Anywhere Commutable to Tyson's Corner with AFFORDABLE Homes Like These? (Arlington: to rent, condos)

[Tone509]

Originally Posted by ScranBarre

Believe it or not I'm not looking to "cash in" on high property value appreciation because it is thanks to the Baby Boomers doing just that (i.e. buying for $249,900 in 1997 and selling for $649,900 in 2007 with limited renovations) that the newer generation can't afford housing. It's DISGUSTING when someone like me with a degree earning $42,000, a salary that would be seen as solidly middle-class in most other areas, can barely afford to pay rent for a 1-BR apartment and is worried about high heating bills this winter. I would feel like a hypocrite if I bought a home with the sole intention of watching its value balloon as a stepping stone to catapult me to somewhere else when all I'd be doing would be to help make yet another home unaffordable to many more people in the process just to benefit myself in a greedy fashion.

Houses aren't supposed to be "investments." They are supposed to be homes. They aren't just four walls that can net you a killing if you time your sale right. They are supposed to be four walls where childhood memories are created. When did the prior generation lose sight of this?

Actually buying a condo or smaller home in the short-term here would be a good investment to build equity for the "dream home" you want would later, whether it's in NOVA or elsewhere. It's not being greedy but instead a smart financial move.

[Stephen 81]

Originally Posted by Tone509

Points taken. Just trying to steer this thread back closer to home.

I think 99% of Northern Virginians would say that the only response to the OP's question would be "no. Definitely not. Don't even think about it."

[bornindc]

Originally Posted by ScranBarre

I'm just still not seeing enough unique and superior qualities to make this metropolitan area so much more expensive than nearly all others in the country.

Scran, where should I start. Unique and superior, hmmmm... Let's try more free museums, cultural events, and diversity of people and businesses than almost any U.S. city. Exceptional, close-in access to tons of parks and outdoor recreation that is rare for a such large city. Easy travel from two major international airports to anywhere on earth. Huge generator of jobs. Although you won't admit it, more historical, character-laden housing in places such as Arlington, Georgetown, Old Town, Leesburg, and nearby preserved towns like Fredericksburg and Wiliamsburg, and historical places like Mt. Vernon, civil war sites, etc. than most cities. Uh, let's see, Capitol of the free world, anyone?

Your disillusion with Reston notwithstanding, I've lived in NW DC, Rockville, Alexandria, Springfield Bowie and Sterling and always felt like I was in a community and never felt like a stranger. I've always enjoyed my neighbors and felt comfortable where I resided here (and I can't say the same for other cities I've lived in).

I think the real property around here is cheap compared to what you gain access to. Have fun in Scranton or Pittsburgh if that's what you want.

[vivo]

Originally Posted by ScranBarre

Actually Baltimore is on my short-list right now with Pittsburgh. Both cities seem to offer housing that is affordable to most in the middle-class, populations that are a bit more down-to-earth, and both were laid out pre-WWII, which means that instead of endless cul-de-sacs a lot of the inner suburbs are still very charming.

I'd say Baltimore. Pitt apparently is not great for young people and not sure if it's growing as a metro area.

[Stephen 81]

Originally Posted by ScranBarre

No. At the time I was working Herndon. I didn't think an Arlington or DC ===> Herndon daily commute was feasible with the horrible traffic congestion and poor mass transit in our metropolitan area. Also, nice way to put words in my mouth because my apprehensions about rooming with people has nothing to do with "homophobia." Yes, I made reference to the fact that after years of being unable to date due to living in a conservative household I wanted to "spread my wings" a bit when I moved here (in which case a homebody roomie WOULD drive me nuts when I'd want privacy to bring a date home), but I'm not refusing to shack up with strangers because of fears of homophobia---it is due to concerns over lack of privacy. I had friends who dormed during college. Moments of solitude were at a premium. Why would I want to continue that into my 20s and/or 30s as well?

But you were told that many young people have that commute in order to live somewhere more to their liking. It's not our fault you decided that a short commute was preferable to living in your ideal neighborhood. And if you were surprised by either the cost of living or the traffic here...both of those are pretty much public knowledge and easily found on Google.

Ok, I am not going to go back and search the forums from April and May to determine the exact wording of why you rejected everyone's suggestion to find a roommate. Perhaps you intended to say that you wanted your privacy, but I had gotten the distinct impression you were worried, because of your conservative family and conservative hometown, that your bringing guys home would be the issue. Maybe you would have felt the same way if you were straight.

Originally Posted by ScranBarre

Once again I never said "I don't want to live by blacks," so stop putting words into my mouth. I have many black friends and colleagues. I don't want to live by the types of blacks who'd resent whites flooding into their neighborhoods and renovating homes---not blacks in general. Also, MOST people my age find the 'burbs to be abhorrent and don't still want to live the "dorm" lifestyle at this stage in life. I'm not the anomaly people think I am in those respects. To finish your sentence, since I haven't expressed an interest in law school...I will be planning my next relocation to an area that offers a better "bang for your buck" factor, such as Pittsburgh.

