Anonymous wrote:That is a tough commute from Springfield/Burke to DC.

It is really not bad. I solo drive every day and find 395 to be easy and quick about 90% of the time. When the HOT lanes come, it will be easier than many closer in spots. If public transit is for you, Sprongfield is great - metro and VRE are really easy options, is the slug lines

That is a tough commute from Springfield/Burke to DC.

Anonymous wrote:Come out to PG, OP!

This one could be super cute with a little TLC, in-bounds to a great elementary and walkable to green line -

http://www.homesnap.com/MD/University-Park/4003-Tennyson-Road

adorable home

Anonymous wrote:Where IS West Springfield, btw? What intersection or area is that? Sorry to be dense, but never been around that area, and I've seen West Springfield mentioned several times. Thanks!

When folks refer to West Springfield, they are talking about the homes that start right around Daventry and St. Bernadette's Catholic Church on Old Keene Mill Road (either side) that runs into Burke to the Burke Center Pkwy/Lee Chapel.

On the other side of West Springfield are the homes along either side of the Fairfax County Parkway from around Rolling Rd through Sydenstriker, Hooes, Huntsman to Lee Chapel.

The high schools are mostly West Springfield HS with some Lake Braddock.

The elementaries include West Springfield, Rolling Valley, Cardinal Forest, Keene, Orange Hunt, Hunt Valley and Sangster.

There are not many restaurants in West Springfield proper, but that has some plusses in that the area is nearly universally single family homes, with some nice townhome communities and very few apartment/multiple family dwellings.

The lots are roomy and wooded, there are parks woven throughout the neighborhoods, and the schools are universally excellent. Folks are neighborly. It is a little slice of Mayberry.

Best of all, the area is priced reasonably by DC metro standards.

Where IS West Springfield, btw? What intersection or area is that? Sorry to be dense, but never been around that area, and I've seen West Springfield mentioned several times. Thanks!

Anonymous wrote:Purcellville

Miserable commute

Looked at W Springfield today. Really impressed.
Putting in an offer and crossing fingers and toes.

Woodmore - Waterford development:
http://www.redfin.com/MD/BOWIE/0-HALLS-PURCHASE-Ln-20721/home/51677090

Arts District:
http://www.redfin.com/MD/Hyattsville/4406-Longfellow-St-20781/home/11756761

http://www.redfin.com/MD/Hyattsville/4541-Longfellow-St-20781/unit-CALVIN-MODE/home/45418864

PG County -
If the suburbs are your thing- Woodmore beautiful brand new homes, country club, golf, shopping, etc.
If you want to live in a walkable community, near two metro stations (and the future purple line) as well as a new Whole Foods- Arts District Hyattsville. There are older historic homes, bungalows, and the brand new EYA homes.

I have a friend in Cheverly in PG county which is a really cute area and inexpensive. Not sure about schools though.

Anonymous wrote:I can also recommend Silver Spring 20910. If OP's DH work is metro-accessible, you could consider SS. I would really hesitate to consider SS if you are locked into a car commute.

This house in SS is in the BCC cluster schools (right at your limit @ 599k):
http://www.redfin.com/city/26038/MD/Silver-Spring/real-estate#!min_price=500000&max_price=1250000&num_beds=1&v=8&sst=&lat=38.99499357079175&long=-77.04451757708808&zoomLevel=14®ion_id=26038®ion_type=6&market=dc

I drive every day from 20901. I get to work faster than my co-worker who gets on the Metro in DTSS.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP here. I know its already been said on this thread, but seriously, PG County is a great place to live and you can spend way less than 600K and get a great house with a yard very close in to DC.

Where in PG? We are tempted but I'm not familiar with the area and wouldn't know which areas to avoid. DH commutes to Old Town and I commute downtown. We have one toddler.

not the PP, but for you, I think West Springfield/Burke is a better option. Not putting down PG at all, just don't know if the commute from the better areas of PG to Old Town would be worth the trade off in house size/prices.

The decision is entirely up to you, though. Things have gotten better from PG to NoVA since the early 2000s when they finished the Wilson bridge construction (I know because I dated my husband when he was on Andrews AFB and I had to take that bridge back to my apartment in Huntington in the late 90s-that old bridge was MISERABLE).

It might also depend where in DC you are going to.

Anonymous wrote:NP here. I know its already been said on this thread, but seriously, PG County is a great place to live and you can spend way less than 600K and get a great house with a yard very close in to DC.

Where in PG? We are tempted but I'm not familiar with the area and wouldn't know which areas to avoid. DH commutes to Old Town and I commute downtown. We have one toddler.

NP here. I know its already been said on this thread, but seriously, PG County is a great place to live and you can spend way less than 600K and get a great house with a yard very close in to DC.

Purcellville