Moving to Manassas... (Sudley, Dumfries: renters, crime, to buy)

[oneasterisk]

Originally Posted by Sweetpea77

So, basically I'm not going to feel like Manassas is an "old" town with nothing to do? That's what I'm concerned about.

I think Fairfax has more stuff to do for the younger crowd than Manassas, but you also pay higher rents. You could live in Manassas, but still spend your time in other places. Honestly FFX, Reston, Herndon, Balston, Arlington etc aren't that far away.

Can you give us an idea of what your budget for monthly rent? You may be able to afford living closer into the fun spots depending on how much you can spend.

[novahousehunter]

Old isn't the word I'd use for Manassas.
It's just a different demographic than some other parts of NoVA.

There are singles and families everywhere in NoVA, but . . .

Some parts of NoVA are overwhelmed by the yuppie singles scene (Arlington, Alexandria) and as such as less diverse, full of bars and nightlife. Young singles are willing to pay a lot to live in walking/metro distance of them, and a lot of other folks are not (they'd rather have more house than be able to walk to cool bars).

PW/Manassas are mostly known for affordable housing, which draws some singles and some families, but definitely not the same yuppie scene. People don't move there FOR the social scene.

I am a girl a couple years older than you am buying a house in Manassas now, so am not putting it down at all--it represents the best price/commute compromise for me. I've lived in Arlington, Fairfax, Gainesville, and I expect the majority of my social life to involve quite a bit of commuting in since that is where my friends hang out.

Don't stress about it--it sounds like you're renting so feel it out, by the time you have to renew you'll know what area is best for you.

[Sweetpea77]

Looking to spend 1000-1200/mo. for a two bedroom. Anyone know of any maps that will show me the named areas of manassas so i know to stay away from apartments where people are telling me to avoid? I'm not from VA and have NO clue where coverstone, irongate and workshires located... since someone posted that those areas have more crime.

[Bigfoot424]

Don't know how to post the maps but if you'll post what areas you're looking at I'll give you my opinion.

[Sweetpea77]

These are a few apartments in our price range that look pretty decent:

Chatsworth Park Apartments
Chatterly Loop

Ravens Crest
Ravens Crest Ct.

Masons Keepe
Landings Dr.

Rosemary Ridge
Wild Ginger Circle

Those are the main ones so far by looking on apartments.com I've found in our price range. Wellington Place on Regiment Dr. is nice but too expensive for the small square feet. Any advice or suggestions would be welcome and greatly appreciated!

[Bigfoot424]

Originally Posted by Sweetpea77

These are a few apartments in our price range that look pretty decent:

Chatsworth Park Apartments
Chatterly Loop

Ravens Crest
Ravens Crest Ct.

Masons Keepe
Landings Dr.

Rosemary Ridge
Wild Ginger Circle

Those are the main ones so far by looking on apartments.com I've found in our price range. Wellington Place on Regiment Dr. is nice but too expensive for the small square feet. Any advice or suggestions would be welcome and greatly appreciated!

I can't picture Masons but the others are real close to Coverstone which I highly recommend you stay out of. Even though they are close there is very little bleed over to these apts so they are as safe as any other. As with any apt complex there will be the occassional problem but none of these listed are "Bad" per se.

[Sweetpea77]

So most of those apartments are in the coverstone area and that is not such a great place? Do you know of any apartments in nicers areas?

[Bigfoot424]

Originally Posted by Sweetpea77

So most of those apartments are in the coverstone area and that is not such a great place? Do you know of any apartments in nicers areas?

I should clarify for you what I was getting at. Rosemary is right next to Coverstone and wouldn't be my first choice. Of those listed Chatsworth would be my first choice as it's furthest from Coverstone. Even Rosemary Ridge is fenced off from Coverstone but the fact they are so close would give me hesitation.

[anpanman]

Raven's Crest isn't next to Coverstone...it's off Sudley Manor Road. At least from there you could walk to the shops and restaurants at the shopping center there. I know two people who used to live in Raven's Crest. One never had any problems with the environment. The other only had one problem: the hood was stolen off of her car. Yep, just the hood.

Now that I think of it, the management recently did a renovation that was kind of inconvenient for the residents. I can't remember what it was, except that my friend complained about it once. I think the renovations are done, though.

I just recently moved to Manassas with my SO. We're no longer in our twenties, so we're not necessarily looking for a lot of nightlife. I work out here, and we wanted an affordable house. We would have stayed in Fairfax Co. if the social scene were more important to us (not that it's a huge nightlife spot, but it's more active than Manassas). That said, I agree with a lot that novahousehunter had to say. It's not all old folks, but definitely a different set of young people than you would find closer in.

[Bigfoot424]

Originally Posted by anpanman

Raven's Crest isn't next to Coverstone...it's off Sudley Manor Road. At least from there you could walk to the shops and restaurants at the shopping center there. I know two people who used to live in Raven's Crest. One never had any problems with the environment. The other only had one problem: the hood was stolen off of her car. Yep, just the hood.

Now that I think of it, the management recently did a renovation that was kind of inconvenient for the residents. I can't remember what it was, except that my friend complained about it once. I think the renovations are done, though.

I just recently moved to Manassas with my SO. We're no longer in our twenties, so we're not necessarily looking for a lot of nightlife. I work out here, and we wanted an affordable house. We would have stayed in Fairfax Co. if the social scene were more important to us (not that it's a huge nightlife spot, but it's more active than Manassas). That said, I agree with a lot that novahousehunter had to say. It's not all old folks, but definitely a different set of young people than you would find closer in.

You're right regarding Ravens Crest. But it is within a close walk to Coverstone. It's a typical apt complex with the occassional problem but no better or worse than other local complexes.