Anonymous wrote:

No way would the OP find a SFH in Reston for 500K-hilarious!

see, this is where you are wrong. We looked at at least 3 SFH in Reston for less than $500K. Were they huge and beautiful? No. There was a neighborhood in Aldrin ES area that fell in that price range, but the houses were very oddly cut up. The other two were in South Reston and zoned to Terraset ES - both lacked decent yards, and one was a foreclosure that just required WAAAY too much money up front to fix it.

There is a lovely neighborhood right across the line in Herndon that zones to Armstrong ES called Stuart Ridge that has more traditional SFHs in her price range. We saw a couple really lovely homes there close to $400K.

Rent first. Look in Burke. Great community and very good schools.

Anonymous wrote:rent. $500K won't get you anything but a dump. Reston is not even considered the "DC area".

No way would the OP find a SFH in Reston for 500K-hilarious!

I agree lots of great suggestions here, but RENT. We are in yet another sellers market. Know what you want before you commit. This area is large and congested. Many of these schools are great, but you don't have kids, and you are apying a big premium for "good schools"

If you're willing to consider a townhouse, you could get something nice in the Fairlington/Shirlington area.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm not the Pimmit Hills lady -- but I would say Falls Church, in and around Shreve Rd, you may be able to get something.

here's something I found
http://franklymls.com/FX7968700

http://franklymls.com/FX7963103

That's not PH! But you're right. There are things in that area in the price range. Good schools and the area is turning over so I think prices will go up.

Sorry, those actually ARE PH, but there are others around Shreve Road (which is NOT PH) int he $500K range.

Anonymous wrote:I'm not the Pimmit Hills lady -- but I would say Falls Church, in and around Shreve Rd, you may be able to get something.

here's something I found
http://franklymls.com/FX7968700

http://franklymls.com/FX7963103

That's not PH! But you're right. There are things in that area in the price range. Good schools and the area is turning over so I think prices will go up.

OP, rent!!! I don't agree or disagree w 95% of the previous posters here; they mostly offer sound logic and advice. Yet if you try and digest it all, and come up with a plan of action, your head may explode. You see kids in the future. The future. I would bet you will move at least once before your first kid is 10. Rent, it will make the transition for you and spouse easier, and, it will allow you to get a better "feel" for each area mentioned. Why relocate and have to make the biggest financial decision in your life all at once?

I live in 22030 just west of the Fairfax City border off of 29. Used to work in OT and the commute was about 40 mins. One of the houses in my neighborhood just went under contract so I haven't seen the final selling price yet, but its last price was $515,000. We are likely going to be redistricted from FHS, but currently we are zoned there.