To MetroWest Pulte home owners - Please share your experiences! (Fairfax: HOA fees, condos)

[LoveAlbuquerque]

I've been considering buying a brand-new condo in the MetroWest (south of the Vienna metro), specifically, I'm considering the 2BR/2BATH condos coming out early next year. Could someone share your experience about your home and community in the MetroWest? Were you surprised when you first moved to a home you had not seen before (because you picked the unit before it was built)? How is the insulation between the units (Do you hear your neighbors)? How do you like your community?

[RusUs]

LoveAlbuquerque,
There were a few threads about MetroWest development on this forum in the past. Please check 2 links below.

Metro West development at Vienna Metro
New Construction Pricing in Fairfax/Vienna/Dunn Lorring (Mosaic District & MetroWest) one year later..

Did you also visited 2 condo models that they have?

I do not live in this community so I cannot comment on the condos or townhouses. But I do live near by and walk by this community often. The community itself looks nice. Yes, the buildings are quite close to each other, but it is expected since it is right next to the metro. I see a lot of people walking and running there. You may walk there to get a feeling and maybe even start a friendly conversation with owners to get their feedback :-) Good luck.

[LoveAlbuquerque]

Originally Posted by RusUs

LoveAlbuquerque,
There were a few threads about MetroWest development on this forum in the past. Please check 2 links below.

Metro West development at Vienna Metro
New Construction Pricing in Fairfax/Vienna/Dunn Lorring (Mosaic District & MetroWest) one year later..

Did you also visited 2 condo models that they have?

I do not live in this community so I cannot comment on the condos or townhouses. But I do live near by and walk by this community often. The community itself looks nice. Yes, the buildings are quite close to each other, but it is expected since it is right next to the metro. I see a lot of people walking and running there. You may walk there to get a feeling and maybe even start a friendly conversation with owners to get their feedback :-) Good luck.

The 2 condo model is not ready for viewing.

I took a look at the two links you sent. They provide, for the most part, pricing info, for that community. It seems that the prices have gone up quite a bit since April, 2012.

Thanks for the advice! I'll stop by the community and talk to the people who already live there.

[RusUs]

LoveAlbuquerque,

I am confused... Are you talking about 2 floors condos in 4 floors buildings, closer to the metro station? Or maybe I assumed wrong and you meant different buildings/condos?

I am talking about condos in 4 floors building where one condo is on 1-2 floors and then the top condo in on 3-4 floors (a few buildings have been already built and occupied, and a few new ones are still in the process). These models were open and I checked them ~ a few weeks ago. They were fully furnished and decorated. They are located in the closest to the metro building, next to the park/trail.

[DenKinVA]

Originally Posted by RusUs

LoveAlbuquerque,

I am confused... Are you talking about 2 floors condos in 4 floors buildings, closer to the metro station? Or maybe I assumed wrong and you meant different buildings/condos?

I am talking about condos in 4 floors building where one condo is on 1-2 floors and then the top condo in on 3-4 floors (a few buildings have been already built and occupied, and a few new ones are still in the process). These models were open and I checked them ~ a few weeks ago. They were fully furnished and decorated. They are located in the closest to the metro building, next to the park/trail.

You're referring to the townhome condos. I think LoveAlbuquerque is referring to the elevator condos. Currently the townhome condos are up and occupied with a few more being built/finished. The elevator condos, as LoveAlbuquerque mentioned, aren't available yet. However, I think they are breaking ground, they started fencing off an area of land at the intersection of Vaden Dr and Royal Victoria Dr, which is supposedly where one of the elevator condos will be located.

The series of homes are available here: MetroWest | Fairfax VA New Homes | Pulte Homes

How is the insulation between the units (Do you hear your neighbors)?

For the town houses, insulation is okay. You definitely can hear kids screaming and/or chasing each other next door. Other than that no big complaints. For the townhome condos, the earlier condos had concrete separating the top and bottom floors and later on Pulte decided to not use concrete (reasoning was they drying time pushed closing dates back a week or two). I've heard from homeowners that the concrete didn't do much in preventing noise. However, if you have hardwood on the top floor, there are bylaws in place stating that a certain percentage (I think 85/90%, not sure though) must be covered by carpeting (rugs). This should prevent noises while your neighbors are walking around, however, it won't do much for kids being kids. I'm going to assume the elevator condos are going to push for the same bylaws.

How do you like your community?

Community amenities are lacking especially for the amount you pay in HOA fees. Parking is an issue and will only become more of an issue as more of the homes are completed and people move in. If you can get over those, I see no problems at all. Personally, I have had no complaints regarding the community. If you ask the other homeowners, they may have some interesting stories for you.

