Author Topic: Buying a condo in NoVA? (Read 8884 times)

PowerBoater69 · « **Reply #50:** March 25, 2014, 02:32:21 PM »

Quote from: comish4lif on March 25, 2014, 02:26:53 PM

Arson is a nag.

They did reuse the site - Sandburg Middle School is there now.

They closed it years after the fire, it was up and running but the enrollment in the area was plummeting. Merged into the piece of crap West Potomac.

PowerBoater69 · « **Reply #51:** March 25, 2014, 02:34:20 PM »

Quote from: NationalHeat on March 25, 2014, 01:07:48 PM

Huntington metro area is fine, and I'd say definitely not scary. It also fits your price range...worth a look.

A friend who was working in DC on a six month detail was living over there for a while but was getting harassed walking home from Metro after dark so she moved.

Mathguy · « **Reply #52:** March 25, 2014, 02:39:49 PM »

What side of the Huntington metro was she on - Huntington Rd or N. Kings Highway ? There are some slightly rundown duplex housing on the N. Kings Highway side and the inhabitants tend to be poor. I can see a lady being harassed in that area

Quote from: PowerBoater69 on March 25, 2014, 02:34:20 PM

A friend who was working in DC on a six month detail was living over there for a while but was getting harassed walking home from Metro after dark so she moved.

PowerBoater69 · « **Reply #53:** March 25, 2014, 03:17:29 PM »

Quote from: Mathguy on March 25, 2014, 02:39:49 PM

What side of the Huntington metro was she on - Huntington Rd or N. Kings Highway ? There are some slightly rundown duplex housing on the N. Kings Highway side and the inhabitants tend to be poor. I can see a lady being harassed in that area

N. Kings, used to be both sides were iffy but Huntington is looking much better.

HalfSmokes · « **Reply #54:** March 25, 2014, 03:45:41 PM »

Quote from: Mathguy on March 25, 2014, 02:39:49 PM

What side of the Huntington metro was she on - Huntington Rd or N. Kings Highway ? There are some slightly rundown duplex housing on the N. Kings Highway side and the inhabitants tend to be poor. I can see a lady being harassed in that area

we looked at those duplexes, if they ever get rid of the old apartment buildings around there (not the nice new ones), the prices of the duplexes will skyrocket- metro walkable, close to old town and minus the current crime/seediness

PowerBoater69 · « **Reply #55:** March 25, 2014, 06:13:31 PM »

Quote from: HalfSmokes on March 25, 2014, 03:45:41 PM

we looked at those duplexes, if they ever get rid of the old apartment buildings around there (not the nice new ones), the prices of the duplexes will skyrocket- metro walkable, close to old town and minus the current crime/seediness

Aren't they in the flood zone?

JCA-CrystalCity · « **Reply #56:** March 25, 2014, 06:17:24 PM »

There's a flood risk closer to Cameron run, but there is a big uphill gradient near huntington ave, and a hill south of it. There's also a stretch of duplexes south west of kings highway towards telegraph.

HalfSmokes · « **Reply #57:** March 25, 2014, 06:25:35 PM »

Quote from: PowerBoater69 on March 25, 2014, 06:13:31 PM

Aren't they in the flood zone?

The ground slopes roughly from kings highway to telegraph, closer to kings highway isnt

NationalHeat · « **Reply #58:** March 26, 2014, 01:24:47 PM »

Have you all heard about the Potomac Shores development? If they get the VRE stop in 2017 like they plan, I may look into it.

comish4lif · « **Reply #59:** March 26, 2014, 02:51:41 PM »

Quote from: JCA-CrystalCity on March 25, 2014, 06:17:24 PM

There's a flood risk closer to Cameron run, but there is a big uphill gradient near huntington ave, and a hill south of it. There's also a stretch of duplexes south west of kings highway towards telegraph.

Right, the area between Cameron Run and Huntington Ave. have had flooding issues recently. But as you head south and uphill from the Metro - the flood risk disappears.

comish4lif · « **Reply #60:** March 26, 2014, 02:52:06 PM »

Quote from: NationalHeat on March 26, 2014, 01:24:47 PM

Have you all heard about the Potomac Shores development? If they get the VRE stop in 2017 like they plan, I may look into it.

How far down the Potomac is it?

Oh, that's Dumfries - that's pretty far south if you plan on working inside the Beltway.

http://potomacshores.reachlocal.com/?scid=2933446&kw=23615787&pub_cr_id=41100971787 (from the $500s)

NationalHeat · « **Reply #61:** March 26, 2014, 02:55:43 PM »

Dumfries, so 30 miles or so away.

