Anonymous wrote:There is a large new house in McLean that keeps going up in flames. I think it might be the owner or bad luck but some have suggested that it is a local anti mcmansion posse that is targeting new homes.

Anonymous wrote:Seems pretty obvious that the "peculiar" poster: 1) bought a new house in a transitioning neighborhood; 2) didn't get along with the neighbors and may not get along well with anyone; 3) blames everyone else, labels them resentful and unstable, paints all of McLean with the same broad strokes; and 4) probably is herself the unstable person with issues. OP, please ignore the unhinged sounding posts -- most families in McLean you'll encounter, especially those with kids like yourself, are friendly and neighborly, whether you're in a neighborhood with sidewalks and similarly priced homes or one with a mix of newer and older homes (even some with, gasp, additions!).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would not waste a lot of time worrying about finding people who are "down to earth" in Arlington OR McLean. It's not some generally home to people scraping by, living off the land, or making a living with their hands. Most will work in professional jobs somewhere between DC and Reston. 22101 is definitely closer to DC and "downtown McLean" than 22102.

In the $1.2-$1.4 price range, I might focus on neighborhoods like Langley Oaks, McLean Hamlet and River Oaks in the Langley HS pyramid, and Chesterbrook Woods in the McLean HS pyramid. Generally, the properties in question would be 30-50 years old, with decent-sized yards, and very convenient to schools and shopping, but not particularly walkable.

OP again. I would love to find "down to earth" if I can. Thanks for your advice!

Well, naturally, but recognize that terms like "down to earth," "family friendly" and even "walkable" can be buzzwords that mean different things to different people around here. On DCUM, "down to earth" often is used when people living in one relatively affluent area seek to compare themselves and their neighbors favorably to others who live in more expensive areas. It doesn't necessarily mean folks who are utterly without pretense or always have your back.

Having lived all over NoVa and other parts of the East Coast, I'd have to say most people in McLean are not overtly friendly or outgoing, but instead quite reserved. However, kids (of which you note two), schools, and pets are all natural icebreakers, and most of our neighbors, at least, are pretty nice people when you get to know them, even if they/we aren't necessarily naturals at making small talk. I didn't really find Arlington any different when I lived there years ago.

In any event, I hope the neighborhood suggestions helped, and good luck with your search!

Interestingly, I lived in CHesterbrook Woods/Chain Bridge Forest for 7 years. It's in OP's price range, and quite nice. However, I didn't find people particularly friendly/neighborly. Not bad, just not super friendly. We now live on the Langley side, in a significantly more expensive neighborhood--and the people are much friendlier and more down-to-earth. In their Teslas and Maseratis. (Not even kidding.) It's kind of bizarre, you'd think it would have been the other way around. Point being, just buy a house you like, you really won't know about the neighbors until you move in.

Good Luck, and welcome to McLean!

Anonymous wrote:There is a large new house in McLean that keeps going up in flames. I think it might be the owner or bad luck but some have suggested that it is a local anti mcmansion posse that is targeting new homes.

Anonymous wrote:The only obsessed poster is the one who claims those in older homes are out there with pitchforks.

Anonymous wrote:There is a large new house in McLean that keeps going up in flames. I think it might be the owner or bad luck but some have suggested that it is a local anti mcmansion posse that is targeting new homes.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are some really odd people who eventually flame any thread about McL. The last poster is particularly unstable.

You must be right. Anyone who does not agree with you is "unstable". Your poor spouse.

OP, in the upper brackets, $2m-$4m, there are particularly nice people, nicer than you would expect, if you have anything in common with them. If not, then you don't, which is fine. You need to be where you fit in.

In the $1.2m-$1.4m range, you could do well, provided all of the houses were built at the same time. You do not want to be "the nice house", or "the new house", this is true anywhere, of course. There is resentment and bitterness anywhere, but could be exacerbated when surrounded by "better", real or perceived.

