OP, I would be aware of several items: biblical traffic around here, and this coming from a guy whom commuted into NYC for 20+ years. Sadly, Fairfax Cty is THE wealthiest county in the country. I would STONGLY suggest renting first, and seeing what it is like here, in terms of commuting, school needs, apt vs condo vs home.

Urbanturf's article doesn't include Virginia's car tax, which further increases the VA resident's tax burden.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:On average, it's cheaper to buy in Maryland (property taxes and state income taxes are cheaper too): http://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/the_cost_of_buying_revisited/5281

Are you smoking crack?

Maryland has much higher real estate taxes, income tax, closing costs etc... Maryland is the liberal taxing haven of our area.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/maryland-senate-passes-spending-plan-that-would-raise-taxes-for-first-time-since-2007/2012/03/15/gIQA8PwJFS_story.html?tid=pm_local_pop

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/readersrespond/bs-ed-gas-tax-omalley-20120316,0,1531486.story

this too http://www.helpsavemaryland.com/files/SB167Facts.pdf

There's really not much in these articles that contradicts the urbanturf article.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:On average, it's cheaper to buy in Maryland (property taxes and state income taxes are cheaper too): http://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/the_cost_of_buying_revisited/5281

Are you smoking crack?

Maryland has much higher real estate taxes, income tax, closing costs etc... Maryland is the liberal taxing haven of our area.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/maryland-senate-passes-spending-plan-that-would-raise-taxes-for-first-time-since-2007/2012/03/15/gIQA8PwJFS_story.html?tid=pm_local_pop

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/readersrespond/bs-ed-gas-tax-omalley-20120316,0,1531486.story

Perhaps you haven't read the urbanturf article. According to their analysis, the property tax in VA is higher, and the state income tax is higher as well---notice too the these numbers are calculated based on a place with less square footage in VA than in MD! Your "smoking crack" comment might be better directed at the author of the study, not the messenger.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:On average, it's cheaper to buy in Maryland (property taxes and state income taxes are cheaper too): http://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/the_cost_of_buying_revisited/5281

Are you smoking crack?

Maryland has much higher real estate taxes, income tax, closing costs etc... Maryland is the liberal taxing haven of our area.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/maryland-senate-passes-spending-plan-that-would-raise-taxes-for-first-time-since-2007/2012/03/15/gIQA8PwJFS_story.html?tid=pm_local_pop

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/readersrespond/bs-ed-gas-tax-omalley-20120316,0,1531486.story

this too http://www.helpsavemaryland.com/files/SB167Facts.pdf

Anonymous wrote:On average, it's cheaper to buy in Maryland (property taxes and state income taxes are cheaper too): http://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/the_cost_of_buying_revisited/5281

Are you smoking crack?

Maryland has much higher real estate taxes, income tax, closing costs etc... Maryland is the liberal taxing haven of our area.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/maryland-senate-passes-spending-plan-that-would-raise-taxes-for-first-time-since-2007/2012/03/15/gIQA8PwJFS_story.html?tid=pm_local_pop

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/readersrespond/bs-ed-gas-tax-omalley-20120316,0,1531486.story

How big a house do you need? And where is the commute to in DC?

This was our budget last summer. We wanted a SFH, so most of Reston was out, which was a bummer because we lived there for 8 years and really did love it. However, if you are willing to go TH, there are decent TH's in Reston for that budget. With Metro coming to Reston next year, the commute to DC should be less of a hassle than it currently is with the park and ride and Fairfax Connector bus portion. There was a cute neighborhood right across Fairfax County Parkway off of Lake Newport Drive called Stuart Ridge that we considered - it tracks to the same schools as the rest of North Reston (generally considered the "better schools" although I think this is all relative)

You might want to consider THs or small SFHs in Vienna or Oakton. I also wouldn't rule out Springfield, Burke, and some of the FFX County portions of Alexandria. Metro and VRE are decent commuting options, and you also don't want to rule out some of the direct busses to downtown or the pentagon.

We wound up looking just down Fairfax County Parkway. We bought in Greenbriar, on the same street as a great ES, which then is next to the MS (Rocky Run) and HS (Chantilly). We like this neighborhood a lot - good schools, walking distance to the shopping center and close to Fair Lakes and Fair Oaks. We have several parks in our community. Now, I don't have any idea how long the commute to downtown would be from here, but I do know there are busses that run on Stringfellow and on Rt. 50 and several park and rides nearby.

If you are willing to look in western Fairfax, we also looked in Chantilly Highlands/Franklin Farms (Oak Hill ES) and the Lees Corner ES area. You might also want to consider Waples Mill ES area and maybe even Navy ES. And I know people who commuted from Centreville into DC and were OK with the commuter busses to Vienna and then into the city.

Good luck - I know it is pretty daunting in this area with a "low" budget (insane that nearly half a million is low, right?), but it can be done. It won't be a mansion, but it also doesn't have to be a shack.

I love franklymls.com - type in some of the towns mentionned and the price range, and you might be pleasantly surprised at your options.