House Purchase Advice

[Jewels]

I think it has to do with wherever you are currently living. I got to Harrisonburg, and I'm ready to freak the fuck out about traffic. College student drive no better than NOVA drivers. And this is coming from someone who grew up in Winchester, and went to school in Radford.

[Mike]

i ride my bike to work, i walk to the grocery store (and can bike to 100% of the stores i need), i walk to the library, i have a plethora of great dining options (many within walking distance), i'm very happy with the local government, i can find a concert to attend any night of the week, and 95% of my friends are here.

i like having EVERYTHING i need close-by.

and the stupid-person density is pretty low.

Makes sense, and I can see the draw of having everything close by. I just can't deal with how many people there are in NOVA - it just makes doing anything seem frustrating to me. I would rather drive 10 minutes to a store and 10 minutes back than wait 15 minutes in line at that store :dunno:

we're all different. my dad is the same as you. i'm not.

[Mike]

It would be hard to argue that Arlington isn't one of a douche capitals of the world.

won't argue it. those people typically last about two years, get married to some hooker who wears too much makeup, and move to ashburn to go gray and pop out babies before getting their first divorce. :lol:

if you want to avoid douches, it's pretty simple... stay out of shitty sports bars.

[WRXtranceformed]

if you want to avoid douches, it's pretty simple... stay out of shitty sports bars.

Or just avoid Georgetown altogether.

[Evan]

I want to GTFO. The only place this concrete shithole offers is jobs and job security. The people, their attitudes, the congestion, concrete, sprawl etc is enough to make you insane.

It hurt me to leave WY last week and have to come back to this place.

[Mike]

if you want to avoid douches, it's pretty simple... stay out of shitty sports bars.

Or just avoid Georgetown altogether.

Georgetown douches are a whole different level, but they seem to only come out at night. Arlington douches are always on the prowl.

[ScottyB]

i don't know how i survived Atlanta, and that was only 5 years. between the traffic and the way people act if you concentrate enough of them in one place made part of my soul die. granted, DC is a pretty cool city as cities go, but i still don't know how some of you take it.

the more time i spend around people the more i just want to move into the countryside and own some land.

[Ryan T]

I don't see how any of you all can stand it up there. I can visit NOVA for a weekend and be so frustrated with the traffic and people that I can't stand it. Give me a small town/small city anyday.

Where did you grow up? I feel the same thing about New York... but people love living there too. It's all a sliding scale.

I grew up in Abingdon, VA. Southwest VA about 10 miles from the Tennessee line. The actual town I grew up in has about ~13k people. I currently live in Bristol and my jurisdiction covers all of Washington County, which totals about 53k people.

All my siblings moved to cities (Winston Salem, Charlotte, Birmingham, Denver) and I love to visit and if I had to live in one of the cities with would be Denver, but I don't know if I'd ever like living somewhere like that full time.

[Steve85]

I lose a lot of time in my car everyday but also enjoy the time to myself, a luxury at this stage in my life. I feel an incredible sense of relief when I cross LoCo Pkwy on 50 heading west. Winchester has come a long way in just the few years we've been here. It has what we need, and we can get to the city when we want anytime. We have friends from many different walks of life and they are all sooo down to earth. It's not Denver (or Telluride, really) but it is our peaceful place with reasonable access to the jobs and job security I like.

And yeah, afford-ability plays a large part, a house big enough for six on an acre is waaay above our pay grade in NOVA.

[WRXtranceformed]

Winchester / Berryville I think is going to be one of the next big boom areas. It's already grown a lot over the years when I lived there. The company I used to work for there tried to sell in two communities in Winchester but at the time the demand just wasn't there...most new home buyers were content to pay more for less closer to the city. I'm sure that's changing now. Downtown Winchester is really cool too, there are some neat historic buildings and shops.

[Steve85]

It was compounded when housing took a big hit. People could find better deals closer in and did so. Basically you couldn't sell a house for more than 225K for the last three years. The median income is and has been climbing steadily now and the market is starting to come back. A few stalled projects have picked back up and the south end of town is getting some higher end shopping. Not 3 story malls filled with Starbucks and Needless Markups but I hate that shit anyway. I did L.A. in my single late twenties days, it didn't end well but I wouldn't trade the experience for anything. I don't think I could live in Winchester as a mid to late twenties single guy.

I really would have no problem with Arlington / Any City if I could do it like Mike is able to, the traffic and all the other BS is minimized. My wife and her best friends lived in Arlington when we were dating and I enjoyed, and still do enjoy visiting there. The BS is unavoidable though if you want your kids involved in school, sports, and other activities and you have to go the grocery store and buy more than you can carry on a bike.

