Good & Cheap Apartments in Fairfax-ish?

[Jake]

This whole "graduation" thing is keeping me busy.

Joey & I are graduating and looking to get a place up in the Northern VA area. We'll both likely be working in Dulles, so we don't really want a massive commute from the DC area. Figured there are enough of you from the area who may have apartment experience and could mention where to look, where to avoid, etc.

Looking for a 2 bedroom, 2 bath apartment that's not a shithole. Would be preferably close to a Metro station (walking distance awesome, driving is OK too). Not trying to spend millions of dollars that we don't have, but we'll spend a few bucks extra to get a nicer place.

Ideas? I've been looking on apartments.com in the Fairfax/Fair Lakes areas. Seems like there is a reasonable amount of things to do nearby (restaurants, FO Mall, near major highways) and you can get to the Vienna metro station in a decent time frame.

[.RJ]

You probably dont want to be in fairfax. Look on craigslist for places to live/rent.

If you can tolerate a reasonable commute, arlington would be great for a recent grad. If you want a short commute, reston/herndon isnt bad.

[Apoc]

28 is ridiculously horrible during rush hour these days. You'd be going counter-flow, if there is such a thing in this area, but you're probably looking at 30 minutes minimum to AOL from Fair Lakes. If you want to be "relatively close" to Metro and keep commute somewhat reasonable, you're probably looking at Reston.

Don't listen to RJ about Arlington. He says Herndon is too far away from Reston and he's calling Arlington to Dulles "resonable"? :lol: That's 45+ minutes, depending on which way the wind is blowing.

Ultimately you have to decide where you want to spend time in the car - going to work every day or when you want to be where all the cool kids hang out. Honestly, there isn't much of an in-between around these parts.

[Jake]

I don't mind a bit longer commute. I think Fairfax is sort of splitting the difference... Arlington (from what I've seen so far) is too expensive for our budgets. I used to live in Herndon and much of the area there is just a dump. If anyone knows Alabama Drive you know what I mean. Reston has potential, haven't searched there yet.

[Kaan]

Gainesborough Court in fairfax. Its where Sylvia used to live. it wasnt too bad. parking could be a bitch at times but hte buildings were pretty good. brick walls plus concrete floors... it was tough to hear people in the apartments around you. they might have some specials, but if they offer you a special they will hike up your rent big time when that lease is up. Also it is a quick bus ride to vienna metro.

all the apartments in walking distance to the metro are going to be really expensive. just an FYI

We are at the Reserve at Fairfax Corner right now... I like the apartment lay out better and i get to hvae a garage, but it comes wiht a price.

[Apoc]

I don't mind a bit longer commute. I think Fairfax is sort of splitting the difference... Arlington (from what I've seen so far) is too expensive for our budgets. I used to live in Herndon and much of the area there is just a dump. If anyone knows Alabama Drive you know what I mean. Reston has potential, haven't searched there yet.

The problem with Fairfax is you're going to have to deal with Route 50, which is a bitch. You're better off trying to stay around 267, so you can quickly get east/west. Reston, Wolf Trap, Vienna and maybe even Tysons are likely better commutes than Fairfax.

[D_Eclipse9916]

I don't mind a bit longer commute. I think Fairfax is sort of splitting the difference... Arlington (from what I've seen so far) is too expensive for our budgets. I used to live in Herndon and much of the area there is just a dump. If anyone knows Alabama Drive you know what I mean. Reston has potential, haven't searched there yet.

The problem with Fairfax is you're going to have to deal with Route 50, which is a bitch. You're better off trying to stay around 267, so you can quickly get east/west. Reston, Wolf Trap, Vienna and maybe even Tysons are likely better commutes than Fairfax.

Have to agree, going from tysons to reston took me 15 minutes cause it was counter-commute everyday. Fairfax is a nightmare either way. For where your working and your needs, id keep it around the Reston and Centreville areas. Any apartment within walking distance of the metro is going to be VERY expensive and most likely a bitch with parking. (as people like to try to find cheap parking to park instead of at the metro which is $4.50 a day.

[REED]

When I 1st graduated, 2 friends & I rented a townhouse right near the Vienna metro. It wasn't one of the brand new ones right across the street, but it was no more than a 1/4 mile away. It was pretty big, had assigned parking, backyard, etc. Rent was like $1900 (5 years ago). I'm not sure how much prices have risen out that way, but its an area def. worth checking out. I never had trouble getting to 267 via backroads but I never had to do it during rush hour.

