22:15 PP - not true about the "easily accessible park." Chestnut Hills park is right there at Harrison St. and 27th - we can walk to it from Country Club. Rock Spring is probably walkable to the park, too. (also, I think most of the houses in that range would have updated kitchen and baths, unless they are a teardown candidate on a huge lot. Under $750K you might not get newer kitchen and baths, but you might.)

We had a similar budget and looked for TWO YEARS in Arlington with little luck in that price range. Inventory is really low and houses get snapped up even at that price point

If you have 1.2 million, the houses you are likely to want/expect in the neighborhoods you want cost more like 1.5+.

Your best bet for a true 1.2 million dollar house that is updated (vs. a 1.2 million 4 bed 1970s rambler in CC Hills or Arlingwood, or a 1980s house in Chain Bridge Forest) is to look in a hidden gem neighborhoods like Tara or Lacey Woods in 22205. They have new construction or renovations at 1.2-1.3 that pops occassionally. Tara is really nice (much nicer than what you will get for 1.2 in most of the 22207 zip) and the big park is right there and its Yorktown in some spots.

Country Club in 22207 (as opposed to CC HIlls) and Rockspring neighborhood also has some stock in 1.2-1.3 that is newer/nice (but with really small yards and no easily accessible park). Lee Heights tends to have some renovated inventory and is walkable to a cute shopping center, but its hilly so you will miss out on the yard.

Generally we found that 22207 (yorktown) will have more established neighborhoods but with houses that are outdated in that price range (i.e. original kitchen or bath). We were really trying to hold out for a gem in CC Hills or Chain Bridge, but they never materialized...

We finally bit the bullet and moved just over the border to McLean where we got a newer house with upgraded everything and a yard for our budget (inventory is low there too, but more nice houses with yards in that price range.

Anonymous wrote:All the old warehouses, lots, gravestone sellers, dingy buildings have been demolished or rehabbed in 22201. All of these are now luxury buildings--a few office with retail on street level. I agree it was pretty ugly and depressing prior to about 2005- but we moved back in 2011 and it is night and day. This rehab started in Clarendon and is pushing its way up the Boulevard. They are even remodeling the Metro station/upper area to accommodate the farmers market, etc. my brother lived here in the mid-90s and was visiting from Brooklyn and couldn't believe the changes. He commented she would definitely live here now. They are even building a million dollar dog park 1 block from the Metro with murals, trails and water features. Contrary to pps-- the SFH neighborhoods in this area were built in the 1920s-30s and aren't ugly ramblers and the are most definitely lots of trees in Lyon Park, Ashton Heights and LV. None on the strip-- yes. Farther out and Lee hwy, etc- ugly yes...but there are so many hidden gem neighborhoods which don't have Metro access but are pretty.

Why do people in Arlingon try so hard to make it sound nicer than it is? It is a very ordinary place built for mid-level government workers who were happy to have a job. There are no hidden gems there, only some places that are slightly less ugly than the rest.

You really should visit Chevy Chase or Upper NW if you want to see an attractive urban suburb.

I didn't read all the thread, but at that price point, you could buy in Cleveland Park DC (Eaton ES). Very good public schools (Eaton ES/Deal MS/Wilson HS), and a great neighborhood right by a Metro stop. You might also consider Woodley Park DC (school is Oyster-Adams Spanish bilingual, ES and MS), North Cleveland Park (Hearst ES), Tenleytown (Murch ES/Janney ES) or Friendship Heights (Janney ES). All great neighborhoods, great schools, and Metro. I lived in Cleveland Park for many years, and now live in North Cleveland Park. Can't beat the short walk to the Metro for my work near Union Station.

All the old warehouses, lots, gravestone sellers, dingy buildings have been demolished or rehabbed in 22201. All of these are now luxury buildings--a few office with retail on street level. I agree it was pretty ugly and depressing prior to about 2005- but we moved back in 2011 and it is night and day. This rehab started in Clarendon and is pushing its way up the Boulevard. They are even remodeling the Metro station/upper area to accommodate the farmers market, etc. my brother lived here in the mid-90s and was visiting from Brooklyn and couldn't believe the changes. He commented she would definitely live here now. They are even building a million dollar dog park 1 block from the Metro with murals, trails and water features. Contrary to pps-- the SFH neighborhoods in this area were built in the 1920s-30s and aren't ugly ramblers and the are most definitely lots of trees in Lyon Park, Ashton Heights and LV. None on the strip-- yes. Farther out and Lee hwy, etc- ugly yes...but there are so many hidden gem neighborhoods which don't have Metro access but are pretty.

PP here, trying again.


http://search.yahoo.com/r/_ylt=A0oGdSqTJaRQv2UAevdXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTE0bWFpMzM0BHNlYwNzcgRwb3MDMQRjb2xvA3NrMQR2dGlkA1ZJUDE0MV83Mg--/SIG=1194vteaj/EXP=1352963603/**http%3a//rosslynva.org/