Next we'll hear from the Greenbriar poster

*yawn*

Hi hilsmom, it's me stpickrell.

And yeah I was being sarcastic about how charming means either a nagging petty crime problem or terrible schools. I meant to say "why not."

Anonymous wrote:

22:52, 50 to 28 to 7 or 28 to Waxfarmburnolin isn't a terrible commute for your hubby in the AM. I agree it is horrid in the PM due to 50.

23:05, why live in a charming neighborhood with a petty crime and/or terrible school problem. The charming only comes if it's got either of those.

these are the same person - me.

My husband no longer commutes to Ashburn, but where we bought (further west on 50 right off of the Parkway) the worst part of his commute was 28. He could backroad most of it, and it was about 35 minutes most nights. Seriously, that jumbled road mess in the Fairfax City areas makes me twitchy, and I didn't think it would e the best way to start someone's day. Plus, it didn't make a lot of sense for my commute (which is to Southern Fairfax).

As for the 23:05 post, I was on your side. None of the neighborhoods we looked at had petty crime and/or terrible schools. However, I guess the post might be sarcastic re: the suburb haters who live in the sketchier parts of the city or arlington? Well, whatever - I enjoy our sub-$500K neighborhood in the NoVA burbs. Just wish we had waited one more year to when my husband made his job move - it would have opened more possibilities to us slightly closer (but only slightly). Don't get me wrong - I love our 'hood and our house. The extra gas expenses are making me twitchy, though ;P

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Both are a bit far

where else would you tell people who want a SFH under $500K to live, then?

I'm waiting....

Annandale

http://www.homesdatabase.com/homes-for-sale/VA/ANNANDALE/22003/8612-PAPPAS-WAY-82382293

Sure it's zoned to Woodson, but it is further from transit, shopping, etc. Not the DCUM dream life by any means (SFH, walkscore of 90+, access to transit, good schools, low price.)

Good point about Fairfax Boulevard being a zoo.

Burke more affordable?
22030: 55 properties under $500k
22015: 25 properties under $500k

22:52, 50 to 28 to 7 or 28 to Waxfarmburnolin isn't a terrible commute for your hubby in the AM. I agree it is horrid in the PM due to 50.

23:05, why live in a charming neighborhood with a petty crime and/or terrible school problem. The charming only comes if it's got either of those.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Both are a bit far

where else would you tell people who want a SFH under $500K to live, then?

I'm waiting....

Annandale

http://www.homesdatabase.com/homes-for-sale/VA/ANNANDALE/22003/8612-PAPPAS-WAY-82382293

which in terms of DC commuting, is just as "difficult" to access AFAICT

Express bus to the Pentagon is pretty quick. Alternatively the drive to DC is 45 minutes in morning rush.

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/280585.page

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Both are a bit far

where else would you tell people who want a SFH under $500K to live, then?

I'm waiting....

Annandale

http://www.homesdatabase.com/homes-for-sale/VA/ANNANDALE/22003/8612-PAPPAS-WAY-82382293

which in terms of DC commuting, is just as "difficult" to access AFAICT

Yes, these are your options in the sub-$500K SFH category within an hour of DC in NoVA - Burke, Fairfax, Springfield and Annandale. They all have their pros and cons. None of them are going to be quick commutes to downtown at rush hour. I would say the homes and schools are fairly comparable.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Both are a bit far

where else would you tell people who want a SFH under $500K to live, then?

I'm waiting....

Annandale

http://www.homesdatabase.com/homes-for-sale/VA/ANNANDALE/22003/8612-PAPPAS-WAY-82382293

Anonymous wrote:Everyone I know who lives in Burke absolutely loves it, the neighborhoods, the schools, the feeling that you are living away from the city but being so close at the same time.

The traffic is very easy, and you don't have to deal with the mess of 236/29/50 etc.

Yards are big, neighborhoods are tight, and the housing is great for the area. The trails are great. Drive just a bit in the other direction and you are practically in the country.

The Springfield metro and bus lines are easy to get to, and the VRE is convenient.

People in Burke/West Springfield love their area, so they are always happy to recommend it to others. Perhaps that is why people are always recommending the area.

had I known then what I know now, we would have looked a lot harder at this part of town. 9 months after buying to be halfway between our workplaces, my husband decided to quit his job in ashburn and go to work in stafford. sonuva....

Anonymous wrote:Both are a bit far

where else would you tell people who want a SFH under $500K to live, then?

I'm waiting....

Those of us in this situation know it is about trade offs. If you aren't willing to make the trade off on a SFH with a yard, then you trade off on the commute. These both have options to get to downtown - busses, VRE, etc. We are willing to take on slightly longer commutes in order to have more than a TH.

Everyone I know who lives in Burke absolutely loves it, the neighborhoods, the schools, the feeling that you are living away from the city but being so close at the same time.

The traffic is very easy, and you don't have to deal with the mess of 236/29/50 etc.

Yards are big, neighborhoods are tight, and the housing is great for the area. The trails are great. Drive just a bit in the other direction and you are practically in the country.

The Springfield metro and bus lines are easy to get to, and the VRE is convenient.

People in Burke/West Springfield love their area, so they are always happy to recommend it to others. Perhaps that is why people are always recommending the area.

FFX City poster - what's wrong with this house? Just curious.

http://franklymls.com/FX7433831

Both are a bit far

The housing stock in Fairfax is a lot more expensive than Burke, from what I remember from looking in NOVA. That's pretty much the entire reason.

Good question. I considered both with a sub-$500K budget. Not for long, as neither made a lot of sense for my husband's commute to Ashburn at the time. I actually went and drove around a neighborhood right next to GMU, though, while we were doing a preliminary "what can we afford" scan of the area. My biggest complaint with that neighborhood was that horrific traffic jumble that is the 29/50/236 area. I didn't think I could deal with that insanity.

to folks who have a budget of say $500k in Northern VA?

1. Lower RE taxes in Fairfax City.
2. Schools are comparable -- Both get 8 on GS. Fairfax is much smaller. Robinson does have a 50-point edge in SAT scores however.
3. Fairfax is much more accessible to transit, with the CUE buses getting folks on the Metro, and both run throughout the day. Burke has the VRE which runs only during regular commuting hours.
4. You have a small downtown area in Fairfax that lets some areas have walkscores in the 70s and 80s. Burke? Many fewer places with such walkscores.
5. Access to GMU and sporting/entertainment events, many parts of the city are on the edge of walkable to GMU. Burke, not so much.
6. Easier access to big box utopia of Fair Lakes and Fair Oaks Mall.

It does seem the DCUM life is easier to live in Fairfax City than in Burke.