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  • January 3, 2009 at 8:26 PM #14746
    sc_alum
    Participant

    Hi All –

    This site has been a goldmine of information to me for the past couple of years, not the least of which was an ongoing education on the various areas, communities, and neighborhoods in San Diego county.

    It now looks like there’s a strong change that we’ll be moving to the DC area in the next few months. We’ll probably be in some sort of corporate housing for a few months while we get our bearing. After that I’d like to rent somewhere for a year, and then potentially buy in 2010/2011 if we feel like we’ll be staying for a time.

    Does anyone have knowledge of a site similar to Piggington for the DC and surrounding areas (working in Reston, VA, probably living somewhere between there and DC)? I’d like to start to get familiar with the feel of the various areas (I want to rent somewhere that we actually like), and to get acquainted with the rise and fall of their own real estate markets.

    Any advice is appreciated – either for websites/forums/blogs, or recommendations on specific areas to look into.

    (brief info: young kids, high-ish income, short commute to Reston (<20 min) a must, proximity to Metro for DC-inbound trips would be great)

    Thanks!

    January 3, 2009 at 9:26 PM #323414
    LAAFTERHOURS
    Participant

    http://www.homesdatabase.com is the local MLS SDLOOKUP site, without a forum.

    In terms of when to buy and where, I can give you insight based on experience. I lived there from 2004 – 2006 and have a lot of friends there, all over the DC metro area.

    My initial thoughts:

    Keep yourself inside the beltway for resale value returns. Outside of the beltway has taken a major hit and will continue. We lived in alexandria, bought in Northern PW county in 04, sold in 06 at the height and now the homes is 100K less than we bouught for in 04.

    I know some solid parts of arlington that are single family areas so let me know if interested. Alexandria is nice but overblown in my opinion. I liked fairfax/ fairfax station but that may be too far out. You could probably get away with just over the bridge into maryland too. Vienna is nice but not sure what your budget is.

    January 3, 2009 at 9:26 PM #323751
    LAAFTERHOURS
    Participant

    http://www.homesdatabase.com is the local MLS SDLOOKUP site, without a forum.

    In terms of when to buy and where, I can give you insight based on experience. I lived there from 2004 – 2006 and have a lot of friends there, all over the DC metro area.

    My initial thoughts:

    Keep yourself inside the beltway for resale value returns. Outside of the beltway has taken a major hit and will continue. We lived in alexandria, bought in Northern PW county in 04, sold in 06 at the height and now the homes is 100K less than we bouught for in 04.

    I know some solid parts of arlington that are single family areas so let me know if interested. Alexandria is nice but overblown in my opinion. I liked fairfax/ fairfax station but that may be too far out. You could probably get away with just over the bridge into maryland too. Vienna is nice but not sure what your budget is.

    January 3, 2009 at 9:26 PM #323816
    LAAFTERHOURS
    Participant

    http://www.homesdatabase.com is the local MLS SDLOOKUP site, without a forum.

    In terms of when to buy and where, I can give you insight based on experience. I lived there from 2004 – 2006 and have a lot of friends there, all over the DC metro area.

    My initial thoughts:

    Keep yourself inside the beltway for resale value returns. Outside of the beltway has taken a major hit and will continue. We lived in alexandria, bought in Northern PW county in 04, sold in 06 at the height and now the homes is 100K less than we bouught for in 04.

    I know some solid parts of arlington that are single family areas so let me know if interested. Alexandria is nice but overblown in my opinion. I liked fairfax/ fairfax station but that may be too far out. You could probably get away with just over the bridge into maryland too. Vienna is nice but not sure what your budget is.

    January 3, 2009 at 9:26 PM #323834
    LAAFTERHOURS
    Participant

    http://www.homesdatabase.com is the local MLS SDLOOKUP site, without a forum.

    In terms of when to buy and where, I can give you insight based on experience. I lived there from 2004 – 2006 and have a lot of friends there, all over the DC metro area.

    My initial thoughts:

    Keep yourself inside the beltway for resale value returns. Outside of the beltway has taken a major hit and will continue. We lived in alexandria, bought in Northern PW county in 04, sold in 06 at the height and now the homes is 100K less than we bouught for in 04.

