A couple things:

* The NoVa is for millennials, MoCo is over meme on here doesn’t play out in my experience. Older, established neighborhoods in both locations are full of aging boomers. There aren’t millennials living in SFHs in the Yorktown HS district in Arlington, McLean, Potomac, Glen Echo or Great Falls. Similarly, you see just as many young people at Mosaic as you do at Pike and Rose. If anything, if you’re looking to raise a family close in I’d argue that Bethesda and Chevy Chase are much better for families than close-in VA, like Arlington. Much better schools (BCC is a 9/10 compared to 7/10 Yorktown and 5/10 W-L) and downtown Bethesda is a much better place for teens than Clarendon because there aren’t as many young, drunk frat boys lurking around. Go both places on a Friday night and see where you’d rather have your kids hang out. There is a bigger network of private pools and clubs for families in Bethesda as well.

*MoCo is trying not to attract as much development as VA. Knocking it for not having as much job creation is odd. I’m sure if Arlington permitted mixed-use hi-rises along Lorcom Lane and Military Road it would lead to job growth, but would that be good for quality of life and make it more of a desirable place to live? Like PP said, MoCo is greener and more open. There’s a reason for that: purposefully limiting growth.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:VA is trending strong left and the next state elections will bring in a big wave of progressives and a Dem majority. The state has some sort of pro business reputation currently, most likely based on years of moderates, and developers basically getting what they wanted.. But that’s not always going to be so. Stay tuned. Change is in the air. And I agree with those who argue that some laws and policies need to be changed.

This is 100% true. Democrats ruin all prosperity and if they don't it turns into a SFO with no affordable housing and you have to kick feces out of the street as you walk.

fairfax county was 55 - 40 hillary - trump in 2016. Despite appearances, NoVA is not as hyperliberal as Maryland and DC

For references:
DC 90 - 4
MoCo was 75 - 19

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:as a fiscal conservative, I agree with the doomsday predictions of MoCo (or really any political jurisdiction run by liberals)*, but I bought in close-in MoCo because it's where my job is and the houses are nice and more affordable than elsewhere.

I expect 0 appreciation over time. Think being in Chevy Chase entitles me to not depreciate, but we'll see.

*CT, NJ, Illinois, Westchester County, Chicago, etc.

It's almost like people don't believe others can drive 30-60 minutes to a job in Virginia or something. Fact: People can get to work in Virginia and live in Maryland.

Yes, but then why put up with the crappy commutes, lack of jobs, deteriorating schools

Because if the housing prices in Arlington rise at 10 percent a year like the NoVa boosters claim, then Bethesda's 2% annual increase (and superior schools) makes the extra 20 minute commute more tolerable.

Said no investor ever.

What are you talking about? If Arlington gets too expensive, it becomes out of reach for a certain type of buyer and makes other areas more attractive.

Yes we call those people “poor minorities” and they will all end up in MoCo

Well there it is. The biggest difference between MoCo and NOVA. The racism.

Actually it is classism. Nobody has issues with wealthy minorities. the wealthiest of NOVA communities are full of them 42% of McLean high school are minorities. 80% of TJHS are minorities and you see whites trying their hardest and failing to get in. You are not going to see UMC white people lined up to live with poor whites in Manassas.

Anonymous wrote:VA is trending strong left and the next state elections will bring in a big wave of progressives and a Dem majority. The state has some sort of pro business reputation currently, most likely based on years of moderates, and developers basically getting what they wanted.. But that’s not always going to be so. Stay tuned. Change is in the air. And I agree with those who argue that some laws and policies need to be changed.

This is 100% true. Democrats ruin all prosperity and if they don't it turns into a SFO with no affordable housing and you have to kick feces out of the street as you walk.

Our jobs are in VA, so we moved to McLean, if jobs weren't an issue then there is no way I would have left Moco. It's more open, greener, prettier, just a better quality of life.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the problem is that the traffic to VA keeps getting worse. When we moved to MOCO 15 years ago DH's commute to Tysons was much faster than my commute to DC. My DC commute is actually about the same but his commute to VA has more than doubled on time. It seems to keep getting worse not better. It is not simply an extra 20 minutes, thats just delusional or denial.

So while I agree that Montgomery County can still at least benefit from proximity to jobs in VA, the proximity factor is evaporating as the traffic from MD into VA gets worse and worse.

