Anonymous
03/28/2026 22:39
Subject: Falls Church City, McLean, or N. Arlington?
Anonymous wrote:
It's nice if you like highway noise.
? Seems decently far from the highway.
Anonymous
03/28/2026 22:20
Subject: Falls Church City, McLean, or N. Arlington?
Anonymous
03/28/2026 22:16
Subject: Falls Church City, McLean, or N. Arlington?
Same. Great house. Should go $100-200K over asking.
Anonymous
03/28/2026 21:53
Subject: Falls Church City, McLean, or N. Arlington?
OP. I appreciate everyone’s input! We’ll plan to check out the commute times during rush hour and likely prioritize something on a less busy street for the two kids. It sounds like the schools are all pretty decent (although not sure if the Great Schools delta between McLean/Meridian/Yorktown and W&L is actually significant? But we have quite a few years before high school).
Anonymous
03/28/2026 21:39
Subject: Falls Church City, McLean, or N. Arlington?
Anonymous
03/28/2026 21:33
Subject: Falls Church City, McLean, or N. Arlington?
Anonymous
03/28/2026 21:31
Subject: Falls Church City, McLean, or N. Arlington?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:McLean blows and isn't near the metro. I'd go with N. Arlington.
There is a metro stop named “McLean.” It’s named that because it’s located in McLean.
It is also 2 or more miles from most SF homes in McLean and doesn’t have metro parking. It has $25 parking in the capital one garage.
I would suggest living in McLean near the Falls Church border, then you can drive to West Falls Church metro which has regular parking.
This is the answer. Reminds me of this house that there was a thread about, that sold a couple of weeks ago. Walking distances to WFC metro and under 1.5M, but sold in 2days. https://www.redfin.com/VA/Falls-Church/2315-Highland-Ave-22046/home/9482052
You and your agent have to be very on top of the "coming soon" MLS, these properties can pretty much sell overnight.
I'm a big fan of walkability, but isn't highway noise a problem with these properties that are close to metro? Once you get west of the Ballston station, all the metro stops are on highways, so you can't get walkability to metro without also having terrible highway noise.
Absolutely. We looked at one with a huge yard and bamboo. We could hear 495 clear as a bell.
Anonymous
03/28/2026 21:20
Subject: Falls Church City, McLean, or N. Arlington?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I'm not sure why everyone is assuming OP needs to live near a metro? I have never taken the metro to work. From Falls Church (FFX just outside FCC), my commute is usually 30-45 minutes by car. My employer pays for parking. I'd rather drive than metro, maybe OP does too.
OP. We don’t have to use the metro. Both our offices (Foggy Bottom and Farragut Square) have garages. But if the car commute is awful, then maybe metro proximity is something to consider.
I’d stick to the SFH neighborhoods flanking the orange line corridor in Arlington - you’ll be able to drive in 15 min without traffic and 25-35 during rush hour or take the metro if you prefer.
Not sure about budget - if you’re above $3 or close to it high 2s look at Waverly Hills, Cherrydale, Lyon Village, Ashton Heights, Lyon Park. Closer to $2-2.5 look at Bluemont. Closer to $1.5-2 look at a renovated / bumped out Arlington Forest home if it comes up.
PP here, apparently I can’t read and missed your $2M budget. Look at Bluemont.
Prices are not this high in real life unless you insist on 6000 sq ft or something. We recently bought in Lyon Park under $1.5. The $2-3 is just the giant boxy new builds.
Remember 6000 sq ft in a new build is really 2000 on the main floor and 2nd floor and a 1200 ft finished basement with a 800 sq ft loft thrown in. In many places in the US fully finished basements aren’t allowed to be counted in the sq ft for sales / taxes like they are around here.
There’s also VERY few sales in Lyon Park especially at that price point so idk why you’d dox yourself like that.
Anonymous
03/28/2026 21:15
Subject: Falls Church City, McLean, or N. Arlington?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I'm not sure why everyone is assuming OP needs to live near a metro? I have never taken the metro to work. From Falls Church (FFX just outside FCC), my commute is usually 30-45 minutes by car. My employer pays for parking. I'd rather drive than metro, maybe OP does too.
OP. We don’t have to use the metro. Both our offices (Foggy Bottom and Farragut Square) have garages. But if the car commute is awful, then maybe metro proximity is something to consider.
I’d stick to the SFH neighborhoods flanking the orange line corridor in Arlington - you’ll be able to drive in 15 min without traffic and 25-35 during rush hour or take the metro if you prefer.
Not sure about budget - if you’re above $3 or close to it high 2s look at Waverly Hills, Cherrydale, Lyon Village, Ashton Heights, Lyon Park. Closer to $2-2.5 look at Bluemont. Closer to $1.5-2 look at a renovated / bumped out Arlington Forest home if it comes up.
