Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let me just debunk some of that "cannot afford" mythology that keeps going around in these forums. Whether you live in an affluent suburb or a very pricey city neighborhood, is not always about how much you can afford, both of these locales are expensive and some may argue equally expensive. It is about preference and it is also about how people perceive value. Some people value walkability, others value space and privacy and quality of home.

Also, well off people are often cheap and are looking for value even more so than their poorer counterparts. There are millionaires living in 500K homes and there are those who barely make their mortgage on their 1.5 mil homes. "can afford" is subjective. I know someone with the networth of 3 mil say they cannot afford to go over 800K on a home and I know people looking in a range of 1 mil who live paycheck to paycheck, because based on their paycheck, they "can afford".

Don't fool yourself. It's not equally expensive.
Per the Post To be considered part of the 1 percent in this area, it takes a household income far above the national average of $387,000. The gateway for the region is $527,000. In the District, the top 1 percent of households bring in at least $617,000; in Montgomery County, more than $606,000; and in Fairfax County, $532,000, according to an analysis of census statistics by The Washington Post and Sentier Research, a firm that specializes in income data.

So you need about $100k more to live in NWDC when compared with Virginia. That's why there are so many Virginia haters. They can't afford it.

You are missing the point. It's not about having vs. not having the money, it's about how one decides to spend the money that's there. If one has a networth of 3 mil, one can be considered able to afford a home for 2 mil. Would you say such a person is able to afford NWDC? After all majority of people actually go in debt to buy a home, e.g. their networth is negative. But having $X doesn't mean you want to spend $X on a house, having passive income to pay for private school doesn't mean you want to spend this money this way when there are options not to. Some people don't value NWDC that much to have to pay extra even if they have more than enough to cover this extra cost. And there are people who just don't like living in DC, period, for one reason or the other, but not money related reason.

Anonymous wrote:
Mmmm, sorry no. The beat up toyota trucks are found in the driveways of McLean, VA. The new BMWs are found in Georgetown, Dupont, Capitol Hill, Chevy Chase DC, AU Park.... and I could go on. Wishful thinking has the poster confused and disoriented.

Not the poster to whom you are resonding, but I am indeed confused and disoriented. The beat-up Toyota trucks are in Great Falls (in the four-car garages, together with the Masaratis), not McLean. And I thought everyone who lived in Georgetown, Dupont and Capitol Hill had a car-free lifestyle. Do they just keep their new BMWs parked in a garage somewhere and pay them visits every month or so to make sure there is still air in the tires?

Anonymous wrote:

McLean is hardly central.

Depends on what you consider the epicenter. McLean is halfway between DC and Tysons, the region's two main employment centers, and close to both National and Dulles, so it's an ideal location. Couldn't be happier with how nice our neighborhood is, and how easy it is to get other places.

Anonymous wrote:It's funny to read this thread, becomes so obvious what is the most trashed. I am getting convinced most of these posters are from Bethesda, since it gets the least amount of trashing seems like. So, is this the holy grail of DC metro these days?

Hi, Bethesda Troll.

It's funny to read this thread, becomes so obvious what is the most trashed. I am getting convinced most of these posters are from Bethesda, since it gets the least amount of trashing seems like. So, is this the holy grail of DC metro these days?

Anonymous wrote:
Don't fool yourself. It's not equally expensive.
Per the Post To be considered part of the 1 percent in this area, it takes a household income far above the national average of $387,000. The gateway for the region is $527,000. In the District, the top 1 percent of households bring in at least $617,000; in Montgomery County, more than $606,000; and in Fairfax County, $532,000, according to an analysis of census statistics by The Washington Post and Sentier Research, a firm that specializes in income data.

So you need about $100k more to live in NWDC when compared with Virginia. That's why there are so many Virginia haters. They can't afford it.

You are providing data about income and then reaching a conclusion about expenses. While you conclusion may be correct, it is not supported by your data. What the data illustrates is that more wealth is required to be in the top 1 percent in the District. To make a conclusion about expenses, you need data regarding cost of living.

