My husband and I moved from Brooklyn 2 years ago and are STILL renting in Del Ray. We considered DC, but have to agree with the other posters that it just could not compare with out cozy, vibrant Ft Greene neighborhood. We will likely buy next year and now have a good idea of what neighborhoods are the best fit for us. Good luck!

Hi OP -- An early welcome to the area.

My husband and I live in Fairfax City with our almost-5-YO twin daughters. If your husband will be teaching at GMU, I highly recommend buying or renting a house close to campus, as traffic is indeed bad at times.

We have been in Fairfax City for about 3.5 years. I commute to DC, my husband stays at home. There are walkable parts of the downtown, but it is VERY different than NYC and definitely qualifies as suburbia. My husband grew up in Northern Virginia, and we moved to Virginia from a liberal area of Montgomery County when we were priced out of the housing market there. Please be aware that Virginia is a definite purple state with some deep red pockets, so the politics might be different than you are used to, if that matters to you. People tend to be very friendly, and the feel is more lad back than some other areas in Northern Virginia. You also can buy much more house in Fairfax City than in some other areas -- our 3 bedroom, 3-bath SFH was $500K, and I think you would have a number of options at the $650K price point. We initially looked in Falls Church City and saw only very small houses in our price range (up to $550K).

Fairfax City schools are strong but not best-of-the-best. There are two elementary schools, Providence Elementary and Daniels Run Elementary. Providence has Mandarin instruction and is regarded as the "better" school, but both get a "7" on greatSchools.org. We are zoned for Daniels Run, which has an environmental science focus. We have heard good things about Daniels Run under the new principal, and they recently hired more kindergarten teachers to reduce class size. There also are highly regarded private Catholic schools.

If best-of-the-best schools are your priority, you could probably afford something in the Woodson pyramid. The Mantua neighborhood is close enough to GMU and zoned for Woodson but, again, this is is definitely a suburban area.

Anonymous wrote:get ready for some serious culture shock. Prices around Vienna are high high high. And the traffic is actually worse than NYC. Most New Yorkers are happier in MD.

Her husband will be working at GMu - MD would be a hideous commute.

get ready for some serious culture shock. Prices around Vienna are high high high. And the traffic is actually worse than NYC. Most New Yorkers are happier in MD.

Anonymous wrote:You need to check out Burke. Family oriented, good schools and very close to George Mason.

But far from anything else

You need to check out Burke. Family oriented, good schools and very close to George Mason.

Anonymous wrote:

OP can do better than that. This is depressing and nondescript.

OP's budget is $650k. That doesn't buy a whole lot of charm or Domino-style fabulousness in a convenient, walkable neighborhood with a vibrant community life, good schools, restaurants, and an arts scene. You gotta play the cards you're dealt.

Fairfax City + GMU offers some decent amount of all that. Areas like Sager Avenue are walkable to GMU and Old Town Fairfax both of which offer cultural and fun things to do.

Why should OP pick out areas like Del Ray that offer not so great schools and a not so great commute?

What did you say about SFH vs. TH?

I do think Vienna would be a good option. What about FX8170604?

Anonymous wrote:

OP can do better than that. This is depressing and nondescript.

OP's budget is $650k. That doesn't buy a whole lot of charm or Domino-style fabulousness in a convenient, walkable neighborhood with a vibrant community life, good schools, restaurants, and an arts scene. You gotta play the cards you're dealt.

Swapping some walkability for a nicer house is an eminently reasonable trade-off, particularly at that budget.

OP can do better than that. This is depressing and nondescript.

OP's budget is $650k. That doesn't buy a whole lot of charm or Domino-style fabulousness in a convenient, walkable neighborhood with a vibrant community life, good schools, restaurants, and an arts scene. You gotta play the cards you're dealt.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is gang activity in the apartments off Pimmit Drive on the other side of Route 7, but technically that is not Pimmit Hills, which is all detached houses.

I lump all of those garden apts with Pimmit Hills. They're right across the road.

p.s. most of my NYC friends who have moved on now live in various 'burbs now. They aren't trying to recreate that experience elsewhere.

They are not right across "the road" they are across the four-lane thoroughfare of Route 7 with two large shopping plazas in between. You obviously know nothing about Pimmit Hills.

Ok. They are right across the BIG road. Better? Maybe we should call that area The Pimmits. Kinda like The Oranges of NJ.

I like it. The Commons area would be West Orange, Pimmit Hills would be Orange, and Tysons View would be East Orange.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is gang activity in the apartments off Pimmit Drive on the other side of Route 7, but technically that is not Pimmit Hills, which is all detached houses.

I lump all of those garden apts with Pimmit Hills. They're right across the road.

p.s. most of my NYC friends who have moved on now live in various 'burbs now. They aren't trying to recreate that experience elsewhere.

They are not right across "the road" they are across the four-lane thoroughfare of Route 7 with two large shopping plazas in between. You obviously know nothing about Pimmit Hills.

Ok. They are right across the BIG road. Better? Maybe we should call that area The Pimmits. Kinda like The Oranges of NJ.

Anonymous wrote:Would you consider a TH? This 3/2/1 is up for sale in Falls Church City. Good location, lots of kids in the neighborhood. Looks like the bathrooms need to be updated, but it's well in your price range.
http://franklymls.com/FA8215720

OP can do better than that. This is depressing and nondescript.

Would you consider a TH? This 3/2/1 is up for sale in Falls Church City. Good location, lots of kids in the neighborhood. Looks like the bathrooms need to be updated, but it's well in your price range.
http://franklymls.com/FA8215720

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is gang activity in the apartments off Pimmit Drive on the other side of Route 7, but technically that is not Pimmit Hills, which is all detached houses.

I lump all of those garden apts with Pimmit Hills. They're right across the road.

p.s. most of my NYC friends who have moved on now live in various 'burbs now. They aren't trying to recreate that experience elsewhere.

They are not right across "the road" they are across the four-lane thoroughfare of Route 7 with two large shopping plazas in between. You obviously know nothing about Pimmit Hills.

The other apartments are going to be torn down and replaced with high end condos
http://thetysonscorner.com/lcor-commons-of-mclean-attains-planning-commission-approval-recommendation/

Different apartment complexes. Commons of McLean on the other side of Magarity is a safer area than Tysons View off Pimmit Drive. Neither is considered Pimmit Hills. The redevelopment of the Commons will be good for Pimmit Hills because there will be more retail within walking distance for some in the neighborhood, but no plans yet to redevelop Tysons View.