Help!!! New City for African American Family (Reston, McLean: budget, condo)

[TCJohnson]

Originally Posted by LifeIsGoody

Thanks for the warm welcome I fell much better now since I have spoke to some fellow Virginians I guess you have to find out for yourself instead of listening to others. See you in Virginia!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The odd thing is, you are not going to find too many real virginians here.

The DC area is an extremely transitionary area. I have met very few people actually from this area. Most people I have met are from other areas coming here looking for work, much like you and me. (I am originally from NJ/NY, been living here for about 10 years now).

DC has the #1 or #2 market for IT jobs so a lot of people are coming here looking for that, and people come from all over the country and all over the world for that. You also have a lot of people coming to this area looking for work with the government and people from other nations working with the various embassies and international companies.

It also gives the area a very non-southern feel. Northern Virginia is not much different than where I grew up in New Jersey, or when I lived outside of Boston. I have also heard people say that the overal culture has a very West Coast feel.

[VEIK]

yeah, yeah, yes!

even I am not from here.

[LifeIsGoody]

Originally Posted by TCJohnson

The odd thing is, you are not going to find too many real virginians here.

The DC area is an extremely transitionary area. I have met very few people actually from this area. Most people I have met are from other areas coming here looking for work, much like you and me. (I am originally from NJ/NY, been living here for about 10 years now).

DC has the #1 or #2 market for IT jobs so a lot of people are coming here looking for that, and people come from all over the country and all over the world for that. You also have a lot of people coming to this area looking for work with the government and people from other nations working with the various embassies and international companies.

It also gives the area a very non-southern feel. Northern Virginia is not much different than where I grew up in New Jersey, or when I lived outside of Boston. I have also heard people say that the overal culture has a very West Coast feel.

Sounds good It's nice to see different cultures from around the world working and living together in harmony!!!!what a sight to see.

[Fairfax Mom]

Yup, it is not southern here at all - most people are polite but do not want to make friends - I am from NJ and have been here two years - people are much more freindly in NJ - but - alas - we need jobs - so we are here

[TCJohnson]

I haven't had trouble making friends, although not so much with my neighbors. I made my friends through church (unitarian universalist) and other some charities I work with.

Basically what I am saying is that if you want a social life, you are going to need to find something to get involved with...but there are a lot of things out there to get involved with.

[Novael]

My wife, dog, and I live in Cascades (Lowes Island) and love it. Lots of trees, many walking trails, and can walk to the Potomac River from my house. Commuting to Reston/Herndon would not be a problem at all and you will arrive at work without wanting to tear your hair out. I commute to Vienna and while it is not the best commute, I take the back roads and I get to enjoy the beautiful trees and winding roads. Also, on the weekends, I can be in DC in 25 minutes and Tyson's in 15, so Cascades is a very convenient location. We would certainly welcome you to the area, as we would love to see more African American families move in.

[LifeIsGoody]

Originally Posted by Novael

My wife, dog, and I live in Cascades (Lowes Island) and love it. Lots of trees, many walking trails, and can walk to the Potomac River from my house. Commuting to Reston/Herndon would not be a problem at all and you will arrive at work without wanting to tear your hair out. I commute to Vienna and while it is not the best commute, I take the back roads and I get to enjoy the beautiful trees and winding roads. Also, on the weekends, I can be in DC in 25 minutes and Tyson's in 15, so Cascades is a very convenient location. We would certainly welcome you to the area, as we would love to see more African American families move in.

Thank you guys again for the warm welcome I am very excited now. I think I have found some areas that I would like which is Mclean, and Reston area. I also looked further out toward Bristow and the homes seem a little cheaper looks like it's a little far from our job? Mclean had some very nice Condo's for our Budget of 700k and I heard about Tyson corner so it's not to far from that. I guess if we are looking for a SFH we would have to go further out for something really nice. I guess we could settle for a condo if the area is nice.

[Tone509]

Originally Posted by LifeIsGoody

Thank you guys again for the warm welcome I am very excited now. I think I have found some areas that I would like which is Mclean, and Reston area. I also looked further out toward Bristow and the homes seem a little cheaper looks like it's a little far from our job? Mclean had some very nice Condo's for our Budget of 700k and I heard about Tyson corner so it's not to far from that. I guess if we are looking for a SFH we would have to go further out for something really nice. I guess we could settle for a condo if the area is nice.

Do you know where you and your husband will be working? That will be a huge factor in determining where you live as traffic is stupendous. People commute to points all over Northern Virginia (particularly into Fairfax County/eastern Loudoun County) and not just into DC.

[LifeIsGoody]

Originally Posted by Tone509

Do you know where you and your husband will be working? That will be a huge factor in determining where you live as traffic is stupendous. People commute to points all over Northern Virginia (particularly into Fairfax County/eastern Loudoun County) and not just into DC.

Yes we are working in the herndon area. I did a mapquest and Mclean isn't that far and Reston I guess is very close but Bristow is far but it seem to have the cheaper SFH with brick front, modern, contemporary, new homes. Reston homes look older and we are looking for a newer home but not a cookie cutter. I can't believe how expensive D.C. northern Virginia is I put in 600k-700k and thought I would get some very nice newer homes I couldn't believe what came up!!!!!!crazy

[TCJohnson]

Originally Posted by LifeIsGoody

Thank you guys again for the warm welcome I am very excited now. I think I have found some areas that I would like which is Mclean, and Reston area. I also looked further out toward Bristow and the homes seem a little cheaper looks like it's a little far from our job? Mclean had some very nice Condo's for our Budget of 700k and I heard about Tyson corner so it's not to far from that. I guess if we are looking for a SFH we would have to go further out for something really nice. I guess we could settle for a condo if the area is nice.

McClean wouldn't be a bad trip at all because most of the traffic will be going the other way. With the toll road you are probably looking at 15 minutes.

Bristow might be a little too far of a drive.

WIth Herndon, you might want to look at Loudon County and Leesburg. There is a lot of new contruction out there and because it is a little ways out from DC it is a bit cheaper. You might be looking at 30 minutes.

But I feel your pain. I am looking for my first home and my limit is around 300K, and having a really hard time finding something in a nice neighborhood that won't be a bear of a commute.