Buying in Fairfax or Prince William (Manassas, Dumfries: for sale, crime rate, mortgage)
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We just moved to PW in the summer of 08. We built a beautiful 5,000 sq ft dream home with 5 bedrooms, 5 bths. We got a DEAL. We moved from a TH in fairfax because we wanted more space. We love everything about our home. The mortgage is very affordable with 6% 30 yr fixed. The problem is that PWC is ghetto! Really ghetto. Violent crimes and property crimes are rated at 5 out of 10 and the national average is 3! (Source is from the FBI.)These new homes have already been vandalized more than I can count. It's very sad. We want to move back to Fairfax possibly near our old neighborhood. We have never experienced any type of vandalism there before. I wish we would have waited and purchased in FFX espcially now with a 30 yr fixed at 5% or so. We are miserable in our new home because of this. We are afraid for our child and her safety. Too good to be true and we wish we would have done some more homework.
We just moved to PW in the summer of 08. We built a beautiful 5,000 sq ft dream home with 5 bedrooms, 5 bths. We got a DEAL. We moved from a TH in fairfax because we wanted more space. We love everything about our home. The mortgage is very affordable with 6% 30 yr fixed. The problem is that PWC is ghetto! Really ghetto. Violent crimes and property crimes are rated at 5 out of 10 and the national average is 3! (Source is from the FBI.)These new homes have already been vandalized more than I can count. It's very sad. We want to move back to Fairfax possibly near our old neighborhood. We have never experienced any type of vandalism there before. I wish we would have waited and purchased in FFX espcially now with a 30 yr fixed at 5% or so. We are miserable in our new home because of this. We are afraid for our child and her safety. Too good to be true and we wish we would have done some more homework.
Where the heck did you move in Prince William?
I have lived here for 15 years and have never had one incident of theft or vandalism.
Two cents worth from a relative new comer who bought a sfh this past fall:
We found that there were many nice things about FF, PW, and Loudoun counties (we didn't look in any of the other surrounding counties). Some generous and well informed forum members here gave me excellent guidance that was dead on and our realtor built upon much of the advice we were given here. He agrees with those who say that FF will tend to remain more stable relative to price fluctuations then PW and that PW will rise and fall with greater rates of speed because it's newer/less established. In the end, we bought the house that best suited our needs among those homes from which we were able to get actual responses to our offers. We bought a bank owned that had a few minor paint scratches (normal wear and tear) and no other issues, which I suspect was very fortunate.
We approached the buy as both an investment as well as the place where we'd cultivate a sense of community amongst neighbors and such. We know that we didn't buy at the "bottom", nor anywhere near the top, but believe that as with all things PW real estate values will rebound and that as more people move west and more businesses move west that PW's values will become a little more stable than they are today...of course we are taking a long view on this investment rather than a five year approach. Given where prices are today in PW I don't think you stand to lose much if anything should you find a home that meets your requirements in a neighborhood that you like. And if you're in it for the long haul I suspect that the upside has the potential to be significant. Some people think that PW is the next FF county if you have 20 to 25 years to let your investment percolate. I don't know if that's true but I have read that there was a lot of commercial development teed up prior to the onset of broader economic woes.
Last, in my experience, sometimes when you start really looking at homes something you weren't even considering will present itself and end up being a determining factor for you. My advice would be to look in both counties, and maybe throw Loudoun into the mix too, and see what is readily available (short sales often being so difficult to bring to close) that best speaks to your wants, needs, and interests relative to look and feel.
As for the person who feels like he/she is living in a ghetto, I echo ChrisitneVA's perspective though I lack her tenure here. Haymarket is quiet; the big excitement is when the police sit at the gate ticketing residents who are driving 30 mph rather than 25 mph. I know crime can happen anywhere, but I find where I live to be pleasant and don't lose a wink of sleep over having not bought at absolute rock bottom; there is value proposition, IMO, in enjoying your sense of home. A friend of mine bought here in Haymarket at the very top of the market; while she has taken a tremendous hit in property value she loves her home, her neighbors, her sense of community, and has determined that all of that is worth riding this storm out until the next "crest", even if it takes 10 or 15 years to happen. I mention this only to provide an altermate viewing point. No matter where you buy right now I don't think it's possible to lose as much value as she has.
Best of luck to you in your search; have fun with it.
I have lived here for 15 years and have never had one incident of theft or vandalism.
