What Are the Not Good areas in Arlington and Alexandria? (Fairfax: for sale, townhouse)

[tigger37708]

Are there any areas in Arlington and Alexandria that you would stear clear of if looking to buy a detached House?
I dont know neighborhoods by names, but major cross street areas to avoid would be helpfull when looking at the mapped out homes for sale. My budget looks to be $500 ish.

[CAVA1990]

Originally Posted by tigger37708

Are there any areas in Arlington and Alexandria that you would stear clear of if looking to buy a detached House?
I dont know neighborhoods by names, but major cross street areas to avoid would be helpfull when looking at the mapped out homes for sale. My budget looks to be $500 ish.

All the neighborhoods with SF homes over "500 ish", which would be just about all of them.

[geniegrl]

With respect to Alexandria, the 22301, 22305, 22314 zip codes are located in the City of Alexandria. These are the more urban parts of Alexandria and the parts I know best. 22301 is pretty good all around. 22314 has some really nice parts and some less nice but improving parts near Metro (but you're near Metro, so that offsets it for many). 22305 has some more established areas and some more "up and coming" areas with more urban issues but some civicly-engaged folks working to make a difference. In any of those zip codes, given the housing stock, and your budget, you'd be looking at attached/row houses/duplex units. You might find an occassional detached townhouse, which is what I live in -- has the feel of an end unit townhouse.

The 22302, 22304, 22311 and 22312 zip codes are shared between Fairfax County and the City of Alexandria. The 22206 zip code is shared between Arlington County and the City of Alexandria. And then there is the part of Fairfax County south of the City of Alexandria that is called "Alexandria" for postal purposes. The parts of Alexandria people on the board seem to complain about most are in the Fairfax County part.

[Leezer]

Originally Posted by tigger37708

Are there any areas in Arlington and Alexandria that you would stear clear of if looking to buy a detached House?
I dont know neighborhoods by names, but major cross street areas to avoid would be helpfull when looking at the mapped out homes for sale. My budget looks to be $500 ish.

I wouldn't buy any homes in Arlington that are south of I66 (Yorktown must be HS) and I wouldn't buy a home in Alexandria unless I don't have kids.

Stick with North Arlington.

[tigger37708]

Originally Posted by CAVA1990

All the neighborhoods with SF homes over "500 ish", which would be just about all of them.

Are you saying that any area with a 500K SFH is bad?
That you need to spend more than that to be out of an undesirable area?
Or that any area with SFH over 500K is good?
I dont really understand your reply.

[tigger37708]

Originally Posted by Leezer

I wouldn't buy any homes in Arlington that are south of I66 (Yorktown must be HS) and I wouldn't buy a home in Alexandria unless I don't have kids.

Stick with North Arlington.

Thank you.
I will keep that in mind as I look.

[tigger37708]

Originally Posted by geniegrl

With respect to Alexandria, the 22301, 22305, 22314 zip codes are located in the City of Alexandria. These are the more urban parts of Alexandria and the parts I know best. 22301 is pretty good all around. 22314 has some really nice parts and some less nice but improving parts near Metro (but you're near Metro, so that offsets it for many). 22305 has some more established areas and some more "up and coming" areas with more urban issues but some civicly-engaged folks working to make a difference. In any of those zip codes, given the housing stock, and your budget, you'd be looking at attached/row houses/duplex units. You might find an occassional detached townhouse, which is what I live in -- has the feel of an end unit townhouse.

The 22302, 22304, 22311 and 22312 zip codes are shared between Fairfax County and the City of Alexandria. The 22206 zip code is shared between Arlington County and the City of Alexandria. And then there is the part of Fairfax County south of the City of Alexandria that is called "Alexandria" for postal purposes. The parts of Alexandria people on the board seem to complain about most are in the Fairfax County part.

Very Informative and thoughtfull reply
Much appreciated.

[The Dissenter]

Originally Posted by tigger37708

Are there any areas in Arlington and Alexandria that you would stear clear of if looking to buy a detached House?
I dont know neighborhoods by names, but major cross street areas to avoid would be helpfull when looking at the mapped out homes for sale. My budget looks to be $500 ish.

No-go

- Anything very close to Rt. 1 in the Fairfax County side of Alexandria. The further away you go (especially East) from Rt. 1 is better.

- Arlandria (Mt. Vernon Ave and surrounding between W Glebe and S Glebe Rds)

- Columbia Pike below George Mason Dr

Risky

- Parts of the Landmark area near N Buereagard St

Also if you have kids research the schools very carefully. Alexandria City Schools are known for underacheiving but I feel you can still get a good education there (I graduated from the HS there.)

[CAVA1990]

Originally Posted by tigger37708

Are you saying that any area with a 500K SFH is bad?
That you need to spend more than that to be out of an undesirable area?
Or that any area with SFH over 500K is good?
I dont really understand your reply.

Sorry I was a bit obtuse. What I was trying to say was it will be challenging to find neighborhoods, good or bad, within the city limits of Arlington or Alexandria with single family homes in that price range. Generally you'll need to look further out, in Fairfax County, for example or go with a townhouse as others on here have suggested. Take a quick look on realtor.com though and find out.

[CAVA1990]

One suggestion if you can expand your geography - you can get a house in zip 22309 far enough East of Route 1 that you'll be in a nice neighborhood and not too far from DC (about 15 miles). It's a few miles down the GW Parkway from Old Town Alexandria (a very nice drive).