Anonymous wrote:Nowhere outside Rosslyn-Ballston corridor is walkable. Stop fooling yourselves.

This has been brought up multiple times in this thread, including that you can get a SFH for under $2M in these corridors if you’re OK with not having new construction, but apparently ToV is the walker’s paradise we’ve all been glossing over. Weird because every time I drive down Maple I don’t even see people walking their dogs on it. Only walkers I see are crossing for the W&OD trail.

FYI in DC in general there is no winning neighborhoods. We are not set up for that.

Main reason is DMV in general set up Metro for all to use off main high traffic roads with ugly massive parking lots. So you cant live next to a metro with a short walk and short commute to DC in pretty much no neighbhood in Virginia. It is very commercial by Metro.

The main issue is the Metro was built long after we became a car culture. So it was built to drive to Metro. Other areas like NYC surburbs Subway, LIRR, Metro North were built before even the invention of cars on some areas!!!

Nowhere outside Rosslyn-Ballston corridor is walkable. Stop fooling yourselves.

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Anonymous wrote:OP, what does your agent say?

They are suggesting we look outside the town which I think we will have to do. I am just disappointed we can't afford to buy in the town... I thought $2 million would go further. I had no idea it was so popular when we started looking. Oh well. I had my heart set on it but need to move on.

Oakton is not walkable, but in the Timberlake area, you're in the Vienna school pyramid and 10 minutes to Reston, Vienna, Fairfax. There are also neighborhoods iwalkable to the Oakton Shopping center and are in the Oakton school pyramid.

Not that hard to find a big house in Vienna for under $2 million but you might be zoned for Marshall or South Lakes.

OP here - I can tell you that. $2 million is our budget for paying cash. We could of course stretch for more but we have no interest being house poor. We don't want house payments when taxes are absurd enough around here, not to mention home insurance. I think most people in this area are stretched too far on housing which drives up the prices to this insane place to begin with for everyone else. I don't care about a new build, I just want something that is worth the money we would be paying for it.

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Anonymous wrote:Why Town of Vienna specifically?

Yeah, what is the deal with Vienna? Seems like it’s blowing up recently.

Agreed. I don’t bat an eye when I see McLean or N Arlington over $2-3M but I’m befuddled by the amount of $2M+ homes in Vienna and even $3M+ - and how fast they sell!!

What do these people do - are they all working in Tyson’s or remote given the commute to DC from Vienna is brutal? Are they overleveraged? Family $ in some form or another eg they’re going to inherit so they can skip saving and double down on a large mortgage?

How is the commute to DC from Vienna brutal?

It isn't. People just like saying that. Is it like a commute from Arlington? Of course not. But the commute is very similar to most of the Fairfax County area.

It's a brutal commute to DC and longer than a commute to DC would be from Annandale, Falls Church, or McLean, not to mention Arlington. We lived in Vienna for several years and eventually found the commute to DC intolerably long and unpredictable.

It is not a "brutal commute to DC" in the grand scheme of the DMV. Is it longer than heading across Chain Bridge into Georgetown from McLean? Or longer than walking across Key Bridge from Rosslyn? Sure. But a "brutal commute"? Lol. No. Not PP.

Of course all of the current ToV owners are chiming in about how lovely the commute is, really, and we just don’t have any idea - they have to keep up the pretense to keep property values climbing as fast as they are!

It’s a good commute to Tysons or Reston but a soul-sucking commute to DC. If you’re commuting to DC I’d think long and hard before committing to Vienna.

Yeah, well, if op can’t afford Vienna they will likely have to go even farther out.

Or adjust expectations for OP’s budget. The idea that you can’t buy for under $2 million in Vienna is nuts. Maybe not a behemoth new build McMansion, but there are homes that come up.

+1. OP can't afford a new build in Vienna. Real estate is a compromise for everybody but the 001%.

I’m dying to know OPs HHI and if the $2M ceiling is because of budget or preference

Yes, it would be interesting. OP, tell your parents and in laws they need to kick in more $$$ so you can live in your aspirational new build in Vienna.

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Anonymous wrote:Why Town of Vienna specifically?

Yeah, what is the deal with Vienna? Seems like it’s blowing up recently.

Agreed. I don’t bat an eye when I see McLean or N Arlington over $2-3M but I’m befuddled by the amount of $2M+ homes in Vienna and even $3M+ - and how fast they sell!!

What do these people do - are they all working in Tyson’s or remote given the commute to DC from Vienna is brutal? Are they overleveraged? Family $ in some form or another eg they’re going to inherit so they can skip saving and double down on a large mortgage?

How is the commute to DC from Vienna brutal?

It isn't. People just like saying that. Is it like a commute from Arlington? Of course not. But the commute is very similar to most of the Fairfax County area.

It's a brutal commute to DC and longer than a commute to DC would be from Annandale, Falls Church, or McLean, not to mention Arlington. We lived in Vienna for several years and eventually found the commute to DC intolerably long and unpredictable.

