Any hip, arty, places/towns in NOVA to relocate? (Arlington: house, neighborhood) - Northern Virginia - Virginia - City-Data Forum

km41 · 03-23-2011, 07:39 AM

Hi all,

We are possibly relocating to NOVA from Chittenden county, VT. My husband will be working in Fairfax. It would be great to keep the commute to 45 min. or less...but could do an hour if it's a great place. Our budget for housing probablly tops out at around $600,000.

We're looking for either a nice, country kind of town with some open spaces or else a place with less space but a good vibe to it. A place with good walking/hiking trails (off leash for dog?), CSA (community supported agriculture), etc.

We have 2 young children...so schools are impt.

Maybe this place does not exist!? Just looking for any general help/insights on where to look for a house that is not a McMansion or part of some massive, homogenous development.

Apologies if this has been covered in other posts.

Thanks,
Kathleen

normie · 03-23-2011, 07:59 AM

Nova is not what I'd call hip or artsy. Your best bets, IMO, would be Reston or Occoquan. Lake Anne area might appeal to you. You will still see McMansions, but there are some older homes as well as well as local artists. I've posted some photo tours below so you can see for yourself. Falls Church might possibly appeal. Try to live as close to work as possible.

Reston-Town Center and Lake Anne

Reston-South Lakes

Occoquan (also Woodbridge and Lake Ridge)

Falls Church

km41 · 03-23-2011, 08:17 AM

Thanks, Normie! What is the commute like from these places? (sorry for the repeat questioning)

normie · 03-23-2011, 08:19 AM

Where in Fairfax is the job?

JfromReston · 03-23-2011, 08:34 AM

Here is a house that tips over the top of your budget but is pretty hip! Nice house in a great neighborhood - I went to the open house this past weekend.
10718 MIDSUMMER DR, RESTON, VA 20191 - HomesDatabase

Reston has 55 miles of hiking trails and is 20-30 minutes from Fairfax depending on where you are going and what time of the day it is.

These are under contract - just to show you other things that have recently sold.
11314 LINKS CT, RESTON, VA 20190 - HomesDatabase
2501 GOLDCUP LN, RESTON, VA 20191 - HomesDatabase

This house has great bones and a nice lot but needs lots of renovation. It is VERY overpriced - even at the new price. I think it should be in the 580K - 600K range.
12122 STIRRUP RD, RESTON, VA 20191 - HomesDatabase

In this price range in Reston, good properties go fast so you may have wait and watch the market.

stpickrell · 03-23-2011, 08:35 AM

Northern Virginia is not really hip or arty outside of a few parts of Arlington, Del Ray (Alexandria), and Old Town Alexandria. You can't really afford the hip parts of Arlington, and the public schools are spotty in Del Ray and Old Town Alexandria.

With that said, the incorporated towns and cities (Vienna, Fairfax, Herndon, and if you work west of Fairfax City, I'd even look at Leesburg or Middleburg) and Reston are slightly less unhip/square than the rest of Northern Virginia.

km41 · 03-23-2011, 08:49 AM

The office is on Lee Highway in the 9000s.

Thanks for the realestate info. Jfromreston. That "midsummer drive" house is cool!
I will check out the towns you mention, stpickrell. Thanks so much for the good advice!

Caladium · 03-23-2011, 08:57 AM

So work is near the Pan Am shopping center and not far from the Vienna metro? I'd live right there in Vienna. Good schools and older homes. It's not arty but it has a nice "Whole Foods" type of vibe you might like.

Vienna Photos

Vienna, Part 2

JfromReston · 03-23-2011, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by km41

The office is on Lee Highway in the 9000s.

Thanks for the realestate info. Jfromreston. That "midsummer drive" house is cool!

I agree the Midsummer Drive house is Cool and it is about 20 minutes from the office on Lee Highway.

marie5v · 03-23-2011, 12:28 PM

I think in that price range you could also find something nice right in Fairfax or Burke. We searched for a very long time for something not cookie-cutter and boring, same price range as you. We liked Del Ray and Beverly Hills, but that's too far from Fairfax and we didn't like the schools. We finally found a home right in Fairfax (around GMU) that is contemporary style in an older neighborhood with lots of trees, walking paths and a lake. And it doesn't have an HOA, which we really love. I don't think you will find a town in that price range - we wanted one too, everyone does. You might have to settle for a nice neighborhood instead.