Neighborhood advice (Fairfax) - houses NO MORE than $450K, good schools, FULL-day K (Alexandria: neighborhoods, buying)

[Caladium]

Just a wild thought that might not be at all helpful to your specifics, but if you do decide to stay here, your husband might want to consider seeing if his company will help him get a PMP. Many of the defense contractors have free classes or help you out in other ways. Once he gets the PMP it could eventually help him secure a better position in Texas.

If you want a yard, you might consider some of the neighborhoods in Herndon. We used to live in the Frying Pan park area, which is walking distance to the park and ride, and is also a fairly nice neighborhood.

[choff5]

Originally Posted by hilsmom

Hi, everyone-


Our daughter is starting K next year. I prefer an elementary school closeby (preferably walking distance) that is a full-day K for scheduling and budget purposes.

We would also like to be in a neighborhood relatively close to amenities - Reston has spoiled us. A grocery store walking distance (maybe a mile away?) would be lovely.

Anyone have any suggestions? I'd greatly appreciate it.

Look at the Greenbriar community BUT look on the east side and make sure it's Greenbriar East ES district as they have full day kindergarten and Greenbriar West ES does not. Also, keep an eye on the new boundary changes taking place and when as both schools are affected and I'm not sure just how it's playing out within the community. The neighborhood backs right to the FFX Co. Parkway, but doesn't have the noise of it. The shopping center is walkable if you wish (some of us are too lazy for that!) and there are buses on Rt. 50 that go the the Vienna metro for transferring. There is a small playground/park across from GBE school. The homes are older, but gnerally well kept so should be in that price range. Just one idea....

[hilsmom]

Originally Posted by Caladium

Just a wild thought that might not be at all helpful to your specifics, but if you do decide to stay here, your husband might want to consider seeing if his company will help him get a PMP. Many of the defense contractors have free classes or help you out in other ways. Once he gets the PMP it could eventually help him secure a better position in Texas.

If you want a yard, you might consider some of the neighborhoods in Herndon. We used to live in the Frying Pan park area, which is walking distance to the park and ride, and is also a fairly nice neighborhood.

I love the area near Frying Pan Park. I think the schools MIGHT be half-day K schools though. But, I am not against Herndon at all - just looking for the right mix of amenities

I can definitely suggest a PMP to my husband, as long as it DOESN'T take away from family time again. I suffered through 4 years of having him unavailable to me a LOT after our daughter was born due to classes and homework. I'm not ready to sign on for that anytime in the near future. Not to mention I'm about to start a certificate program of my own for MY job

It wasn't you, but thanks to the West Springfield poster - I will keep those in mind. I did check the list and at least half of those are half-day K schools, but I am not opposed to the area, either. It MIGHT be a little far for my husband to Ashburn, but might make more sense if a Reston office move happens.

[hilsmom]

Originally Posted by choff5

Look at the Greenbriar community BUT look on the east side and make sure it's Greenbriar East ES district as they have full day kindergarten and Greenbriar West ES does not. Also, keep an eye on the new boundary changes taking place and when as both schools are affected and I'm not sure just how it's playing out within the community. The neighborhood backs right to the FFX Co. Parkway, but doesn't have the noise of it. The shopping center is walkable if you wish (some of us are too lazy for that!) and there are buses on Rt. 50 that go the the Vienna metro for transferring. There is a small playground/park across from GBE school. The homes are older, but gnerally well kept so should be in that price range. Just one idea....

thanks for posting about this - I had actually seen several very cute homes in my preliminary search of Fairfax on the web in this neighborhood. I will definitely keep an eye on boundary changes - honestly, we aren't ready to move for a couple more months (we have a TH to sell in Reston, too). We should have time to figure this out by that point, right?

[Denton56]

Originally Posted by hilsmom

Thanks, but I REALLY don't want to "move up" to another townhouse. I know there are some lovely, spacious ones, but we want a yard of our own. A yard we can set our kid(s?) free in for a while, maybe get a dog and a doghouse. I also kind of despise the up and down the stairs for every single thing BS.

I do love Reston, but it isn't worth being in a TH again to me.

A dog house? Are you planning on keeping a dog outside? That's not a good idea. Dogs are pack animals and get very bored outside by themselves. They bark A LOT. An outside dog is not a happy dog and will drive your neighbors crazy. Please don't do that to a dog.

It's difficult to find a SFH for that amount. I wish you the best.

[hilsmom]

Originally Posted by Denton56

A dog house? Are you planning on keeping a dog outside? That's not a good idea. Dogs are pack animals and get very bored outside by themselves. They bark A LOT. An outside dog is not a happy dog and will drive your neighbors crazy. Please don't do that to a dog.

It's difficult to find a SFH for that amount. I wish you the best.

Gee, how incredibly helpful of you

No, I'm not planning to keep a dog outside all the time. But, if you'd like to call animal control on me, say hi to them for me - some "concerned" neighbor called them on me last week about my cat being outside for like an hour on Wednesday morning.

I realize my price range isn't easy, but it is possible. I'm not willing to stretch us too thin on housing budget, and we also make below $150K/year. Hard to imagine for some folks in this area, I know.

[GCPA]

Don't know if you have considered Cascades area of Sterling...

Listing Details

Right off of Algonkian/Fairfax County Pkwy, elementary school within walking distance, grocery store/some dining within 1 mile. Not sure where Lorton is but Ashburn would be an easy drive and Reston is only 10 mins away. Not sure about schools.........don't have kids. Algonkian Park around the corner. Loudoun County commuter bus stop (to West Falls Church metro) also around the corner. Nice area with alot of walking paths.

[hilsmom]

Originally Posted by GCPA

Don't know if you have considered Cascades area of Sterling...

Listing Details

Right off of Algonkian/Fairfax County Pkwy, elementary school within walking distance, grocery store/some dining within 1 mile. Not sure where Lorton is but Ashburn would be an easy drive and Reston is only 10 mins away. Not sure about schools.........don't have kids. Algonkian Park around the corner. Loudoun County commuter bus stop (to West Falls Church metro) also around the corner. Nice area with alot of walking paths.

lovely area. Half-day K is in ALL Loudoun schools, though. Fairfax is at 75% implementation of full-day K. I would prefer NOT to have to pay private tuition or extra daycare expenses for a year if I can avoid it.

[Denton56]

Originally Posted by hilsmom

Gee, how incredibly helpful of you

No, I'm not planning to keep a dog outside all the time. But, if you'd like to call animal control on me, say hi to them for me - some "concerned" neighbor called them on me last week about my cat being outside for like an hour on Wednesday morning.

I realize my price range isn't easy, but it is possible. I'm not willing to stretch us too thin on housing budget, and we also make below $150K/year. Hard to imagine for some folks in this area, I know.

Sorry! Forgive me, but I've never known anyone who bought a dog house for a dog who lived inside.

[Denton56]

Originally Posted by hilsmom

lovely area. Half-day K is in ALL Loudoun schools, though. Fairfax is at 75% implementation of full-day K. I would prefer NOT to have to pay private tuition or extra daycare expenses for a year if I can avoid it.

Well of course, who wouldn't prefer to get the taxpayers to pay for those expenses? We can all understand not wanting to pay those expenses. So that my taxes in LC don't have to increase, I suggest that you stay in FC and let them pay for your children's expenses.

Seriously, if you can find a house in Loudoun that saves you enough money, you might find it's cheaper to pay those expenses yourself, with the money you save by moving to Loudoun. Do the math and see if it works for you.