Taking a job in Reston, leaving Job in Quantico, Where to live? (Chantilly: rent)

[beeboah]

*Title should say "herndon" not Reston, but I could not edit it* Guess its close enough...

I presently rent in Woodbridge and commute to Quantico. Super Duper Easy commute going down 95 South in the morning.

I may be getting a job in Herndon, and I know that I can take the 7100 up through Springfield, or a combination of the 123/66/28 etc.

My pay will be increased 14k by taking such a move, and I am sick of my present job.

I will put up with the traffic and commute because I plain and simply need the extra money and hate my job.

I would like to move up closer to Herndon, but I know the rent is going to take some of my increased wages away.

I only pay 1110 for a 3 bedroom townhouse in Woodbridge and heating (as well as the gas ranges are included in the rent)...

I am thinking of buying a home as far out as doable since I could never afford a home in the Herndon area.

There is only one problem. Whether I rent or own, I need to live in Virginia as my visitation agreement with my child is arguably restrictive to Virginia. I don't want to revamp my court order because it can cause a domino effect.

How far out can I live in Virginia and still commute to work?

Where can I find homes that are the most affordable while still being able to commute to Herndon?

Thanks for your thoughts!

[saganista]

I'd say you have a pretty good deal on the TH, so I'd hang onto that at least long enough to be sure that the new job is what you want. That assumes you can live with the commute. That will be about 30 miles, but there are ways to tweak it onto the back roads if the major arteries are a problem. Won't be easy, but still might be worth it.

Counting in the tax breaks, your $1110 a month in rent is about the equivalent of the P&I on a 30-year fixed, 6%, mortgage for $250K. There isn't going to be much available west of Reston that will be reachable from that base. You've got some upscale yuppie country and then the really upscale horse country. Assuming you like the new job and all, the better bet for buying might be to look local, then from east down to south. None of those are exactly cheapo areas either, but there is at least enough of a varied housing stock there to have some hope for snagging a bargain on a workable situation, particularly later in the year when sellers will start worrying that buyers are about to go into winter hibernation...

[5stones]

Look into Sterling in the Casades?countryside area. YOu would be in Loudon County, but you are just a few miles from Reston. You can problably do a 2 bed condo.

[beeboah]

Thanks for your thoughts. What about far west like Front Royal? I saw some good bargains out that way. Just curious, this is all speculation at this point.

[mroy]

I think that would be an unrealistic commute. If you really want to be far out, you might want to check out Charleston, WV and surrounding areas. It would take you far less time.

[mroy]

Sorry...it is Charlestown, WV!

[5stones]

Front Royal would be a nightmare commute...you really can't avoid getting on 66 at some point...yuk! Great little town though!
your commute from Woodbridge to Herdon would be better! (get on the Fairfax county pkwky and head in) another revese commute

Look in Centerville, Chantilly, Sterling, haymarket,Gainsville,Ashburn, even as far out as Leesburg wouldn't be too bad (45min during rush hour)

[beeboah]

Thank you for your posts, job didn't go through. Oh well, maybe I should be happy in the meantime.

I don't think the traffic up here is as bad as South Floridas though. 95 is 6 lanes wide each way and still bumper to bumper, and when I lived there no one complained.

I think the folks up in the DC area are more *sensitive* to traffic. Probably because all of you have a higher sense of intelligence.