former bostonians living in NoVa (Reston, Leesburg: rentals, houses, buying)

[puffle]

My husband and I are wrestling with the idea of living either in Northern Virginia (Leesburg,Ashburn,Fairax) or the Metro West area of Boston. He is an executive recruiter, self-employed placing people that sell national security software to the government. Both areas have good schools and great cities, bad traffic and high cost of living. So which is the best of both worlds for a family with a teenager that eventually would like to buy. My husband would eventually get an office in the Reston area if we lived in Virginia or Boston in Ma. Most people have very strong feelings about both states, either they love it or hate it. I would love the opinions from those of you that have experienced life in both areas and which place you favor and why. This is a major decision as we want to stay in the same area for the four years our son will be in high school.

[5stones]

well a commute from Leesburg/Ashburn to Reston is VERY doable and not that taxing (30-45min). Housing in Loudoun county is better priced than Fairfax. So if his office is going to be in Reston I'd stick with housing in Loudoun.

now for Boston...I don't really know that much but...if his office is in downtown Boston and you are looking at the smae commute time (30-45) minutes I'd say housing prices will be higher.

Check the taxes as well. I'd hedge to say MA has higher taxes than VA.

[puffle]

If we were buying, probably lower in the Boston suburbs. I don't know how bad the housing market is in NOVA, but there are houses sitting, unsold for quite awhile, having to make them rentals instead of losing more money. The only thing I like better about Fairfax or Loudoun is the newer roads and freeways,very clean in comparison to Mass. and newer housing with a/c, otherwise I would choose Ma. for the charm,food, close proximity to great areas and beaches,skiing, and sports. My head is spinning with comparison shopping for rentals. Do you think Fairfax/Loudoun is very dog friendly when it comes to rentals? We have had a terrible time finding good housing that will take our dogs in Ma. We have four small 10 lb. lap dogs and now it looks like we will have to give away at least two of them. Would I have a better chance in Va. with four dogs?

[vasinger]

Winters are much more tolerable in Virginia. I could never live north of Virginia because the winters in the northeast are just awful.

[puffle]

Originally Posted by vasinger

Winters are much more tolerable in Virginia. I could never live north of Virginia because the winters in the northeast are just awful.

While the winters are more extreme, the summers are shorter,cooler and best of all, cool off at night in Ma. Don't know which is worse, colder winters or longer, more humid summers. My philosophy is that you can always warm up when cold, but it is much harder to cool off when it's miserable and hot.

[zenetanar]

This one has been hot! But I was up in Boston a month ago and it was hot there too.... really hot.

[puffle]

If there is one thing I know, it's hot. I presently live in a city in Central California that I lovingly call the armpit of California named Bakersfield. The average temp since we have been here (June) is 100 and the low might be 95. The nights cool off to a nice 85. Get me out of here!