With that budget, the west Springfield and Lake Braddock pyramids are really excellent.

Go western part of the county: oak hill, Floris, lees corner, Crossfield, etc/ Carson Franklin, or Rocky Run/ Chantilly or Oakton. You can do 400k, but probably a townhouse. Definitely most affordable top tier schools in the county. Commute to Tysons under a half hour (I do it) but you need to be willing to go/ pay for the toll road. Second place on good schools/ affordable house would be Burke Don't know the schools as well.

Have you checked out the price of housing lately? Even a townhouse in the Carson/Franklin area is running over 4.

Are you ok withe a townhome?

Anonymous wrote:Looking to move into the area and need more info from real parents to discuss which es, ms, hs pyramid is the best and most affordable for our family.

Budget and commute ?

Go western part of the county: oak hill, Floris, lees corner, Crossfield, etc/ Carson Franklin, or Rocky Run/ Chantilly or Oakton. You can do 400k, but probably a townhouse. Definitely most affordable top tier schools in the county. Commute to Tysons under a half hour (I do it) but you need to be willing to go/ pay for the toll road. Second place on good schools/ affordable house would be Burke Don't know the schools as well.

You might get a house in Herndon. Otherwise, I'd suggest town homes in Reston. Elementary are all pretty good, avoid Dogwood.

If you're willing to look at $400s, rather than $300s, you'll find many more options in many good pyramids, both TH and SFH.

A decent townhome in the Irving MS, West Springfield HS pyramid might work for you.

If you are looking for a single family home, your budget is going to be difficult--even without considering schools. If you don't need the schools yet, I would find something that suits you and look to move in the future. The commutes are tough. No question of that. There are lots of townhouses that could suit you for now.

To get into the top 5 high schools you need a budget of at least 700k for a sfh (4 bed 2 bath). If you are willing to go into the western part of the county you probably need 550k min for a decent school (chantility or centerville). Tysons traffic is horrendous btw I live in falls church and I avoid it like the plague. Of course if you are ok with a fixer upper there are diamonds in the rough. Find a good agent that specializes in the neighborhood you want to live in. Or rent until you figure out where you want to invest your housing $. if I were you id be in oakton, good schools, decent commute, nice yards (a bit hilly tho) . You would need around 750k on the low end. Mclean is too much $

Anonymous wrote:What kind of housing are you looking for and what's your budget? Also how immediate do you need the ms and hs? Boundaries can change.

We haven't determined house budget because we are house hunting online. We are pre approved up to 500k, but we want to stick below 400k.

Ms and hs not immediate need, but daycare and es will be within a year.

Just don't really know anything about how fairfax county schools are clustered and where to house hunt in our budget and location for work commute.

What kind of housing are you looking for and what's your budget? Also how immediate do you need the ms and hs? Boundaries can change.

Anonymous wrote:Expect this thread to get detailed quickly.

OP, commute is a critical factor here, as is budget. Tell us more and we'll help you out.

<400k for home
HHI 110k to start, will be 150k but one if us has student loans (200k)
Work will be around the tysons corner buildings
We want less than a 20 mins commute if possible, but hear that traffic gets bad around rush hour am and pm

Expect this thread to get detailed quickly.

OP, commute is a critical factor here, as is budget. Tell us more and we'll help you out.

Looking to move into the area and need more info from real parents to discuss which es, ms, hs pyramid is the best and most affordable for our family.