You would have plenty of options near downtown Silver Spring or in Four Corners.

We live in a nice wooded neighborhood off University, with an easy walk to Sligo Creek, for under $400.

We are looking in the western fairfax/chantilly area for less than 600k. DH works right near Dulles and I mostly work from home.

Another vote for South Arlington.

Silver Spring and Takoma Park have lots of options in the under $600k range.

Anonymous wrote:OP, were do you work? How long are you willing to commute? Those factors really impact how much house you can buy.

We bought in Western Fairfax in 2012 for $550k. But, we work in Western Fairfax, so for us, it makes sense to live there.

This is where we live - we bought in 2011 for $455K. Our house would sell in the $525K-ish range now, I think. It's an older neighborhood, but it is friendly and walkable to many things, including highly rated schools. I can't complain.

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for the links to properties, even the ones that need work, lots of it!
For those of you who have already bought, what do you like about your neighborhoods?

NE DC PP here.

I like being only 2 miles from the Capitol, 1 bus ride from downtown, easy access to 295. All these make any commuting option I'll need very easy. I'm not in a good school zone but am very close to good public and charter options. We bike all over the place. Love being walkable to restaurants, library, pool, etc. Love being near Kingman Island and the Arboretum to walk the dog (and the kid).

I'm surprised more people haven't suggested Brightwood.

We bought a few years ago in the area where 16th Street Heights and Brightwood meet. We are very happy with our neighborhood. When we first moved in, it was quiet and it seemed like mostly older residents. But in the last two years or so, tons of young families and couples who are planning to start families have been buying nearby.

If you hate the rectangular brick boxes, which is what I have, there are lots of bungalows mixed in. Some will be just out of your price range, but maybe on the north side you could find a cute one.

We're kind of in a "no man's land" between Petworth and Takoma Park (and Silver Spring just a little bit further north) as far as retail and restaurants go, but the development has started. It's changed so much in the short time we've lived there. Like it or not, we do have the new Walmart in walking distance, along with a Rite Aid and two CVS's on Georgia Avenue. There are some small but cute restaurants and coffee shops in the area, too.

We're not close to a Metro, but we have easy access to the Georgia Ave., 14th Street and 16th Street bus routes.

I also like that I have easy access to other parts of the area via Military Road and Rock Creek Parkway.

I agree with the PP who suggested Fort Totten.

We ended up in Pimmit Hills in late 2010 with the >500K budget. Couldn't afford N. Arlington, didn't like S. Arlington, and DH refused to go further than West Falls Church. Took some time to warm up to it, but today we couldn't be happier. Short commute, great schools, wonderful amenities.

Anonymous wrote:in the same boat- first time buyer. i was the poster looking previously at the comstock townhomes at the hampshires.

I looked at those. Ended up going with one of the Dakota Crossing Townhomes though.

Anonymous wrote:We were in the buying under 600k crowd a couple of years ago. Wound up in West Springfield. DH is in a van pool that gets him to his DC office in 30mins. All in all, best decision we ever made. Good schools, affordable houses, backyard, friendly neighbors.

+1 look in Cardinal Forest - great place.

We were in the buying under 600k crowd a couple of years ago. Wound up in West Springfield. DH is in a van pool that gets him to his DC office in 30mins. All in all, best decision we ever made. Good schools, affordable houses, backyard, friendly neighbors.

Anonymous wrote:NE DC!

If you don't mind smaller. older rowhouses, check out the area east of the Ft. Totten Metro (20011 and 20017)--most are listed in the $300,000s. They're semi-detached, which means you only share one wall with a neighbor. There are some detached homes in 20017 closer to Brookland on Redfin.com that looked pretty nice.

We'll see how we fair in the OOB and charter lotteries, though--I don't have a lot of confidence in our in-bounds school.

http://www.redfin.com/DC/Washington/4860-Queens-Chapel-Ter-NE-20017/home/10100752
http://www.redfin.com/DC/Washington/5020-14th-St-NE-20017/home/10093160
http://www.redfin.com/DC/Washington/1427-Monroe-St-NE-20017/home/10093547

You don't get both houses for $499k or whatever they are asking. That's the price for EACH side. I'm an agent, I have tons of clients who have looked at the 1425 house which has been listed forever. It was originally listed in the $650K range. Even desperate buyers are not that stupid. Now they're selling both for a cool million. Hilarious.

Anonymous wrote:OP, were do you work? How long are you willing to commute? Those factors really impact how much house you can buy.

We bought in Western Fairfax in 2012 for $550k. But, we work in Western Fairfax, so for us, it makes sense to live there.

OP I have not read all responses but wanted to let you know there is a park and ride in Springfield/Newington that has a bus to go to the Lorton VRE and other locations. The neighborhood is Saratoga - single family, townhomes and an apartment complex. We can walk to the local shopping center which includes several restaurants, a GIant grocery store, pet store and dance studio for instance. We are rnear a Costco and the beltway.

Only downside that most would focus on would most likely be the middle and high school... I consider them an opportunity to be a big fish in a small pond and staynoutside the u er competition of some of what ate considered the 'better' schools.

It's a great neighborhood...come check us out!

If schools are an issue, check out homes in the Clermont Elementary area, just below Franconia Road. It's highly rated elementary in Fairfax PS, and homes are affordable.

Here's hoping you have better neighbors than I did during my time in South Arlington (02-08).

Between the boarding houses, the drug dealer across the street, the immediate neighbors getting into screaming matches at 1am, and the people who didn't seem to like anyone further out than their first cousins ...

Yeah, stuff's changed. I guess.