WILLOWBROOK in Woodbridge (Quantico: short sales, foreclosures, HOA)

[a3593]

Hi all! Does anyone know anything about this area? I am looking for a townhome In Prince William, and this neighboorhood is priced well, but is there a "reason" its so cheap?

[American Arrogance]

I actually had to look up that community on the realotr side of things. Well for one its on Route 1 side of Woodbridge. I like to call that area mini El salvador. There is alot of immigrants over there, alot of illegals as well. The look on Route 1 looks nasty (ie alot of car dealerships). The homes are built in the early 70's. Alot of foreclosures and short sales ( I am puzzled by this as the homes dont even look like they are even worth anything over $60K). Too close to Marumsco Woods, not a great place.

All of this is only my opinion. I just dont like that side of Route 1 anyways. If you are looking there why not consider Williamstown, near Quantico Marine Base? Homes are similiar but cheaper and also they are building up down there. Route 1 still looks a bit rural in that area but they are planning to tear down alot of businesses down there.

Here is the HOA website for willowbrook
http://willowbrook-hoa.com/index.php

[retrohousewife]

Originally Posted by a3593

Hi all! Does anyone know anything about this area? I am looking for a townhome In Prince William, and this neighboorhood is priced well, but is there a "reason" its so cheap?

Oh, yes, indeed there is a reason it so cheap!! Willowbrook is a ghetto dump. Trust me, you don't want to live there!! It is a terrible place to raise children. Gang and drug activity is rampant. The police are in the neighborhood responding to calls daily. It is full of illegal aliens and ghetto rednecks who have little to no respect for their neighbors, local rules or laws, and make it a miserable place to live. Down the street there was a murder a few years ago and last year fed. marshalls were looking for a regular visitor to the neighborhood who had chopped off someone's finger in a gang-related attack. That's just the tip of the iceberg. The deal on these foreclosures is generally this scenario: during the hey day of greedy loan companies, buyers who should have never qualified for loans somehow managed to secure them and, naturally, were eventually unable to pay their mortgages. They came into ownership with a mortgage payment equaling their monthly wages (usually employed as day workers or jumping from job to job). In order to make their payments, these folks were taking on a boatload of boarders which is still happening throughout and has created another significant problem in Willowbrook, essentially turning it into an overcrowded neighborhood littered with flop-houses. That's not to say that everyone in Willowbrook is bad. There are some very kind, decent and hardworking people and families in the neighborhood, but there are enough bad residents to make Willowbrook a hell hole for everyone. This must sound exaggerated, but trust me it is not. One more thing about Willowbrook is that the builders used aluminum wiring (early 70s). I would not want to invest in that. With all due respect to the person behind the other reply, Williamstown is even worse than Willowbrook. I'm only aware of one murder in WB, whereas it seems to be a regular occurrence in Wmstown. I do agree that east of Route 1 corridor has very little to offer in the way of decent homes or safe neighborhoods and a whole lot to offer in the way of illegal immigrants, Latino gangs, drugs and other destructive anti-social activity. There are still decent bargains to be found in much better neighborhoods in Eastern PWC, it would be best to look elsewhere.

[Bigfoot424]

Stay the hell out of Willowbrook. Nuff said. Someone here mentioned Williamstown. I'm surprised. This place is every bit as bad as Willowbrook. Stay away from it.

[oneasterisk]

Yup stay away from both Willowbrook and Williamstown. While you're at it, stay away from Village Gate and Georgetown Village.

[Bigfoot424]

There are some newer homes/developments off RT 1 just on the south side of RT 1 and Cardinal Dr. in Woodbridge. The names escape me. They are still relatively quiet and hopefully will stay that way. But if it were me I would not live in Woodbridge if given a choice.

[oneasterisk]

I think that neighborhood is Port Potomac.

[Bigfoot424]

Originally Posted by oneasterisk

I think that neighborhood is Port Potomac.

I believe you are right.

[qwertman]

Originally Posted by retrohousewife

Oh, yes, indeed there is a reason it so cheap!! Willowbrook is a ghetto dump. Trust me, you don't want to live there!! It is a terrible place to raise children. Gang and drug activity is rampant. The police are in the neighborhood responding to calls daily. It is full of illegal aliens and ghetto rednecks who have little to no respect for their neighbors, local rules or laws, and make it a miserable place to live. Down the street there was a murder a few years ago and last year fed. marshalls were looking for a regular visitor to the neighborhood who had chopped off someone's finger in a gang-related attack. That's just the tip of the iceberg. The deal on these foreclosures is generally this scenario: during the hey day of greedy loan companies, buyers who should have never qualified for loans somehow managed to secure them and, naturally, were eventually unable to pay their mortgages. They came into ownership with a mortgage payment equaling their monthly wages (usually employed as day workers or jumping from job to job). In order to make their payments, these folks were taking on a boatload of boarders which is still happening throughout and has created another significant problem in Willowbrook, essentially turning it into an overcrowded neighborhood littered with flop-houses. That's not to say that everyone in Willowbrook is bad. There are some very kind, decent and hardworking people and families in the neighborhood, but there are enough bad residents to make Willowbrook a hell hole for everyone. This must sound exaggerated, but trust me it is not. One more thing about Willowbrook is that the builders used aluminum wiring (early 70s). I would not want to invest in that. With all due respect to the person behind the other reply, Williamstown is even worse than Willowbrook. I'm only aware of one murder in WB, whereas it seems to be a regular occurrence in Wmstown. I do agree that east of Route 1 corridor has very little to offer in the way of decent homes or safe neighborhoods and a whole lot to offer in the way of illegal immigrants, Latino gangs, drugs and other destructive anti-social activity. There are still decent bargains to be found in much better neighborhoods in Eastern PWC, it would be best to look elsewhere.

I agree that Williamstown and Willowbrook are both not the nicest places. Don't know much about Willowbrook so don't know which one is better. But I assure you murders are not a "regular occurrence" in either neighborhood. Check the police reports before you beleive what you read on the internet.