New job in Ashburn, advice on areas to look for homes?

[WittyUserName]

I find it hard to swallow the price premium that Ashburn seems to command, and it is even worse in Brambleton. I don't know why, because it isn't like the majority of Ashburn homes are anything special, and the traffic in Ashburn on "side roads" can be awful. Homes in Brambleton that aren't anywhere near the town center still are at the high end for what you are buying.

The only place that makes me scratch my head more is One Loudoun, with its $700k homes with no yard, adding a $200/month HOA for good measure.

A single family for $500k in Leesburg is still a bit of a stretch, but much closer to reality than Ashburn and will likely have a decent yard for a dog. Anything as far as amenities that you'd find in Ashburn, you can find in Leesburg.

[lchoro]

Originally Posted by Eagle4Life

Brambleton is also known as little India if that's a turnoff for you.

Areas of Ashburn are also.

Much of Herndon south of the Toll Road is Indopak demographic as well. North of the toll road in Herndon is heavily Central American as is Sterling south of Route 7.

If you're worried about that kind of stuff, you can check out the demographics of individual local elementary schools.

[blindside]

I'd say its the premium of new, HOA controlled housing.

Originally Posted by WittyUserName

I find it hard to swallow the price premium that Ashburn seems to command, and it is even worse in Brambleton. I don't know why, because it isn't like the majority of Ashburn homes are anything special, and the traffic in Ashburn on "side roads" can be awful. Homes in Brambleton that aren't anywhere near the town center still are at the high end for what you are buying.

The only place that makes me scratch my head more is One Loudoun, with its $700k homes with no yard, adding a $200/month HOA for good measure.

A single family for $500k in Leesburg is still a bit of a stretch, but much closer to reality than Ashburn and will likely have a decent yard for a dog. Anything as far as amenities that you'd find in Ashburn, you can find in Leesburg.

[rpe290]

Originally Posted by WittyUserName

I find it hard to swallow the price premium that Ashburn seems to command, and it is even worse in Brambleton. I don't know why, because it isn't like the majority of Ashburn homes are anything special, and the traffic in Ashburn on "side roads" can be awful. Homes in Brambleton that aren't anywhere near the town center still are at the high end for what you are buying.

The only place that makes me scratch my head more is One Loudoun, with its $700k homes with no yard, adding a $200/month HOA for good measure.

A single family for $500k in Leesburg is still a bit of a stretch, but much closer to reality than Ashburn and will likely have a decent yard for a dog. Anything as far as amenities that you'd find in Ashburn, you can find in Leesburg.

I was just out there and the whole housing situation made me scratch my head. So many townhouses and why build 2500-3000 sq ft homes on such small lots? It was just odd compared to what I am used to--I assume a lot of people don't use their yard/aren't home much during the day.

[blindside]

Originally Posted by rpe290

I was just out there and the whole housing situation made me scratch my head. So many townhouses and why build 2500-3000 sq ft homes on such small lots? It was just odd compared to what I am used to--I assume a lot of people don't use their yard/aren't home much during the day.

Well what are you used to? Or more specifically where did you come from?

As for people not using their yard, I agree. This winter and summer were particularly cold and steamy/buggy, respectively. In NoVa, you're inside from Jan - Apr (4 mo) and Jul - mid Sep (3.5 months). Spending more than half a year indoors I wouldn't put much effort into a yard or maintaining it (cutting grass).

As for not much home during the day there's some truth to that also. Mean driving time to work for most people is about 15-20 minutes but there's an almost equal number of people driving 60-90 minutes (https://www.city-data.com/work/work-A...-Virginia.html). Doesn't even count the number of minutes shuttling kids back and forth from after school activities. All this time takes away from maintaining a yard.

Maybe it's the fact that the place is extremely transient so people will be willing to put up with cramped living for a short number of years until they transfer...

Or the fact that people are coming from more cramped places already (NYC/SF) and want a bigger house ....

[spencgr]

Originally Posted by lchoro

Brambleton is closer than Reston/Herndon. It's a new community just south of Ashburn.

Brambleton IS Ashburn. Just a neighborhood within Ashburn.

[rpe290]

Originally Posted by blindside

Well what are you used to? Or more specifically where did you come from?

As for people not using their yard, I agree. This winter and summer were particularly cold and steamy/buggy, respectively. In NoVa, you're inside from Jan - Apr (4 mo) and Jul - mid Sep (3.5 months). Spending more than half a year indoors I wouldn't put much effort into a yard or maintaining it (cutting grass).

As for not much home during the day there's some truth to that also. Mean driving time to work for most people is about 15-20 minutes but there's an almost equal number of people driving 60-90 minutes (https://www.city-data.com/work/work-A...-Virginia.html). Doesn't even count the number of minutes shuttling kids back and forth from after school activities. All this time takes away from maintaining a yard.

Maybe it's the fact that the place is extremely transient so people will be willing to put up with cramped living for a short number of years until they transfer...

Or the fact that people are coming from more cramped places already (NYC/SF) and want a bigger house ....

Midwest, MO, very similar average temps & latitude but yet we are outside a good 6+ months out of the year...

[dkf747]

Originally Posted by spencgr

Brambleton IS Ashburn. Just a neighborhood within Ashburn.

I've heard that before, but it feels like a separate community from other parts of Ashburn.