RELOCATING-Stafford or Fredericksburg? (Arlington, Manassas, Fairfax: real estate, rent, HOA)

[rtbblake]

Hi all,

My family and I are being relocated for a job at the Pentagon this month and are wondering the best place for a large family to purchase a home. Budget is between $300k-$400k, prefer acreage(1-6 acres), newer construction, not in a subdivision, and preferably near a VRE station, no more than 10-15 minutes).


Any help is so appreciated as I just don't even know where to begin and am desperate to relocate as quickly as possible. Have 4 kids including a newborn and need assistance with my search!

Thanks!!

[CaliTerp07]

I'm not sure I'd limit your search to one or the other. Your criteria gives you very few options. A quick search on my favorite real estate website brings back only a dozen or so listings with 1+ acre under $400k that stand a shot at being within 15 minutes of either station (and I would imagine some of them are in subdivisions, but I can't tell).

I'd find a good realtor and zip around to as many properties as you can stomach in a weekend.

If I were you though, I'd rent something until you get your bearings and can decide if you want to do the long commute for the foreseeable future. That makes for a long day with young kiddos at home.

[Nancy in Nokomis]

Do you really know how horrible your commute will be from either of those areas to the Petagon? Wait till you see how it goes trying to go South in the summer on Friday afternoon - LOL

[CaliTerp07]

Originally Posted by Fairfax Mom

Do you really know how horrible your commute will be from either of those areas to the Petagon? Wait till you see how it goes trying to go South in the summer on Friday afternoon - LOL

I assume the OP was planning to use the VRE. Still a long commute (~1:20), but at least a fairly predictable one.

[stpickrell]

Originally Posted by Fairfax Mom

Do you really know how horrible your commute will be from either of those areas to the Petagon? Wait till you see how it goes trying to go South in the summer on Friday afternoon - LOL

What do you propose OP do instead? Live in a 800SF condo in Arlington?

OP, the "new construction not in an HOA" is going to really limit you. There should probably be no shortage of places from the 60s, 70s, and 80s on your 1+ acre for under $400k.

Any competent agent should be able to identify if a house is in an HOA or not.

[Oldhag1]

If you are willing to rethink the neighborhood thing Leeland Station may be your answer or go west towards Haymarket.

[kww]

Leeland Station won't be on an acre unfortunately.. but you definitely can't ask for much of a better location in relation to VRE

as others have said, the 'no subdivision' is going to be the limiting factor.. There are a handful of independent builders in those areas that will drop a home on 1+ acre and not have you tied into an HOA, but you'll be at the mercy of wherever they were able to secure the lot at..

[Amoureuse7]

Stafford courthouse area off of exit 140. Some homes aren't newer construction but everything else fits. I've lived in the area my whole life so I can pretty much say you will like it. North stafford area is too expensive and Fredericksburg area probably won't give you acreage by a vre station.

[va_lucky]

Spotsylvania by the up and coming new VRE station. How about 20 minutes from the slug line in Spotsylvania. It is 1 hr to Pentagon from there. Not on Thursday or Friday afternoons heading back South though!!

[hilsmom]

What about looking out near Manassas? Doesn't that VRE line go towards the Pentagon, as well?