna has some great elementary schools but some others are not that great. Mclean is ideal but we probably can't afford to buy anything there in the future.