Anonymous wrote:Also, I never said anything about slumming. We both grew up in places were homes are like $80k, but we are just trying to find a solution that gives decent schools, commute, and a pleasant house to live in. There is no disparaging old homes, except that they seem to cost almost as much as a new home if you want layouts and function from this decade.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe you should consider moving away from Arlington? You could buy both of these for $975,000 or less (you could bid the second one down below $900,000) and be in the Bethesda-Chevy Chase HS district and walkable to Metro. A much, much better high school than anything you can find in Arlington and an easy commute to DC.

https://www.redfin.com/MD/Chevy-Chase/7411-Ridgewood-Ave-20815/home/10643922

https://www.redfin.com/MD/Chevy-Chase/4207-Stanford-St-20815/home/10642274

Before you knock the idea, I suggest taking a walk in that neighborhood. It's nicer and more charming than any neighborhood in Arlington at that price point, with better amenities nearby and better schools. You could make either of these houses shine with $300,000 or $350,000 and this budget would give you far more than enough to build an addition if needed.

We actually would prefer CCDC, but with higher income taxes its an effective $100k+ 30yr cost to live there, even with cheaper housing you come out paying as much or more.

Further we both work in Capital South so the commute from Arlington is much better

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1618-N-Danville-St-Arlington-VA-22201/12078827_zpid/

1.26 you end up with such a crap in Arlington, with crap school... Seriously, ?
OP is not exaggerating in budgeting 200K+ for renovation... Even with 200K, I doubt anything decent/spacious can come out of it... Arlington is not for normal family, look beyond!

Oh no, they must have Arlington. That goes on their address. So whine, whine, whine about how expensive things are despite having zero flexibility and a search area the size of a parking lot.

We are just asking if we aren’t considering something about spending this much, we weren’t whining. We aren’t fixated on “Arlington”, and I actually would prefer Vienna or Cabin John, but since we are going down to SE DC, it makes an arduous commute.

I commute from Bannockburn to SW DC and don’t consider it an arduous commute at all. I like to read, so I park at the Bethesda metro (sometimes take Ride On instead of parking) and get of at Federal Center SW, one stop away from Capital South. It’s quicker to drive, but I prefer metro. Metro is around 45-50 pleasant minutes each way don’t to door most days; driving less (on both the time and pleasure fronts).

That works nicely if you have a SAHM or no kids, but 50 minutes on metro + driving and parking is looking at over an 1hr each way for both of us, which makes drop off, pickup, sports, and such way more complicated. We need that 1hr/person/day to keep the juggle going.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1618-N-Danville-St-Arlington-VA-22201/12078827_zpid/

1.26 you end up with such a crap in Arlington, with crap school... Seriously, ?
OP is not exaggerating in budgeting 200K+ for renovation... Even with 200K, I doubt anything decent/spacious can come out of it... Arlington is not for normal family, look beyond!

Oh no, they must have Arlington. That goes on their address. So whine, whine, whine about how expensive things are despite having zero flexibility and a search area the size of a parking lot.

We are just asking if we aren’t considering something about spending this much, we weren’t whining. We aren’t fixated on “Arlington”, and I actually would prefer Vienna or Cabin John, but since we are going down to SE DC, it makes an arduous commute.

I commute from Bannockburn to SW DC and don’t consider it an arduous commute at all. I like to read, so I park at the Bethesda metro (sometimes take Ride On instead of parking) and get of at Federal Center SW, one stop away from Capital South. It’s quicker to drive, but I prefer metro. Metro is around 45-50 pleasant minutes each way don’t to door most days; driving less (on both the time and pleasure fronts).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1618-N-Danville-St-Arlington-VA-22201/12078827_zpid/

1.26 you end up with such a crap in Arlington, with crap school... Seriously, ?
OP is not exaggerating in budgeting 200K+ for renovation... Even with 200K, I doubt anything decent/spacious can come out of it... Arlington is not for normal family, look beyond!

Oh no, they must have Arlington. That goes on their address. So whine, whine, whine about how expensive things are despite having zero flexibility and a search area the size of a parking lot.

We are just asking if we aren’t considering something about spending this much, we weren’t whining. We aren’t fixated on “Arlington”, and I actually would prefer Vienna or Cabin John, but since we are going down to SE DC, it makes an arduous commute.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1618-N-Danville-St-Arlington-VA-22201/12078827_zpid/

1.26 you end up with such a crap in Arlington, with crap school... Seriously, ?
OP is not exaggerating in budgeting 200K+ for renovation... Even with 200K, I doubt anything decent/spacious can come out of it... Arlington is not for normal family, look beyond!

Oh no, they must have Arlington. That goes on their address. So whine, whine, whine about how expensive things are despite having zero flexibility and a search area the size of a parking lot.

We are just asking if we aren’t considering something about spending this much, we weren’t whining. We aren’t fixated on “Arlington”, and I actually would prefer Vienna or Cabin John, but since we are going down to SE DC, it makes an arduous commute.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1618-N-Danville-St-Arlington-VA-22201/12078827_zpid/

1.26 you end up with such a crap in Arlington, with crap school... Seriously, ?
OP is not exaggerating in budgeting 200K+ for renovation... Even with 200K, I doubt anything decent/spacious can come out of it... Arlington is not for normal family, look beyond!

Oh no, they must have Arlington. That goes on their address. So whine, whine, whine about how expensive things are despite having zero flexibility and a search area the size of a parking lot.

Anonymous wrote:What's wrong with this?

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/5840-18th-St-N-Arlington-VA-22205/51697207_zpid/

Anonymous wrote:https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1618-N-Danville-St-Arlington-VA-22201/12078827_zpid/

1.26 you end up with such a crap in Arlington, with crap school... Seriously, ?
OP is not exaggerating in budgeting 200K+ for renovation... Even with 200K, I doubt anything decent/spacious can come out of it... Arlington is not for normal family, look beyond!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also, I never said anything about slumming. We both grew up in places were homes are like $80k, but we are just trying to find a solution that gives decent schools, commute, and a pleasant house to live in. There is no disparaging old homes, except that they seem to cost almost as much as a new home if you want layouts and function from this decade.

Something like that is easily had for like half your budget.

Please show me these 4 bedroom $800k homes!!

Why? You can look just outside the beltway on Zillow in VA and find homes like that in decent school districts. Decent commute? Yes. Decent schools? Yes. Pleasant house? Yes.

Or maybe that actually ISN'T what the OP wants.

They actually want an easy commute compared to the average, which is like 45 mins (<20 mins), the BEST rated schools, and a brand new McCraftsman.