PP here, apparently I can’t read and missed your $2M budget. Look at Bluemont.
Prices are not this high in real life unless you insist on 6000 sq ft or something. We recently bought in Lyon Park under $1.5. The $2-3 is just the giant boxy new builds.
Some people want better schools than what you get in Lyon Park.
Anonymous
03/28/2026 21:11
Subject: Falls Church City, McLean, or N. Arlington?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I'm not sure why everyone is assuming OP needs to live near a metro? I have never taken the metro to work. From Falls Church (FFX just outside FCC), my commute is usually 30-45 minutes by car. My employer pays for parking. I'd rather drive than metro, maybe OP does too.
OP. We don’t have to use the metro. Both our offices (Foggy Bottom and Farragut Square) have garages. But if the car commute is awful, then maybe metro proximity is something to consider.
I’d stick to the SFH neighborhoods flanking the orange line corridor in Arlington - you’ll be able to drive in 15 min without traffic and 25-35 during rush hour or take the metro if you prefer.
Not sure about budget - if you’re above $3 or close to it high 2s look at Waverly Hills, Cherrydale, Lyon Village, Ashton Heights, Lyon Park. Closer to $2-2.5 look at Bluemont. Closer to $1.5-2 look at a renovated / bumped out Arlington Forest home if it comes up.
PP here, apparently I can’t read and missed your $2M budget. Look at Bluemont.
Prices are not this high in real life unless you insist on 6000 sq ft or something. We recently bought in Lyon Park under $1.5. The $2-3 is just the giant boxy new builds.
Anonymous
03/28/2026 18:38
Subject: Falls Church City, McLean, or N. Arlington?
People tend to understate their car commutes (or commute during hours that are not when most people commute), so I always recommend trying the commute yourself on a Monday through Thursday during the times you actually would do the commute.
Anonymous
03/28/2026 18:30
Subject: Falls Church City, McLean, or N. Arlington?
From McLean to Foggy Bottom 16 minute drive with only 1 red light during non-rush hour. McLean is central to everything, has excellent schools, and top-notch malls.
Anonymous
03/28/2026 18:03
Subject: Falls Church City, McLean, or N. Arlington?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I'm not sure why everyone is assuming OP needs to live near a metro? I have never taken the metro to work. From Falls Church (FFX just outside FCC), my commute is usually 30-45 minutes by car. My employer pays for parking. I'd rather drive than metro, maybe OP does too.
OP. We don’t have to use the metro. Both our offices (Foggy Bottom and Farragut Square) have garages. But if the car commute is awful, then maybe metro proximity is something to consider.
I’d stick to the SFH neighborhoods flanking the orange line corridor in Arlington - you’ll be able to drive in 15 min without traffic and 25-35 during rush hour or take the metro if you prefer.
Not sure about budget - if you’re above $3 or close to it high 2s look at Waverly Hills, Cherrydale, Lyon Village, Ashton Heights, Lyon Park. Closer to $2-2.5 look at Bluemont. Closer to $1.5-2 look at a renovated / bumped out Arlington Forest home if it comes up.
PP here, apparently I can’t read and missed your $2M budget. Look at Bluemont.
Anonymous
03/28/2026 18:01
Subject: Falls Church City, McLean, or N. Arlington?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I'm not sure why everyone is assuming OP needs to live near a metro? I have never taken the metro to work. From Falls Church (FFX just outside FCC), my commute is usually 30-45 minutes by car. My employer pays for parking. I'd rather drive than metro, maybe OP does too.
OP. We don’t have to use the metro. Both our offices (Foggy Bottom and Farragut Square) have garages. But if the car commute is awful, then maybe metro proximity is something to consider.
I’d stick to the SFH neighborhoods flanking the orange line corridor in Arlington - you’ll be able to drive in 15 min without traffic and 25-35 during rush hour or take the metro if you prefer.
Not sure about budget - if you’re above $3 or close to it high 2s look at Waverly Hills, Cherrydale, Lyon Village, Ashton Heights, Lyon Park. Closer to $2-2.5 look at Bluemont. Closer to $1.5-2 look at a renovated / bumped out Arlington Forest home if it comes up.
Anonymous
03/28/2026 17:30
Subject: Falls Church City, McLean, or N. Arlington?
Anonymous wrote:I'm not sure why everyone is assuming OP needs to live near a metro? I have never taken the metro to work. From Falls Church (FFX just outside FCC), my commute is usually 30-45 minutes by car. My employer pays for parking. I'd rather drive than metro, maybe OP does too.
OP. We don’t have to use the metro. Both our offices (Foggy Bottom and Farragut Square) have garages. But if the car commute is awful, then maybe metro proximity is something to consider.