I think I love Reston... (houses, neighborhood, living in)

[phillynewbie]

Is South Lakes High School a good choice high school for the area? Looking for a high school that offers a variety of AP classes and provides a good foundation for (hopefully) attending a university such as UVA or William and Mary. Sports and music programs would be nice too but the education component is most important for us.

[JfromReston]

South Lakes High School offers an IB curriculum and does not offer AP courses. Many of my neighbors children have graduated from South Lakes and gone on to attend UVA and VA Tech.

South Lakes High School - International Baccalaureate®

South Lakes High School | Health & Physical Education Department

Here is how all the local schools ranked on SAT scores for 2016.
https://www.city-data.com/forum/north...cps-fccps.html

[WittyUserName]

Originally Posted by Nova_Mom

Went to see 2524 Pinoak yesterday. It's quite a house. Nice big footprint, interesting layout, and plenty of space for three kids. I even like the unusual fireplace / divider wall in the family room. Looks like something from the Flintstones house, which I kind of dig. Some of the finishes are very nice but others look neglected and many of the floors on the top level slope pretty badly, which produced a vertigo effect in me and my husband.

As noted above, most of the windows don't open and those that do tilt out rather than opening all the way. One of the rooms has a sliding glass door that opens onto the roof, but there's no railing. Seemed kind of dangerous.

Overall, it comes across as awesome but in need of about $50k in updates and repairs. We'd pay $680 tops.

I'm considering some similar homes in the area and I find myself saying that quite a bit. "Probably needs $50k+ in work", yet they are asking $750k. I looked at one for $680k that needed the whole kitchen redone, deck flooring replaced, and the front walkway of the house was on a retaining wall that looked like it was about to collapse. Looks like they took it off the market rather than reduce the price.

I do think I'm seeing some softening in the market in the $650k+ price range. More seem to be staying on the market and going to price reductions. Maybe there is something to the "how can so many people afford this" I'm constantly hearing from colleagues. Or people over did it with this "seller's market" concept.

Do appreciate your notes on those windows though. My wife loves the idea of the windows to the floor, but I didn't think about not being able to open them.

[JfromReston]

Originally Posted by WittyUserName

I'm considering some similar homes in the area and I find myself saying that quite a bit. "Probably needs $50k+ in work", yet they are asking $750k. I looked at one for $680k that needed the whole kitchen redone, deck flooring replaced, and the front walkway of the house was on a retaining wall that looked like it was about to collapse. Looks like they took it off the market rather than reduce the price.

I do think I'm seeing some softening in the market in the $650k+ price range. More seem to be staying on the market and going to price reductions. Maybe there is something to the "how can so many people afford this" I'm constantly hearing from colleagues. Or people over did it with this "seller's market" concept.

Do appreciate your notes on those windows though. My wife loves the idea of the windows to the floor, but I didn't think about not being able to open them.

I am amazed at how prices are pushing up this year in the 20191 zip code in Reston (I don't really follow the other Reston zip codes - 20190 and 20194). Last year a house asking $750K was in fabulous condition - fully updated - this year, not so much, as Witty points out.

A few stats that may help put the current market in perspective. There are currently 37 single family detached houses in 20191 on the market (listed or under contract) above $600K. 19 are active and 18 under contract. Of those that are under contract 9 went under contract in less than a week, 3 more in the second week, and days for the rest were 17, 31, 63, 66, 84, 133 (these numbers consider re-listing by the same broker for 2 of the properties).

I can't tell about the price drops for the 63 & 133 houses as they were relisted, most likely at a lower price. The 84 day house had 3 price drops from $724K to $649K before it went under contract. The 31 day house had one price drop.

My opinion on what this data says is that a house that is priced right without a major non-fixable problem (location or house layout/structure) sells quickly. FYI - I am not in the real estate business.

[combatjohn]

WHY, oh, WHY is the Deepwood assessment so much higher than the RA assessment? Do deepwood residents not want to be a part of RA? Does RA not want that cluster to be in the association? I don't understand the history here, but it would seem that Deepwood residents would be more than happy to have their assessments go down and gain MORE amenities, and more than likely, the rate of people paying their assessments on time from deepwood would be much better as well. Anybody with any insight here? Thanks.

Originally Posted by JfromReston

I think that at $700/year Reston Association dues are still a great deal for all it offers us. The house on Triple Crown is in Deepwood and their HOA fee is $1620/year with much less to offer than Reston Association.

ICS67 - you provided lots of great information - I tried to give you some reputation points, but the system wouldn't let me.