It is not a "brutal commute to DC" in the grand scheme of the DMV. Is it longer than heading across Chain Bridge into Georgetown from McLean? Or longer than walking across Key Bridge from Rosslyn? Sure. But a "brutal commute"? Lol. No. Not PP.

Of course all of the current ToV owners are chiming in about how lovely the commute is, really, and we just don’t have any idea - they have to keep up the pretense to keep property values climbing as fast as they are!

It’s a good commute to Tysons or Reston but a soul-sucking commute to DC. If you’re commuting to DC I’d think long and hard before committing to Vienna.

Yeah, well, if op can’t afford Vienna they will likely have to go even farther out.

Or adjust expectations for OP’s budget. The idea that you can’t buy for under $2 million in Vienna is nuts. Maybe not a behemoth new build McMansion, but there are homes that come up.

+1. OP can't afford a new build in Vienna. Real estate is a compromise for everybody but the 001%.

I’m dying to know OPs HHI and if the $2M ceiling is because of budget or preference

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Anonymous wrote:Why Town of Vienna specifically?

Yeah, what is the deal with Vienna? Seems like it’s blowing up recently.

Agreed. I don’t bat an eye when I see McLean or N Arlington over $2-3M but I’m befuddled by the amount of $2M+ homes in Vienna and even $3M+ - and how fast they sell!!

What do these people do - are they all working in Tyson’s or remote given the commute to DC from Vienna is brutal? Are they overleveraged? Family $ in some form or another eg they’re going to inherit so they can skip saving and double down on a large mortgage?

How is the commute to DC from Vienna brutal?

It isn't. People just like saying that. Is it like a commute from Arlington? Of course not. But the commute is very similar to most of the Fairfax County area.

It's a brutal commute to DC and longer than a commute to DC would be from Annandale, Falls Church, or McLean, not to mention Arlington. We lived in Vienna for several years and eventually found the commute to DC intolerably long and unpredictable.

It is not a "brutal commute to DC" in the grand scheme of the DMV. Is it longer than heading across Chain Bridge into Georgetown from McLean? Or longer than walking across Key Bridge from Rosslyn? Sure. But a "brutal commute"? Lol. No. Not PP.

Of course all of the current ToV owners are chiming in about how lovely the commute is, really, and we just don’t have any idea - they have to keep up the pretense to keep property values climbing as fast as they are!

It’s a good commute to Tysons or Reston but a soul-sucking commute to DC. If you’re commuting to DC I’d think long and hard before committing to Vienna.

Yeah, well, if op can’t afford Vienna they will likely have to go even farther out.

Or adjust expectations for OP’s budget. The idea that you can’t buy for under $2 million in Vienna is nuts. Maybe not a behemoth new build McMansion, but there are homes that come up.

+1. OP can't afford a new build in Vienna. Real estate is a compromise for everybody but the 001%.

+1. We recently bought our first home in McLean. We had to make compromises for our budget if we wanted the location. Is our house a palace? No. Does it have everything we could ever dream of? No. Is it a nice little house that fits our needs and will work for us for years to come? Yes.

Our money could’ve gone farther if we lived way outside the beltway and/or in a worse school pyramid, but we chose to prioritize those things over a big, newly built home.

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Anonymous wrote:Why Town of Vienna specifically?

Yeah, what is the deal with Vienna? Seems like it’s blowing up recently.

Agreed. I don’t bat an eye when I see McLean or N Arlington over $2-3M but I’m befuddled by the amount of $2M+ homes in Vienna and even $3M+ - and how fast they sell!!

What do these people do - are they all working in Tyson’s or remote given the commute to DC from Vienna is brutal? Are they overleveraged? Family $ in some form or another eg they’re going to inherit so they can skip saving and double down on a large mortgage?

How is the commute to DC from Vienna brutal?

It isn't. People just like saying that. Is it like a commute from Arlington? Of course not. But the commute is very similar to most of the Fairfax County area.

It's a brutal commute to DC and longer than a commute to DC would be from Annandale, Falls Church, or McLean, not to mention Arlington. We lived in Vienna for several years and eventually found the commute to DC intolerably long and unpredictable.

It is not a "brutal commute to DC" in the grand scheme of the DMV. Is it longer than heading across Chain Bridge into Georgetown from McLean? Or longer than walking across Key Bridge from Rosslyn? Sure. But a "brutal commute"? Lol. No. Not PP.

Of course all of the current ToV owners are chiming in about how lovely the commute is, really, and we just don’t have any idea - they have to keep up the pretense to keep property values climbing as fast as they are!

It’s a good commute to Tysons or Reston but a soul-sucking commute to DC. If you’re commuting to DC I’d think long and hard before committing to Vienna.

Yeah, well, if op can’t afford Vienna they will likely have to go even farther out.

Or adjust expectations for OP’s budget. The idea that you can’t buy for under $2 million in Vienna is nuts. Maybe not a behemoth new build McMansion, but there are homes that come up.

+1. OP can't afford a new build in Vienna. Real estate is a compromise for everybody but the 001%.

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Anonymous wrote:There are many options at $2M dollar range

Yeah I just searched and there are several properties between 1.5 - $2M in Vienna. If OP wants to be in Vienna the can be.

