"Old Ashburn" Appreciation (real estate, appliances, townhouses)

[iherm]

I am contemplating putting an offer on a townhouse in Ashburn Village. The list price is at $42xk and I had some concerns about appreciation in the area. Since Ashburn Village is considered "Old Ashburn" does anyone think Ashburn Village will have any particular reason to be a well appreciating part of town? Or should I look in the Silver Line/New Ashburn areas?

This is my first home purchase, and I'm prior service military, so I just want to get the best value.

I appreciate all your time and answers!


Thanks

[stpickrell]

Closer to the Metro, the more appreciation it will likely have. There's no bad schools, really, and so from there go with what works for your job.

[Alley01]

I don't think you will have a problem, as long as you are committed to updating the house to current buyers needs. No one seems to have a problem moving to the older areas, unless the house shows its age. The ones that are updated seem to still go fast. It is far from an unpopular area. It is more about what kind of investments you want to make. There really isn't a bad area, and with the metro coming at the earliest in 2018, you have a while before that will be a strong selling point. That isn't coming up soon.

[mdcrim]

I prefer the "older" Ashburn communities. Larger lots, mature trees, more amenities in the neighborhoods. Personal preference but I like the older communities better. Some of the new townhouse jungles in Ashburn don't have any community amenities, just seas of other townhouses.

[Vee79]

I live in one of the older ashburn communities, ashburn farm. My home has appreciated very well and I love the ammenities and that the houses are not right ontop of one another like some of the newer communities.

[VRE332]

Originally Posted by Vee79

I live in one of the older ashburn communities, ashburn farm. My home has appreciated very well and I love the ammenities and that the houses are not right ontop of one another like some of the newer communities.

We looked at houses up there however the downside is that the appliances in many of those homes are so outdated that the sellers were never interested in negotiating around the concept that the house needed updated appliances especially a range with more than 2 burners from the 80s.

[NovaOne]

I've owned a couple of different homes in Ashburn Village. The homes are definitely older, but it's still a nice area. The construction quality can be dramatically different however. We owned a town home in the mid $300k range that was complete crap, and one in the mid $400k range that was a LOT better built.

[NC211]

Originally Posted by stpickrell

Closer to the Metro, the more appreciation it will likely have. There's no bad schools, really, and so from there go with what works for your job.

My only comment on the "closer to the metro...." aspect are the taxes on that real estate. They're going to be higher via this transit authority special assessment mumbojumbo that's going on within a few mile radius around the stations. I can't recall what the tax is in $ terms, but I think it was something like an additional $0.20 per $100 of assessed tax value of your home, which we all know is simply the starting point..... So if you're home has a taxed assessed value of say $500k, your annual tax bill on it will increase by $1,000, or $83/month going forward. Yet somehow $5.85 tolls for 2 miles of driving on the Greenway along side of what will be the silverline itself doesn't seem to help the cost of the silverline itself. Gotta love the politics of this town, baby!

[mdcrim]

They exempted all but a very few existing residential properties from the additional metro tax district. Some to-be-built homes may have to pay but right now it's mostly for commercial properties.

[Vee79]

Originally Posted by VRE332

We looked at houses up there however the downside is that the appliances in many of those homes are so outdated that the sellers were never interested in negotiating around the concept that the house needed updated appliances especially a range with more than 2 burners from the 80s.

yes, that is something to consider. My appliances were outdated and within the first year, had to replace the refridgerator, washer and the hot water heater because they failed. I went ahead and replaced the stove and dish washer by choice. On the plus side, I was able to customize and place efficient appliances of my choice. My realtor had warned me that I would be replacing appliances soon and I took that into account with the purchase price and had some money set aside.