    I know some solid parts of arlington that are single family areas so let me know if interested. Alexandria is nice but overblown in my opinion. I liked fairfax/ fairfax station but that may be too far out. You could probably get away with just over the bridge into maryland too. Vienna is nice but not sure what your budget is.

    January 3, 2009 at 9:26 PM #323912
    LAAFTERHOURS
    Participant

    http://www.homesdatabase.com is the local MLS SDLOOKUP site, without a forum.

    In terms of when to buy and where, I can give you insight based on experience. I lived there from 2004 – 2006 and have a lot of friends there, all over the DC metro area.

    My initial thoughts:

    Keep yourself inside the beltway for resale value returns. Outside of the beltway has taken a major hit and will continue. We lived in alexandria, bought in Northern PW county in 04, sold in 06 at the height and now the homes is 100K less than we bouught for in 04.

    I know some solid parts of arlington that are single family areas so let me know if interested. Alexandria is nice but overblown in my opinion. I liked fairfax/ fairfax station but that may be too far out. You could probably get away with just over the bridge into maryland too. Vienna is nice but not sure what your budget is.

    January 4, 2009 at 12:32 PM #323624
    Navydoc
    Participant

    I will also be transferring to DC this summer, as the Navy needs me in Bethesda more than they need me in San Diego. The closest I have found to Piggington is http://www.bubblemeter.blogspot.com. It’s nowhere near as informative or active as Piggington, which is why I still come here, but its focus is the DC area. I would LOVE to find a searchable database for the DC area MLS as good as SDLookup, but so far I havn’t found it. Homesdatabase, cited in the previous post is not as user friendly.

    I’m currently looking in the northern suburbs, especially Rockville, Silver Spring and Gaithersburg, as their commute to the Naval Medical Center looks reasonable and possibly bikeable, weather permitting. Definitely some nice homes there on big pieces of property. Since I’m looking to be there at least 3 years, and I don’t think I can rent what I’m looking for at the same monthly payment, I’m almost certainly buying. Even if it loses a little value, the rent/own equation makes a lot more sense there. Add to the fact that I’ve already had a rental pulled out from under me, I’m ready to have a bit more control.

    Good luck on whatever you decide, maybe we’ll run into each other at the Smithsonian!

    January 4, 2009 at 12:32 PM #324123
    Navydoc
    Participant

    I will also be transferring to DC this summer, as the Navy needs me in Bethesda more than they need me in San Diego. The closest I have found to Piggington is http://www.bubblemeter.blogspot.com. It’s nowhere near as informative or active as Piggington, which is why I still come here, but its focus is the DC area. I would LOVE to find a searchable database for the DC area MLS as good as SDLookup, but so far I havn’t found it. Homesdatabase, cited in the previous post is not as user friendly.

    I’m currently looking in the northern suburbs, especially Rockville, Silver Spring and Gaithersburg, as their commute to the Naval Medical Center looks reasonable and possibly bikeable, weather permitting. Definitely some nice homes there on big pieces of property. Since I’m looking to be there at least 3 years, and I don’t think I can rent what I’m looking for at the same monthly payment, I’m almost certainly buying. Even if it loses a little value, the rent/own equation makes a lot more sense there. Add to the fact that I’ve already had a rental pulled out from under me, I’m ready to have a bit more control.

    Good luck on whatever you decide, maybe we’ll run into each other at the Smithsonian!

    January 4, 2009 at 12:32 PM #323960
    Navydoc
    Participant

    I will also be transferring to DC this summer, as the Navy needs me in Bethesda more than they need me in San Diego. The closest I have found to Piggington is http://www.bubblemeter.blogspot.com. It’s nowhere near as informative or active as Piggington, which is why I still come here, but its focus is the DC area. I would LOVE to find a searchable database for the DC area MLS as good as SDLookup, but so far I havn’t found it. Homesdatabase, cited in the previous post is not as user friendly.

    I’m currently looking in the northern suburbs, especially Rockville, Silver Spring and Gaithersburg, as their commute to the Naval Medical Center looks reasonable and possibly bikeable, weather permitting. Definitely some nice homes there on big pieces of property. Since I’m looking to be there at least 3 years, and I don’t think I can rent what I’m looking for at the same monthly payment, I’m almost certainly buying. Even if it loses a little value, the rent/own equation makes a lot more sense there. Add to the fact that I’ve already had a rental pulled out from under me, I’m ready to have a bit more control.