[.RJ]

The BS is unavoidable though if you want your kids involved in school, sports, and other activities and you have to go the grocery store and buy more than you can carry on a bike.

I dont think its unavoidable at all, its just the choices you make - i.e. dont live in Ashburn and work in DC.

[Mike]

The BS is unavoidable though if you want your kids involved in school, sports, and other activities and you have to go the grocery store and buy more than you can carry on a bike.

I dont think its unavoidable at all, its just the choices you make - i.e. dont live in Ashburn and work in DC.

but then i can't have my mcmansion!!!

[Apoc]

The BS is unavoidable though if you want your kids involved in school, sports, and other activities and you have to go the grocery store and buy more than you can carry on a bike.

I dont think its unavoidable at all, its just the choices you make - i.e. dont live in Ashburn and work in DC.

It pretty much isn't unavoidable if you have kids. His point is you can't avoid the bullshit if your kids participate in any socialized activities. You think recent college grads are bad in Arlington? Try obnoxious, entitled parents whose kid is opposite yours on the soccer team.

Someone I know just pulled her kid out of LoCo schools because she did not like the bullshit exposure he was getting. Their family has now been more or less blacklisted by the entire community because they aren't One With the Automitons.

Point being, for most people this area is great until you "settle down" and have kids. A lot of people do it, but a larger number just don't want to deal with all the stuff it brings with it. There's a reason why everyone I know that's raising kids in this area works for/with the Feds.

[.RJ]

I was looking more at the logistical issues of activities, traffic, transport, etc... as far as kid/parent/school/community bullshit, I have absolutely no clue about any of that.

[Evan]

Winchester, Front Royal, Woodstock, even down in Harrisonburg would be great places to live (probably...)

Although Id have to work out there, NFW Im commuting into NoVA from there let alone DC

[Apoc]

I was looking more at the logistical issues of activities, traffic, transport, etc... as far as kid/parent/school/community bullshit, I have absolutely no clue about any of that.

Still, kids' activities are usually at peak traffic times. Even if you live relatively close, it's still a nightmare to deal with compared to somewhere more suburural like Winchester, et al. (...and there's no damn way I'd commute either.)

The more I think about it, the more I think my boss has shit figured out. He has a NoVA salary but he WFH in Columbus, Ohio. If I have my way, I'll be doing the same thing from Boulder...

[WRXtranceformed]

I went to school in Boulder for a year. It's really nice out there, good quality of life. My cousin still lives there IIRC. I wasn't a huge fan of UC Boulder but the area is amazing for outdoor activities.

[Steve85]

The BS is unavoidable though if you want your kids involved in school, sports, and other activities and you have to go the grocery store and buy more than you can carry on a bike.

I dont think its unavoidable at all, its just the choices you make - i.e. dont live in Ashburn and work in DC.

It pretty much isn't unavoidable if you have kids. His point is you can't avoid the bullshit if your kids participate in any socialized activities. You think recent college grads are bad in Arlington? Try obnoxious, entitled parents whose kid is opposite yours on the soccer team.

Someone I know just pulled her kid out of LoCo schools because she did not like the bullshit exposure he was getting. Their family has now been more or less blacklisted by the entire community because they aren't One With the Automitons.

Point being, for most people this area is great until you "settle down" and have kids. A lot of people do it, but a larger number just don't want to deal with all the stuff it brings with it. There's a reason why everyone I know that's raising kids in this area works for/with the Feds.

Exactly, all practices and stuff would undoubtedly be spread throughout the county and happen at all hours starting at rush hour.

hehe..our friends live in South Riding with three boys, that place creeps me out. Not surprised at all by that 'blacklisted" story, fits right in with some of the shit they've told us. I have no idea why they still live there. He makes very good money with HP on a work from anywhere in the world you want basis. Their 13yo son's LAX practice starts at 9pm, no facilities available before then with the massive overcrowding.

My commute is not all that bad, outside if the time factor. A few "books on tape" and an ipod and it's OK most of the time. I don't think I could go much further in than I do though...

[Evan]

The more I think about it, the more I think my boss has shit figured out. He has a NoVA salary but he WFH in Columbus, Ohio. If I have my way, I'll be doing the same thing from Boulder...

I have considered doing the travelling consultant thing to be able to pull that off, but it comes a whole new set of lifestyle compromises I dont think Im willing to take.

the WFH thing is badass but really hard to find that situation