Well to be fair, I do have to actually like the house if I want to put an offer on it. I haven't been too selective. I am still confused how everyone is able to afford this housing to have this intense level of competition. We are frequently outbid to a level that is out of our budget. And we have a very high budget.

You aren't as rich as you think.

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why Town of Vienna specifically?

Yeah, what is the deal with Vienna? Seems like it’s blowing up recently.

Agreed. I don’t bat an eye when I see McLean or N Arlington over $2-3M but I’m befuddled by the amount of $2M+ homes in Vienna and even $3M+ - and how fast they sell!!

What do these people do - are they all working in Tyson’s or remote given the commute to DC from Vienna is brutal? Are they overleveraged? Family $ in some form or another eg they’re going to inherit so they can skip saving and double down on a large mortgage?

How is the commute to DC from Vienna brutal?

It isn't. People just like saying that. Is it like a commute from Arlington? Of course not. But the commute is very similar to most of the Fairfax County area.

It's a brutal commute to DC and longer than a commute to DC would be from Annandale, Falls Church, or McLean, not to mention Arlington. We lived in Vienna for several years and eventually found the commute to DC intolerably long and unpredictable.

It is not a "brutal commute to DC" in the grand scheme of the DMV. Is it longer than heading across Chain Bridge into Georgetown from McLean? Or longer than walking across Key Bridge from Rosslyn? Sure. But a "brutal commute"? Lol. No. Not PP.

Of course all of the current ToV owners are chiming in about how lovely the commute is, really, and we just don’t have any idea - they have to keep up the pretense to keep property values climbing as fast as they are!

It’s a good commute to Tysons or Reston but a soul-sucking commute to DC. If you’re commuting to DC I’d think long and hard before committing to Vienna.

Yeah, well, if op can’t afford Vienna they will likely have to go even farther out.

Or adjust expectations for OP’s budget. The idea that you can’t buy for under $2 million in Vienna is nuts. Maybe not a behemoth new build McMansion, but there are homes that come up.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why Town of Vienna specifically?

Yeah, what is the deal with Vienna? Seems like it’s blowing up recently.

Agreed. I don’t bat an eye when I see McLean or N Arlington over $2-3M but I’m befuddled by the amount of $2M+ homes in Vienna and even $3M+ - and how fast they sell!!

What do these people do - are they all working in Tyson’s or remote given the commute to DC from Vienna is brutal? Are they overleveraged? Family $ in some form or another eg they’re going to inherit so they can skip saving and double down on a large mortgage?

How is the commute to DC from Vienna brutal?

It isn't. People just like saying that. Is it like a commute from Arlington? Of course not. But the commute is very similar to most of the Fairfax County area.

It's a brutal commute to DC and longer than a commute to DC would be from Annandale, Falls Church, or McLean, not to mention Arlington. We lived in Vienna for several years and eventually found the commute to DC intolerably long and unpredictable.

It is not a "brutal commute to DC" in the grand scheme of the DMV. Is it longer than heading across Chain Bridge into Georgetown from McLean? Or longer than walking across Key Bridge from Rosslyn? Sure. But a "brutal commute"? Lol. No. Not PP.

Of course all of the current ToV owners are chiming in about how lovely the commute is, really, and we just don’t have any idea - they have to keep up the pretense to keep property values climbing as fast as they are!

It’s a good commute to Tysons or Reston but a soul-sucking commute to DC. If you’re commuting to DC I’d think long and hard before committing to Vienna.

Yeah, well, if op can’t afford Vienna they will likely have to go even farther out.

You can't afford Vienna. Get over it.

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why Town of Vienna specifically?

Yeah, what is the deal with Vienna? Seems like it’s blowing up recently.

Agreed. I don’t bat an eye when I see McLean or N Arlington over $2-3M but I’m befuddled by the amount of $2M+ homes in Vienna and even $3M+ - and how fast they sell!!

What do these people do - are they all working in Tyson’s or remote given the commute to DC from Vienna is brutal? Are they overleveraged? Family $ in some form or another eg they’re going to inherit so they can skip saving and double down on a large mortgage?

How is the commute to DC from Vienna brutal?

It isn't. People just like saying that. Is it like a commute from Arlington? Of course not. But the commute is very similar to most of the Fairfax County area.

It's a brutal commute to DC and longer than a commute to DC would be from Annandale, Falls Church, or McLean, not to mention Arlington. We lived in Vienna for several years and eventually found the commute to DC intolerably long and unpredictable.

It is not a "brutal commute to DC" in the grand scheme of the DMV. Is it longer than heading across Chain Bridge into Georgetown from McLean? Or longer than walking across Key Bridge from Rosslyn? Sure. But a "brutal commute"? Lol. No. Not PP.

Of course all of the current ToV owners are chiming in about how lovely the commute is, really, and we just don’t have any idea - they have to keep up the pretense to keep property values climbing as fast as they are!

Yes, the only thing keeping property values high in Vienna is the gaslighting on this board.