Anonymous
08/28/2024 03:03
Subject: What did you prioritize when selecting your current primary residence?
Anonymous wrote:For us first was budget: 450k max. That narrowed down our location choices a lot. Then A+ public schools were the second eliminating factor. Next, a safe, quiet neighborhood where we could afford a nice house. To me, nice = general good state with no inspection issues, not cramped, 4 bedrooms, a yard, no neglected houses in immediate surroundings.
So, given these parameters, did you end up choosing West Virginia, or did you go with Louisiana?
Anonymous
08/28/2024 01:58
Subject: Re:What did you prioritize when selecting your current primary residence?
We prioritized being close to my family member. She lives in my street and as an immigrant with a baby born in America, I was deathly afraid that if something happened to dh and I, our baby would be sent to an American foster family because she was an American citizen.
Next, I had a low budget. I could not work due to my visa status and we had to manage in the modern slahvery salary. We also did not have any credit history.
Lastly, I wanted a new home. We are not very handy and did not think that we could afford major repairs in an older house. We were happy with our new SFH that was plenty spacious for us.
As a result, I did not pay attention to commute or schools. These were pretty sucky but in the end everything turned out great.
Next, I had a low budget. I could not work due to my visa status and we had to manage in the modern slahvery salary. We also did not have any credit history.
Lastly, I wanted a new home. We are not very handy and did not think that we could afford major repairs in an older house. We were happy with our new SFH that was plenty spacious for us.
As a result, I did not pay attention to commute or schools. These were pretty sucky but in the end everything turned out great.
Anonymous
08/28/2024 00:23
Subject: Re:What did you prioritize when selecting your current primary residence?
Deal breakers for us were
1. Undesirable schools
2. Commute not manageable but we didn’t insist on short, bikable or walk to metro
3. Safety, low crime
4. Two close to equal bedrooms for kids
5. No major foundation, old knob and tube electrical or too much project work. Functioning hasn’t been updated in 40 years was fine.
6. No geo issues like in a flood risk, yard steeply sloping down into house, large drop offs, bolted to a hillside, high fire risk.
7. On a very busy road, no attached garage, hoarder house next door.
1. Undesirable schools
2. Commute not manageable but we didn’t insist on short, bikable or walk to metro
3. Safety, low crime
4. Two close to equal bedrooms for kids
5. No major foundation, old knob and tube electrical or too much project work. Functioning hasn’t been updated in 40 years was fine.
6. No geo issues like in a flood risk, yard steeply sloping down into house, large drop offs, bolted to a hillside, high fire risk.
7. On a very busy road, no attached garage, hoarder house next door.
Anonymous
08/27/2024 23:59
Subject: Re:What did you prioritize when selecting your current primary residence?
Affordability - didn’t want to buy the biggest house we could afford, is that called affordability
Diversity
No neighborhoods where people drive through only people living there will drive in… essentially a dead end neighborhood
Nowhere near stores/restaurants/rats
Creek and walking paths
Lake for fishing
Woods for adventures
30 min or less drive to work
Schools 1 step down from W schools so good but neighbors are friendly and not intense
Diversity
No neighborhoods where people drive through only people living there will drive in… essentially a dead end neighborhood
Nowhere near stores/restaurants/rats
Creek and walking paths
Lake for fishing
Woods for adventures
30 min or less drive to work
Schools 1 step down from W schools so good but neighbors are friendly and not intense
Anonymous
08/27/2024 23:56
Subject: What did you prioritize when selecting your current primary residence?
Anonymous wrote:We were buying last year and for us there were a few priorities (granted we ended up compromising on some).
1. Location: had to be close to DC and to work.
2. Walkable: had to be somewhere wirh things to do close by enough.
3. Good public transportation options.
4. Schools: Dont have kids yet but wanted a place with at least a good elementary school but preferably all three. Don't want to be I a position where we have to move when kids close to ES age.
5. SFH or a TH wirh an OK backyard.
6. Had to be under $1m/7k PITI.
Given that interest rates were at 7% and prices we had to compromise on the SFH point and get a TH. Also compromised on the schools. Our elementary and middle are decent but not amazing from what I can tell (Taylor and Hamm) and our HS (Washington Liberty) is bad from what I can tell (but again no kids yet so haven't done super thorough research into HS).
I live in Arlington (zoned to Yorktown) but have never thought Washington Liberty is considered a bad school. If the Arlington high schools I think Wakefield is the one that has gotten a bad rap.
Anonymous
08/27/2024 23:54
Subject: What did you prioritize when selecting your current primary residence?
We were newly married and knew we wanted to start a family soon.
