Thanks for all the advice, guys; especially UCGal, for the relo info. My company is fairly generous when it comes to relos so I’m pretty much covered in all areas of expenses(ship, travel, closing costs, etc.) I love bouncing ideas off this board.
FYI I’m pretty much looking to live in Prince William or Fairfax County. I originally wanted to live within walking distance of the Metro, but the Springfield-Franconia Station is a 35 minute drive from the office – and that’s the closest metro to work. I like the feel of Alexandria, but again it’s too far for daily commuting.
It’s nice to know that the price drops in the NoVA area lag the west coast. This will give me time to rent and get a feel for the area. Redfin shows nearly 5,000 appropriately priced/sized listings in the areas I mentioned. It’s still very much a buyers market.