Where to buy a house if I work in DC and my wife works in Tyson's Corner?

[claremarie]

I'd second Burke (22015). You could get a townhouse in your price range and be near the Rolling Road VRE station for the downtown commute. Good schools, and multiple "back road" options for the Tyson's commute if the Beltway is too congested.

[liuhongqian]

Thanks everyone for your input. I really appreciate it.

[Rest-on]

Originally Posted by liuhongqian

Thanks Tone509. I will probably be the one enduring the longer commute. Yes we'd like to buy a house with 3 bedrooms and we heard that Herndon(20171), [snip]

There's nine single-family homes on the market right now in Herndon that seem fairly nice, with three bedrooms or more and within your price range. Two of them are in the 20171 zip code.

In terms of commuting distance to Tysons and DC, and with your price range and desire for a single-family house, I'd say that Herndon is probably your best bet. Herndon has a park-and-ride, and the DC commuter can take the bus to the West Falls Church Metro Station. It will save you the time, expense and aggravation of commuting into the city.

Good luck!

Chuck Miro

[DCguy03]

I'd suggest buying nearby public transportation. A metro rail stop would be ideal, but at least within walking distance of a metrobus stop.

In NoVA the housing that is closest to public transportation holds its value the best. Have you considered buying a house near public trans?

[gymgirl]

I live in Sterling and work in Tysons Corner and the commute SUCKS so it would be much worse to DC. Have you looked into Falls Church? Maybe Reston or Herndon as well.

[goozer]

Originally Posted by handy man88

Slugging is pretty much glorified hitch hiking where the driver benefits from access to HOV lanes due to extra bodies, and the passengers benefit from a free ride to their car.

Exactly. I've always referred to slugs as "white collar hitchikers." The key is to wear a suit and not look like a serial killer (even if you are a serial killer)!!!

[dkf747]

Originally Posted by goozer

Exactly. I've always referred to slugs as "white collar hitchikers." The key is to wear a suit and not look like a serial killer (even if you are a serial killer)!!!

This begs the question: What does a serial killer look like?

[GMU]

I don't know, but I always kept one eye open when I "slugged" for a few years into DC. I sure wouldn't want my wife doing it, even if it does have a great safety record for the past few decades. Also, why do all slug drivers listen to smooth jazz, or annoying talk radio?

[mdcrim]

We love Ashburn, the communities are wonderful, the schools are great and we have terrific neighbors. There are walking trails, ponds, the W&OD, good restaurants, etc.

My husband commutes to DC every day. He takes the commuter bus from Dulles North and it takes a little over an hour door-to-door. It really isn't that bad. His hours are 7:30-3:30 so that might help. He's home well before 5 every day.

[TechlawyerinPG]

I also vote for moving closer in. I have been in the area since 1993 and have lived in Arlington (Crystal City and Columbia Pike), McLean, Alexandria, Springfield, and now Ft. Washington, MD. Not sure of your careers but I work at corporations, not the "typical government worker job" and those early AM and being home by 5pm/6pm schedules are not often doable in the corporate world. Many corporate professional careers work a more standard day and don't leave until about 6 or 7pm in the evening on average around here (hence why the rush hour lasts well into the evening around here)....corporate work hours are not tailored to all the folks travelling to DC fed govt jobs from exurbs and even places like Pennsylvania and West Virginia. My last job was in Tysons and my husband works in SW DC. I then worked in DC for a while until my office was relocated to where I am now working in the Dulles area (needless to say no one was pleased...everyone calls Dulles/Dull-Ass ). My husband gets to work in 30 min on average. Coming from Ft. Washington, Maryland over the Wilson Bridge or going 295 through DC and taking GW Parkway I get to Tysons in 35-40 minutes and Ashburn in 55-65 minutes. We are in Maryland but in NoVa maybe Burke, Falls Church, Alexandria, Arlington....staying closer to the beltway as possible within your budget...you never know when jobs will move you around or you have to take new jobs and staying close to the beltway and a reverse commute towards the Tysons & Dulles job centers is your best bet for the long term.