1 - excellent schools
2 - location (commute, not on a double-yellow, good size yard for future kids to play in)
3 - size - number of bed rooms
Kids now out of college, and we are retiring in less than a year. Not sure where will move to
1 - excellent schools
2 - location (commute, not on a double-yellow, good size yard for future kids to play in)
3 - size - number of bed rooms
Kids now out of college, and we are retiring in less than a year. Not sure where will move to
Anonymous
08/27/2024 23:52
Subject: What did you prioritize when selecting your current primary residence?
Location (in particular close-in and walkable)
Good schools
House layout (we did lots of cosmetic updates, but we knew it had the general lay out we wanted)
Bedrooms on the same level (this goes with layout)
No HOA
Nice lot (flat, no weird quirks, not off a main road)
Half bath on the main level
Managed to get all this after multiple rounds of bidding wars circa 2018.
We did not care about things like square footage (a good layout can beat a house that is just large but poorly planned). Did not care about new construction or having a garage. In fact I would not buy a house with a garage as a focal point.
Good schools
House layout (we did lots of cosmetic updates, but we knew it had the general lay out we wanted)
Bedrooms on the same level (this goes with layout)
No HOA
Nice lot (flat, no weird quirks, not off a main road)
Half bath on the main level
Managed to get all this after multiple rounds of bidding wars circa 2018.
We did not care about things like square footage (a good layout can beat a house that is just large but poorly planned). Did not care about new construction or having a garage. In fact I would not buy a house with a garage as a focal point.
Anonymous
08/27/2024 23:44
Subject: What did you prioritize when selecting your current primary residence?
Location/commute
Sidewalks
Yard
Traditional style
Size
Cost
....we already decided to do private school, so didn't consider scho zoning.
Sidewalks
Yard
Traditional style
Size
Cost
....we already decided to do private school, so didn't consider scho zoning.
Anonymous
08/27/2024 23:38
Subject: Re:What did you prioritize when selecting your current primary residence?
Well if I had a young child or one already in school then yes school ratings would be in my top three.
But also location as well. 🏘️🏘️
But also location as well. 🏘️🏘️
Anonymous
08/27/2024 22:04
Subject: What did you prioritize when selecting your current primary residence?
schools and location - I wanted the best possible schools as close to D.C. As I could get while still being in the suburbs. Chose a SFH over a townhouse because I was moving from a townhouse.
Gave up newer, larger and more renovated. Gave up a bigger lawn and garage. At times I wish I'd gotten a newer townhouse vs the older SFh because we really don't use the lawn.
Gave up newer, larger and more renovated. Gave up a bigger lawn and garage. At times I wish I'd gotten a newer townhouse vs the older SFh because we really don't use the lawn.
Anonymous
08/27/2024 15:22
Subject: What did you prioritize when selecting your current primary residence?
Schools and proximity to transportation.
We compromised on size to stay within budget. We are a pretty small family, so that hasn't been terrible.
We compromised on size to stay within budget. We are a pretty small family, so that hasn't been terrible.
Anonymous
08/27/2024 15:16
Subject: What did you prioritize when selecting your current primary residence?
I'm the 15:14 PP, and when I say schools, I mean schools ALL the way through HS. I had a feeling we would not be interested in moving for a long time (and I was right).
Anonymous
08/27/2024 15:14
Subject: What did you prioritize when selecting your current primary residence?
13 years ago-- besides the budget, we prioritized:
-age of home (we had a bad experience with asbestos)
-nice looking, well kept neighborhood with walking trails/access to nature
-size (needed at least 3 bedrooms and 2 baths)
-schools
Things that didn't rank as high: TH v SFH; commute-- we already knew it would be ~1hr since we couldn't afford to live close-in; moot point now since WFH; updated kitchen/baths; garage
If we were looking now, I think we would keep the same priority list, but one more bedroom and a garage would be super nice to have!
-age of home (we had a bad experience with asbestos)
-nice looking, well kept neighborhood with walking trails/access to nature
-size (needed at least 3 bedrooms and 2 baths)
-schools
Things that didn't rank as high: TH v SFH; commute-- we already knew it would be ~1hr since we couldn't afford to live close-in; moot point now since WFH; updated kitchen/baths; garage
If we were looking now, I think we would keep the same priority list, but one more bedroom and a garage would be super nice to have!
Anonymous
08/27/2024 14:10
Subject: What did you prioritize when selecting your current primary residence?
Commute, budget, value for price and outdoor space. Schools aren't amazing (and if I could go back in time I'd look one neighborhood over for that reason), but we're in DC and the lottery has been somewhat kind to us so that's okay. Love the neighborhood and have put a fair bit of time/money into the house, but still could see myself moving in 5 years or so because we have another baby on the way and both parents work from home at least 80%. The house that was huge when we were two engaged people with a dog is now a bit tight with three generations and two jobs in it.
Anonymous
08/27/2024 14:03
Subject: What did you prioritize when selecting your current primary residence?
Walkability to Orange Line.