Anonymous wrote:In the Madison distrct you are going to be competing with the tear down crowd. That price is not so available as it once was

Teardowns are at about the 500k level. Maybe 550K for a big lot. It is tight, but there is a market at 600-700K.

I'd look at Marshall, Madison and McLean.

In the Madison distrct you are going to be competing with the tear down crowd. That price is not so available as it once was

11:59 None of those schools are particularly close in to DC.

I think the best Fairfax schools that are also fairly close-in, in no particular order, are Marshall, Madison, McLean, Oakton and Woodson. The other schools PP's have named are good, but the commutes might be longer. (I've heard nothing but good things about Lake Braddock, South Coutny, West Springfield and Robinson, but I didn't consider them because they were too far out for me.) Fairfax HS is middle-tier but respectable and maybe not too far out.

Houses in the Northernmost part of Woodson and the Southernmost part of Oakton are probably close enough to Orange Line metro for a metro commute. McLean boundary, where I looked at a few houses, is pretty close-in and things tend to be a bit cheaper than houses in 22046 Falls Church.

Seriously, I don't want to derail by getting off on an obscure tangent, but I live between Braddock and Little River and drive my kid to Woodson every morning. I am getting on Little River from Pickett every day at 7:10ish and am on the Beltway on my way to work in about 5 minutes. The worst is the series of lights between Guinea and Woodburn, but that is not so bad. Occasionally I take Braddock for some odd reason and immediately swear not to ever do it again!

Also, the vast majority of neighborhoods that feed to Lake Braddock are deeper into Burke. Which can work if you are able to take the VRE downtown.

The other advantage to neighborhoods like Mantua (may not be able to get in there for <$700K though) is you're closer to the Vienna metro. But even from my neighborhood (Truro area) it's only ~15 minutes to the Vienna metro.

Anonymous wrote:

Look for something in the Lake Braddock pyramid. Yes, it is outside the Beltway, but it is a quicker commute to the Beltway than Woodson, and it is not as overcrowded as Woodson will be.

Really? The commute to 495 along Braddock or the roads further south is wretched compared to the commute on Little River. From the OP, she's looking at Sleepy Hollow and Lake Barcroft, so it sounds like she wants to stay near Highway 50 as well.

From Lake Braddock SS, go to Braddock Rd east, then (depending on where commuting to) take Wakefield Chapel Rd north or Ravensworth Rd north.

Absolutely beats the traffic from Woodson HS @ 236 & Pickett or 50 and Pickett going east.

I can take me 30 minutes along 50 to cross from Graham Road to Cedar Lane.

Look for something in the Lake Braddock pyramid. Yes, it is outside the Beltway, but it is a quicker commute to the Beltway than Woodson, and it is not as overcrowded as Woodson will be.

Really? The commute to 495 along Braddock or the roads further south is wretched compared to the commute on Little River. From the OP, she's looking at Sleepy Hollow and Lake Barcroft, so it sounds like she wants to stay near Highway 50 as well.

Look for something in the Lake Braddock pyramid. Yes, it is outside the Beltway, but it is a quicker commute to the Beltway than Woodson, and it is not as overcrowded as Woodson will be.

Where is your husband commuting to (and is it a stable job)- that range of $ is restrictive. Gl

We are in Falls Church (not FCC) now and would like to stay relatively close by. I've heard good things about Sleepy Hollow and Lake Barcroft but I don't know anything about the schools or if there are other neighborhoods we ahould consider.

Since you already live here, look at the section of Annandale with the boundaries of Braddock, Little River, 495, and Guinea Rd. So outside the Beltway, but barely.

This area goes to Frost/Woodson and is not far from where you currently live.

Your affordability also goes up outside of falls church city because taxes are much lower.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op here. Can you suggest some of those 10 or so pyramids that we should consider. Totally new to this and no idea where to start.

And under 700k is what we can afford. I'd love to be able to afford 1.5m but such is life.

Marshall, Madison, Oakton, Lake Braddock, West Springfield, McLean, Robinson...I know I am missing one or two.

South County is up and coming but far out.

Woodson.

Woodson is outside the Beltway.

If OP wants excellent inside the Beltway schools and homes, she should focus on McLean and Marshall pyramids. Langley is too expensive and not realistic.

I would look in the Shrevewood Elementary or North Springfield area if you want inside the beltway for that price.