Are there African Americans who resent white people moving in and driving up their property values/rent? Yes. Do I blame them? No. But that is mostly beside the point. You seem to be basing all your housing decisions on potential thoughts theoretical people might be having. Nonexistent roommates barging in on your cuddling sessions and being annoyed with you, resentful African Americans frustrated that you are changing the neighborhood they grew up in and love. What about Catholic currently unemployed steel workers in Pittsburgh? Can't they be just as resentful of a successful gay accountant driving up their property values? The fact is, no matter where you move, someone could theoretically not take a liking to you. But aside from moving to a mountain in WV, that's something you're just going to have to deal with.

You don't want to live in the burbs, we get that. But you have expressed a lot of hesitation when people suggested neighborhoods that may interest you better - neighborhoods that happen to be mostly African American. Don't put words into MY mouth and say that I called you racist. All I said was that you were reluctant to live somewhere that had a lot of African Americans. There are many possible reasons for that, including (but not limited to) a fear of reverse racism.

Honestly, though...why did you write your original post? You know full well that the homes you were seeking were nowhere to be found within a reasonable commute to Tysons. Which, btw, is not on THE 7. In neither Virginia nor Pennsylvania do people put the word "the" in front of route or interstate numbers. If you were a Californian it would be understandable, but I'm not sure where your usage of it is coming from.

[Tone509]

Originally Posted by vivo

I'd say Baltimore. Pitt apparently is not great for young people and not sure if it's growing as a metro area.

Baltimore would be a bearable one-hour commute on the MARC train to DC. Of course, the homes and apts near the stations in Baltimore tend to be priced higher than much of the rest of the city. I'd still shudder at the thought of a Baltimore-to-Tysons Corner commute. Bmore's cost-of-living is probably roughly equivalent to my hometown Philadelphia where one would be hard pressed to find a desirable SFH in-town for less than $300K, let alone $150K.

[JEB77]

Originally Posted by ScranBarre

So all of the stories you hear about inner-city blacks complaining about being displaced by whites and the LGBT community "gentrifying" their neighborhoods are really just figments of our imagination? I'll tell you what. I'll give you $50,000, and you go right on ahead and charge into Detroit, saying you are going to buy up blighted homes and restore them for a profit and see how many "friends" that will get you.

First of all, PG County is not Detroit by any stretch, any more so than Fairfax is Williamsport. By national standards, PG has long been and remains quite affluent.

Second, the history of PG County reflects that many Blacks moved to PG in the 1970s and 1980s at a time when it had a much larger White population. They were seeking what generations of city-dwellers sought when moving to suburbs - more space and better schools, among other things. They generally weren't moving from inner-city DC to PG to get away from white folks or with the expectation that PG would become - as it later did - a majority-black county.

Third, while I won't completely discount the possibility of anti-"gentrification" backlash, I can only tell you from personal experience that it has elements of an "urban myth." I moved into a gentrifying DC (not PG, which is more suburban) urban area in the 80s and lived there almost 10 years. Our Black neighbors were friendly; we looked after each other's houses when we were gone; and if they missed the "old neighborhood" and resented our presence we were not told. I'd like to think that, by restoring our house and keeping our yard in good shape, we had a positive impact on the area. Many were home-owners, not renters, and they were not unhappy with the stable or rising property values.

So, yeah, your remarks still strike me as uninformed by real-life experience, and the analogies of PG to Detroit wildly off-the-mark. But if you'd be happier in Baltimore, or Richmond or Pittsburgh, go for it. You'd get waitresses to call you "hon" or "dear," and serve you sweet tea if you're in Richmond, and you might feel that you're among "real people" once again.

[vivo]

Originally Posted by Tone509

Baltimore would be a bearable one-hour commute on the MARC train to DC. Of course, the homes and apts near the stations in Baltimore tend to be priced higher than much of the rest of the city. I'd still shudder at the thought of a Baltimore-to-Tysons Corner commute. Bmore's cost-of-living is probably roughly equivalent to my hometown Philadelphia where one would be hard pressed to find a desirable SFH in-town for less than $300K, let alone $150K.

by Baltimore I don't necessarily mean the city itself. also yeah the commute to Tysons would suck. hopefully he can get a job closer. just rent until he gets out of Tysons. also not sure if Baltimore's inner burbs are that great.

[Bigbluelandrover]

Scran,
How many of these posts are you going to do on CD? Many posters have offered very good advice and suggestions. NO you are not going to get exactly what you want. However, all the tools were available to you to do research before you moved here. It is all over the net about the cost of living. You can google statellite zip codes and zoom in and look at neighborhoods. Young people in HCOL areas often buy homes later than the southern and midwest young college grads. It isn't wrong just differnt.
What really struck my nerve was your ASSumption that blacks in PG would feel some type of resentment that you moved into their neighborhood. I reside right next to Hyattsville and can tell you your neighbor won't be black and probably won't speak english. Even New Carrollton is more hispanic than black depending on the block. These areas DO have whites in them. Check out Cheverly. It is a sleepy little area that I saw whites get off and on the orange line. Maybe your issues are more deep seated than simple ignorance. People here are too busy trying to pay bills than to care what the next door neighbor looks like.

[vivo]

Originally Posted by ScranBarre

Actually Baltimore is on my short-list right now with Pittsburgh. Both cities seem to offer housing that is affordable to most in the middle-class, populations that are a bit more down-to-earth, and both were laid out pre-WWII, which means that instead of endless cul-de-sacs a lot of the inner suburbs are still very charming.

not sure about the whole inner suburbs thing at least vs dc. don't really know if they are much more charming.