Moving from Southern California to Virginia (Arlington, Winchester: sales, real estate, 2014)

[HereinVA]

Originally Posted by russlancea

I can't imagine traffic being more congested there than LA! Incredible.

Thank you for your help. I will pass on what you said and see if she can give me more clear and concise answers about this move.

My family moved here from So. Cal (North San Diego County--but I had previously lived in Long Beach and Orange County) 7 years ago.

The traffic here is different than in California. During rush hour, I would say that it is worse than So. Cal---but it is predictable. You know that if you are driving North on the 95 (or East on the 66) towards DC in the morning, or South on the 95 (West on the 66) away from DC in the afternoon/evening, it's going to be unbearable. But at other times, it generally runs smooth. In California, it was bad, not quite as bad--but completely unpredictable. It could be bad at any time, on any freeway, in any direction. At least, that's been our experience.

So out here, if you are able to get a "reverse commute" going the opposite direction of traffic...or if you work non-typical hours, you won't run into nearly the traffic problems.

[Cardiff Kook]

tell them to stay in SoCal would be my advice

[PK12]

Originally Posted by russlancea

So is D.C. as bad as I've heard? I've been told that crime is high as well as poverty.

If you worked in D.C., where would you live if you had 3 young kids and made, I don't know, over $100k/year. They don't want to be in the boonies, so someplace more urban, maybe suburban with a Target, Home Depot, large supermarkets, churches, movie theaters, etc. They would like to take the kids fishing and to spend time in nature, but just having it within reasonable driving distance is fine.

OP,

DC and its metropolitan area is probably one of the safest and most affluent regions in the U.S. Crime/poverty is by and large not an issue unless you're talking about specific areas within the city itself, and a few of its immediate suburbs VA and MD.

All the amenities you listed above are readily available throughout this area. Please ask your friend to pass on the specifics of where in D.C will he/she be working, a more definite housing budget etc.

Not sure what he/she is referring to by 'Fredericks' but if its the city of Fredericksburg or Frederick County VA, I would not recommend either of the two, from a commuting standpoint.

[PK12]

Originally Posted by GMUAlum08

tell them to stay in SoCal would be my advice

Ideally speaking I would move to SoCal in a heartbeat too, all else being equal. the weather absolutely cannot be beat

That said the DC area has grown on to me tremendously and is what I call "home" now

[russlancea]

She said her husband's company will eventually move to Tyson's Square in Northern VA. I think she means Tyson's Corner in the North? I don't know where they plan to live, but she said her husband plans to take the metro. Metro to D.C. I assume. Map shows it's about 21 minutes to drive from Tyson's Corner to D.C., so an hour by metro?

I am so lost in all this, but it seems they have a plan.

What is Northern VA like? She knows it gets humid. I read there's lots of Democrats Are the bugs a big problem? Is traffic in the North just as bad as the Fredericksburg area?

Thanks

[FCNova]

It gets quite humid in the summer, which I don't particularly like. But winters are generally pretty mild which I do like. I've never found bugs to be a big deal myself.

Your friend won't find a 4 bedroom house near Tysons Corners for 400k. They could probably find a 4 bedroom townhouse for somewhere between 400-500k, the higher they go the nicer it will be. If the husband's job is eventually moving to Tysons it will give them alot of flexibility as to where to live though. They can go much further out and still have a managable commute than they could if working in DC. I have friends who live in the Ashburn and Leesburg areas and commute to Tysons Corner for work.

Northern Virginia is such a huge area though, it's really hard to suggest specific neighborhoods without more info on what exactly they want.

[yamota]

there are some parts of Arlington and Manassas that look just like east LA

[e30is]

Originally Posted by yamota

there are some parts of Arlington and Manassas that look just like east LA

Luckily you can actually carry in VA, not that I'd want to venture anywhere that is dangerous.

[Fallout Zone]

Originally Posted by e30is

Luckily you can actually carry in VA, not that I'd want to venture anywhere that is dangerous.

What does this mean? There is little crime in Arlington. I lived in South Arlington for 4 years and never felt unsafe.

[r0lf3cbn]

Originally Posted by russlancea

Where do people go or what do people/families do for fun?

One of the best things about Northern Virginia is that the kid-oriented activities are practically limitless.