Any less expensive areas of McLean? (Reston, Vienna: townhouse, to buy, construction)

[doglover29]

My hubby and I are pretty sure that we can't afford to buy a house in the DC area, but we've lived here for two years and absolutely love it here. We're renters, but have been working with a realtor for the past month and have been looking closely at the McLean area. I think that's our favorite area in DC, and we'd love to buy a house there, but so far everything we see is either too expensive or has a very 70's look with carports instead of garages.

Anyhow, are there any parts of McLean where you can buy a nice SFH for less than $700 K, preferably newer construction (built since 1980) and that doesn't have that 70's look with carports or is not a split level?

[Margery]

I can't imagine anyone on this list knowing about an area that is not known to your Realtor. If your Realtor doesn't find you a home, your Realtor doesn't get paid. What you are seeing sounds about right for your price range in McLean. Have you considered a townhouse? Unless you must have the larger lot, you can do well in your price range for a very nice townhouse in McLean. One of the hardest things to do in this area is adjusting your tastes to your pocketbook, but you don't want to be "house poor" either.

[claremarie]

The short answer to your question is no. $700K is basically the entry-level price for a sfh in McLean, and those houses are in the older sections, which were built in the 1960s and 1970s. If you want something built after 1980 and with a more updated look, you'll have to go beyond McLean to areas like Vienna and Reston. Or consider a townhouse.