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Old 01-19-2008, 12:13 PM
 
Location: Maine
2,517 posts, read 3,419,791 times
Reputation: 3905

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Quote:
Originally Posted by ogplife View Post
Nobody really answered my question. I was trying to find out what seperates Fairfax from the rest of Northern Virginia. Everybody based there answer in relation to the rest of the country, but thanks anyway for your responses. They were still appreciated.
In my experience, Fairfax County has a very high concentration of people who feel compelled to criticize all other cities/regions in this country.
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Old 01-19-2008, 01:04 PM
 
847 posts, read 3,523,239 times
Reputation: 243
Quote:
Originally Posted by walkingnoelle View Post
In my experience, Fairfax County has a very high concentration of people who feel compelled to criticize all other cities/regions in this country.
That is not fair to say. There are a lot of great things about Fairfax County and people enjoy living there and are proud of the area. Perhaps they see other places that they do not think will offer them what they have in FFX, but it is a little much to say there is a 'high concentration of people that are critical.
People in FFX county are too busy to sit around and criticize others!!
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Old 01-19-2008, 01:28 PM
 
Location: Maine
2,517 posts, read 3,419,791 times
Reputation: 3905
Quote:
Originally Posted by novanative75 View Post
That is not fair to say. There are a lot of great things about Fairfax County and people enjoy living there and are proud of the area. Perhaps they see other places that they do not think will offer them what they have in FFX, but it is a little much to say there is a 'high concentration of people that are critical.
People in FFX county are too busy to sit around and criticize others!!
Another distinguishing characteristic: the knee-jerk defensiveness when anyone makes a less-than-positive comment about Fairfax County, even in jest.

No other region on city-data uses so much time/space in their posts to criticize other areas. Yes, there are some good things about this county. And it is diverse! OK, we get it.

I am originally from Santa Barbara, California, so I do not understand the highly stressed culture here. I will try to leave as soon as possible!
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Old 01-19-2008, 01:48 PM
 
847 posts, read 3,523,239 times
Reputation: 243
Quote:
Originally Posted by walkingnoelle View Post
Another distinguishing characteristic: the knee-jerk defensiveness when anyone makes a less-than-positive comment about Fairfax County, even in jest.

No other region on city-data uses so much time/space in their posts to criticize other areas. Yes, there are some good things about this county. And it is diverse! OK, we get it.

I am originally from Santa Barbara, California, so I do not understand the highly stressed culture here. I will try to leave as soon as possible!
So, just so I am clear, no one that lives in other areas come to defend the places they love to live? Whatever. All I was saying is that it is not fair to say that everyone who lives in Fairfax County is critical of other areas, it is simply not true.
Hopefully you will get your wish and get out of there since it is so awful for you.
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Old 01-19-2008, 06:05 PM
 
18 posts, read 124,595 times
Reputation: 17
Hello, my family is considering Virginia. Currently, we live in California. I have two kids...9 and 8 years old. I am 38 and my husband 42. Live here is very expensive and superficial. We would like to go to a place were family values are important, where people welcome different accents. We are a mixed marriage, he is middle eastern and I am hispanic. Please, give us some ideas. We are looking at Falls Church as an option or I guess the surrounding areas.
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Old 01-20-2008, 05:44 AM
 
Location: Home is where the heart is
15,402 posts, read 28,981,297 times
Reputation: 19090
Quote:
Originally Posted by keynejad View Post
Hello, my family is considering Virginia. Currently, we live in California. I have two kids...9 and 8 years old. I am 38 and my husband 42. Live here is very expensive and superficial. We would like to go to a place were family values are important, where people welcome different accents. We are a mixed marriage, he is middle eastern and I am hispanic. Please, give us some ideas. We are looking at Falls Church as an option or I guess the surrounding areas.
There's a good chance you would really enjoy living here. There are quite a few Californians living here, so you will find some things that feel familiar. I can't speak for all of Nova--but the area I live in (Loudoun County) is very family oriented. I hear Falls Church City and McLean are, too.

If your children like sports, you will be very pleased with the facilities available for kids. The schools are also top notch.

This is also a good area for mixed marriages (at least--in my neck of the woods). There is a great deal of racial tolerance and my neighbors include several mixed couples. If it matters, you will find more middle eastern people here than in California, but fewer Hispanic people. There is a large supermarket specialising in middle eastern food on Rt. 7 between Fairfax County Pkwy and Cascades Pkwy.

