Moving to Nova looking for advice on where to live for commute to Fairfax (Arlington: apartments, to rent) - Northern Virginia - Virginia (VA) - City-Data Forum

Jazzysax123 · 05-23-2012, 05:14 PM

Hi. I will be moving to northern Virginia for work in Fairfax and working on a masters in GMU as well. I have done a lot of research and am still having a hard time finding a place to live. I am looking to rent anywhere from Fairfax to Front Royal. Basically I want to stay in the 1hour 15 min max commute one way and price range of $1200 or less for a 2 bedrooms house or townhouse. What are some good areas that are safe from too much crime and have decent traffic? Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated, thank you!

khuntrevor · 05-23-2012, 05:19 PM

I no some folks that got a nice house in Marshall for 1000 pm. It was actually the same person, who told me that Manassas is like Paris (France) compared to Front Royal.

Jazzysax123 · 05-23-2012, 06:26 PM

Thanks. I'd love to speak to them. Please send me a message with their contact info.

Jazzysax123 · 05-23-2012, 09:22 PM

What is the commute like from Marshal to Fairfax?

snowdenscold · 05-23-2012, 10:04 PM

Is your job normal hours? If so, you will hate yourself if you live in Marshall, Front Royal, etc. and have to take I-66 into Fairfax. And 1h15 mins is out of the question from there.

Distances are deceiving here - 32 miles or 53 are not what you're used to.

Now if you don't have to be in until noon, and you're leaving the area at 10 PM, it's a different story (kinda... it is still I-66 after all).

tysonsengineer · 05-24-2012, 07:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jazzysax123

What is the commute like from Marshal to Fairfax?

Sigh

Why, just why.

Best place for a commute to fairfax is.... wait for it.....

Fairfax. I mean seriously its starting to get ridiculous. Hey if you go across the border to west virginia (only about 20 more minutes from Front Royal) you can probably find some real steals in the 500 dollar range. "I am going to be working in Arlington, will living in pittsburgh be a problem?"

First, not sure where you can find a 2br house, this is not a unit option. There are plenty of garden style apartments in central fairfax near GMU (centreville area) that rent out 2brs in your price range. Townhouses will not be an option in that range, have you considered getting another roommate if you want a townhouse? Typically rent for around 2100 to 2500 depending on where you are, and most are 3 or sometimes 4 bedrooms.

I would suggest renting out a basement if you have to live by yourself, or getting a 2br apartment in central fairfax.

marshall to fairfax is just... just... ugh

If you want to live in Marshall, live in marshall, and do marshall things. Living out in marshall in order to have a townhouse is a false economy if you have to drive 65 miles per day. Even if you have a nice gas easy sedan, you are running up a cost of 7 bucks in gas, 5 bucks in depreciation/maintenance, and losing out on 2 to 3 hours of your life (which is worth something to most people). Just gas and depreciation at 12 bucks a day ends up being about 350 bucks that you are spending that you arent taking into account. So the fair way to discuss this would be, I can afford 1550 dollars in Fairfax, or 1200 dollars in Marshall. Atleast then you are taking into account all costs associated with where you live.

Rant rant rant

hilsmom · 05-24-2012, 07:45 AM

my old neighborhood in Reston was 2 bedroom TH's, so those do exist. For 1200/month, though - that's not likely in Fairfax. I would bet the normal rent in my old neighborhood was somewhere in the 1600-1700 range.

Could you consider a condo? And what about Prince William County - Manassas or Gainesville? That commute would NOT be the killer that anywhere out towards the mountains would be. Or maybe Leesburg or Purcellville in Loudoun?

The people I knew who lived out towards the mountains had to get on the road at 4 am to have any hope of making the trip in less than 3 hours. Do NOT do this to yourself.

khuntrevor · 05-24-2012, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jazzysax123

Thanks. I'd love to speak to them. Please send me a message with their contact info.

they telecommute. I-66 is horrible. It's 20 miles passed the 234 Manassas Exit.

Jazzysax123 · 05-25-2012, 02:29 PM

Thanks for the responses, most were helpful. I have been looking into the Prince William County and have found a couple things in Manassas. What do you guys think about Dumfries or Culpeper?

Jazzysax123 · 05-25-2012, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hilsmom

my old neighborhood in Reston was 2 bedroom TH's, so those do exist. For 1200/month, though - that's not likely in Fairfax. I would bet the normal rent in my old neighborhood was somewhere in the 1600-1700 range.

Could you consider a condo? And what about Prince William County - Manassas or Gainesville? That commute would NOT be the killer that anywhere out towards the mountains would be. Or maybe Leesburg or Purcellville in Loudoun?

The people I knew who lived out towards the mountains had to get on the road at 4 am to have any hope of making the trip in less than 3 hours. Do NOT do this to yourself.

What about areas like Dumfries or Culpeper? And how is the crime in the area of Manassas. I have heard and read negative things but I know much of that stuff doesnt always paint a realistic day to day picture of an area.