    Good luck on whatever you decide, maybe we’ll run into each other at the Smithsonian!

    January 4, 2009 at 12:32 PM #324043
    Navydoc
    Participant

    I will also be transferring to DC this summer, as the Navy needs me in Bethesda more than they need me in San Diego. The closest I have found to Piggington is http://www.bubblemeter.blogspot.com. It’s nowhere near as informative or active as Piggington, which is why I still come here, but its focus is the DC area. I would LOVE to find a searchable database for the DC area MLS as good as SDLookup, but so far I havn’t found it. Homesdatabase, cited in the previous post is not as user friendly.

    I’m currently looking in the northern suburbs, especially Rockville, Silver Spring and Gaithersburg, as their commute to the Naval Medical Center looks reasonable and possibly bikeable, weather permitting. Definitely some nice homes there on big pieces of property. Since I’m looking to be there at least 3 years, and I don’t think I can rent what I’m looking for at the same monthly payment, I’m almost certainly buying. Even if it loses a little value, the rent/own equation makes a lot more sense there. Add to the fact that I’ve already had a rental pulled out from under me, I’m ready to have a bit more control.

    Good luck on whatever you decide, maybe we’ll run into each other at the Smithsonian!

    January 4, 2009 at 12:32 PM #324026
    Navydoc
    Participant

    I will also be transferring to DC this summer, as the Navy needs me in Bethesda more than they need me in San Diego. The closest I have found to Piggington is http://www.bubblemeter.blogspot.com. It’s nowhere near as informative or active as Piggington, which is why I still come here, but its focus is the DC area. I would LOVE to find a searchable database for the DC area MLS as good as SDLookup, but so far I havn’t found it. Homesdatabase, cited in the previous post is not as user friendly.

    I’m currently looking in the northern suburbs, especially Rockville, Silver Spring and Gaithersburg, as their commute to the Naval Medical Center looks reasonable and possibly bikeable, weather permitting. Definitely some nice homes there on big pieces of property. Since I’m looking to be there at least 3 years, and I don’t think I can rent what I’m looking for at the same monthly payment, I’m almost certainly buying. Even if it loses a little value, the rent/own equation makes a lot more sense there. Add to the fact that I’ve already had a rental pulled out from under me, I’m ready to have a bit more control.

    Good luck on whatever you decide, maybe we’ll run into each other at the Smithsonian!

    January 4, 2009 at 1:39 PM #324041
    Fletch
    Participant

    The comments of the NoVA housing bubble blog has some pretty savvy commenter:

    http://novabubblefallout.blogspot.com/

    Inside the beltway is indeed the best bet, with Arlington / Falls Church leading the way. Lake Barcroft in particular is nice. But these areas have not deflated much at all. I’m thinking 2009 could be very rough for NoVA prices.

    January 4, 2009 at 1:39 PM #324138
    Fletch
    Participant

    The comments of the NoVA housing bubble blog has some pretty savvy commenter:

    http://novabubblefallout.blogspot.com/

    Inside the beltway is indeed the best bet, with Arlington / Falls Church leading the way. Lake Barcroft in particular is nice. But these areas have not deflated much at all. I’m thinking 2009 could be very rough for NoVA prices.

    January 4, 2009 at 1:39 PM #324058
    Fletch
    Participant

    The comments of the NoVA housing bubble blog has some pretty savvy commenter:

    http://novabubblefallout.blogspot.com/

    Inside the beltway is indeed the best bet, with Arlington / Falls Church leading the way. Lake Barcroft in particular is nice. But these areas have not deflated much at all. I’m thinking 2009 could be very rough for NoVA prices.

    January 4, 2009 at 1:39 PM #323974
    Fletch
    Participant

    The comments of the NoVA housing bubble blog has some pretty savvy commenter:

    http://novabubblefallout.blogspot.com/

    Inside the beltway is indeed the best bet, with Arlington / Falls Church leading the way. Lake Barcroft in particular is nice. But these areas have not deflated much at all. I’m thinking 2009 could be very rough for NoVA prices.

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