Anonymous wrote:http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/2525-N-Nelson-St_Arlington_VA_22207_M52046-31117?row=9

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/1812-N-Randolph-St_Arlington_VA_22207_M50333-64701?row=25

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/4114-21St-St-N_Arlington_VA_22207_M64607-12603?row=37

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/3604-N-Albemarle-St_Arlington_VA_22207_M61081-07330?row=42

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/3021-N-Underwood-St_Arlington_VA_22213_M51581-98455?row=10

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/4535-25Th-Rd-N_Arlington_VA_22207_M66822-40746?row=30

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/3547-36Th-St-N_Arlington_VA_22207_M61505-49387?row=13

The houses built after 2000 are acceptable the others are pretty awful for that price. No wonder they are sitting.

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/2525-N-Nelson-St_Arlington_VA_22207_M52046-31117?row=9

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/1812-N-Randolph-St_Arlington_VA_22207_M50333-64701?row=25

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/4114-21St-St-N_Arlington_VA_22207_M64607-12603?row=37

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/3604-N-Albemarle-St_Arlington_VA_22207_M61081-07330?row=42

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/3021-N-Underwood-St_Arlington_VA_22213_M51581-98455?row=10

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/4535-25Th-Rd-N_Arlington_VA_22207_M66822-40746?row=30

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/3547-36Th-St-N_Arlington_VA_22207_M61505-49387?row=13

OP here: I should clarify that we don't mind new construction as long as it's well done. But I went to this open house this past weekend, and was pretty turned off by the carpeting instead of hardwood, hollow-core doors, odd kitchen design, etc.

http://www.redfin.com/VA/Arlington/2308-N-Upton-St-22207/home/11232642.

So we don't need old, but don't want new and cheap, and also are not big fans of large mansions next to tiny bungalows (which to be fair you can find in Vienna as well as Arlington!!).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know what kind of crack you people are smoking but here are some brand new homes in McLean at 1.5 million or less

http://www.redfin.com/VA/Mc-Lean/1725-Melbourne-Dr-22101/home/9403267

http://www.redfin.com/VA/Mc-Lean/1559-Mcneer-St-22101/home/9402496

http://www.redfin.com/VA/Falls-Church/2146-Lily-Pond-Dr-22043/home/9474440

http://www.redfin.com/VA/Mc-Lean/1556-Hunting-Ave-22102/home/9396294

Those are some real winners! $1.5M to be the largest house in the rambler neighborhood! Or to back on 267? Not my idea of a good buy at $1.5M. But smoke on...

The first three houses are in neighborhoods that already have many teardowns and new homes, as with much of McLean/22101, North Arlington or Vienna/22180. A new $1.5M house there won't be the largest house in a sea of ramblers.

I don't much like the look or location of the last house, but I think it's distinguishable from the other three.

Anonymous wrote:I don't know what kind of crack you people are smoking but here are some brand new homes in McLean at 1.5 million or less

http://www.redfin.com/VA/Mc-Lean/1725-Melbourne-Dr-22101/home/9403267

http://www.redfin.com/VA/Mc-Lean/1559-Mcneer-St-22101/home/9402496

http://www.redfin.com/VA/Falls-Church/2146-Lily-Pond-Dr-22043/home/9474440

http://www.redfin.com/VA/Mc-Lean/1556-Hunting-Ave-22102/home/9396294

Those are some real winners! $1.5M to be the largest house in the rambler neighborhood! Or to back on 267? Not my idea of a good buy at $1.5M. But smoke on...

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know what kind of crack you people are smoking but here are some brand new homes in McLean at 1.5 million or less

http://www.redfin.com/VA/Mc-Lean/1725-Melbourne-Dr-22101/home/9403267

http://www.redfin.com/VA/Mc-Lean/1559-Mcneer-St-22101/home/9402496

http://www.redfin.com/VA/Falls-Church/2146-Lily-Pond-Dr-22043/home/9474440

http://www.redfin.com/VA/Mc-Lean/1556-Hunting-Ave-22102/home/9396294

OP said she wants an older home.

Unless you are buying in DC there are no older homes worth 1.5 million and if there were it would be a rip off.

Anonymous wrote:I don't know what kind of crack you people are smoking but here are some brand new homes in McLean at 1.5 million or less

http://www.redfin.com/VA/Mc-Lean/1725-Melbourne-Dr-22101/home/9403267

http://www.redfin.com/VA/Mc-Lean/1559-Mcneer-St-22101/home/9402496

http://www.redfin.com/VA/Falls-Church/2146-Lily-Pond-Dr-22043/home/9474440

http://www.redfin.com/VA/Mc-Lean/1556-Hunting-Ave-22102/home/9396294

OP said she wants an older home.

Anonymous wrote:I don't know what kind of crack you people are smoking but here are some brand new homes in McLean at 1.5 million or less

http://www.redfin.com/VA/Mc-Lean/1725-Melbourne-Dr-22101/home/9403267

http://www.redfin.com/VA/Mc-Lean/1559-Mcneer-St-22101/home/9402496

http://www.redfin.com/VA/Falls-Church/2146-Lily-Pond-Dr-22043/home/9474440

http://www.redfin.com/VA/Mc-Lean/1556-Hunting-Ave-22102/home/9396294

http://www.redfin.com/VA/Mc-Lean/6918-Churchill-Rd-22101/home/9277580

I don't know what kind of crack you people are smoking but here are some brand new homes in McLean at 1.5 million or less

http://www.redfin.com/VA/Mc-Lean/1725-Melbourne-Dr-22101/home/9403267

http://www.redfin.com/VA/Mc-Lean/1559-Mcneer-St-22101/home/9402496

http://www.redfin.com/VA/Falls-Church/2146-Lily-Pond-Dr-22043/home/9474440

http://www.redfin.com/VA/Mc-Lean/1556-Hunting-Ave-22102/home/9396294

OP here, thank you everyone who replied! To answer a few questions, we live in a colonial, and would be looking to add a bathroom and perhaps bump out the upstairs. We both have family in NOVA, hence the reluctance to move to MD or DC. Those of you who suggested specific neighborhoods, thank you a lot, and we'll start driving around. I think we'll meet with an architect and see what we get in terms of bids, as well as do some research on moving. There are upsides and downsides to both...however, I do know that if we can add a little study or something, DH can work from home a day or two a week which alleviates a lot of the commute issues.

Thank you all so much again!!

^^oops just reread -- good luck finding a big older (how old?) home for sale with a nice back yard in Vienna right now that is closer in and not new.

Buy/renovate this one and then move:

MLS#: AR8307071

OP: If you like Vienna, it will be hard to duplicate that. Most people think that starting with a new home is a better move than any form of very expensive renovation unless you live very close in (which Vienna isn't) There are many new homes for sale in Vienna. Sadly, even $1.5M does not get you much in McLean/ Arlington. Unless you want to really spend for a 1970s reno or something near a big street. GL.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't waste 1.5 million on a old house. Buy a new for that price.

If you like the house, it's obviously not a "waste" to buy an older home. Many older homes clearly hold their value in this area.

Maybe in washington dc nw but not elsewhere.

You don't know what you're talking about.