Neighborhoods for our family - Leesburg/Ashburn or Reston? Or somewhere I don't know about!

[leighland]

Originally Posted by spencgr

it is??? I have nothing against Reston, but I've never heard it referred to as "architecturally significant". Can you expand?

Google and wiki are your friends

"PostWW2 planned communities"

[lizzyc413]

Thanks, all!! We will start our search in Reston for sure!

[LuvVA]

Originally Posted by JfromReston

There is also the old fashioned way. Check out the house you want and then start knocking on neighbors doors and let them know that you are interested in the house for sale and want to find out about the neighborhood. A few doors and you should be able to get lots of information.

JfromReston,

I don't think this old fashioned way will work out these days. Would you allow a stranger inside your house, other than a contractor you called for repairs etc? With so much crimes going on, I wouldn't recommend this.

But the OP can do one thing. Whatever house she wants to buy, she could go there in the evenings, walk around, go to play areas, meet with parents etc.

To know the community better, one needs to go to the community on different times to see how busy the community is.

Since the OP has very young kids, she will need to look for communities zoned in under good school pyramids. She has a very decent budget for an older home.

[JfromReston]

LuvVA,
I talked to neighbors a few times when I was searching for a house, though I didn't end up doing it in the neighborhood that I settled into. If someone knocked on my door asking about the neighborhood, I may not invite them into my home, but I will definitely join them outside for a discussion of the neighborhood. I agree that one needs to visit the community at different times to see what activity is going on and to hopefully talk with the neighbors.