Anonymous wrote:Like I said before, most of the central most expensive and desirable areas of DC metro get the trashing. All of these areas mentioned are expensive and desirable, e.g. they are all good. So, sometimes I want to say, people, be thankful you can afford living in any of these places! It's all good if you can make it in NWDC, or Mclean, or Arlington, or Bethesda, you did well, so pat yourself on the back and STFU.

McLean is hardly central.

Anonymous wrote:Let me just debunk some of that "cannot afford" mythology that keeps going around in these forums. Whether you live in an affluent suburb or a very pricey city neighborhood, is not always about how much you can afford, both of these locales are expensive and some may argue equally expensive. It is about preference and it is also about how people perceive value. Some people value walkability, others value space and privacy and quality of home.

Also, well off people are often cheap and are looking for value even more so than their poorer counterparts. There are millionaires living in 500K homes and there are those who barely make their mortgage on their 1.5 mil homes. "can afford" is subjective. I know someone with the networth of 3 mil say they cannot afford to go over 800K on a home and I know people looking in a range of 1 mil who live paycheck to paycheck, because based on their paycheck, they "can afford".

Don't fool yourself. It's not equally expensive.
Per the Post To be considered part of the 1 percent in this area, it takes a household income far above the national average of $387,000. The gateway for the region is $527,000. In the District, the top 1 percent of households bring in at least $617,000; in Montgomery County, more than $606,000; and in Fairfax County, $532,000, according to an analysis of census statistics by The Washington Post and Sentier Research, a firm that specializes in income data.

So you need about $100k more to live in NWDC when compared with Virginia. That's why there are so many Virginia haters. They can't afford it.

Let me just debunk some of that "cannot afford" mythology that keeps going around in these forums. Whether you live in an affluent suburb or a very pricey city neighborhood, is not always about how much you can afford, both of these locales are expensive and some may argue equally expensive. It is about preference and it is also about how people perceive value. Some people value walkability, others value space and privacy and quality of home.

Also, well off people are often cheap and are looking for value even more so than their poorer counterparts. There are millionaires living in 500K homes and there are those who barely make their mortgage on their 1.5 mil homes. "can afford" is subjective. I know someone with the networth of 3 mil say they cannot afford to go over 800K on a home and I know people looking in a range of 1 mil who live paycheck to paycheck, because based on their paycheck, they "can afford".

Anonymous wrote:most of the NW people who "made it" were handed down money or a house from their mommies and daddies and have no right to act like they can afford shit.

Half empty or half full. Wealth is still wealth.

most of the NW people who "made it" were handed down money or a house from their mommies and daddies and have no right to act like they can afford shit.

Like I said before, most of the central most expensive and desirable areas of DC metro get the trashing. All of these areas mentioned are expensive and desirable, e.g. they are all good. So, sometimes I want to say, people, be thankful you can afford living in any of these places! It's all good if you can make it in NWDC, or Mclean, or Arlington, or Bethesda, you did well, so pat yourself on the back and STFU.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC. Most of the posters are from the suburbs.

True. Most posters can't afford NWDC. The jealousy is so apparent.

LMAO! I live in McLean because it is OBVIOUSLY better. It's like comparing a beat up toyota truck from Afghanistan to a shiney, new BMW.

Mmmm, sorry no. The beat up toyota trucks are found in the driveways of McLean, VA. The new BMWs are found in Georgetown, Dupont, Capitol Hill, Chevy Chase DC, AU Park.... and I could go on. Wishful thinking has the poster confused and disoriented.

[

I think the outer exurbs are pretty much considered not even worthy of trashing on these forums.

Yes, that is exactly right.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC. Most of the posters are from the suburbs.

True. Most posters can't afford NWDC. The jealousy is so apparent.

LMAO! I live in McLean because it is OBVIOUSLY better. It's like comparing a beat up toyota truck from Afghanistan to a shiney, new BMW.

perfect timing. this is an example of someone who probably can't afford NWDC