Relocating to Fredericksburg for work... (Dumfries, Colonial Beach: military, house hunting, apartment)

[bubblyred]

I keep reading postings on different areas and such, so I thought I would throw mine in the mix. I am hopefully going to be working in Fredericksburg, but had a general thought of moving somewhere in between there and DC..maybe around the Stafford, Dumfries area?? I don't think I will be able to buy any time soon, hate the thought of having to live in an apartment, would love to find a neat loft somewhere or condo/townhouse. I would need either a basement or a garage (lots of stuff in need of storage). Can anyone provide some info or names to check out. I was going to gather as much info as I can prior to house hunting trip in about two weeks. Of course, then I thought the other way, and looked some in Colonial Beach, but hadn't seen much about that area or what the traffic would be like from there to Fredericksburg...or traffic in general. I have gathered that traffic into DC is horrible, I would go against it if living in Stafford and such, but realize it might be a bit tough in the evenings...

Thanks for any info!!
Cas

[ashbrn4]

Why not just live in Fredericksburg? You should be able to find a rental fairly easily as the home sales market is pretty flat there right now so people are renting out homes they can't sell. Why deal with commuting if you dont' have to? And, even though you'd be going against traffic, you'd still have plenty of it to deal with on I-95. Fredericksburg is generally cheaper than Dumfries and Stafford. Plus, Fredericksburg has all the amenities you could want.

[EricD]

I don't know much as far as Stafford, but within Fredericksburg, you can get a pretty nice 1 bedroom 1 bath condo right off of Rt. 3 for atound $150,000. It was an old apartment building that they gutted, and are now selling as condo's a little west of where rt. 1 hits rt. 3. There is also a new condo development going in near the train station. I forget the name, but I'm sure a google search would bring it up. They had some really nice floorplans, but it's close to the train station... so good for people who want to take the VRE, but a down side for everyone else who doesn't want to hear the trains.

[ashbrn4]

The condos near the train station? Are you talking about the school being converted in downtown? I haven't seen pricing on them, but I know they're already selling because I know of someone who has bought one.

[bubblyred]

Thanks for the info, I think I am blurry eyed over this! I guess I was thinking maybe the Stafford area, it's a bit closer to DC, I have a few friends there and thought it would be nice to be a bit closer. Yahoo maps said it was something around 11 miles from Stafford to Fredericksburg? I have no clue, I don't think I will be buying anything there soon, right now I have a 3 bedroom house with a garage and need something bigger than 1 bedroom, although either a basement or garage would do. I would imagine I have about 2 weeks before a house hunting trip, so whatever ideas anyone has, I will welcome and add to my list! There are some decent places out there to rent, just weird..I have never had to rent before, just been lucky and lived where I was able to buy!!

Cas

[onevthoki]

There are two condominium complexes going in downtown that someone referred to. The first is Cobblestone Square, which does actually back to the train tracks, so unless you like the sound of trains going through, not sure I would buy there, although they are a pretty good buy. The other is Maury Commons, which indeed is the old Maury School (I think the last article I read on that said that about 24 of the 32 units were taken); pretty neat what they are doing in that building - the units should be very unique.

I am assuming from your post that it will be just you moving here, so there will be no concerns with a family and school districts. Also assuming you like to go out (oh, I remember those days...) and be with others your age. I cannot speak about the night life in Fredericksburg, but my assumption is you will get more in Fredericksburg than you will in Stafford. If you go farther north, you will get more night life, but also more congestion. I agree 100% with ashbrn, don't commute if you don't have to. I would be happy to help you look for a rental if you would like, just let me know. You could also check out the site www.militarybyowner.com. A lot of rentals get posted there.

Good luck!

[bubblyred]

Thanks for more info! Yes, it's just me and cats! And yes, I do hope to be able to get out some, we'll just say mid thirty something single woman who likes to get out some! I have looked at both of those condo's the school seems like it would be neat, I haven't seen prices on it though, I think it just has a number to call. If anyone knows where the prices are, let me know! I really do hate the thought of renting, when I could probably buy something in the same monthly payment area...

Thanks for the all the info and help. Is there much to do at night in Fredericksburg? I thought I read in another posting that there wasn't too much going on.. It's funny, sometimes I remember back to married days and say...ahhh someone to do something with all the time!!! But here I am, haven't done too bad in Charleston, I moved here not knowing anyone, so knowing a few people there will be a plus!

Cas

[GregJ]

I, too, am in the process of moving to the Quantico/Stafford/Fredericksburg area the next couple weeks (and with my two cats!).

My take on the area (from somebody who's been in and out of the area since the 70's Marine days) is that Fredericksburg is a magnificent town surrounded by ever expanding suburbs (congestion, sprawl, etc). You would do well to find a loft or condo in town. Stafford is also a relatively new and growing city around a small, historic town. Like everyplace else that's growing in the country, it's plagued by car oriented planning and not very liveable.

For what it's worth, go for someplace in old town Fredericksburg. I called the local police to get a feel for good/bad areas and was told that downtown and the area across the river (I think they call it Chatham Heights) is nice and pretty low crime.

[onevthoki]

Greg - As the wife of a retired member of the USA, welcome back to the neighborhood!