New job in Woodbridge; can you help me find a city? (Alexandria: to rent, HOA fees)

[thebigsh]

Originally Posted by pgtvatitans

Would love to help but without knowing your budget, I don't know what to suggest. If you think PWC is expensive, you may not enjoy this area very much just to be honest.

$150k to $250 k.

[CaliTerp07]

Originally Posted by thebigsh

$150k to $250 k.

I just did a really quick search on my favorite realtor site, and came up with plenty of SFH in the woodbridge area within your price range. Is there a reason you don't like these?

1602 Frances Dr. WOODBRIDGE, VA 22191
1318 Willow Ln WOODBRIDGE, VA 22191
14310 Chesterfield Dr. WOODBRIDGE, VA 22191

etc, etc. There were lots of properties, I just picked random ones.

If you're expecting new construction on that budget with a short commute, sorry. I have a hard time believing that you can really find new construction for your price within an hour of manhattan either though.

[HokieFan]

Originally Posted by thebigsh

Wow...so with the HOA fees, and the gas for the 2 hour and 15 minute commute/day, you must be dropping a grand a month on just those two things (and that just for 1 car)! Before taxes, that about $16000 off of your salary every year, before you begin paying for anything.

I spend roughly $200 on gas per month but I don't just drive to and from work. That amount includes gas used for going out and about. HOA fees are $61 a month - we are billed quarterly for those. My husband uses a lot less gas as he is in a carpool and drives into DC once - twice at the most - a week.

Originally Posted by CaliTerp07

I just did a really quick search on my favorite realtor site, and came up with plenty of SFH in the woodbridge area within your price range.

Agreed. I just looked on realtor.com with the parameters of Woodbridge, VA, SFH, <$250,000 and there are 81 matches.

[justtitans]

Originally Posted by thebigsh

$150k to $250 k.

You can definitely find something nice on that budget but it won't be new. You have a good budget strictly for PWC but nothing north of PWC. Depending on what you like to be near or not near. I would recommend you stay in the Woodbridge area (Lake Ridge/Woodbridge near 95) if you like to go to DC on the weekends and experience city life. If you are laid back and like staying local in the suburbs than Manassas/Bristow are good areas for you.

[kww]

Originally Posted by HokieFan

Agreed. I just looked on realtor.com with the parameters of Woodbridge, VA, SFH, <$250,000 and there are 81 matches.

sadly, that's the problem with sites like realtor.com, zillow etc. They are horribly outdated. There are only 34 active detached homes in woodbridge (22191,22192,22193) between 100-250,000..

to the threadstarter.. if a little commuting doesn't bother you, look at stafford/fredericksburg. your dollar will stretch further (in exchange for the commute)

[HokieFan]

Originally Posted by kww

sadly, that's the problem with sites like realtor.com, zillow etc. They are horribly outdated. There are only 34 active detached homes in woodbridge (22191,22192,22193) between 100-250,000..

to the threadstarter.. if a little commuting doesn't bother you, look at stafford/fredericksburg. your dollar will stretch further (in exchange for the commute)

Oh, wow. I didn't realize that. I thought Realtor.com was connected to the MLS, and automatically updated when the MLS updated.

[kww]

Originally Posted by HokieFan

Oh, wow. I didn't realize that. I thought Realtor.com was connected to the MLS, and automatically updated when the MLS updated.

it syndicates off the local MRIS, but shows you under contract listings when you search.. Doesn't help that some of them are short sales, priced unreasonably low by the listing agent to attract multiple inital offers to feel out the bank.. some of which are still under contract two years later

[Forehead]

I knew that about realtor.com...I always assumed that if it said "contingent with no kick-out" that the house was under contract. I've always thought Redfin was a bit more up to date with its listings.

[kww]

redfin is better. best is to just align with a local realtor that can establish an auto email to dump new listings that fit your criteria the moment they hit the market (to avoid the wait time for it to syndicate throughout the web)

[FindingZen]

Originally Posted by thebigsh

Back to the topic, I guess that I thought moving an hour away from DC would yield significantly more housing choices that living in the City. I'm guessing not.

And as for the Manhattan example, go see what you can find an hour away from Manhattan. Every affordable price range available.

One thing that makes the Virginia suburbs of DC unique is that there are several job centers, particularly in western Fairfax/eastern Loudoun Counties, that drive up the cost of housing. Not to mention that "an hour's commute" may mean as little as fifteen miles (or less) depending on one's destination. Admittedly, it does not help that road and transit options have not kept pace here as they may have in the greater NYC metro...but we're working on it.

Bottom line: when it comes to price, location and amenities, people are only able to satisfy two of those here. I would suggest simply living in Woodbridge for the sake of your commute as it will be inexpensive by local standards. Perhaps even consider renting for a year to give yourself the opportunity to explore other areas you may find more compatible.