Where to go when I get priced out of Arlington? (Alexandria: apartments, lease)

[SentimentalDemon]

I love living in Arlington, which I moved to primarily for progressive schools (Montessori at Drew, Expeditionary Learning at Campbell) as well as for the jogging trails and easy access to work (in Rosslyn). However, it was a stretch to buy a tiny SFH, and it's a real money pit given its age, plus property taxes have gone up while I remain at cap for my GS level. I'm fine for now, but I can imagine a few years down the road just getting priced out, and I'm not sure that downsizing to a condo/townhouse would save a lot of money (plus, I'm not sure if I'll be quite as enthusiastic about south Arlington schools when my kid is at the middle/high school level, especially given the looming overcrowding issues).

Where would you recommend considering as a future home, without too horrifying of a trip to Rosslyn and good schools (bonus if "good" means something other than standardized test scores)? My friend who lives in Stafford keeps promoting the idea that I could pick up the VRE down there easily to work, and have a home half the price, half the age, and twice the space. Wow, it seems far away! I know nothing about Stafford or its schools. What about Springfield? Burke? Woodbridge? How about the small ramblers I see in the Annandale/Falls Church area? Kingstown is nice but I've heard Alexandria schools are terrible.

Thanks for your opinions!

[tysonsengineer]

Originally Posted by SentimentalDemon

I love living in Arlington, which I moved to primarily for progressive schools (Montessori at Drew, Expeditionary Learning at Campbell) as well as for the jogging trails and easy access to work (in Rosslyn). However, it was a stretch to buy a tiny SFH, and it's a real money pit given its age, plus property taxes have gone up while I remain at cap for my GS level. I'm fine for now, but I can imagine a few years down the road just getting priced out, and I'm not sure that downsizing to a condo/townhouse would save a lot of money (plus, I'm not sure if I'll be quite as enthusiastic about south Arlington schools when my kid is at the middle/high school level, especially given the looming overcrowding issues).

Where would you recommend considering as a future home, without too horrifying of a trip to Rosslyn and good schools (bonus if "good" means something other than standardized test scores)? My friend who lives in Stafford keeps promoting the idea that I could pick up the VRE down there easily to work, and have a home half the price, half the age, and twice the space. Wow, it seems far away! I know nothing about Stafford or its schools. What about Springfield? Burke? Woodbridge? How about the small ramblers I see in the Annandale/Falls Church area? Kingstown is nice but I've heard Alexandria schools are terrible.

Thanks for your opinions!

Hehe, he just wants you to move there because hes bored.

To each their own. Im a bit confused as to how you would get priced out in a few years though if you own the place. Theoretically you didnt get it on an arm, and you said you've done a lot of work on it already. If anything wouldn't it be the same price, if not better if you do the fixes right? I dont know, never had a money pit, but land in Arlington seems to retain its value and grow much better than, Stafford for instance.

[SentimentalDemon]

Oh, I'm sure the continued investment would be worthwhile to somebody (or, more likely, they'd knock down the house and put in luxury townhouses as has been done in various parts of the neighborhood). I'm just trying to have a plan B in case something happens and I need to reduce expenses. Another child, for example, and I'd no longer be able to absorb the unending string of four figure house maintenance bills along with a fat mortgage/tax bill.

[gomason]

VRE doesn't go to Rosslyn so that would be mean you would have to take the VRE to Franconia/King Street/Crystal City and switch to Metro which would be very time consuming and expensive. Guess you could slug but that's a far commute.

I would suggest Burke/Springfield which is close commute to Metro and easy for slugging. Also has some of the best school in Nova.

[Megadell]

I've just moved to Arlington and I'm already thinking about this. I live in an apartment and wouldn't be amazed if there's a huge price jack to renew our lease.

[highpoint1]

Originally Posted by Megadell

I've just moved to Arlington and I'm already thinking about this. I live in an apartment and wouldn't be amazed if there's a huge price jack to renew our lease.

I've thought about this many times myself. I think I would be looking at Annandale and Springfield, were this to occur. My partner, however, prefers shorter commute times (to downtown DC) over several other typical criteria, so Silver Spring (gasp! horror!) has also crossed my mind from time to time.

Fingers crossed.

[Kosherbean]

We had our heart set on the Aurora Hills area, then got realistic and decided to look at the Nauck/Douglas Park neighborhood. When we realized we'd still be paying a fortune and be next to a bunch of run down houses anyway, we decided to look closer to Mt. Vernon.

I've owned a small townhouse in Centreville plus rented in Herndon, Reston and Arlington and I'm really excited about buying a home in that part of FFX County.

[Carlingtonian]

Baileys Crossroads--aka Falls Church, but the part in Fairfax County (vs. the part that's in the City of Alexandria, or the City of Falls Church). It's zoned for JEB Stuart HS, which forum member JEB77 went to and seems to hold in high regard. He lives in McLean, so I guess he ended up doing OK. Anyway, there are some old, charming houses on big lots and an increasing number of freaking garish McMansions. There are buses to the Pentagoon nearby, including from the Mark Center. It's surrounded by some ugly apartments and shopping centers, but around here, not much isn't.

[The Dissenter]

Originally Posted by Megadell

I've just moved to Arlington and I'm already thinking about this. I live in an apartment and wouldn't be amazed if there's a huge price jack to renew our lease.

Ugh. My landlord just told me today he is thinking about selling the condo I rent from him. Even if the new buyer lets me stay, I'm worried about being renewed at higher cost.

[car54]

Originally Posted by SentimentalDemon

...Kingstown is nice but I've heard Alexandria schools are terrible...

Kingstowne is in Fairfax County, not the City of Alexandria. So, nothing you've heard about Alexandria schools would apply.