Advice needed: Looking for THE real estate agent (Arlington, Alexandria: for sale, houses)

[handle]

I want the unreasonable. I want to live in nova, inside the beltway (or close to it), in a great school pyramid, with a backyard, in a two story house not in need of any major renovations (in addition, a basement would be nice, though it doesn’t qualify as one of the two floors), on a quiet street, relatively near a metro, near nice if not hip folks some of which have young kids my kid can play with. AS long as I am dreaming, I’d love high ceilings. I’d like to get all this for 500,00 to 700,000. For 700,000 I am not moving into a house with linoleum floors or a 1960s kitchen. For 400,000 I’m willing to take on some major renovations.


I can hear the laughter from realtors. Actually I HAVE heard the laughter from realtors ... they think I am hilarious. Then they try to make me move to Reston or somewhere else beautiful, but, in my mind, way out there. My husband and I are doing the redfin thing, but its been months, and months and months without success. We need help from someone who can think creatively and balance our competing needs


Anyone out there who you can recommend?

Moderator's Note: Please send all names/contact information of Realtors via direct message to the OP as they have requested Realtor's names. Please refrain from posting links on the forum to individual Realtor/real estate agency web pages, since real estate recommendations are handled differently than other types of recommendations on the forum. Non-sponsored MLS links are acceptable. Thank you.

[NYmama2dallas]

Maybe Alexandria, south of Old Town (like the Hollin Hall area)? You could also look into South Arlington--I have heard many positive things about S Arlington schools
You could find that in N. Arlington, too, but it would be a very small house with a very small, 1930s kitchen.../.æƒÂ´ƒÃ¦ƒf'r'

[roninsedge]

I would have to second NYmama on that, focus on the non-city Alexandria area.

[smagid]

There are a significant number of homes in the Fairfax County Springfield, Burke, Alexandria, Fairfax, etc) area in that price range with many of the criteria that you mentioned. Many of the homes have also been renovated and quite a few are short sales. The public site of the REALTOR MLS in the area can be found at www.homesdatabase.com . This will have the most up to date information. Many of the other sites use feeds which are updated every so many days or weeks and tend to have outdated information.

[djmont]

We've been very happy with our Realtor. She's experienced, knowledgeable and friendly. I recommend her without hesitation.


Moderator cut: Send Realtor contact information via DM, please. Thanks


-David Montgomery

[Forehead]

Does it have to be inside the Beltway? I'm planning on moving in 4-5 years, and one of the areas I've looked at (I'm a pre-planner, obviously) is the Canturbury Woods area situated between Annandale and Fairfax. It's only about 1 mile from the Beltway, and feeds mostly into the Frost middle school -Woodson high school pyramid which, while not as highly ranked as the McLean-Langley high school pyramids, appears to be damned close.

Your money will go further there than in the McLean/Langley area. Here's one example that I've found, and there are plenty of other houses in this price and size range.

8611 Sinon Street Annandale VA - Listing of a Home for Sale - Real Estate - MLS #FX7455090 - Realtor.com®

Note: I am not a realtor, this is not my house, etc. I've read the rules but I'm not sure if this is allowed, so please remove the link if I'm violating something. I'm merely providing an example, not advertising my own house or anything.

There are houses available in the McLean pyramid for under $700,000, heck even under $600,000, but you aren't going to get all the room you want, and you'll probably get the 1960's kitchen you're trying to avoid.

[handle]

You all are wonderful! Thank you. I'll scour the non Alexandria City, Alexandria area ... and post more questions no doubt.
When you say Hollin Hall, do you mean Hollin Hills? If you do, I love Hollin Hills houses but the schools just aren't there (if you go by great schools scores alone).

[juli77]

Hollin Hills and Hollin Hall are really about the same area - Hollin Halls is an enclave of abour 450 houses built in the 1950's. Many of the homes are contemporary - if you go to Homesdatabase.com and type in FX7456895 - there's a very good representation of homes in the area. Another area you might be interested in is Lake Barcroft - while not in real close proximity to metro, I think you will find the sense of community it sounds like you're looking for. Moderator Cut-Realtor Link

[marie5v]

Originally Posted by handle

I want the unreasonable. I want to live in nova, inside the beltway (or close to it), in a great school pyramid, with a backyard, in a two story house not in need of any major renovations (in addition, a basement would be nice, though it doesn’t qualify as one of the two floors), on a quiet street, relatively near a metro, near nice if not hip folks some of which have young kids my kid can play with. AS long as I am dreaming, I’d love high ceilings. I’d like to get all this for 500,00 to 700,000. For 700,000 I am not moving into a house with linoleum floors or a 1960s kitchen. For 400,000 I’m willing to take on some major renovations.


I can hear the laughter from realtors. Actually I HAVE heard the laughter from realtors ... they think I am hilarious. Then they try to make me move to Reston or somewhere else beautiful, but, in my mind, way out there. My husband and I are doing the redfin thing, but its been months, and months and months without success. We need help from someone who can think creatively and balance our competing needs


Anyone out there who you can recommend?

I love my realtor, but she can't find you what doesn't exist. Redfin is how I found my home, and it's great but has a 70's kitchen and isn't quite inside the beltway. But the neighborhood is great (Bonnie Brae area).

[Middlin]

I would look just outside the beltway off Prosperity, Route 50/29 and also the neighborhoods off Lee Highway near the Vienna metro. Mantua must have a ton of houses that have been remodeled.