Another thing to consider, once you get that taste of walking distance to the metro, its reallll hard to give that up. I started there and never looked back, but I also work downtown so being metro accessible has always been a must for me.

[HAULN-SS]

Arlington to Chantilly off rt 50 takes me 45 minutes in the mornings. To put that in perspective, Bunker Hill WV to that same spot takes me 1 hour and 5 minutes. That commute will blow. And arlington really sucks anyway.

[Mike]

you don't want to live in fairfax proper. i did that commute for a year. it was horrible. all traffic. north arlington out to there was a bit longer, but it's not heinous highways the whole way... think: georgetown pike... EVERY DAY. but you said arl is out of your price range. definitely look at reston. maybe look at dunn loring area. falls church?

[.RJ]

And arlington really sucks anyway.

:?:

[Mike]

And arlington really sucks anyway.

so does ignorance.

[HAULN-SS]

Ignorance is paying more than 1500$/month for a sub 1000sf place. That is every place in Arlington.

I have been in just about every place in Arlington, and I'd definitely take going out in Reston Town center over Arlington any time. Every place there has the yuppy tax on drinks and food, and you'll fight fo the privlege to stand in line to get one because its so crowded. Theres a handful of decent restaraunts, but they are packed, because the other 100 restaraunts are terrible chains selling overpriced sandwiches and coffee. (Cosi, Corner Bakery, etc).

[.RJ]

Ignorance is paying more than 1500$/month for a sub 1000sf place. That is every place in Arlington.

:?:

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/roo/2323322569.html">http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/roo/2323322569.html</a><!-- m --> - rooms in house with a garage, under $700 (why do I want to buy a house again?)

[Mike]

Ignorance is paying more than 1500$/month for a sub 1000sf place. That is every place in Arlington.

we all value different qualities in life. i understand your desire to live in wv and realize it's right for you. it's not right for everyone.

when house-sharing, i always paid less than $700/mo.
with my own place, i pay $1k. it's perfectly sized for me.

[HAULN-SS]

Ignorance is paying more than 1500$/month for a sub 1000sf place. That is every place in Arlington.

:?:

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/roo/2323322569.html">http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/roo/2323322569.html</a><!-- m --> - rooms in house with a garage, under $700 (why do I want to buy a house again?)

House sharing is different..might be acceptable if you had acceptable roommates, but you're still suibjected to the yuppy tax of living in arlington

[HAULN-SS]

Ignorance is paying more than 1500$/month for a sub 1000sf place. That is every place in Arlington.

we all value different qualities in life. i understand your desire to live in wv and realize it's right for you. it's not right for everyone.

when house-sharing, i always paid less than $700/mo.
with my own place, i pay $1k. it's perfectly sized for me.

No one is advocating living in WV. That's the problem with you inside the beltway people. You consider reston and WV the same place. All I was trying to say is that the commute from Arlington to this side of the fairfax sucks, and that you can get most(all) of the same amenities living in reston/herndon at a better deal with a better drive

[Mike]

Ignorance is paying more than 1500$/month for a sub 1000sf place. That is every place in Arlington.

we all value different qualities in life. i understand your desire to live in wv and realize it's right for you. it's not right for everyone.

when house-sharing, i always paid less than $700/mo.
with my own place, i pay $1k. it's perfectly sized for me.

That's the problem with you inside the beltway people. You consider reston and WV the same place.

:?: :?: :?: :?: :?: :?: :?: :?:

i can no longer attempt to discuss things rationally with you.

[Apoc]

No one is advocating living in WV. That's the problem with you inside the beltway people. You consider reston and WV the same place. All I was trying to say is that the commute from Arlington to this side of the fairfax sucks, and that you can get most(all) of the same amenities living in reston/herndon at a better deal with a better drive

What do you mean you... people? :lol: I knew it this was gonna end up a location war.

The amenity you missed is being inside the beltway.

Oh, I would most definitely NOT go out in RTC versus Arlington.

[.RJ]

All I was trying to say is that the commute from Arlington to this side of the fairfax sucks

You're aware that fairfax is really nowhere near Dulles and you dont have to go through/across/around it to get there from Arlington?

Reston/herndon will be a much shorter commute, but if you dont mind the toll road $$ you're going against traffic so its not all bad. I prefer a very short commute but everyones different with that.