[JfromReston]

Originally Posted by combatjohn

WHY, oh, WHY is the Deepwood assessment so much higher than the RA assessment? Do deepwood residents not want to be a part of RA? Does RA not want that cluster to be in the association? I don't understand the history here, but it would seem that Deepwood residents would be more than happy to have their assessments go down and gain MORE amenities, and more than likely, the rate of people paying their assessments on time from deepwood would be much better as well. Anybody with any insight here? Thanks.

I have no idea why Deepwood is not part of Reston Association. My guess is that there was a hold out for selling the land to Reston developers many years ago.

I was surprised to recently find out that their dues were more than double Reston Association. One reason might be that trash collection in included in their HOA. I checked out their website and it includes trash days on their calendar. That still doesn't account for the big difference in dues, as my private trash collection costs less than $400/year. The biggest reason is probably that there are so few units to spread the costs over with only 343 townhouses and 6 single family homes in Deepwood and 21,346 residential units in Reston.

[JfromReston]

Originally Posted by Nova_Mom

Will definitely check out Tanbark when it comes on the market (I love that neighborhood block party BBQ responsibilities convey-- we would love that).

Here is the listing for the Tanbark house that got a contract the day before the property was listed.
11410 TANBARK DR, RESTON, VA 20191 | MLS FX9967639 | Listing Information | MRIShomes.com

[cully]

Thought I'd link this bit of history after seeing some nostalgia on here. We were there in the RHOA days, bought our house from one of the many Swedish families doing great things there. Among other things, this guy built a gull wing car in the garage in his spare time. Neighbors enjoyed the whole thing....a little late at night but it was still exciting to watch.

Lots of new concepts from passive solar to glass walls to thermal wallpaper, to injection pumps so homes could be built uphill with good facilities; old fashioned peace of nature, boating for groceries, fishing for dinner, evening boat rides combined with the modern....those boat rides to admire the unusual contemporary homes and beautiful plantings and flowers.

Yes those fireflies in the vast woods and children's squeals chasing them; the paths for long walks with family and friends picked up along the way; the high school having to up its requirements for AP classes because there were more smart kids than there was room (not sure what that was about); that fabulous farmer's market with the largest number of apple varieties we had ever heard of and a new room addition with some exciting cheeses or crafts or plants every year (we correctly guessed the weight of the gigantic pumpkin here one year and they joked that we won-come get it. We'd have needed a semi.

And that farm on Hunter's Mill...great place to stop for produce on the way home (you could choose your own lamb for Easter dinner from among several in a pen but we told the little ones they were for petting.)

So, here's the link. It's interesting although it is earlier years.

http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dpz/pro...toryreston.pdf

[katekorth]

Hi, I have been following this forum, but it has taken me a month to settle down on an area. I think my question fits best in this forum, so no one is repeating themselves! I also love Reston!
My husband will most likely be working in Lorton and my teaching position is in northern Reston (Forest Edge). So, I think we have settled on south Reston or Herndon around Crossfield Elementary and Difficult Run Creek Park-- so in that adjoining region. I'm looking for pros/cons between the two, anything is helpful:

1. I am torn between South Lakes IB and their IB program as balanced with free/reduced lunch rates and the numbers I see at current elementary early schools (that will potentially rise into the high school) and the Oakton HS current data figures. However, I like Hunters Woods (as commented on in this post) and I like Crossfield.

2. We love open concept homes with high ceilings, but it's not the end of the world; we like cul-de-sacs, and areas where neighbors hang out in the front to watch the kids play.

3. It is very, very important that we find a neighborhood with lots of elementary-aged kids, my daughters are going into 3rd and 4th grade and we've lived all over the world and need to build a home for them. And, based on current circumstances and the late summer timing, I'm afraid we will have to rent for a year before buying (another move), so I want to be in the right neighborhood to limit the change.

Thanks! I love the area!

[WittyUserName]

Originally Posted by JfromReston

I have no idea why Deepwood is not part of Reston Association. My guess is that there was a hold out for selling the land to Reston developers many years ago.

I was surprised to recently find out that their dues were more than double Reston Association. One reason might be that trash collection in included in their HOA. I checked out their website and it includes trash days on their calendar. That still doesn't account for the big difference in dues, as my private trash collection costs less than $400/year. The biggest reason is probably that there are so few units to spread the costs over with only 343 townhouses and 6 single family homes in Deepwood and 21,346 residential units in Reston.

Hey JFromReston, what is the deal with the Foxmill Woods neighborhood? Not in the Reston Assoc. either, but seen some interesting homes pop up in there. Is there a "catch" to living there besides not having access to the Reston pools? Maybe the streets are less tree lined than some elsewhere in Reston, but the backyards appear to be pretty well wooded.