Wayout 'burb in NOVA vs Richmond (Arlington, Centreville: real estate, 2015, townhouse)

[davidnyc]

Originally Posted by ozzyngcsu

Not sure exactly what you are looking for in a property but there are condos in the Haymarket/Gainesville area that meet your listed criteria. Probably more in Manassas but the schools are not a good.
6261 Aster Haven Circle UNIT 20, Haymarket, VA 20169 | MLS PW9749691 | Listing Information | Long and Foster

I will look into this area as more homes come on market in the spring. Not sure of the commute, but, we will see.

Based on my requirement for a garage (I drive a sports car on tracks in HPDEs as a hobby), limits my options... we will see what I can think of.

[davidnyc]

Originally Posted by Ffxdata

A consideration for Richmond:

Some who live there think that it's very socially segregated with little mixing between white and black communities. It is changing though.

Yeah. This has me worried, but where I live now, I regularly (about once a month or so, NOT daily) see Confederate Flags, so I am sort of used to it.

I have had no problems with normal interactions and usually get along with rural to city people...I am just concerned about the negative fringes of society (rural or city) that can impact my life every once in awhile in a negative way.

[HereinVA]

Originally Posted by ozzyngcsu

Not sure exactly what you are looking for in a property but there are condos in the Haymarket/Gainesville area that meet your listed criteria. Probably more in Manassas but the schools are not a good.
6261 Aster Haven Circle UNIT 20, Haymarket, VA 20169 | MLS PW9749691 | Listing Information | Long and Foster

I agree. Maybe someone else can weigh in on the commute from Bristow/Gainesville/Haymarket to Reston/Herndon, but there are definitely townhomes in the area that meet your budget and garage requirements. We live in Bristow and in general I am happy with the schools.

[NOVA_guy]

It depends on what you're looking for.

Personally, DC/NoVa is the far superior choice because, while cost of living is higher here, your earning potential is far higher here. And overall this area offers a ton of amenities that you can't easily find elsewhere in the state.

I lived in Richmond briefly after graduating college, I didn't care for it much, but I'm also from NoVa so it was somewhat of a different world for me, to be completely honest. But I know tons of people who have moved there and love it, it just depends on your personality and what you're looking for.

[ozzyngcsu]

I actually work in Reston and live in Haymarket. I get to work at 630am and leave at 3pm. Morning commute is 30-35 minutes and evening is 35-45 depending on traffic. So not bad if you can leave early. Even later it isn't terrible unless there are accidents.

[davidnyc]

The main reason my push to try and make NOVA work is DC. Living in Dallas the last ten years, I miss a top tier urban city (I grew up in NYC and lived in Gaithersburg for about a year in the 90's). Dallas is more like a second tier city. Richmond is probably like Dallas but with quick access to a top tier, which Dallas does not have.


Thanks for the help.

[Flamingo13]

JMO - in some areas of Richmond you'll see more/lots of confederate flags

[Ffxdata]

Originally Posted by davidnyc

Yeah. This has me worried, but where I live now, I regularly (about once a month or so, NOT daily) see Confederate Flags, so I am sort of used to it.

I have had no problems with normal interactions and usually get along with rural to city people...I am just concerned about the negative fringes of society (rural or city) that can impact my life every once in awhile in a negative way.

I wouldn't say that Dallas and Richmond are comparable. I come from Texas (Houston, Houston suburbs, and Austin). Richmond is way more Old South than Dallas. It feels very traditional and formal in many ways. The rise of VCU has changed that, but it's still prevalent. My family member in an interracial marriage was ostracized from his church and friend group (and he was a lawyer not some "hick.") it's not really even the confederate flags. It's the completely separate social structure that seems most akin to a place like Atlanta. Perhaps someone who has spent more time there can chime in.

[davidnyc]

Wow. Thanks. Didn't think that deeply into it.

[Badger21]

OP have you thought about looking into NC? I would think your dollar would go further than in NoVA and areas like Charlotte, and the Triangle would give you an up and coming area. Lots of jobs here for sure, but that area isn't too bad either.