The most beautiful NOVA town for a 5 million dollar home? (Arlington: condo, neighborhood)

[NovaOne]

With 5 mil, you can do western McLean 22102 zip code. I don't know if you'd need 5 acres - maybe 2-3 would be enough? There aren't many 5-acre lots and even ones in Great Falls usually haven't been subdivided because a stream runs through it. McLean inside the beltway also has some larger lots, but they are even more rare. Personally I prefer a rural/quiet feeling subdivision, that's also close to everything. That's the beauty and attraction of western McLean.

I wouldn't live in Clifton. I'm not white enough. :P

[Mr Spock]

I have driven around all of them and looked at the 5 Million Dollar homes with visiting relatives and by far the most scenic wooded place is Clifton but because of it's location it is not as well known.

[spencgr]

Originally Posted by Mr Spock

I have driven around all of them and looked at the 5 Million Dollar homes with visiting relatives and by far the most scenic wooded place is Clifton but because of it's location it is not as well known.

You want scenic? Head west, young man! Those three pale in comparison to Aldie (past Rt 15), Middleburg, and Upperville.

[NovaOne]

I think there's a difference between a well groomed 5 acres versus untamed natural forest. For 5 million dollars, I would want a scene out of a movie: large mature trees with wide spread branches, with nothing but mowed grass and perhaps some trimmed bushes in between. There should be a diversified collection of flowering trees, shrubs, and plants to ensure color throughout the seasons. Ponds would be growing some lily pads and lotuses while stocked with colorful Koi.

It doesn't cost $5M to buy wilderness - you can get 100-300 acres for much less as you start driving west.

I guess what I am saying is that if I could build a mansion in the National Arboretum, that would be the ideal "rural scenic" home setting.

[Mr Spock]

OMG! You want to cut down a mature forest for grass that needs to be mowed and fertilized. Environmental disaster!

Originally Posted by NovaOne

I think there's a difference between a well groomed 5 acres versus untamed natural forest. For 5 million dollars, I would want a scene out of a movie: large mature trees with wide spread branches, with nothing but mowed grass and perhaps some trimmed bushes in between. There should be a diversified collection of flowering trees, shrubs, and plants to ensure color throughout the seasons. Ponds would be growing some lily pads and lotuses while stocked with colorful Koi.

It doesn't cost $5M to buy wilderness - you can get 100-300 acres for much less as you start driving west.

I guess what I am saying is that if I could build a mansion in the National Arboretum, that would be the ideal "rural scenic" home setting.

[tysonsengineer]

If I had 5 million I wouldnt waste it on one place. I'd buy a 2br in Manhattan (1.5 million) which I'd rent out, I'd buy a 2br in DC (700,000) which I'd rent out, I'd buy a 2br in Chicago (500,000) that I'd rent out, a vacation home in Tahiti (800,000), and a 8 br country home in Southern France (800,000). Take the rest of the 400,000 as a rainy day fund.

Anyone who would waste all 5 million on a single home should look at resale value of multi-million dollar mansions. They dont do so great compared to the amount of money it takes to own (maintenance/taxes)

[BarqCider]

id sell it. no way i could afford the taxes on that 5 mill house. Then relocate somewhere else near a beach for 1/2-3/4 cheaper. lol

[dualforecast]

I would go with Foxhall Rd. area in DC.

[Cardiff Kook]

None. Ocean front property in La Jolla or the Virgin Islands.

Clifton if I had to choose from those options

[FC Merrifield]

I work in DC so Clifton is out (plus, I'm not sure exactly where it is - just somewhere far away). Great Falls has a nice location, but Oakton is closer to more stores, restaurants, and people. So I guess Oakton near the metro stop.