Maximizing real estate search (Reston, Herndon: for sale, apartments, rental)

[LLD]

I'll be in the area interviewing in a couple of weeks and want to take a quick look at real estate. One job is in Mclean, the other in Reston. My general plan right now is to look in the Reston area but I'd consider areas in Herndon too but maybe on the more eastern side (closer to Reston).

I don't want to live far out, even though I know I can get more for my money. I like to be closer to the "action" with health clubs, restaurants, cultural events and other single professionals etc etc.

My preference is a single family house but I know those will be pretty limited in my budget range which is $350-450K and I really don't want to go over $400K but I would if it was the right place.

I like leafy green areas, walking trails etc. and easy access to amenities. A townhouse would be fine as long as it is not those notorious skinny ones with no back yard whatsoever.

I don't really know the nice townhouse communities or the acceptable older subdivisions so would appreciate any advice. I've read through lots of the older threads but haven't gotten a real sense of neighborhoods to peruse. I know I can get an agent but they don't always tell you (or can't) about some of the problems with various neighborhoods.

So can I get any neighborhood/subdivsion recommendations any of you might have? Just name the place and give me a one liner like worth checking out, or stay away because of high crime or whatever one liner you'd like.

Thanks in advance for your advice.

[5stones]

well... most houses in Herndon and REston under $450 will be very small older homes in need of renovation.
I'd check out TH look near Reston Town Center. I am not super familiar with the area so I can't give specifics on neighborhoods etc...

[Tish Thompson]

Some subdivisions that may be of interest: Southbridge, Hunters Square, Deepwood, The Glade (at Hunters Woods), Sutton Ridge.

[metclubin]

I liked this site for home search in NOVA.

Northern Virginia Homes - Northern Virginia Fine Homes

Its very good, most of them have pictures, link to school information etc.

Thanks,
Met

[LLD]

Thanks for the comments.

There seems to be a couple of older neighborhoods with houses in Reston in the $350-450K range and I keep thinking -- what is wrong with them? LOL

Some do indeed need updating and others have some updates. Also, several of them don't have basements at all which surprised me a little. I don't seem to be finding many ramblers whatsoever.

There are a lot more houses available in the Herndon area but there are also a ton neighborhoods that I'm not familiar with.

[lchoro]

You might have to drive a little outside of Reston/Herndon town limits. There are some established neighborhoods with detached homes where the prices are starting to fall back into your range. I found one by searching on the web since we used to own a rental in that development (Glenbrooke Woods), but there may be others in similar developments off of West Ox Rd and Fairfax County Parkway, such as Franklin Farms. You would have to drive about 5-10 minutes into town.

Herndon Virginia Homes for Sale | Condo, Townhouse, House Listings (http://www.re-herndon.com/homes.aspx?ID=Glenbrooke%20Woods&SS=Glenbrooke%20W oods - broken link)

[LLD]

Thanks for that tip! Five to ten minutes out of town is doable. It's hard to know about which areas are in which "towns" or zips even. It's a bit confusing but I've seen that everywhere I've lived. :-)

I had forgotten about Franklin Farms or maybe I'm thinking of McNair Farms.

[lchoro]

McNair Farms is pretty much in town. There are a lot of apartments and small townhomes there. The area around the Clock Tower Shopping Center has built up so fast that my knowledge is probably obsolete. They have Woodland Park developments just up the street within walking distance. It's essentially another of those walkable complex of condos, offices, and stores (Harris Teeter's, Pei Wei Diner, etc.) that seem to be springing up all over Fairfax County. If you go down Sunrise Valley Dr farther west from McNair Farms, there's a brand new city called Dulles Corner in the process of being built. Dullles Corner and Woodland Park are being built near the planned metro subway stations for Herndon.