If you believe that you have career options in Arlington, Tysons or further out the Dulles area then I would strongly consider moving now.

+1. For some reason the genius elected officials in Maryland decided it was a good idea to have a single bridge linking MD and VA on the west side of DC, and it’s the Maryland commuters who are paying the price. Virginia has been pushing for another bridge for years.

Those damn Potomac NIMBYS

Anonymous wrote:I think the problem is that the traffic to VA keeps getting worse. When we moved to MOCO 15 years ago DH's commute to Tysons was much faster than my commute to DC. My DC commute is actually about the same but his commute to VA has more than doubled on time. It seems to keep getting worse not better. It is not simply an extra 20 minutes, thats just delusional or denial.

So while I agree that Montgomery County can still at least benefit from proximity to jobs in VA, the proximity factor is evaporating as the traffic from MD into VA gets worse and worse.

If you believe that you have career options in Arlington, Tysons or further out the Dulles area then I would strongly consider moving now.

+1. For some reason the genius elected officials in Maryland decided it was a good idea to have a single bridge linking MD and VA on the west side of DC, and it’s the Maryland commuters who are paying the price. Virginia has been pushing for another bridge for years.

I think the problem is that the traffic to VA keeps getting worse. When we moved to MOCO 15 years ago DH's commute to Tysons was much faster than my commute to DC. My DC commute is actually about the same but his commute to VA has more than doubled on time. It seems to keep getting worse not better. It is not simply an extra 20 minutes, thats just delusional or denial.

So while I agree that Montgomery County can still at least benefit from proximity to jobs in VA, the proximity factor is evaporating as the traffic from MD into VA gets worse and worse.

If you believe that you have career options in Arlington, Tysons or further out the Dulles area then I would strongly consider moving now.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My house hunting budget is 800K. In MoCo, for this money I am able to get an updated home in a cul de sac in a family neighborhood in the Churchill cluster. In VA, that budget will not get me into an equivalent home in an equivalent school district. So why on earth would I move there? My commute downtown wouldn't be THAT much better at my budget.

you'll want to budget another 50k for a saferoom, guns, bullet proof windows, body armor and top of the line security system for when MoCo death spirals into another baltimore in the next 10 years.

Yes, people in Potomac and Bethesda, you hear that? You're about to become the next Baltimore so might as well just abandon your homes now.

I know you are being sarcastic but you should look at the data

https://wtop.com/montgomery-county/2019/03/sexual-assaults-continue-rise-montgomery-co-homicides-fall/


https://www.fox5dc.com/news/police-gang-related-crime-up-67-percent-in-montgomery-county-from-last-year

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My house hunting budget is 800K. In MoCo, for this money I am able to get an updated home in a cul de sac in a family neighborhood in the Churchill cluster. In VA, that budget will not get me into an equivalent home in an equivalent school district. So why on earth would I move there? My commute downtown wouldn't be THAT much better at my budget.

you'll want to budget another 50k for a saferoom, guns, bullet proof windows, body armor and top of the line security system for when MoCo death spirals into another baltimore in the next 10 years.

Yes, people in Potomac and Bethesda, you hear that? You're about to become the next Baltimore so might as well just abandon your homes now.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:as a fiscal conservative, I agree with the doomsday predictions of MoCo (or really any political jurisdiction run by liberals)*, but I bought in close-in MoCo because it's where my job is and the houses are nice and more affordable than elsewhere.

I expect 0 appreciation over time. Think being in Chevy Chase entitles me to not depreciate, but we'll see.

*CT, NJ, Illinois, Westchester County, Chicago, etc.

It's almost like people don't believe others can drive 30-60 minutes to a job in Virginia or something. Fact: People can get to work in Virginia and live in Maryland.

Yes, but then why put up with the crappy commutes, lack of jobs, deteriorating schools

Because if the housing prices in Arlington rise at 10 percent a year like the NoVa boosters claim, then Bethesda's 2% annual increase (and superior schools) makes the extra 20 minute commute more tolerable.

Said no investor ever.

What are you talking about? If Arlington gets too expensive, it becomes out of reach for a certain type of buyer and makes other areas more attractive.

Yes we call those people “poor minorities” and they will all end up in MoCo

Well there it is. The biggest difference between MoCo and NOVA. The racism.

