How is Marumsco Village in Woodbridge? (sales, real estate, condo)

[jaywallace]

Originally Posted by Nemesis16

First off nitrovic, this was never an attack at you. I was merely responding to Bigfoot's comments about the supposedly highly touted PWC PD.

You are correct that the test is mundane in nature, but without trying to sound too "high and mighty" so is policing the public except for detective work, crash investigation, crime prevention units, and the like. If you dont agree to this then I guess we'll have to agree to disagree.

Correction to the part in bold, I do not have a degree yet. I would have graduated by now but like I stated in a previous post; to reiterate I took some time off to join the Army Reserves as a 35F so I DO understand where you are coming from by stereotyping the "typical college kid." Although I don't necessary agree that the military makes you a better person cuz heck, I've seen my share of goofballs while at basic, AIT, and the present. Also, I know quite a few enlistees who are in S. Korea and other various locations around the world acting like hooligans on the daily. Values, discipline,etc. are instilled upon you early on in life, the military just refines these things to make you a better person for the most part.

To the OP, I will co-sign that Marumsco isn't the most shabby of places to live. Although I've found that life in general is whatever you make of it. I don't necessary believe you will sacrifice comfort by living there, but there are some other better locations but expect to pay a higher premium. Good luck!

I must say you are the first person I have ever heard call policing "mundane". I guess it shows your opinion on cops, but it is an ignorant one. Maybe you can come down to the station and attend a ride a long in the Marumsco area...

[ZakAttack]

Regarding studies and statistics, absorb the info but never rely on it. Stats and surveys can be conducted with such variance, so that one side only can be shown, or one particular newspaper article can be printed.

Originally Posted by nitrovic

I must say you are the first person I have ever heard call policing "mundane". I guess it shows your opinion on cops, but it is an ignorant one. Maybe you can come down to the station and attend a ride a long in the Marumsco area...

I think this is an excellent idea, Nemesis on a ride-along with Nitrovic, in the Marumsco area, with a full report back to the OP. 'Nuff said.

[bumblebee27]

Did you buy a house in Marumsco Hills? I'm also looking to buy a house and considering a house at 1325 Congress St in Marumsco Hills; is that a quiet low-crime area? What do you think about Marumsco Woods?

[bumblebee27]

Originally Posted by Mike From NIU

Marumsco Village is a blue-collar neighborhood that offers blue-collar workers the rare chance to own a SFH in NoVA without an exotic mortgage. You certainly won't get a mansion, but you can definitely find a small home. My wife and I can't picture ourselves there, though, because of the small lots and narrow streets.

If your budget restricts you to prices around Marumsco Village, I would suggest also considering Marumsco Hills, just to the south of Marumsco Villiage, instead. (Marumsco Hills is the one that's between Optiz and PW Parkway and between US1 and I-95.) It's about 30-50K more than Marumsco Village (ie, homes from $130-200K), but the homes and lots are a bit bigger. The streets are also a wider. That will probably be one of the first neighborhoods we consider when we enter the market in a year.

Visit the area on other days, too, and the weekend, to see if you continue to get a decent vibe from Marumsco Village.. If so, and that's the neighborhood for you, go for it. Good luck.

Did you buy a house in Marumsco Hills?

I'm asking, because I'm seriously considering buying a house (13814 Botts Ave in Marumsco Hills) and I wanted to know if you're happy with your new location? I like the house, but the busy street concerns me. I don't have children, but I know later if I try to sell it that could be a deal breaker for families with children.

Do you ride the VRE to Washington DC and if so, how long does it take? The house is close to the Woodbridge VRE, but I could also get on in Lorton since that's where my husband works.

[oneasterisk]

Botts used to be a lot more busy before the PWC Pkwy was extended to Route 1. It's a short walk to an Elementary and Middle school though so maybe that'll counteract the busy street.

[bumblebee27]

Originally Posted by nitrovic

I've been living in Woodbridge and Lake Ridge for 31 years, and have been a police officer there for about 10. Would that make me qualified?

I'm seriously considering buying a house 13814 Botts Ave in Marumsco Hills and want to know it it's a safe area? It backs up to some apartments and is on a busy street, so that concerns me as far as resale is concerned. I looked up crime statistics for that area on WashingtonPost.com and it says its .75 the national average which means it's below so that's good, right?

