Anonymous wrote:I'd look at Ashburn near the new metro station, especially the Moorefield Station area. You could get a large TH within your budget, walkable to metro, elementary school, and some retail. More retail is planned, but it will probably be awhile, to be honest. But there are playgrounds and lots of areas to walk and be outside. Lots of kids out playing, families walking their dogs, ect. Nice HOA pools. Metro to downtown about 1 hour (train ride itself, not including waiting for train).

Anonymous wrote:15:39 poster back again

In case you are interested in Prince William county, I will quickly explain "Manassas"

Certain parts of Prince William county are referred to as "Manassas." These areas are part of Prince William county, zoned for Prince William county schools, policed by Prince William county Police, etc.

There is also the "City of Manassas"--which is different. City of Manassas has it's own school system, it's own police force, it's own city government, etc.

There is also another city right next to Manassas along route 28, called "Manassas Park." That is also a completely separate city with it's own school system, own police force, etc.

Fun confusing fact: The high school for the city of Manassas is called "Osbourn high School." One (of the 13) High Schools in Prince William county schools is called "Osbourn Park High School.'
The two high schools are only about 2 miles apart.

AND...
Osbourn Park high school (remember, that's in "Manassas" that's part of Prince William county--NOT the city of Manassas) is literally right on the border of Manassas Park, the next street over is in Manassas Park.

I found this all very confusing when I first moved here.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lake Manassas in Gainesville, Va. Beautiful gated community with good schools.

Thank you! Parts of Manassas are still up and coming, right? So the area you're referring to must be very specific? Never been... Thank you!!

That’s not in Manassas. However highly recommend old town Manassas and the surrounding areas if you can deal with the schools.

Sorry - what do you mean? Lake Manassas isn't in Manassas? Definitely not willing to "Deal" with any schools. I want the best we can afford.

Re: the distance that some have mentioned...I'm willing to give a bit on the hour. An hour fifteen, etc. I'm assuming with this move that I will actually not be going in as much

Anonymous wrote:Lake Manassas in Gainesville, Va. Beautiful gated community with good schools.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:22307/22308 - the neighborhoods along the GW Parkway en route to Mt. Vernon. You can get a 3 brm house in the $700-$800K range (or lower if you're willing to consider a townhouse/duplex). I really think of it as a hidden gem in this area and am glad we found it. People are very friendly and down-to-earth around here.

Neighborhoods have great community feel and are so nice for kids/families. Kids run and bike around our neighborhood all the time with their friends. Our subdivision regularly hosts neighborhood events like Halloween parades, ice cream socials, etc. and I see signs for similar events in the other neighborhoods around here all the time. We don't belong to a pool but there are several pools around if you want to join them (Hollin Hills, Little Hunting Creek, etc.). Elementary schools are good, middle school (Carl Sandburg) seems like a crapshoot but frankly middle schools seem to be the low point for all school pyramids, and West Potomac as the high school is fine.

You can easily bike to Old Town up the Parkway bike path. There are also a couple of nice little shopping centers off Fort Hunt Road, Belle View and Hollin Hall, both of which have Safeways and a variety of other eateries/shops/drugstores. Speaking of variety, the Hollin Hall center has a variety store that is absolutely adorable and one of the things I love about this neck of the woods (https://alexandrialivingmagazine.com/business/hollin-hall-variety-store/)!

And the commute to DC is way better than Manassas or the like! You just go up the Parkway (Old Town is a bit of a pain to get through but especially if you carpool it's not bad; there's an HOV-2 lane during rush hour) or you can drive/park at Huntington and take the Metro.

This sounds lovely...but I can't find any houses there

Here are a few just under $800K. These might even ultimately go for under asking given the current market, we are already seeing some price drops around here.

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1501-Wake-Forest-Dr-Alexandria-VA-22307/51957838_zpid/
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1503-Cool-Spring-Dr-Alexandria-VA-22308/51985324_zpid/
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1014-Croton-Dr-Alexandria-VA-22308/51984502_zpid/ - this one is in the Waynewood Elem school district which people seem to really love especially

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:22307/22308 - the neighborhoods along the GW Parkway en route to Mt. Vernon. You can get a 3 brm house in the $700-$800K range (or lower if you're willing to consider a townhouse/duplex). I really think of it as a hidden gem in this area and am glad we found it. People are very friendly and down-to-earth around here.

Neighborhoods have great community feel and are so nice for kids/families. Kids run and bike around our neighborhood all the time with their friends. Our subdivision regularly hosts neighborhood events like Halloween parades, ice cream socials, etc. and I see signs for similar events in the other neighborhoods around here all the time. We don't belong to a pool but there are several pools around if you want to join them (Hollin Hills, Little Hunting Creek, etc.). Elementary schools are good, middle school (Carl Sandburg) seems like a crapshoot but frankly middle schools seem to be the low point for all school pyramids, and West Potomac as the high school is fine.

You can easily bike to Old Town up the Parkway bike path. There are also a couple of nice little shopping centers off Fort Hunt Road, Belle View and Hollin Hall, both of which have Safeways and a variety of other eateries/shops/drugstores. Speaking of variety, the Hollin Hall center has a variety store that is absolutely adorable and one of the things I love about this neck of the woods (https://alexandrialivingmagazine.com/business/hollin-hall-variety-store/)!

And the commute to DC is way better than Manassas or the like! You just go up the Parkway (Old Town is a bit of a pain to get through but especially if you carpool it's not bad; there's an HOV-2 lane during rush hour) or you can drive/park at Huntington and take the Metro.

This sounds lovely...but I can't find any houses there

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Check out Burke Station Square. Retail and restaurants close by and increasingly walkable with new paths. VRE directly across the street. Neighborhood pool is wonderful and the people are down to earth and kind

Hi neighbor! Another BSS resident who adores our neighborhood. We can afford more and originally planned on upgrading by now, but the neighborhood keeps us put because the people are so wonderful and the community is exactly how i want my kids to grow up!

Anonymous wrote:22307/22308 - the neighborhoods along the GW Parkway en route to Mt. Vernon. You can get a 3 brm house in the $700-$800K range (or lower if you're willing to consider a townhouse/duplex). I really think of it as a hidden gem in this area and am glad we found it. People are very friendly and down-to-earth around here.

Neighborhoods have great community feel and are so nice for kids/families. Kids run and bike around our neighborhood all the time with their friends. Our subdivision regularly hosts neighborhood events like Halloween parades, ice cream socials, etc. and I see signs for similar events in the other neighborhoods around here all the time. We don't belong to a pool but there are several pools around if you want to join them (Hollin Hills, Little Hunting Creek, etc.). Elementary schools are good, middle school (Carl Sandburg) seems like a crapshoot but frankly middle schools seem to be the low point for all school pyramids, and West Potomac as the high school is fine.

You can easily bike to Old Town up the Parkway bike path. There are also a couple of nice little shopping centers off Fort Hunt Road, Belle View and Hollin Hall, both of which have Safeways and a variety of other eateries/shops/drugstores. Speaking of variety, the Hollin Hall center has a variety store that is absolutely adorable and one of the things I love about this neck of the woods (https://alexandrialivingmagazine.com/business/hollin-hall-variety-store/)!

And the commute to DC is way better than Manassas or the like! You just go up the Parkway (Old Town is a bit of a pain to get through but especially if you carpool it's not bad; there's an HOV-2 lane during rush hour) or you can drive/park at Huntington and take the Metro.

Anonymous wrote:Check out Burke Station Square. Retail and restaurants close by and increasingly walkable with new paths. VRE directly across the street. Neighborhood pool is wonderful and the people are down to earth and kind