I bet you think only white people can be racist too

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:as a fiscal conservative, I agree with the doomsday predictions of MoCo (or really any political jurisdiction run by liberals)*, but I bought in close-in MoCo because it's where my job is and the houses are nice and more affordable than elsewhere.

I expect 0 appreciation over time. Think being in Chevy Chase entitles me to not depreciate, but we'll see.

*CT, NJ, Illinois, Westchester County, Chicago, etc.

It's almost like people don't believe others can drive 30-60 minutes to a job in Virginia or something. Fact: People can get to work in Virginia and live in Maryland.

Yes, but then why put up with the crappy commutes, lack of jobs, deteriorating schools

Because if the housing prices in Arlington rise at 10 percent a year like the NoVa boosters claim, then Bethesda's 2% annual increase (and superior schools) makes the extra 20 minute commute more tolerable.

Said no investor ever.

What are you talking about? If Arlington gets too expensive, it becomes out of reach for a certain type of buyer and makes other areas more attractive.

Let me make this simple for you. Option 1: buy now in Arlington and my house will appreciate 10% per year. Option 2: buy now in Bethesda and my house will appreciate 2% per year. In what world would I rather purchase something with a 2% appreciation rate over something with a 10% appreciation rate?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:as a fiscal conservative, I agree with the doomsday predictions of MoCo (or really any political jurisdiction run by liberals)*, but I bought in close-in MoCo because it's where my job is and the houses are nice and more affordable than elsewhere.

I expect 0 appreciation over time. Think being in Chevy Chase entitles me to not depreciate, but we'll see.

*CT, NJ, Illinois, Westchester County, Chicago, etc.

It's almost like people don't believe others can drive 30-60 minutes to a job in Virginia or something. Fact: People can get to work in Virginia and live in Maryland.

Yes, but then why put up with the crappy commutes, lack of jobs, deteriorating schools

Because if the housing prices in Arlington rise at 10 percent a year like the NoVa boosters claim, then Bethesda's 2% annual increase (and superior schools) makes the extra 20 minute commute more tolerable.

Said no investor ever.

What are you talking about? If Arlington gets too expensive, it becomes out of reach for a certain type of buyer and makes other areas more attractive.

Yes we call those people “poor minorities” and they will all end up in MoCo

Well there it is. The biggest difference between MoCo and NOVA. The racism.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:as a fiscal conservative, I agree with the doomsday predictions of MoCo (or really any political jurisdiction run by liberals)*, but I bought in close-in MoCo because it's where my job is and the houses are nice and more affordable than elsewhere.

I expect 0 appreciation over time. Think being in Chevy Chase entitles me to not depreciate, but we'll see.

*CT, NJ, Illinois, Westchester County, Chicago, etc.

It's almost like people don't believe others can drive 30-60 minutes to a job in Virginia or something. Fact: People can get to work in Virginia and live in Maryland.

Yes, but then why put up with the crappy commutes, lack of jobs, deteriorating schools

Because if the housing prices in Arlington rise at 10 percent a year like the NoVa boosters claim, then Bethesda's 2% annual increase (and superior schools) makes the extra 20 minute commute more tolerable.

Said no investor ever.

What are you talking about? If Arlington gets too expensive, it becomes out of reach for a certain type of buyer and makes other areas more attractive.

Yes we call those people “poor minorities” and they will all end up in MoCo

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:as a fiscal conservative, I agree with the doomsday predictions of MoCo (or really any political jurisdiction run by liberals)*, but I bought in close-in MoCo because it's where my job is and the houses are nice and more affordable than elsewhere.

I expect 0 appreciation over time. Think being in Chevy Chase entitles me to not depreciate, but we'll see.

*CT, NJ, Illinois, Westchester County, Chicago, etc.

It's almost like people don't believe others can drive 30-60 minutes to a job in Virginia or something. Fact: People can get to work in Virginia and live in Maryland.

Yes, but then why put up with the crappy commutes, lack of jobs, deteriorating schools

Because if the housing prices in Arlington rise at 10 percent a year like the NoVa boosters claim, then Bethesda's 2% annual increase (and superior schools) makes the extra 20 minute commute more tolerable.

Said no investor ever.

What are you talking about? If Arlington gets too expensive, it becomes out of reach for a certain type of buyer and makes other areas more attractive.