Would like to buy a house in NoVa but don't know if we'll be able to find what we're looking for (Arlington: rent, mortgage)

[handy man88]

Originally Posted by doglover29

This is a great question and one we have been pondering in great depth.
Well I guess because we're looking at this house as our permanent house. Packing up and moving is hard, and we don't particularly enjoy that, as I have lived in 5 different states in the last 9 years. I guess we don't really like the idea of the starter home, because most of these starter homes are not worth the high price tag here in DC that you have to pay for them. Paying $700 K for an old, small, outdated house without a garage seems nuts to me, even if it is a starter home. It would be one thing if your starter home was in the $200-$300 K range, but totally another thing when you're paying $700 K for a house that is not only nothing special but is totally outdated.

It seems like most people don't really care about what their home looks like or feels like to them. I don't want to buy one of these 70's split levels with a carport that needs lots of updating because I want to live in a nice house. That is more important to me than the city I live in, because I think you spend most of your time in your home. So because in DC it seems like you can't have both: a nice home in a close-in suburb and the benefits of living in a huge city like DC, I'll take the nice home in the less exciting city.

Also, my hubby works 70 hours a week and doesn't want a lengthy and frustrating long commute in DC traffic. I guess we're starting to wonder why anyone would decide to live here in DC if they have to settle for a less-than-ideal house that they don't enjoy coming home to every day, just to remain in DC. There are many other options that are almost as good, in my opinion, such as Philly, that provide almost everything DC has to offer but with a more reasonable real estate market.

If you're looking for an affordable home that's practically new and is somewhat metro accessible, but don't care too much about schools, consider PG County in Maryland.

[JfromReston]

I know this blows your 30 minute desired commute - but I was drooling over the virtual tour just yesterday. It is under $700K and built in the 80's. It is very near where I live and I commute to DC (Thomas Circle) in 45 minutes every day with with a car pool on 66. I'm pretty sure it even has lake access.

View Property Details- 11126 TIMBERHEAD LN, RESTON, VA 20191

[doglover29]

Originally Posted by JfromReston

I know this blows your 30 minute desired commute - but I was drooling over the virtual tour just yesterday. It is under $700K and built in the 80's. It is very near where I live and I commute to DC (Thomas Circle) in 45 minutes every day with with a car pool on 66. I'm pretty sure it even has lake access.

View Property Details- 11126 TIMBERHEAD LN, RESTON, VA 20191

Yes, this one is very nice--but a 45 minute commute would really be a problem for my hubby. After working 70 hours a week the last thing he wants is more time spent in the car. 30 minutes is his limit.

[doglover29]

Originally Posted by mtneeratheart

It seems that you are excluding one of the main types of properties people initially buy in this area....a townhouse. Is there a particular reason that with no kids you aren't even considering this option? Or a condo? Your price range more than allows you to afford both in the communities you desire. If this is a starter home as you say, why not just buy a TH, and then move on up several years down the road.

The reason is that we dislike community living. We have always lived in apartments up until last year, and we rent a rowhouse now, and even though it's better than an apartment situation, we're still bothered by our neighbors' noise and smells and general inconsiderateness. We don't want to share a wall with anyone anymore. It's just too annoying. Also we do not like living under such strict condo/townhouse HOA rules. So only a single family house will do.

[aliciamonahan]

Unfortunately in this market some agents are more pushy, wanting clients to sign documents stating you are going to work with them, and only them. If you are serious about trying to find something before you decide to move then your best bet is to work with one agent, that you like, and see what is out there. By contacting listing agents, multiple buyer's agents and looking online you tend to have too many things going on at once, which can make things more stressful. Also, if you're contacting listing agents, and you end up liking one of the homes, then who is going to represent you and your interests? The best way to house hunt is to take things one step at a time, take your time, and definitely look at more than 5 homes! I took a client out and we looked at 13 in one day and had a blast! I can provide references for you from my two most recent clients, and if you decide that moving somewhere else would be better for you and your family then I will help you find a Realtor in the area you'd like to move to and make sure you're taken care of!

[Yankeesfan]

Well, to be honest then I don't think you will find what you want here. Just about any newer single-family home that is going to be within your commute limit will cost more than your budget and will also be part of an HOA. It's worth continuing to look for a while but if you have your heart set on all those factors it's going to be a challenge. That's one of the benefits of online real estate sites, you can check in other areas and get an idea of what's available there. BTW, I hope your husband's work schedule is just temporary, like a medical residency or something. Seventy hours a week is not sustainable for many people over a lifetime! (Again, not trying to criticize here, just trying to be helpful.) Good luck as you continue your search and make your decision on whether to stay or leave.

[doglover29]

Originally Posted by Yankeesfan

Well, to be honest then I don't think you will find what you want here. Just about any newer single-family home that is going to be within your commute limit will cost more than your budget and will also be part of an HOA. It's worth continuing to look for a while but if you have your heart set on all those factors it's going to be a challenge. That's one of the benefits of online real estate sites, you can check in other areas and get an idea of what's available there. BTW, I hope your husband's work schedule is just temporary, like a medical residency or something. Seventy hours a week is not sustainable for many people over a lifetime! (Again, not trying to criticize here, just trying to be helpful.) Good luck as you continue your search and make your decision on whether to stay or leave.

No, his 70-hour a week work schedule is permanent--that's just how it's been and how it will always be. I'm used to it now, but you can understand why anything over a 30-minute commute is just out of the question--he does not want to add anything more on top of an already long and stressful day.