Now for the bad news...

Life here is expensive. Maybe not quite as expensive as in California, but still very expensive. Also, I'm not sure what qualities you mean by "superficial" but you might find the same qualities here. Not everyone, of course--you can find plenty of people who are not superficial. But you will also find plenty of people who move here because they want to make a lot of money to impress other people. This is a thriving area, and I think that's something that goes with the territory.
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Old 01-20-2008, 05:55 AM
 
18 posts, read 30,705 times
Reputation: 16
Default My realtor is insisting...

...that we stay out of Loudoun and only buy in FFX. Her point is Loudoun is way overbuilt and under-featured, and she believes Loudoun folk will be moving back into FFX once they get a taste. Loudoun's cheaper prices and bigger lots (in some places) appeal, but the drive and the potential for appreciation matter more.

Does her view make sense to you guys? I worry that it's clouded by an FFX-centricity, and I don't want to make an investment on that premise...unless it's sound.
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Old 01-20-2008, 06:21 AM
 
Location: Home is where the heart is
15,402 posts, read 28,981,297 times
Reputation: 19090
Quote:
Originally Posted by slcorrado View Post
...that we stay out of Loudoun and only buy in FFX. Her point is Loudoun is way overbuilt and under-featured, and she believes Loudoun folk will be moving back into FFX once they get a taste. Loudoun's cheaper prices and bigger lots (in some places) appeal, but the drive and the potential for appreciation matter more.

Does her view make sense to you guys? I worry that it's clouded by an FFX-centricity, and I don't want to make an investment on that premise...unless it's sound.
I think the important thing is to be near your job. I would not recommend moving to Loudoun if you're commuting to DC!

But if Loudoun is practical for you, I wouldn't pay attention to your realtor. It sounds like she may have a personal gain. Maybe all her properties are in Fairfax. It might be smart to try a few different realtors, and see if you are getting the same sort of opinions.

I personally do not agree that Loudoun is "under-featured". Frankly, I think there are more and better amenities in Loudoun than in Fairfax--that's why I chose to move here. But instead of taking my word for it, scroll through the previous posts on this forum, and see for yourself. Plenty has been written about the facilities and events in Loudoun.

As for real estate appreciation--I live in Lowes Island, and properties in my neighborhood are still holding their value remarkably well. I would suggest researching a specific neighborhood you're interested in, and not simply taking the word of a realtor. In general, the neighborhoods nearest to the Potomac are doing very well. Look at Cascades, Countryside, Lansdowne, etc.

If you read through the previous posts in this forum you will find plenty of posts about Loudoun. That should help you make a decision as to whether it's the place for you.
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Old 01-20-2008, 10:56 PM
 
15 posts, read 60,941 times
Reputation: 14
Default One end of Fairfax is VERY different than the other

Fairfax is VERY economically and ethnically diverse...one side/end of Fairfax differing dramatically from the other. When we moved to the area a couple years back we were thinking of the Lorton area because it was so much less expensive, but at the time that southern (?) part of Fairfax was not the best. It's changed dramatically, but still has some not so great parts-- like other parts of the county I suppose.

Obviously the further west or south you go the more affordable the housing but for most the more difficult the commute. I would have preferred early on to go with a spot closer to work versus bigger space because the commute beat the spirit out of me. Quit that job and work closer and am a much happier person now!

Be thoughtful and research areas based upon the things you like to do-- getting to those places won't be easy. Travelling 10 miles where I came from was a breeze, here it can take an hour.
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Old 01-21-2008, 07:15 AM
 
Location: Gainesville, VA
566 posts, read 2,987,709 times
Reputation: 152
Quote:
Originally Posted by slcorrado View Post
...that we stay out of Loudoun and only buy in FFX. Her point is Loudoun is way overbuilt and under-featured, and she believes Loudoun folk will be moving back into FFX once they get a taste. Loudoun's cheaper prices and bigger lots (in some places) appeal, but the drive and the potential for appreciation matter more.

Does her view make sense to you guys? I worry that it's clouded by an FFX-centricity, and I don't want to make an investment on that premise...unless it's sound.
Look at both counties and live where you want to live...not where your realtor wants you to live.
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