Move to NOVA, work Pentagon, want SFH $450K, good schools, 1 hr commute (Burke: for sale, 2010)

[steveandmaureen]

I know there are many posts like this but none applied specifically to my situation. I'm currently stationed overseas, looking to move Summer 2010 and work at the Pentagon. We'd like a house around 450K in good school district willing to commute (VRE, Omnibus, slug whichever works) about an hour or so. We like the looks of the houses farther out (Manassas, Dumfries etc), and want the quality of Fairfax schools. We are looking closely at Manassas (Osbourn Park HS) but after reading many threads I'm wondering if that's where we want to go. Many threads are talking about 2 hour commutes, bad schools, bad neighborhoods and crime. If I was loaded, I'd love Vienna or Oakton to be near the metro and good schools, but alas I do not.

Can anyone help me out with a few questions

Is Manassas a decent place to live? How long is the commute via VRE/Omnibus/slugging?

What other places could we look to fit our requirements (school, commute, 3000 sq ft house)

Osbourn Park, other PWC schools OK, to include Middle and elementary schools? HS sports?

What places should we definitely avoid? I saw something about Ironridge or Irongate?

I've learned quite a bit already from reading these threads, thanks in advance for any help you can give.

[qwertman]

I think the VRE would be your best option from Manassas to Pentagon. No slugging from Manassas that I know of.

From the woodbridge area to pentagon should be less then an hour commute one way (possibly 30-45 min) if you slug or carpool.

450k should get you a nice SFH in a nice neighborhood on either end of the county. Naturally you get what you pay for and at 450 you should be priced above the "questionable" neighborhoods that get all the heat here.

My belief is all the PWC high schools are pretty equal. I would say they are probably a step down from the popular fairfax schools. Osbourn Park (along with some other ones on the western side of the county) are the richest. In the woodbridge area, Woodbridge HS and Forest Park HS are supposedly the best, and statisticly close to OP. I don't know as much about the elementry and middle schools but there will be more varience racially and socioeconomicly between different schools.

All the big HS sports (Football, Basketball, Soccer, etc.) are very strong at all the AAA High schools in PW, many of the schools have multiple state championships and quite a few have moved on with Division I scholarships.

If you want to be in Fairfax, maybe look at Herndon, Chantilly, Centerville. Commute will probably be about the same as woodbridge but a little more expensive and a little more prestigous schools.

[OrangeFish]

Originally Posted by steveandmaureen

What other places could we look to fit our requirements (school, commute, 3000 sq ft house)

Except for the 3000 sq ft house part, I would suggest looking in Annandale, Burke, and West Springfield. I think most of the houses in those areas in your price range would be 2000 - 2500 sq ft houses.

[Hazel B.]

We just (yesterday!) purchased a house in West Springfield for around your price range. There are numerous buses within feet of our house that go to the Pentagon in less than an hour. My husband will be catching the bus to the Pentagon and taking the metro from there. Burke is also a very nice area. We went through the same Prince William County / Fairfax County / good schools / good commute / affordable house debate that you are having. Good luck with your decision!

[steveandmaureen]

Thanks to everyone who has replied, your advice is very helpful. Please keep the info coming.

[JfromReston]

There is an express bus from the Reston East Park and Ride to the Pentagon (Fairfax Connector 595) that leaves Reston at 7:00 am and gets to the Pentagon at 7:40 am (other times also). This bus along with your travel time to the P&R and from the Pentagon station to your job should give you the 1 hour commute time you are looking for. However, you will be hard pressed to find a 3000 sf home for $450K in Reston. It will probably take $500 - $550K and the homes maybe in the 2500-3000 sq ft range.

View Property Details- 2329 ROSEDOWN DR, Reston, VA 20191
View Property Details- 11306 MYRTLE LN, Reston, VA 20191
View Property Details- 2402 BUGLE LN, Reston, VA 20191
View Property Details- 12349 COLERAINE CT, Reston, VA 20191
View Property Details- 2524 FARRIER LN, Reston, VA 20191

[tgbwc]

PW7034104 on FranklyMLS.com 5921 FINCASTLE DR, MANASSAS VA for $400,000 in ASHLAND Home For Sale
PW6781288 on FranklyMLS.com 15817 IBSEN PL, DUMFRIES VA for $439,900 in MONTCLAIR Home For Sale
PW7005466 on FranklyMLS.com 14828 COURTLANDT HEIGHTS RD, WOODBRIDGE VA for $450,000 in COURTLANDT HEIGHTS Home For Sale
PW6447314 on FranklyMLS.com 15234 CHULA PL, WOODBRIDGE VA for $484,990 in LAKE TERRAPIN Home For Sale

We just moved from this area of PW to Springfield, but maybe you could check out the communities of Montclair, Ashland, Lake Terrapin.

[steveandmaureen]

tgbwc

Mind if I ask why you moved from Manassas to Springfield? How's the commute from Manassas?

[tgbwc]

Originally Posted by steveandmaureen

tgbwc

Mind if I ask why you moved from Manassas to Springfield? How's the commute from Manassas?

DM sent

[taylor703]

You may want to check out this affordable area in Prince William County. There are new homes going up in this new town center called Reid's Prospect. I think there are single family homes and townhomes in that price range. The commute to and from work is definitely an hour or so. The builders are Ryan Homes and Courtland Homes. I bet you could google it and see what you find.