OP, in that price range you need to move fast but there are options. I agree that you should look in the 22043/22027/22180 zip codes - focusing on the WFC and Dunn Loring area.

Here's one in McLean: https://www.redfin.com/VA/McLean/1930-Foxhall-Rd-22101/home/9474115

And one near Dunn Loring:
https://www.redfin.com/VA/Vienna/8232-Citadel-Pl-22180/home/9540255

And some under contract in your price range:
https://www.redfin.com/VA/Falls-Church/7424-Howard-Ct-22043/home/9471951

https://www.redfin.com/VA/Falls-Church/1927-Cherri-Dr-22043/home/9470712

https://www.redfin.com/VA/Falls-Church/6607-Orland-St-22043/home/9475263

https://www.redfin.com/VA/Dunn-Loring/7929-Tire-Swing-Rd-22027/home/9833878

Anonymous wrote:Pimmit Hills/22043 will give you a much better commute than Great Falls and Vienna. Also look at Dunn Loring, which is Vienna outside of Town of Vienna.

I live right on the edge of Tysons right now and really love it, but it's not for everyone. I would also live in Dunn Loring, Pimmit Hills, or probably even Great Falls before living in Vienna or McLean town areas. I HATE the feeling of the "fake small town vibe" present in both Vienna and McLean. It's just a bunch of roads with half as many lanes as they actually need, not enough parking (especially Vienna), pretty crappy local restaurant and stores (1-2 decent restaurants in each "town"...Bazin's on Church in Vienna is honestly the only semi decent restaurant there) and a bunch of glorified strip malls with chain stores made to look quaint. Like, welcome to the town of Vienna, we have a Chipotle, a CVS, a Giant, a Cava Meze, a Subway, some gas stations, four second rate asian restaurants and five bottom of the barrel american restaurants. So depressing.

Anonymous wrote:Check pimmit hills.

The top of OP's budget might not even get a smaller new build in Pimmit

Pimmit Hills/22043 will give you a much better commute than Great Falls and Vienna. Also look at Dunn Loring, which is Vienna outside of Town of Vienna.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP did you consider Arlington (better commute) or are you set on a SFH?

DP. North Arlington is more expensive than McLean and more competitive so I doubt they could get a sfh there. And the housing stock in Arlington is worse too.

That’s why I said “are you set on a SFH.” It would have to be a TH. And they have nice ones in N Arl for OP’s budget.

op, i’m +1 to the pimmit hills response

then Vienna

Vienna. Great falls you will be driving to everything and your kids will be on the school bus for a long time every day.

Anonymous wrote:OP did you consider Arlington (better commute) or are you set on a SFH?

DP. North Arlington is more expensive than McLean and more competitive so I doubt they could get a sfh there. And the housing stock in Arlington is worse too.

Great Falls Elem has Japanese immersion so if that is of interest for your kids I’d choose GF. Otherwise Vienna seems great. Some Vienna addresses are districted to Langley. You may be able to find some McLean houses at the top of your budget in some neighborhoods outside the Beltway.

I’d pick Falls Church/22043 over either Great Falls or Vienna.

OP did you consider Arlington (better commute) or are you set on a SFH?

Anonymous wrote:I'm not aware of any part of Great Falls where your kids can walk/bike to neighborhood friends and amenities. If you find one, then Great Falls is probably better. But we chose Vienna because we wanted to have a neighborhood and the interactions that come with that.

We live in Great Falls and our kids can (and do) bike/walk to the Village…

OP — We looked at both and picked Great Falls. Both places have a strong community feeling, and many community events. But they are otherwise very quite different. We find GF to be far more relaxed than Vienna. Much less traffic too, though one trade off is a longer commute into DC … although these days it’s only ~30-35 mins to NW.

Anonymous wrote:Both my DH and I work in NW DC.
2 small children going to be school age in a few years.

2 years in Vienna, when oldest starts school, move to Great Falls, with open option if it is hard to make. friends.

In your budget, if you are looking in the further-out areas of GF, then I would definitely prefer Vienna. But if you are able to be closer in or near the village, then I’d look at both and see which house and exact location you like the best.

Anonymous wrote:How is Great Falls possibly more affordable than DC or McLean? Have you been looking in Great Falls?

Umm...just do a redfin search with OP's price range. 25 sold in the past month. 3 currently on the market. You definitely get more for your money there compared to DC or McLean. You're also farther away from DC...trade-offs.