Moving to Fairfax, need housing advice

[fiasco]

Originally Posted by Middlin

Would love to know where in Centreville is too far to Fairfax City. That doesn't make any sense to me at all.

Yes, this. Even the west side of Chantilly is doable in a half an hour to Fairfax City in rush hour.

Waze does a great job of giving you rush-hour estimates for traffic. Go to Waze.com and click on "Live Maps." Enter your to/from and then click where it says "Check Routes for a Different Time" and enter the regular time of day when your husband would be commuting (make sure to do it for the morning and evening).

Waze is ALWAYS accurate down to the minute for my commute, and I use it every single day.

[cement8]

Thanks again everyone! We're in Fairfax today, meeting with the realtor to check some places out. Unfortunately with our max budget being $2200 and looking for places that will take a dog, we are really limited on places in Fairfax and Burke. Seeing a few in Reston and Herndon today, then one in Burke and Centreville tomorrow. I'm hoping to have a better understanding of the commutes and locations after driving around today.

In a semi-related question, is it worth it to purchase and E-ZPass?

[Old Town FFX]

Originally Posted by cement8

In a semi-related question, is it worth it to purchase and E-ZPass?

Wait until you know where you'll be living, and what your commute will entail.

[airjay75]

Well, regular EZ Passes in Virgina are free now, so why not get one? The EZ Pass Flexes are free if you use HOV mode once every 6 months and, even if you don't, it's only a one time $10 charge. You will have to prepay for a certain amount of tolls, but I'm sure you'll eventually end up using that money.

I rarely pay any tolls, but I have an EZ Pass Flex in each of my cars (got them before the $10 fee thing).

[JfromReston]

Originally Posted by cement8

I'm hoping to have a better understanding of the commutes and locations after driving around today.

In a semi-related question, is it worth it to purchase and E-ZPass?

Let us know if you have any specific location or commute questions. Yes - get an E-ZPass.

[BamaBlue]

Check out "militaryByOwner" online. There are lots of rentals via military with more bedrooms & that will accept pets.

Also, bear in mind, realtors will push you on the commute limit. They are used to living there, used to the traffic and it just doesn't phase them. Sounds like you will have errands to run, kids to take to activities, etc. Keep all of this in mind as a few minutes add each way to each activity can mean you will sit in traffic a lot every day, everywhere you go depending on the house. There are some great bargains out in Stafford, even some decent ones in Lorton (townhouses usually).

I'd advise driving the actual commute route after you see a house. We didn't do that a few years ago and it cost us a lot of time on the daily commute. Also check the local feeder roads for construction, possible future construction, etc.

[cement8]

We managed to get a great little place in Fairfax, so we're pretty pleased with it! Less than 2 miles from my husband's work. We'll be joining him in late May, I'm so excited to get there and start figuring everything out! Still trying to figure out all of the logistics of the move.

Thank you again, everyone. This has been so very helpful!

[JfromReston]

Less than 2 miles!
Awesome commute!!!!

[Ashley Tauzier]

Good for you. Less than 2 miles is awesome!!!