McLean, as anywhere (but perhaps more so) has its share of revisionists and poseurs, so be mindful, and you will be fine.

Notice I say "anywhere" and not "everywhere". GL. May you land a neighbor who is "stable".

Your posts really are very peculiar. Arlington, Falls Church and McLean all have many neighborhoods that are a mix of old and new homes. Most people who live there get along fine. If you rule out large swaths of NoVa based on some overblown fear that a long-time resident in an older home (whose property, by the way, will have greatly appreciated) will resent you, you are unnecessarily limiting your options in some very nice areas that are short commutes to DC and have excellent schools.

The people in the older houses are NOT friendly. They are resentful.

+10000

Why does everyone know this except the one obsessed poster?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think you can guess quite a bit about how friendly and social a neighborhood is ahead of time. For example, if there are sidewalks and people walking and biking a lot, you tend to run into neighbors more often. Similarly, if there are ¼ acre or ½ acre lots it's more likely to be social than a neighborhood with 1 acre lots and very high end homes. Do you see any kids playing in the yards? Is anyone doing their own yard work and gardening? Stop and talk to some people and ask them if there are neighborhood parties, book clubs, Halloween parades, etc. You can learn a lot.

If that is what you want. I looked at a neighborhood that was just like that, and I could tell that everybody was into everyone else' business -- I was looking at a house, didn't want to talk, and I thought, this neighborhood has too much buzz for me. I like the neighbors to keep a distance. Some people are like that.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are some really odd people who eventually flame any thread about McL. The last poster is particularly unstable.

You must be right. Anyone who does not agree with you is "unstable". Your poor spouse.

OP, in the upper brackets, $2m-$4m, there are particularly nice people, nicer than you would expect, if you have anything in common with them. If not, then you don't, which is fine. You need to be where you fit in.

In the $1.2m-$1.4m range, you could do well, provided all of the houses were built at the same time. You do not want to be "the nice house", or "the new house", this is true anywhere, of course. There is resentment and bitterness anywhere, but could be exacerbated when surrounded by "better", real or perceived.

McLean, as anywhere (but perhaps more so) has its share of revisionists and poseurs, so be mindful, and you will be fine.

Notice I say "anywhere" and not "everywhere". GL. May you land a neighbor who is "stable".

Your posts really are very peculiar. Arlington, Falls Church and McLean all have many neighborhoods that are a mix of old and new homes. Most people who live there get along fine. If you rule out large swaths of NoVa based on some overblown fear that a long-time resident in an older home (whose property, by the way, will have greatly appreciated) will resent you, you are unnecessarily limiting your options in some very nice areas that are short commutes to DC and have excellent schools.

The people in the older houses are NOT friendly. They are resentful.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are some really odd people who eventually flame any thread about McL. The last poster is particularly unstable.

You must be right. Anyone who does not agree with you is "unstable". Your poor spouse.

OP, in the upper brackets, $2m-$4m, there are particularly nice people, nicer than you would expect, if you have anything in common with them. If not, then you don't, which is fine. You need to be where you fit in.

In the $1.2m-$1.4m range, you could do well, provided all of the houses were built at the same time. You do not want to be "the nice house", or "the new house", this is true anywhere, of course. There is resentment and bitterness anywhere, but could be exacerbated when surrounded by "better", real or perceived.

McLean, as anywhere (but perhaps more so) has its share of revisionists and poseurs, so be mindful, and you will be fine.

Notice I say "anywhere" and not "everywhere". GL. May you land a neighbor who is "stable".

Your posts really are very peculiar. Arlington, Falls Church and McLean all have many neighborhoods that are a mix of old and new homes. Most people who live there get along fine. If you rule out large swaths of NoVa based on some overblown fear that a long-time resident in an older home (whose property, by the way, will have greatly appreciated) will resent you, you are unnecessarily limiting your options in some very nice areas that are short commutes to DC and have excellent schools.