First Home - Inside or outside the Beltway (Arlington, Burke: for sale, apartment)

[mksingh]

Looking for some advice from neighbors...

My husband and I just got married and are looking to purchase our first home in the Northern VA area. Both of us currently travel for work so we rent near DCA in Arlington but we don't expect to continue that for more than another year. We'd love to stay in Arlington but can't afford that so we have been exploring Annandale, Lincolnia, Falls Church and just outside the beltway in the Woodson HS pyramind.

We'd like 1900 sq ft (3BR+, 2BA+) with a carport or 1 car garage. I would love to stay in the beltway and then after saving up for another 5-6 years and maybe starting a family we can look outside the beltway where the schools are better since it seems impossible to get both in our price range of 500 - 600K. (We can probably afford more per our prepapproval of 600K and 120K ready in downpayment but we'd like to stay under so that we aren't stretching ourselves and can put money into growth investments)

As first time homebuyers we're unsure whether a 5-7 year commitment will be enough for us to recover enough to afford our next "lifetime" home or and in case not should we look for a place that at least as a good elementary school so that we don't get stuck?

Are we asking for too much? What would you advise? Are there particular neighborhoods that would suit our asks that are good for young couples or families just starting out?

We are spinning our wheels on where to look ...inside the beltway is where we'd like to live but we don't want to end up starting a family and not having the option to access the schools that are ranked better.

[Middlin]

My sister has lived in Annandale just outside the beltway off Wakefield Chapel for many years in Canterbury Woods. (Woodson) Excellent schools and buses to the Pentagon metro. House size and carport are definitely doable, and you may find one w/ a garage in that price range.

Frankly, if the difference is a couple of miles, I would not make a purchase with the intention of moving again. In 5-6 years, the difference alone in interest rates would potentially not make up the difference between a purchase price of 50k give or take

[Deluusions]

I would suggest looking in Lorton in the South County HS pyramid, or I'm Burke in the Lake Braddock HS pyramid. Both achieve high in academics and especially athletics. South county is a newer school, was established in 2005, new facilities etc. These schools are one of the best in Virginia not of likes of Langley HS or Madison HS of course.

7951 Almeda Ct, Lorton, VA 22079 is For Sale - Zillow
http://www.zillow.com/homes/for_sale...7.326769_rect/

[boyd888]

If you don't even have children yet I really don't see a point in putting much emphasis on school districts. It's not like certain neighborhoods of NOVA dump kids into inner city DC type schools....especially for elementary school.

I would say buy as close in as you can considering your budget. The area just outside the beltway that you mentioned - Springfield/Fairfax/Annandale/Burke should be fine.

[TBonz]

For that price range, I would think you would be able to find something suitable in any of those areas. You might also want to take a look out in Loudoun / Chantilly / Centerville areas - close to Dulles for your current travels and some excellent school districts for future...