McLean opinions, and McLean to Reston Commute? (Arlington: lease, neighborhoods)

[sc_alum]

I can't even tell you how helpful all of these posts are. Because we'll be in short term housing until April/May, I'll probably try to drive around McLean and Great Falls as much as possible to see if I can get a feel for different areas and neighborhoods.

Just curious, does the DC area tend to have a stigma against renters, or are there enough people renting SFH's that it's neither here nor there?

[VEIK]

Originally Posted by sc_alum

I can't even tell you how helpful all of these posts are. Because we'll be in short term housing until April/May, I'll probably try to drive around McLean and Great Falls as much as possible to see if I can get a feel for different areas and neighborhoods.

Just curious, does the DC area tend to have a stigma against renters, or are there enough people renting SFH's that it's neither here nor there?

I think a lot of pepole rent SFH
We have diplomats, military, world bank folks, and so on living in this area, they often rent houses.

[JEB77]

Originally Posted by VEIK

I think alot of peole rent SFH
We have diplomats, military, world bank folks, and so on living in this area, they often rent houses.

I agree - there's no stigma, particularly given the fact that so many come to the area on temporary assignment.

[tankdude]

Originally Posted by VEIK

I think a lot of pepole rent SFH
We have diplomats, military, world bank folks, and so on living in this area, they often rent houses.

Are you really concerned about perception?

First it was about "poor kids in rich neighborhoods," and then it was "stigma on renting."

If I were you, I'd just focus on being happy. Sure, there are tons of snobs in NoVA, but what can you do?

[JEB77]

Originally Posted by tankdude

Are you really concerned about perception?

First it was about "poor kids in rich neighborhoods," and then it was "stigma on renting."

If I were you, I'd just focus on being happy. Sure, there are tons of snobs in NoVA, but what can you do?

I think you're confusing two separate posts - the original poster on this thread didn't raise a concern about having "poor kids in rich neighborhoods." That concern was flagged by a different poster on another thread.

People considering a move almost always want assurances that they will fit in and find a comfortable niche in a new area.

[VEIK]

Originally Posted by tankdude

Are you really concerned about perception?

First it was about "poor kids in rich neighborhoods," and then it was "stigma on renting."

If I were you, I'd just focus on being happy. Sure, there are tons of snobs in NoVA, but what can you do?

i think you got your quotes mixed up

[tankdude]

Originally Posted by VEIK

i think you got your quotes mixed up

I did. Two different people have stigmas.

[sc_alum]

Wow - easy there. I was just asking to see if we would have problems as renters with the owners in a neighborhood. Given the proliferation of rentals in many areas due to the housing bust, you are starting to see places where there is outright hostility to renters as the proportion of renters to buyers in a SFH neighborhood increases. Just wondering if folks in the neighborhood are going to wave "hello" or not, no offense meant.

[claremarie]

Some of our best friends in our McLean neighborhood were those renting from State Department employees. Don't worry about it. Most rentals in these neighborhoods are foreign-posting related, not avoiding-foreclosure related.

[tankdude]

Originally Posted by sc_alum

Wow - easy there. I was just asking to see if we would have problems as renters with the owners in a neighborhood. Given the proliferation of rentals in many areas due to the housing bust, you are starting to see places where there is outright hostility to renters as the proportion of renters to buyers in a SFH neighborhood increases. Just wondering if folks in the neighborhood are going to wave "hello" or not, no offense meant.

The only problem I see with renters is if they don't keep up with the maintenance of the house.

In my community, there's a known house that's rented where the crabgrass has taken over the front lawn, is never cut, and where people think is infested with rodents.

I visited a home in a community when I was looking to buy in McLean and at that price point, thought it was going to be spectacular inside. I heard that it was being rented out to diplomats from South Africa. I was expecting something nicely kept since I assumed they entertained a lot.

I knew something was wrong when I got to the house and all the blinds were closed, there was a newspaper hanging off the gutter, and the lawn was unkept.

Going inside, I didn't make it to the 2nd floor. There were clothes everywhere, dirty, scary, and unkept. Two rented houses I visited, both were bad. Owners who have their homes on the market will have a tough time selling if it's currently being rented out. Renters have no incentive to have the house sold, so why bother making it look nice?

Renters....pretend like you are the owners....show some TLC to the house and it'll take you a long way.