Anonymous
Post 04/07/2014 13:05     Subject: Please weigh in-should we renovate or move?
Anonymous wrote:I loved this house on the market in FCC - it was listed for some time and just sold recently. Needs some updating, but I love the big rooms and the charm: http://www.redfin.com/VA/Falls-Church/502-Walden-Ct-22046/home/12033329


Now that is a money pit, built in 1898. You probably also need to pass 14 historic counsel boards to change the style of toilet paper holder in your bathroom.
Anonymous
Post 04/07/2014 13:04     Subject: Please weigh in-should we renovate or move?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't waste 1.5 million on a old house. Buy a new for that price.


If you like the house, it's obviously not a "waste" to buy an older home. Many older homes clearly hold their value in this area.


Maybe in washington dc nw but not elsewhere.
Anonymous
Post 04/07/2014 13:01     Subject: Please weigh in-should we renovate or move?
Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't waste 1.5 million on a old house. Buy a new for that price.


If you like the house, it's obviously not a "waste" to buy an older home. Many older homes clearly hold their value in this area.
Anonymous
Post 04/07/2014 12:58     Subject: Please weigh in-should we renovate or move?
I loved this house on the market in FCC - it was listed for some time and just sold recently. Needs some updating, but I love the big rooms and the charm: http://www.redfin.com/VA/Falls-Church/502-Walden-Ct-22046/home/12033329
Anonymous
Post 04/07/2014 12:55     Subject: Please weigh in-should we renovate or move?
Anonymous wrote:I don't think you'll find the same town feel that Vienna has. My kids are now teenagers and have been doing Vienna community events, sports, etc. since they were born. You'll get to know more and more people as your kids get older and get more involved in activities and you'll see what a tight knit community it is. The Vienna schools are excellent. I'm surprised the commute is so bad- my husband has been commuting for 18 years and doesn't seem to have a problem with it.


If OP is in the Wolftrap ES district, she probably doesn't live in the town of Vienna now.

We moved out of Vienna for a shorter commute and don't regret it. There are definitely things we miss, and we definitely would have stayed had we both been working in NoVa, but it's a much easier commute to DC and the schools and activities are just as good. There are also some quirky things about Vienna that we don't miss, but which you don't necessarily realize until you've been gone for a while.
Anonymous
Post 04/07/2014 12:53     Subject: Please weigh in-should we renovate or move?
I wouldn't waste 1.5 million on a old house. Buy a new for that price.
Anonymous
Post 04/07/2014 12:52     Subject: Re:Please weigh in-should we renovate or move?
We just did the same thing - moving from Vienna to FCC. Were originally looking in McLean & Arlington, but kind of stumbled on FCC. My advice is do a LOT of drive throughs of different neighborhoods (obvious, but important) ... we learned a ton about the area and where we'd be happy ... in particular, Arlington & McLean are very heterogeneous ... we're used to the orange-line thoroughfare in Arlington (and don't particularly care for the e.g., Lyon Village area) but the northern parts are really quite different. Likewise, McLean obviously has a reputation for wealth (some good & some bad resulting characteristics), but there are lots of little nooks that look a lot like Vienna.

Looking for the old house feel will be tough. I'm obviously biased due to our recent decision of FCC, but I found the housing stock in 22046 (we chose the Broadmont area) to be much more consistently 'old but good' than most other places we looked, but there were lots of really great-looking streets/neighborhoods in the eastern parts of Arlington & McLean too. Good luck!
Anonymous
Post 04/07/2014 12:51     Subject: Please weigh in-should we renovate or move?
How often do you walk down maple ave?

We live in McLean and drive down there quite often.

Point is that you can still go back to that area if you live near by.

A good plan would also be near a silver line development which will have new walkable amenities likes stores and restaurants.
Anonymous
Post 04/07/2014 12:49     Subject: Please weigh in-should we renovate or move?
Anonymous wrote:We live in Vienna, and love it. But the time has come to either do a major renovation (big $$-changing roof lines, and footprint of the house), OR moving closer in. DH works in DC, and his commute has always blown. Now with tysons becoming much more populated, we're both worried that it will be even worse (we live near Wolftrap Elem). We love our house, our neighborhood, preschool, etc, and don't really want to move, but...the headache of living through a big reno, the potential of having the nicest house in our HOA, and the current/future commute to DC all are pretty big negatives for staying put.

DH and I are making ourselves crazy trying to decide...what would you do in this situation? We have a 1 yo and a 3 yo, a big dog, and haven't ruled out the possibility of a third child. We can afford a nice house (1.5 mil), but both hate the new construction going up in tiny lots in arlington, and aren't crazy about the lack of "neighborhood" in mclean. Ideally, we'd love an older house with charm and a big enough backyard to really play in, with a great sense of community, but they seem to be in short supply right now, especially as you get closer in to DC. Thoughts? Thanks!


You have very young children. Wolftrap isn't in an area walkable to downtown Vienna so I assume you live in HOA with houses from approx 1970 . If you have a split with a carport-enclose it. How many beds and baths? At least 3 and 2? It would be foolish financially to do extensive extreior renovation to a house in that type of developement. Update -yes. Add a second full bath and remove paneling etc. Houses go quickly in your area because of the schools. Look in Mclean. Can DH commute on metro?
Anonymous
Post 04/07/2014 12:44     Subject: Please weigh in-should we renovate or move?
Anonymous wrote:I don't think you'll find the same town feel that Vienna has. My kids are now teenagers and have been doing Vienna community events, sports, etc. since they were born. You'll get to know more and more people as your kids get older and get more involved in activities and you'll see what a tight knit community it is. The Vienna schools are excellent. I'm surprised the commute is so bad- my husband has been commuting for 18 years and doesn't seem to have a problem with it.


No offense, but if you've been there for 18 years, how do you know that OP won't "find the same town feel" elsewhere? Seems you've really only got one point of reference, and I'm sure people in lots of areas would dispute your claim to the tight knit community throne.
Anonymous
Post 04/07/2014 12:42     Subject: Please weigh in-should we renovate or move?
I don't think you'll find the same town feel that Vienna has. My kids are now teenagers and have been doing Vienna community events, sports, etc. since they were born. You'll get to know more and more people as your kids get older and get more involved in activities and you'll see what a tight knit community it is. The Vienna schools are excellent. I'm surprised the commute is so bad- my husband has been commuting for 18 years and doesn't seem to have a problem with it.
Anonymous
Post 04/07/2014 12:40     Subject: Please weigh in-should we renovate or move?
How about tearing down and building new? You could do that on the budget you have.
Anonymous
Post 04/07/2014 12:39     Subject: Please weigh in-should we renovate or move?
Does the OP's husband not want Maryland, or just DC? Couldn't tell from her return post.
Anonymous
Post 04/07/2014 12:37     Subject: Please weigh in-should we renovate or move?
What about Woodside Park in Silver Spring? Red Line metro gets you straight to downtown. The commute by car is okay. Very neighborhood-y. Takoma Park is also lovely. 20912, esp. in the Piney Branch Elementary/Takoma Park Middle/Montgomery Blair High tier. You could buy TWO lovely historic renovated homes on leafy steets close to the TP farmer's market, co-op and the new restaurants for your budget. You'd have a smaller mortgage and a shorter commute. No brainer!

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/05/AR2010080507447.html

Anonymous
Post 04/07/2014 12:30     Subject: Please weigh in-should we renovate or move?
Anonymous wrote:Try Chevy chase md


OP already said her husband would not consider Maryland.