Going to Fairfax..but where oh where? Please help (Burke: short sales, rentals)

[fromanotherplanet]

We are moving to Fairfax from Maryland this summer. Regardless of where we live in Fairfax daughter can go to Robinson middle/high school because of special resources they have. But she will go 6th grade to local school.

I work near Metro center. Wife is nurse can change to more local work.

So looking for ok commute..i currently use Marc and Metro. Safe neighborhood with children.

It looks like Reston is out because of commute and crime.. is this correct?

Trying to avoid the 95 corridor.

Thinking maybe neighborhoods that feed into Woodson. Could afford less expensive homes in great falls but seems only way is a drive.
Need 3bdr because have older kids that visit.

I need to move fast because of schools, so any ideas appreciated. Good buyers agent?


thanks,

[kutra11]

are you looking to rent or buy a house? what's your budget for housing?

[mississippimagnolia]

You want your daughter at Robinson, right? I think you need to live in (or near) Burke. She'll want to be near her friends. Some of the kids in Burke go to Robinson and some to Braddock. We may have kids at West Springfield as well...not sure about that one.

My kids are at Braddock, but my daughter could have gone to Robinson. We got a transfer approved to Robinson because she was in the IB Program when we moved to NOVA. At the last minute she changed her mind and went to Braddock.

Burke is very, very, very safe.

[OrangeFish]

Some rentals:

4637 VALERIE CT, ANNANDALE, VA 22003 - HomesDatabase (http://www.homesdatabase.com/home-listings-SPRINGBROOK+FOREST-ANNANDALE-VA-MRIS-FX7339965 - broken link)

5016 RED FOX DR, ANNANDALE, VA 22003 - HomesDatabase (http://www.homesdatabase.com/home-listings-RED+FOX+FOREST-ANNANDALE-VA-MRIS-FX7354752 - broken link)

8615 DORA CT, ANNANDALE, VA 22003 - HomesDatabase (http://www.homesdatabase.com/home-listings-CANTERBURY+WOODS-ANNANDALE-VA-MRIS-FX7350996 - broken link)

[car54]

Originally Posted by mississippimagnolia

You want your daughter at Robinson, right? I think you need to live in (or near) Burke. She'll want to be near her friends. Some of the kids in Burke go to Robinson and some to Braddock. We may have kids at West Springfield as well...not sure about that one.

My kids are at Braddock, but my daughter could have gone to Robinson. We got a transfer approved to Robinson because she was in the IB Program when we moved to NOVA. At the last minute she changed her mind and went to Braddock.

Burke is very, very, very safe.

It sounds like OP's kid might be special needs...in which case, the rules are different. Some SE kids go to "centers" that serve their needs regardless of where they live. I drove an SE bus for a while, and we covered a LOT of ground taking them where they needed to go...sometimes well over an hour each way.

And you're talking about LAKE Braddock, right? Just plain Braddock is an elementary school in Annandale...

[fromanotherplanet]

Thanks to all. car54 is correct my daughter is visually-impaired so regardless of where we live inFairfax she can go to Robinson. But mississippimagnolia is correct that it would be better living in the local school district since she would get to take the "regular" bus and be with the same kids.

Regarding Burke some other post said to stay away from one side. We are planning to buy probably unless we rented unitl we bought something.

Any suggestions places for downtown commute neighborhoods from Burke?

So far I'v e been trolling the short sales.

Thanks,

[JfromReston]

Originally Posted by fromanotherplanet

It looks like Reston is out because of commute and crime.. is this correct?

I can see eliminating Reston for commuting issues but not for crime issues.

[movingtodcfromseattle]

You might try the Kings Park West Neighborhood and those surrounding it (backs up to Robinson). There is a commuter bus to the Pentagon that a lot of residents take and then transfer to Metro there. The neighborhood streets are very safe and all have sidewalks for your daughter. Another close neighborhood would be Middleridge. Kings Park West is a Fairfax address, but borders Burke. Not sure what your housing budget is, but there are a lot of rentals in there too.

[bmwguydc]

Woodson H.S., aside from the Fairfax Station part of the area, will give you an easier commute, since you will not have to contend with Braddock Road. It's much faster to go to the Metro or to get on I-66/Route 50 from areas off Little River Turnpike, and they are not that far removed from Robinson (less than 10 minutes). In the afternoon, Braddock can back up from the University to nearly Burke Station Road on a regular basis.

And, if your wife were to switch to one of the Inova hospitals, Fairfax or Fair Oaks, she would have a pretty easy commute from Woodson. From Robinson, it would not be too arduous, either, though it would add about 10-15 minutes to the trip, each way.

[mississippimagnolia]

Regarding Burke some other post said to stay away from one side. We are planning to buy probably unless we rented unitl we bought something.

We've lived in Burke several different times. Unless there is an area that I don't know about, there are no places in Burke to avoid.

We really like the Burke Station Square neighborhood. We love the walking trails, the pool, the sense of community, and the schools.

And Robinson is a great school! Like I said earlier, my kids are at Lake Braddock. But both of my younger sisters graduated from Robinson. And we have lots of friends with kids at Robinson. I've never heard anything but good stuff about that school!