Move from Vienna-ish westward w/ kids... (Burke, Reston: condo, how much, townhouse)

[Alltheusernamesaretaken]

Sorry if this is right up there with the Posts We Need More Of, but I haven't seen recent suggestions with a lot of this criteria. Please indulge me if you can; if you are rolling your eyes at another town-suggestion post, pls feel free to skip this thread.

If you were in this situation, where would you look in the westerly direction?

* You have elem-school kids and are used to & happy with the FCPS district

* You have elem-school kids and want a SAFE area

* You need to commute to the Vienna/TC/McLean area (possibly not during rush hours)

* You like a bit of quiet and would like .50 acres or more, ideally

Why not just stay local, you ask? We do not want to stay close to this area b/c we're not paying $500K+ for a run-down 50s style rancher when what we want to buy is preferably 2-story and nice, with a good-sized yard. =) But still have to commute in this direction. Thanks!

[LLSheen]

Burke. You may not get .5 acre but you can get a SFH, 2-story with a yard, good schools and not a completely hellish commute for $500K-ish. Vienna would be lights and the traffic that comes with lights up 123. There are a variety of backroads to TC and 50 (assuming you want to avoid the hell that is 495). There's no great way to go to McLean but, unless you live where you currently live, you won't find a good way to get to McLean.

[Fern435]

Not sure how much you want to spend, but there have been some pretty good prices on nice homes with large lots (1-5 acres) in the Clifton/Fairfax Station area recently. There are some issues with the boundaries of elementary schools in the area being rearranged, but the schools (elementary to high school) are generally very good.

I'm not trying to discourage you from moving west--I can completely relate to it--but you might find that you can get the very thing you want right here in Fairfax County.

Historical moment: I've just recommended STAYING in Fairfax County to someone. Imagine that!

[JfromReston]

You don't indicate what you want to spend. But here are an option in a great family-centric neighborhood near Sunrise Valley Elementary School in Reston. The house backs to the woods so you get a huge yard that you don't have to pay for. Cool trails for exploring in the woods! Easy access to Hunter Mill exit on the toll road for commuting.

1956 BARTON HILL RD, RESTON, VA 20191 - HomesDatabase

[Fairfax Mom]

In Burke you can get a 500k home thats slightly newer and bigger than Vienna

[JEB77]

You could probably find something in Herndon/20171 or Oakton/22124 below $600K that's newer and/or bigger than what you'd get in Vienna. It might take a bit more time to find something there than in Burke or Fairfax Station, but it would be an easier commute to the Tysons area.

[Alltheusernamesaretaken]

Sorry, our budget is going to be under $400K, thanks.

[kutra11]

In Fairfax county, I think it is difficult to find a relatively new SFH with more than 0.5 acres property in a good school district under $400K. A townhouse or a condo is a possibility.

[JEB77]

Originally Posted by Alltheusernamesaretaken

Sorry, our budget is going to be under $400K, thanks.

Missed that part. Move me over to the Burke column, then. It may require some patience, and not sure about the .5 acre part, but it seems like you can find a decent SFH there for $400K or so. It won't be new, but neither will it be as old as a 1950s Vienna rambler.

[Alltheusernamesaretaken]

I need to clarify: When I said we liked the FCPS I didn't mean we had to stay in FC. Just that that is the kind of district we're used to. Not sure what things look like west of FC so I wanted to throw that out there.