SFH: Manassas Park (near gen. ridge golf course) (Alexandria, Dale City: foreclosure, renting)

[mrrame]

Hi all, Just found this site by accident. I am looking for a SFH around 400k. Married, no kids, Currently renting in Alexandria. Work is old town Alexandria and navy yard DC.
I saw some decent SFH near General Ridge Golf course. How good is this area?
are schools really bad here ? Should I avoid Manassas Park all together?. I also heard bristow is much better option than Manassas Park. Is this true ?

For commute, I don't mind taking vre. Is parking a problem?

Can you suggest some better locations (with VRE access)

Thanks for your help.

[sgermanguy]

You should get your head examined for even considering it. MP sucks (more than M). The outer suburbs will continue to get slaughtered worse than close in. The schools are pretty bad; lots of people on "the dole." West Springfield would be a much better investment--22152. IMHO, a 4 bedroom house in MP, on .17 acres will drop down to about 189K, before it's all over. MP is one of the last places on the planet, that I would want to be a single guy. In case you haven't heard--the area is known for ugly women--the truck driver arms, the bad teeth, bad grammar, etc....When you go to Woodbridge, and it seems nice compared with MP; I think there is a real problem.

[jaywallace]

I work at the Navy yard as well. Small world. Anyway, MP isn't the greatest. It's like a little Woodbridge. However, the police dept. is very good and it does have a real low crime rate (partly because of the police and partly because its just so small.) I know that sounds weird having a low crime rate but a "not too good" area. I don't really know what it is, but you go there and look around. Just looks shabby and run down. I would go with Gainesville or Bristow. The commute to the Navy Yard is about an hour, if you avoid the rush hours it's only about 45 minutes. PM me if you need any directions from Gainesville.

[sgermanguy]

Gainesville IS much nicer; I've seen nice THs going for 219K (4/3.5). Too far to DC, though, and it's still PW County. My father used to work at the Navy Yard. He made it in 25 minutes from 22152--before rush hour. I-66 is just plain brutal. It's taken me 45 minutes to get to the beltway from exit 43B--on a Sunday morning.

[JSBB]

From your note it sounds that Woodbridge is not good either. How is Minnieville/Spriggs in Woodbrige? I am looking for SFH in a nicer area with 0.25acre lot at a reasonable price. I commute to DC and don't mind VRE.

Originally Posted by nitrovic

I work at the Navy yard as well. Small world. Anyway, MP isn't the greatest. It's like a little Woodbridge. However, the police dept. is very good and it does have a real low crime rate (partly because of the police and partly because its just so small.) I know that sounds weird having a low crime rate but a "not too good" area. I don't really know what it is, but you go there and look around. Just looks shabby and run down. I would go with Gainesville or Bristow. The commute to the Navy Yard is about an hour, if you avoid the rush hours it's only about 45 minutes. PM me if you need any directions from Gainesville.

[mrrame]

I checked out the neighbourhood near golf course area (cynthia st,fairway ct etc). It looks very decent though, nice looking houses, golf course...

Where else can I look for a single family (400k), VRE/Metro access is a must

Thanks for your help.

[HEATHER72]

Originally Posted by mrrame

Where else can I look for a single family (400k), VRE/Metro access is a must

Thanks for your help.

Gainesville/Bristow area.

[VRE332]

Originally Posted by sgermanguy

the area is known for ugly women--the truck driver arms, the bad teeth, bad grammar, etc....When you go to Woodbridge, and it seems nice compared with MP; I think there is a real problem.

So what are you afraid of? What's wrong with Bad teeth? If you constantly shelter yourself from all the "bad things" in the world maybe you dont belong on this planet.

[knopfler]

Originally Posted by HEATHER72

Gainesville/Bristow area.

Not so, remember our friend said VRE/Metro access was a must. Gainesville and Bristow are decidedly completely not VRE OR Metro friendly.

Manassas Park can be quite liveable when you're east of Route 28, i.e. going northbound you turn R onto Manassas Drive instead of left. It's the part west of Route 28 that has the (deserved) bad reputation.

Another option that would be VRE accessible would be old town Manassas.

[sokayinvest]

Originally Posted by knopfler

Not so, remember our friend said VRE/Metro access was a must. Gainesville and Bristow are decidedly completely not VRE OR Metro friendly.

Manassas Park can be quite liveable when you're east of Route 28, i.e. going northbound you turn R onto Manassas Drive instead of left. It's the part west of Route 28 that has the (deserved) bad reputation.

Another option that would be VRE accessible would be old town Manassas.

Man...forget Manassas, MP or anything west of them. That whole Route 28 thing drove me nuts for the short time I could stand it. I moved within 2 months of moving there and I work downtown DC (L'Enfant Plaza).

Woodbridge (Dale City 22193 or Lake Ridge 22192 only) aren't that bad. Stay away from the Route 1 corridor though. Route 1 traffic is just as much a nightmare as Route 28 so you'll have to fight it just to get to VRE. The VRE is off of Route 1 but you can drive there easily from LR, just as long as you're not in 22191 you should be fine. I myself slug from either Tacket's Mill (directly to the pentagon) or from Horner Rd. (direct to L'Enfant or Navy Yard) commuter lots. I've been doing that without a problem for the last 2 years.
As far as homes for @ $400k...PWC is "Foreclosure central" so yes you can find a good/great home for cheap but the downside is the market is still dropping so you have to buy with that in mind. If you plan on staying put for a few years Woodbridge is a perfect location for you. Once the market bounces back you'll have major equity in your house and can upgrade yourself if you'd like.

Other Altenatives....Fredericksburg (Only if you like seriously rural ares with shopping malls that pop up outta nowhere ) or try searching Lorton or Springfield. Just my personal opinion. And btw I've lived here off and on for the last 21 years so I think it's safe to say that I know Woodbridge well.