Anyhow, we have been up-front with agents about how we don't think we're going to find anything here and they seem like they don't want to waste their time with us. I get that distinct impression. Basically, we just plan to look at lots of houses here, and lots of houses elsewhere, and come to a decision. Last night we went out to look at a house with the listing agent that looked so nice online--in fact, it has been the only house we've liked so far online. In person, it was tiny, old and the rooms were unbelieveably small. I just don't like the non-open floor plan of older houses. This house was listed for $750 and didn't even have a garage or anywhere to park--you parked on the street. This pretty much clinched it that we will not find what we're looking for here. The one house that looked perfect online--all the others we've seen online have not looked good at all--ended up being a dump!

I've come to the conclusion that people must be nuts to pay these prices for these crapshacks that are old, small, and need a ton of work (sorry, I don't mean to offend anyone with that statement). But who would stay in the DC area when there are much more affordable, yet still exciting, places to live--like Philly, Chicago, etc.? This area is wonderful and I love DC but I don't love it enough to pay upwards of $700 for a crapshack, and although I started our housing search here hopeful and optimistic I am now starting to get really down on the area and really don't understand why anyone would buy a house here. It's a great city to rent in and get a place somewhere close and convenient to the metro and city, etc. but to buy a really expensive dump that needs tons of work AND have a very long commute--people must be out of their minds to do that! I don't understand why people are content to live in crapshacks here. Can someone explain this to me?

We'll continue to look casually here but we're going to focus our search in Philly, Minneapolis, Chicago and Cleveland.

[JfromReston]

Originally Posted by doglover29

Yes, this one is very nice--but a 45 minute commute would really be a problem for my hubby. After working 70 hours a week the last thing he wants is more time spent in the car. 30 minutes is his limit.

I make it in 45 minutes in the HOV during rush hour. Without rush hour - which I assume one would be traveling after putting in 70 hours a week - I can make it in about 30 minutes. It is just over 20 miles.

[doglover29]

Originally Posted by JfromReston

I make it in 45 minutes in the HOV during rush hour. Without rush hour - which I assume one would be traveling after putting in 70 hours a week - I can make it in about 30 minutes. It is just over 20 miles.

Are you talking about Reston here?

The other thing is that if we lived that far away from the city, we probably wouldn't go into the city as often as we do now. So then I'm thinking, what's the point of putting up with these super high housing prices and a long commute if I'm not going to go into the city very much? Why not just live somewhere cheaper and travel to DC once in awhile for a weekend trip? Right now we close to DC and it's so close on the metro to go into the city to do fun things. I think if we lived 30-45 minutes away, we just wouldn't want to make the effort to drive into the city or drive to a metro and then sit on it for 30 min. just to come into the city. So then what's the point of living near a big, exciting city if you don't make use of all it has to offer on a frequent basis?

[NOVAmtneer82]

Originally Posted by doglover29

No, his 70-hour a week work schedule is permanent--that's just how it's been and how it will always be. I'm used to it now, but you can understand why anything over a 30-minute commute is just out of the question--he does not want to add anything more on top of an already long and stressful day.

Anyhow, we have been up-front with agents about how we don't think we're going to find anything here and they seem like they don't want to waste their time with us. I get that distinct impression. Basically, we just plan to look at lots of houses here, and lots of houses elsewhere, and come to a decision. Last night we went out to look at a house with the listing agent that looked so nice online--in fact, it has been the only house we've liked so far online. In person, it was tiny, old and the rooms were unbelieveably small. I just don't like the non-open floor plan of older houses. This house was listed for $750 and didn't even have a garage or anywhere to park--you parked on the street. This pretty much clinched it that we will not find what we're looking for here. The one house that looked perfect online--all the others we've seen online have not looked good at all--ended up being a dump!

I've come to the conclusion that people must be nuts to pay these prices for these crapshacks that are old, small, and need a ton of work (sorry, I don't mean to offend anyone with that statement). But who would stay in the DC area when there are much more affordable, yet still exciting, places to live--like Philly, Chicago, etc.? This area is wonderful and I love DC but I don't love it enough to pay upwards of $700 for a crapshack, and although I started our housing search here hopeful and optimistic I am now starting to get really down on the area and really don't understand why anyone would buy a house here. It's a great city to rent in and get a place somewhere close and convenient to the metro and city, etc. but to buy a really expensive dump that needs tons of work AND have a very long commute--people must be out of their minds to do that! I don't understand why people are content to live in crapshacks here. Can someone explain this to me?

We'll continue to look casually here but we're going to focus our search in Philly, Minneapolis, Chicago and Cleveland.

Why do people buy the expensive homes here? Because they can afford to do so. As another poster mentioned, a house is truly worth what buyers are willing to pay for it, and in this area people pay prices of $700K + for the type of lifestyle you are looking for.

You keep mentioning how expensive everything is in the DC area. Could it be because you are looking in some of the MOST expensive areas to live. Arlington, McLean, etc. aren't known for cheap real estate prices, even in an area that has a high cost of living.

I'm not sure about Minneapolis and Cleveland, but I can pretty much guarantee if you wanted to find a place within a 30 minute drive to downtown Philly or Chicago you would be paying similar prices. Large numbers of people want to be close to the epicenter of any major metropolitan area, hence why prices are so expensive.

I would suggest perhaps searching over in Maryland for something in perhaps Silver Spring, the prices there might be a little less for inside the beltway living. If schools aren't an issue then you could probably afford a house close to DC in Prince Georges County MD. Sure it doesn't have the best reputation but it isn't entirely awful.