not at $250k yet but very close.

I SAH bought in 04 for $750k


mortgage $3,400

HHI $220K. Live in West Springfield (22152) in a SFH. $610K, 10% down.

We have one kid and feel very comfortable financially. Could always do better, but saving for retirement, college, and rainy day.

DH makes almost that, I SAH. We actually live in the Cascades part of Sterling. DH commutes 15 minutes to Reston. We are getting ready to rent out our TH and buy a SFH in the $650-$700k range, putting 20% down.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Rosemont in Alexandria - 550k for a 3 bedroom detached. We love it.

Damn! What year did you find that deal??

Probably in 2002

Nope, May of this year. There's a pretty good stock in Del Ray and Rosemont in the 550-650 range if you're patient.

Interesting. I've been watching that area like a hawk and haven't see much of anything. Give me some tips!

Arlington Ridge/Aurora Highlands neighborhood in South Arlington. Mortage is for $560K.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We lived in Burke when we were in Nova

yep. me too.

We did as well. It was by far the easiest commute DH has had in the D.C. area. No yucky metro. He just walked across the street and got on the clean, quiet VRE train. 35-40 minute commute. He used the time to relax, drink his coffee, catch up on emails....

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Rosemont in Alexandria - 550k for a 3 bedroom detached. We love it.

Damn! What year did you find that deal??

Probably in 2002

Nope, May of this year. There's a pretty good stock in Del Ray and Rosemont in the 550-650 range if you're patient.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Rosemont in Alexandria - 550k for a 3 bedroom detached. We love it.

Damn! What year did you find that deal??

Probably in 2002

Anonymous wrote:Rosemont in Alexandria - 550k for a 3 bedroom detached. We love it.

Damn! What year did you find that deal??

Anonymous wrote:The problem is that everyone has made money before the bubble the new owners got screwed and are stuck with the higher cost of living.

word. I kick myself for not taking my family member up on the offer in 2000 to borrow money for the purchase of a condo in arlington that I rented from her. At 23 working at a non-profit, $10K seemed like a LOT of money to pay back on top of mortgage. Little did I know! I could have walked away with over $150K after 3 years and had a really nice chunk of change to put down at 2003 house prices.

Oh, well, such is life. who knew?

The problem is that everyone has made money before the bubble the new owners got screwed and are stuck with the higher cost of living.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:McLean, 850K house but had a substantial downpayment from previous home (in 22043). Mortgage is $485K and we still feel stretched.

we have a $409K mortgage, which is just under $2300/month, on half your income. What is stretching you? I'm not trying to be mean - it is an honest question.

It's just a temporary stretch. We has some storm damage from the hurricane (but not the derecho - go figure), while doing renovations on the new house, while supporting my MIL, and we had a ton of unexpected medical bills this year. Our finances should be fine going forward but these things do happen and it's best to be prepared for the worst.

Anonymous wrote:McLean, 850K house but had a substantial downpayment from previous home (in 22043). Mortgage is $485K and we still feel stretched.

we have a $409K mortgage, which is just under $2300/month, on half your income. What is stretching you? I'm not trying to be mean - it is an honest question.

McLean, 850K house but had a substantial downpayment from previous home (in 22043). Mortgage is $485K and we still feel stretched.

Anonymous wrote:Wow, you all are incredibly disciplined. We took out a $530K mortgage when we were making $125K.

I'm the immediate PP. That would've been a scary proposition for us given we were also paying $27,000 a year in childcare.