Move from midwest to Chantilly? (Richmond, Purcellville: 2014, moving to, design)

[mlindqui]

Everyone has been so helpful, we really appreciate you taking the time to help us out. I have one more question - how accurate are the Google map times for traveling in NoVa? Or, perhaps an easier way to state it - how far in each direction (or which towns) could we look and keep travel time under 30 mins to Chantilly (near intersection of 50 & 28)? We've seen some things we can afford in Haymarket/Gainesville, Manassas Park, Ashburn, and Sterling.

[Claire2900]

I will say that 30 minutes or under from Bristow/Gainesville to 50/28 is not possible unless you leave really, really early. Certainly not at the height of rush hour. 45 minutes would more realistic

[Espressoo]

I would agree with the other suggestion of renting a home before you decide to purchase. Maybe something short term like 6 months. By then, you'll have a good feel for the area and the traffic situation. There's no need to rush and purchase a home based on limited visits and online opinions. Everyone you speak to will have a different view point that may not match yours. You best bet is to rent a townhome or even a single home in the area you're considering. Once you move here, you can then make a more permanent decision to buy and settle down. If you want a newly built home, it will allow you the time as well.

[mlindqui]

I agree that renting is a good idea (it was my first thought, too), but his company would pay to move us out there now, not to move us again is 6 mos. (or 1 yr.) and I think moving that soon again would also be a huge stress on our toddler, dog & cat (not to mention us!). I know, too, that if we make the decision to come out there, we aren't making it on a temporary basis. We will have to stay a few years to try it out, that is why we are visiting before we even sign the offer.

[Caladium]

I don't know one way or the other if google maps' time is accurate. However, I don't trust google maps when it comes to Northern Virginia. They don't include a lot of really big communities, including some incorporated towns that have been here for more than 150 years. If you look at google maps you'd think Loudoun County was almost empty. It's not a good map program for Nova.

[Claire2900]

Miles don't mean much in this area for commute times. A general rule of thumb is to take your mileage and double it.

[703]

Originally Posted by Caladium

I don't know one way or the other if google maps' time is accurate. However, I don't trust google maps when it comes to Northern Virginia. They don't include a lot of really big communities, including some incorporated towns that have been here for more than 150 years. If you look at google maps you'd think Loudoun County was almost empty. It's not a good map program for Nova.

hmm, which ones?

[703]

Originally Posted by mlindqui

Everyone has been so helpful, we really appreciate you taking the time to help us out. I have one more question - how accurate are the Google map times for traveling in NoVa? Or, perhaps an easier way to state it - how far in each direction (or which towns) could we look and keep travel time under 30 mins to Chantilly (near intersection of 50 & 28)? We've seen some things we can afford in Haymarket/Gainesville, Manassas Park, Ashburn, and Sterling.

Gainsville would not be possible.

Sterling and Ashburn is doable, I think.
Just depends WHERE in Ashburn and WHERE in Sterling

Both are large areas, spread across miles.

[Caladium]

Originally Posted by 703

hmm, which ones?

It's happened to me a few times. People ask about towns, so I try to find them online, but there's no record of them on Google Maps. Most recently when trying to find Round Hill. Round Hill was incorporated back in the 1800s. It's out by Waterford. But Google Maps only knows about a town near Richmond. It's come up as a topic a few times, so you can probably find the other towns by searching the word Google Maps in this forum.

[Espressoo]

Originally Posted by mlindqui

I agree that renting is a good idea (it was my first thought, too), but his company would pay to move us out there now, not to move us again is 6 mos. (or 1 yr.) and I think moving that soon again would also be a huge stress on our toddler, dog & cat (not to mention us!). I know, too, that if we make the decision to come out there, we aren't making it on a temporary basis. We will have to stay a few years to try it out, that is why we are visiting before we even sign the offer.

I see what you're saying but why not ask his company to pay for storage (up to 1 yr) for your furniture and pieces you don't need. That way you can assimilate yourself to the area before you purchase? I understand you want a hassle free move but the way I see it, buying a home isn't like buying a car. If you don't like your home, you can't simply trade it in for another without closing a significant amount of money. To add to that, homes around Chantilly aren't exactly cheap. Based on your previous posts, you're looking for a home in a wide area not just Chantilly. That can have a drastic difference in commute and living space. Personally I wouldn't feel comfortable in making that decision without having stayed in the area for a few months. Sure, you'll have to pay a few thousand out of pocket for another move but it's well worth it in my opinion.