New to NoVA!!!! Family Of 5, Working At Tysons Corner, Budget $850K (Arlington: 2014, renting)
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I have lived in SoCal for most of my life and recently my husband was offered a lucrative job opportunity here in NoVA. His office is located in Tysons Corner, VA and we are downright clueless about the whole area. My husband will only go into work twice a week and won't be commuting during rush hour. We also have three young kids so good schools are a top priority for us, and since my husband is not commuting everyday we are not opposed to looking at farther out suburbs. We would like a single-family home in a safe family-oriented area with nearby shopping, dining, etc. Our budget is at $850,000 MAX, HELP!!!
Since your husband has to work in Tysons Corner I would strongly recommend either Fairfax County or Loudoun County, both of these counties are known for awesome schools, also Fairfax & Loudoun would offer the best commute to Tysons (in Loudoun Co. Route 7, Dulles Greenway will take you there and in Fairfax Co. Route 123, I-495, etc. will get you there). Specific suburbs such as Fairfax, Chantilly, Centreville, Oakton, Burke, and Vienna are great areas with superb schools and shopping (Fair Oaks Mall, Tysons Corner Center) in Fairfax County. In Loudoun County places such as Ashburn, Broadlands, Lansdowne, Sterling, and Leesburg are really nice and family-oriented places complete with top-rated schools and great shopping (Dulles Town Center, Brambleton, Leesburg Corner Outlets). I hope this helped! Feel free to ask for anymore info on the area, I think your family will love it here.
Reston is a special place with a very easy commute to Tysons Corner on the Toll Road. There is also a non-toll option on Hwy 7 that is good during non-rush hours, but congested during rush hours.
Welcome to Reston Association has lots of details about Reston's amenities that include 15 swimming pools, lots of tennis courts, a nature center, 50 miles of trails, four lakes and 100+ acres of open space.
I don't think this will be a problem at all. That is a solid housing budget and you won't have to look at what I consider to be "farther out suburbs".
When you say he won't be commuting during rush hour, approximately what times do you mean? What type of house are you looking for? A newer build? Are homes that are 30, 40 or 50 years old ok? Square feet? I'm thinking you could find a nice home (at least what I consider nice), with good schools, near shopping and restaurants (I don't think any part of Fairfax County really far from these things) for less than the top of your budget.
Based on what you've described, I think Vienna would be a good choice for you, whether you look in the Town of Vienna or adjacent areas in Fairfax County with Vienna mailing addresses. You might get a bigger house for your money if you look further out but Vienna would meet your needs and is very convenient.
I would also consider Reston if I was prepared to be further out and wanted a "planned community" as opposed to a more typical suburb. And if I didn't really care that much about proximity to shopping and wanted a bigger house, I'd look at the Oakton, Fairfax Station and Burke areas. If I wanted a big new house under $850K, a prior poster mentioned some communities out in Loudoun County.
I would not look in McLean, as it's more expensive and most people there are paying to be near jobs in DC or Tysons 5X/week. Same where Arlington is concerned. I would not look in Pimmit Hills as the housing there tends to be either very small, older houses below your budget or new builds that now are usually over $900K.
You can get a nice house in McLean for $750 and up. Most people consider it to be one of the best communities in NoVa. Not just because its close in. Additionally McLean schools are very good.
You can get a nice house in McLean for $750 and up. Most people consider it to be one of the best communities in NoVa. Not just because its close in. Additionally McLean schools are very good.
Oh, I know, I live in McL. But costs there are driven by the number of those people who commute to jobs in DC or Tysons at least 5X per week.
To put it in perspective, this is fairly representative of what $800K gets you in McLean and Arlington:
If you want a newer larger home pimmit hills and the shreve area have a few good options. Pimmit Hills is next to Tysons and some parts are walkable to the tysons metro.
Moderator Cut
Last edited by FindingZen; 03-01-2015 at 09:44 AM..
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