I live in Huntington (Alexandria, VA) by the metro and the crime stat here is .49 the national average. What I don't understand is there were only two little crime bubles in my current neighborhood and a whole bunch by the new house in Marumsco Hills.

Since you're a police officer; I would really like you're opinion of Marumsco Hills.

Thank you.

[bumblebee27]

Originally Posted by oneasterisk

Botts used to be a lot more busy before the PWC Pkwy was extended to Route 1. It's a short walk to an Elementary and Middle school though so maybe that'll counteract the busy street.

Thank you for replying, and I too was hoping the proximity to the middle school might help counteract the busy street.

What is your opinion of Marumsco Hills?

I'm trying to figure out a good price to offer, because when I look at the recent home sales they're all over. The foreclosures/short sales without improvements are cheap, but the renovated houses are going for a lot more money.

I've never bought a home in Virginia; I've purchased several in Missouri. In Missouri, the seller has to disclose what they know about the house (recent repairs, average utilities, etc) and I don't understand why it's not the same here.

[oneasterisk]

I personally don't like Marumsco Hills mainly for aesthetic reasons. I don't like narrow streets, Botts is not too bad since it used to be a big thoroughfare but the surrounding streets are very narrow. Also not a huge fan of powerlines above the streets. MH has always been lower cost housing, so there is a large immigrant and working class population that lives there. I'm familiar with the area of the house and I don't like how the backyard faces the apartment parking lot and the PWC pkwy. It's too busy and probably too loud with the cars driving by for my taste. There aren't much large trees in the back to provide sound dampening so you'll be hearing cars drive by the front and the rear of the home.

Has your realtor pulled up comps for the area? Is the house renovated or a foreclosure/shortsale? I thought that house sellers in this area do have to disclose things? You should also get a home inspection to verify the condition of the house before purchase.

Home sales in VA is public record so information can be gathered about previous house sales from this website: http://www4.pwcgov.org/realestate/LandRover.asp

Also I'd suggest you remove the street number from your previous post. If you end up buying it, people will know where you live - LOL

[bumblebee27]

Originally Posted by oneasterisk

I personally don't like Marumsco Hills mainly for aesthetic reasons. I don't like narrow streets, Botts is not too bad since it used to be a big thoroughfare but the surrounding streets are very narrow. Also not a huge fan of powerlines above the streets. MH has always been lower cost housing, so there is a large immigrant and working class population that lives there. I'm familiar with the area of the house and I don't like how the backyard faces the apartment parking lot and the PWC pkwy. It's too busy and probably too loud with the cars driving by for my taste. There aren't much large trees in the back to provide sound dampening so you'll be hearing cars drive by the front and the rear of the home.

Has your realtor pulled up comps for the area? Is the house renovated or a foreclosure/shortsale? I thought that house sellers in this area do have to disclose things? You should also get a home inspection to verify the condition of the house before purchase.

Home sales in VA is public record so information can be gathered about previous house sales from this website: LandRover 2.0

Also I'd suggest you remove the street number from your previous post. If you end up buying it, people will know where you live - LOL

Good point about the street number. There are trees along the back fence that block PWC pkwy and the apartment parking lot; maybe the trees were blocking some of the noise too. It's a regular sale and it's been renovated.

My realtor pulled up the comps and the sales were all over. Several were under contract but we only know the list price not the contract prices. To qualify for the first-time homebuyer credit, people have to close on existing homes by December 1, 2009, so houses are flying off the shelf.

[oneasterisk]

It's a regular sale, but it's an investment company that has flipped the house. Some fact checking shows that it was sold on 8/3 for $89k. Looks like they did a lot of renovations in a little over a month and now selling for 2.5 times what they purchased it for. Only you as the buyer can say it is worth that

Here are some comps that you can look at. This website is nice because it'll show you the list, the contract price and whatever seller subsidy involved without having access to MRIS: FranklyMLS.com Virginia & DC MLS via Keyword Search & Wiki. Homes for Sale

In a way I don't like that first time buyer's credit. It's putting an artificial push on the market. It may be almost better to wait till after the tax credit is over so that there is less competition and you may get the same house for "cheaper". Also you have to close by Nov 30. Hopefully you can close in a little over a month.