[LoveAlbuquerque]

Originally Posted by DenKinVA

You're referring to the townhome condos. I think LoveAlbuquerque is referring to the elevator condos. Currently the townhome condos are up and occupied with a few more being built/finished. The elevator condos, as LoveAlbuquerque mentioned, aren't available yet. However, I think they are breaking ground, they started fencing off an area of land at the intersection of Vaden Dr and Royal Victoria Dr, which is supposedly where one of the elevator condos will be located.

The series of homes are available here: MetroWest | Fairfax VA New Homes | Pulte Homes



For the town houses, insulation is okay. You definitely can hear kids screaming and/or chasing each other next door. Other than that no big complaints. For the townhome condos, the earlier condos had concrete separating the top and bottom floors and later on Pulte decided to not use concrete (reasoning was they drying time pushed closing dates back a week or two). I've heard from homeowners that the concrete didn't do much in preventing noise. However, if you have hardwood on the top floor, there are bylaws in place stating that a certain percentage (I think 85/90%, not sure though) must be covered by carpeting (rugs). This should prevent noises while your neighbors are walking around, however, it won't do much for kids being kids. I'm going to assume the elevator condos are going to push for the same bylaws.


Community amenities are lacking especially for the amount you pay in HOA fees. Parking is an issue and will only become more of an issue as more of the homes are completed and people move in. If you can get over those, I see no problems at all. Personally, I have had no complaints regarding the community. If you ask the other homeowners, they may have some interesting stories for you.

DenKinVA:

Thanks for sharing! Yes, I refer to the elevator condos that will be built sometime next year.

I did take a walk in that community. I didn't see a lot of activities, probably related to the time of the day. I'll stop by again during the weekend to see if there are more activities.

I noticed that the blinds of most houses were closed, probably due to the close distance with the neighbors in the adjacent building. I assume that you can see your neighbors across the windows if you open the blinds.

As for the carpet requirement, if I choose a first floor condo (when there is no one living under me), will I have to cover the floor with carpet?

[RusUs]

DenKinVA,
Thank you for clarification. I agree, parking in this community is very limited. Where guests are supposed to park? Metro parking is an option but then visitors will have to walk.

As far as amenities, they started building a new community center. I heard that some county officials will be moving there? This is an old report, I cannot find a newer one.

http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/provide...pring_2012.pdf

[DenKinVA]

No problem at all. Glad that I could share.

I assume that you can see your neighbors across the windows if you open the blinds.

Definitely, I can see my neighbors and my neighbors can see me. If it's dark outside and bright inside the home, you can pretty much see everything. A downside for having homes so close to each other. However, you can always remedy that by closing your blinds. :-)

As for the carpet requirement, if I choose a first floor condo (when there is no one living under me), will I have to cover the floor with carpet?

I haven't seen the bylaws myself, but I'm going to assume you'll be fine if you are on the lower level condo.

As far as amenities, they started building a new community center. I heard that some county officials will be moving there?

LoveAlbuquerque, if you are wondering where this is, it's pretty much across the street from the intersection I mentioned in my prior post (along Vaden Dr). RusUs, I haven't heard much about it either, last I heard, the community center will include a gym/recreational activities, meeting/conference room(s), and other stuff as well. The Providence District supervisor (Smyth) will also be housed there along with a small satellite office for the Fairfax County Police Department.

[xiaodizhu]

now the elevator condos are open in the MetroWest, do you consider to buy? what are pros and cons about the elevator condos and twonhouse condos?

[LoveAlbuquerque]

Originally Posted by xiaodizhu

now the elevator condos are open in the MetroWest, do you consider to buy? what are pros and cons about the elevator condos and twonhouse condos?

xiaodizhu:

If you live in an elevator condo, access to the outside is not as easy as in a townhouse condo. For instance, you walk 10 feet down the hall, wait for and down the elevator, 10 feet to get to your car, then get outside; while you can pull your car straight out of your garage in a townhouse condo.

Also you're affected more by who live above and under, left and right of you in an elevator condo.

One more possible con (or could be a pro) is it faces a single side (e.g. east or west). You've got to like that direction (daylight, heat, etc) in order to enjoy your condo.

That being said, the advantages of an elevator condo are you don't have to walk up and down the stairs, and easy maintenance if you don't have time to trim the yard or shovel the snow.

That being said, a brand-new condo would be really nice, if you could afford one that you really like!