Noise can be an issue depending where you are… It seems to be very hit or miss. I am on a top floor and had additional insulation blown in with the cooperation of my downstairs neighbor… Helped a lot… The board president is terrific and has had the job forever and they are very smart with money and maintaining the property. Condo fees are relatively low compared to other developments in Northern Virginia. People do tend to keep to themselves… Not a lot of interaction with neighbors… Not that people are unfriendly but you're not having dinner at each other's houses either. Location is incredibly convenient. Probably not the best choice if you've got young kids or toddlers between the stairs etc. I have been very here....

Do any of these communities have shuttle buses to the nearest metro station?

We own a SFH just down the road from there and really love the area. It's super-convenient to pretty much everything--50, 495, 66, the W&OD trail, Metro, Tysons, Mosaic District, etc, etc. Have never had any issues with crime.

I used to live at Willow Point for seven years--sold when my son was an infant. LOVED living there but it really was not great for kids so we moved on. I will say that sound travels more than expected. I had lived in a number of apartments and I used to hear my neighbors ALOT in Willow Point. One of the major reason I left, between my kid screaming and the us hearing the neighbors was not workable for me. Overall felt really safe there, used to work out at Providence Rec center and run on the track at Falls Church High School. Loved being one light from beltway and close to everywhere. We did have our car keyed once and the police said it was gang related based on the design they etched in the hood. If you do live there only go for top level--I actually rented ground level for two years and then bought a top level unit. I would have died living on the lower level unit, I used to hear my neighbors constantly. The people above had hard wood and the racket was maddening. That being said thanks to Willow Point I had a huge downpayment for my forever home.

We live at the Lakeford community just north of the Willow Point condo development. It's a nice area but it's quiet. Not much to do. THere's lots of older folks. If they can spring for it in their budget have a look at the Lakeford community. The 2br condos go for about $300K, but it's waterfront property on a lake with a nice walking trail. People here are friendly. And, whenever a "For Rent" sign goes up, the place gets heavy interest, so it would be easy to rent out if they decide to move up to a SFH in the future.

From lakeford, access to Beltway and commuting is ridiculously easy.

I don't have kids and Falls Church HS never enters my calculus.

Now about Willow Point, it seems a bit more mixed demographics. The condos are cheaper than Lakeford.

We are considering buying a condo in either Willow Point or The Cove condos(they are at the intersection of Rt. 50 and 495). One daughter is coming home from the military, she works in health insurance, so would probably be at the new Pentagon Tricare headquarters right there. Daughter #2 is getting out of med school soon and is interested in several hospitals in the area, and Inova has a new cancer care center planned for a spot on Rt. 50, just to the west. Plus, we are also nearby. Does anyone live there, has lived there, know someone who does, or has? We like them because at least some of them(all of them?) have their own entrance to the outside, have a small outside space of their own, parking, and are very leafy with mature trees. Condo fees seem relatively low. Drawbacks are that Falls Church HS doesn't seem great, but they wouldn't have kids anyway. Also, not sure how "fun" that spot would be for them. Any thoughts in the area or these condos in particular? thanks.