Agreed. We have lived in PW for about 15 years (22192 area and now the southern part of 20112 near Montclair) and have never experienced that at all. We moved into our current neighborhood about 8 years ago when it was new and the community is a nice as ever. Very family friendly. tonyaa picked the wrong neighborhood it seems, so be specific on where it is please.
We moved into a newer neighborhood near Montclair as well. Since there was new construction going on, there was a lot of vandalism to the homes as they were being built. Builder had to constantly replace windows close to owners closing. One garage got spray-painted with graffiti. It is a nice area, and the vandalism seemed to be the handywork of a few punk kids from the local (Forest Park) high school from what I have heard. After most of the construction has been completed, I have not seen or heard of any more vandalism.
I know where I live in PWC is better than a lot of FC areas, but I really miss the better areas of FC if that makes sense.
I went through this same debate (and since I am still a few weeks from closing, I may not be done with it). Don't know the answer, but can tell you the most compelling arguments I heard for each county.
Fairfax:
Fairfax will always be closer to DC, will always be wealthier (not necessarily everywhere, but in the NE part there are some very high tax contributors) and as such will likely have better schools (since rich parents = better schools generally). Better commute for most of NoVA, closer to metro. So far it has held its value better than PW.
Prince William:
May be closer to the bottom/bottomed out while Fairfax is still declining. Since your dollar goes further you will not be buying as close to the bottom of the area (depending on your range--but I was looking at the cheapest areas of Ffx and sort of the middle of PW) which can decline beyond recovery, as every area has a "worst neighborhood".
I ended up picking PW with acreage. But who knows. Low prices and rates are balanced by risk and uncertainty I don't think there's a clear-cut answer to this question.
We just moved to PW in the summer of 08. We built a beautiful 5,000 sq ft dream home with 5 bedrooms, 5 bths. We got a DEAL. We moved from a TH in fairfax because we wanted more space. We love everything about our home. The mortgage is very affordable with 6% 30 yr fixed. The problem is that PWC is ghetto! Really ghetto. Violent crimes and property crimes are rated at 5 out of 10 and the national average is 3! (Source is from the FBI.)These new homes have already been vandalized more than I can count. It's very sad. We want to move back to Fairfax possibly near our old neighborhood. We have never experienced any type of vandalism there before. I wish we would have waited and purchased in FFX espcially now with a 30 yr fixed at 5% or so. We are miserable in our new home because of this. We are afraid for our child and her safety. Too good to be true and we wish we would have done some more homework.
LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION!! I do, however, detest that word "ghetto" although at least you back it up with the facts. Btw, my husband & I almost made the same mistake you made, we looked at BEAUTIFUL homes in Upper Marlboro (PGC in MD) with 3,000 sq ft and typical McMansion look. But the schools weren't great, and the crime was highish, so we decided to buy an older (1977) and smaller home in Burke, even though it was more expensive, because we can always upgrade the kitchen appliances but you can never change the neighborhood/community.
My wife and I moved to 22153 of Springfield back in 88 from Maryland and liked the area. We came close to signing a contract on a brand new home in PWC back in 98 but we changed our minds because of the location of 22153. We bought an older home in Springfield and never looked back. What keeps me positive is BRAC and the new intelligence agency being built now on the proving grounds.
My wife and I moved to 22153 of Springfield back in 88 from Maryland and liked the area. We came close to signing a contract on a brand new home in PWC back in 98 but we changed our minds because of the location of 22153. We bought an older home in Springfield and never looked back. What keeps me positive is BRAC and the new intelligence agency being built now on the proving grounds.
Yeah, I think this will help out the Springfield and Lorton areas a good bit. Last I heard BRAC is supposed to net around 10-12,000 jobs to Ft. Belvoir.
Yeah, I think this will help out the Springfield and Lorton areas a good bit. Last I heard BRAC is supposed to net around 10-12,000 jobs to Ft. Belvoir.
What I've heard is the jobs moved and created at Ft. Belvoir and the Backlick Rd proving grounds may generate into 30,000 jobs over time, many of which will be support jobs such as retail and restaurants etc. Could be a stretch, however.
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I do, however, detest that word "ghetto" although at least you back it up with the facts. Btw, my husband & I almost made the same mistake you made, we looked at BEAUTIFUL homes in Upper Marlboro (PGC in MD) with 3,000 sq ft and typical McMansion look. But the schools weren't great, and the crime was highish, so we decided to buy an older (1977) and smaller home in Burke, even though it was more expensive, because we can always upgrade the kitchen appliances but you can never change the neighborhood/community. 