Slateman · « **Reply #62:** March 26, 2014, 03:57:17 PM »

Quote from: NationalHeat on March 26, 2014, 02:55:43 PM

Dumfries, so 30 miles or so away.

Lol, what's an extra $200 a month in commuting costs!

HalfSmokes · « **Reply #63:** March 26, 2014, 04:03:11 PM »

Quote from: Slateman on March 26, 2014, 03:57:17 PM

Lol, what's an extra $200 a month in commuting costs!

some employers let you purchase that with pretax dollars

Slateman · « **Reply #64:** March 26, 2014, 04:32:26 PM »

Quote from: HalfSmokes on March 26, 2014, 04:03:11 PM

some employers let you purchase that with pretax dollars

Not unless it's public transportation.

HalfSmokes · « **Reply #65:** March 26, 2014, 04:34:58 PM »

Quote from: Slateman on March 26, 2014, 04:32:26 PM

Not unless it's public transportation.

VRE qualifies

mitlen · « **Reply #66:** March 26, 2014, 04:36:15 PM »

Quote from: HalfSmokes on March 26, 2014, 04:34:58 PM

VRE qualifies

PW has public buses that qualify as well.

tomterp · « **Reply #67:** March 26, 2014, 08:36:34 PM »

Quote from: Slateman on March 26, 2014, 03:57:17 PM

Lol, what's an extra $200 a month in commuting costs!

For cars - 30 miles each way, 60 miles round trip x $0.56* = 33.60 per day, or nearly $700 per month.

*2014 IRS Mileage rate

mitlen · « **Reply #68:** March 26, 2014, 08:44:57 PM »

Not sure what VRE costs but the bus from Loudoun (similar distance as Dumfries) was costing me about $300 a month. Good news was I didn't have to drive into the city. Bad news was it added at least 2 hours in total commuting time. Had to get to the stop early to get a seat and had to wait on the corner for the pickup in the afternoons. Did meet a lot of nice folks.

CALSGR8 · « **Reply #69:** March 26, 2014, 08:51:17 PM »

New ones are f9r sale near Vienna Metro

Slateman · « **Reply #70:** March 27, 2014, 07:00:28 AM »

Quote from: HalfSmokes on March 26, 2014, 04:34:58 PM

VRE qualifies

Quote from: mitlen on March 26, 2014, 04:36:15 PM

PW has public buses that qualify as well.

I know what qualifies. I used to use the subsidy for Metro. The problem is that, in many cases, parking at VRE (or a bus) + VRE train + Metro = More than driving and parking. Not too mention the extra time I would lose.

Quote from: tomterp on March 26, 2014, 08:36:34 PM

For cars - 30 miles each way, 60 miles round trip x $0.56* = 33.60 per day, or nearly $700 per month.

*2014 IRS Mileage rate

I'm familiar with the mileage rates. I think the government's is a little generous, especially if you're willing to do some basic work yourself.

Quote from: CALSGR8 on March 26, 2014, 08:51:17 PM

New ones are f9r sale near Vienna Metro

Condos starting at 450k. Actual townhomes start in the 600s.

tomterp · « **Reply #71:** March 27, 2014, 08:18:36 AM »

Quote from: Slateman on March 27, 2014, 07:00:28 AM

I'm familiar with the mileage rates. I think the government's is a little generous, especially if you're willing to do some basic work yourself.

Most people think of fuel costs only, but cars depreciate and need maintenance, both need to be factored in.

mitlen · « **Reply #72:** March 27, 2014, 08:23:33 AM »

Quote from: Slateman on March 27, 2014, 07:00:28 AM

I know what qualifies. I used to use the subsidy for Metro. The problem is that, in many cases, parking at VRE (or a bus) + VRE train + Metro = More than driving and parking. Not too mention the extra time I would lose.I'm familiar with the mileage rates. I think the government's is a little generous, especially if you're willing to do some basic work yourself.

Condos starting at 450k. Actual townhomes start in the 600s.

Good luck

HalfSmokes · « **Reply #73:** March 27, 2014, 08:48:21 AM »

good luck slate. Looking for a house in this area without a ton of cash blows (our budget was slightly higher than yours and our agent seemed like he didn't want to be bothered)

Slateman · « **Reply #74:** March 27, 2014, 09:10:59 AM »

Ours is actually helping us quite a lot. She's a nice lady.

Ultimately, I think we're wasting her time. We either have to drastically lower our expectations for the place or be willing to endure a lengthy commute.