I'm moving to DC area in a couple of months and I know that there's a sizable DC/NOVA contingent on the forum. I'm hoping that some of you might be able to provide some recommendations on housing. I'll be working on Bolling AFB and have been looking primarily in the Alexandria and Arlington areas. Pre-COVID I was looking to buy in a location that would allow commuting to multiple locations because I could easily have 2-3 assignments back to back in the area. I'm still looking at potentially purchasing, but may rent for a while to see what, if any effect the incoming recession has on the housing market. Ideally, I'm looking for something like a two-bedroom townhome with a garage and/or a basement in a good area for a single professional. I recognize that I may have to compromise on the garage/basement requirement. Any recommendations?

 

Don't do it, would be my recommendation. How much are they paying you is the next question. If not north of $100k with ample room for growth seriously think against it. You will also have to deal with safety and emissions in NoVA. Depending on the age of the car that may or may not be an issue.

 

In my case, I don't have a choice in the matter unless, of course, I'd like to spend some time at Ft Leavenworth instead (I'm active duty military). But seriously, I can't complain about my salary and get an adequate housing allowance. I'm sure that my housing won't be as nice as in Ohio (but ironically nicer than Alabama where I currently get two rubber bands and a paper clip for my housing allowance), but I'm looking forward to trying the area for a while. Cars shouldn't be an issue other than parking since I sold my Miata and am down to a somewhat newer, and stock, car and truck.

 

I would always recommend short term renting in an area you are unfamiliar with. There are so many nuances to things like traffic, crime, taxes, and amenities. And it gives you time to find a better deal and/or network with someone who may be PCS'ing away from the area and selling.

 

Google street-view is your friend for choosing neighborhoods... we're looking for single-family detached way further west than you are. Plenty of basement apartments in the $1000 range that will save you a ton of BAH.

 

Falls Church, Fairfax and Arlington are probably the most convenient foe the commute you describe. Try to plan where you want to live based on which quarter of the beltway you want most access to. Traffic is, well, you'll see.

Herndon, Chantilly and Loudon are probably going to offer more garages.

There are about 4 million high density condos being built in Arlington (on orange/silver metro lines). Parking garages.

 

Thanks for your help. That's exactly the kind of info I was hoping for.

A cheap apartment and banking BAH is always an option, particularly if I end up renting for a while first. I've done that before, but it's always a delicate balance between quality of life and cost.

 

Feel free to shoot me a message if you have any other questions. I've been out of the miata game for a year, but always love to throw a wrench.

 

Don't let Lars scare you away from northern virginia. He's an anarchist-libertarian and may have different values than you when it comes to how the government let's him play.

The market here is expensive. Ante up $400/square foot for a townhouse, but expect to pay more if you want a "good neighborhood where you can raise a family" and to own all four of your walls. I'm in 22205 and while it's <30 minutes from all of your commute endpoints, it's also kind of expensive. But I wouldn't trade my neighborhood for anything. I'm a 2 minute walk from some great stores and restaurants, a 10 minute walk to metro, and have a quiet street where my kids play all day now that we're stuck here. We bought in 2008 so we're doing ok. Except for the 900 square foot part!

 

oh and I have a great agent who is incredibly helpful with education and knows this area very well. She does not have big hair and has touched the stanley cup following the Capitals victory last year.

 

I'll have about 2 months of alone-time there while I get the job started and buy a house... looks like an Extended Stay America or something similar is the way to go for short-term, especially with the COVID crap, the wife says I don't need to be sharing anything with a couple of dirty hippies in a commune.

The wife and I had talked about me commuting from Virginia Beach and working with the company for some telecommute a few days a week or some other arrangement. I was going to need my own place, and was looking to keep costs down... shared basement or renting a room... found plenty that would cut it well under $1000, more like $500-$600 if I didn't mind the "shared" aspect. Lots of business professionals and IT types have the same idea because while there were no shortage of 1br $2500 apartments in hi-rises, I didn't think I was going to have problem finding a place to live decently in the $750mo range all-in with utilities, my own bathroom, and a parking spot.

 

Kind of OT for the thread, I know the coasts are much more expensive than the flyover states and I know the salaries are higher, but do you just have to accept that a much larger portion of your income is dedicated to housing? For example, I purchased a completely renovated 1815 sq ft house, 3/2/2, a few years ago here in OKC. I don't mean, new paint and carpet.....granite counters in kitchen/bar/bathrooms, all new fixtures, new tile, new paint and carpet, new roof, etc, for $156k. So call it $86 sq ft, before you add insurance and taxes.

No one is going to pay me 4-6x more than I make now if I moved to a more expensive area.

 

It's a completely different animal from the outside looking in. I was living in providence, RI for school and had whole floor to myself for $550 all utilities included.
Moved back and it blew my mind that a bedroom for $1500 in a shared house was considered a great deal.

Honestly,

Housing isn't as bad as Bay Area/SF, but it's no joke....that and Amazon HQ2 is moving in. Some of my co-workers commute an hour in each way and live closer toward W.Va or Fredrick, MD because they are raising big families.

The food here is fantastic though.


Locality Adjustment for federal
WASHINGTON-BALTIMORE-ARLINGTON, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA: 30.48%
DALLAS-FORT WORTH, TX-OK: 24.98%
DAYTON-SPRINGFIELD-SIDNEY, OH: 19.18%

There are certainly less expensive areas to live in the DC area, but quality of life, commute, and safety may suffer.

 

Higher praise I cannot imagine. I need her digits, please PM me. The more we look, the more the wife is leaning towards acreage out near Leesburg, but if we can find property big enough, I'd like to be closer to Tysons... looking heavily in the area between Tysons and Dulles. High school feed is a big decision, but there are really only a few I'm going to stay away from.

We've been looking for months now, and are pretty good at judging the market... definitely can tell the ones who are going to sell quick, because they pop up on Realtor and are "contingent" within about 48hrs... and those who've been on the market for months because clearly overpriced.

I bet this one is contingent by Friday... at the very end of my commute window, but cheap enough we can still grab a $100k home improvement loan and throw down with the fancy pool and poolhouse/detached-garage. Plus, plenty of room for my garden plans, and I know there are deer in those woods.

https://www.realtor.com/realestatean...-73389?view=qv

 

that house aint in "northern virginia" really. I mean kinda, but only the few percenters who do that 3 hour daily commute thing would live there. looks fancy though.

yeah to z31's point, you can live lots of of other places for a fraction of the cost BUT you probably won't be chatting with celebrity chefs on the phone or getting emails from the local MLB franchise to find out if your nonprofit can feed their recently furloughed staff (my wife has been exceptionally busy the last few weeks!). And believe me, I see the appeal. I'd totally love living on a farm but also having access to all the cool **** of a city. I think that's what Sam is trying to achieve with that house above.

PM incoming.

 

My brother lives there and the whole family did many years ago. I'm sorry you are going to have to. Even on a senior officer's salary it is a miserable place because you will be house-poor and always in bad traffic. Maybe it won't be too long.

 

Why you gotta hate on my home?

 

I would never live south of Route 50 inside the beltway, so I can't help you much...

With that being said, you should look at the Shirlington area -- the good parts of it.

 

I thought you were from silicon valley.

 

He's lived in DC and Arlington for the past ~13 years.

I live in Arlington for 7 years, there's things about it a liked -- access to the city and local foods is great; a lot else about it was not so great.