Living in Washington DC vs NYC

The old DC vs NYC battle rivalry has gone on for years. This year marks my 20th year living in DC. I’ve seen the good, the bad, and the truly baffling. It’s not all cherry blossoms and charming rowhouses. Can you make it work, or will this city chew you up and spit you out? Here’s my honest, unfiltered take on what it’s really like living in DC.

I’m Melissa Terzis, DC Real Estate Mama. I help people buy and sell homes in DC, Maryland and Virginia. Here on YouTube, I talk about all things real estate, so message me if you want to chat.

I don’t know the lens from which you are viewing, I need to tell you one thing that I didn’t realize prior to moving here

DC vs NYC, but, DC isn’t New York

This could just be me, but growing up right outside New York City, I thought all cities were like New York City so that was how I initially approached DC. After living here, and after extensive US travel, I realize how wrong I was. In my 20’s, I used to be disappointed when I visited another city thinking it would be just like home. (“What do you mean they roll up the sidewalks at 8 p.m.?”) Now, I am happy other cities aren’t New York.

The premise of DC not being at all like New York City could actually go one of two ways. It could go the snobby, “New York is the best city in the world” way where we look down our nose at everyone who isn’t New York. Or it could go the “Thank goodness this isn’t the New York with pizza rat.” 

I used to be in the first camp. In fact, after 10 years living in DC, I got a job offer in New York and I started to cry. I said, “I’m finally going home.” When it came to DC vs NYC, I was squarely on the NYC side. Then, I didn’t take the job. And here I am. Still here. Hi. So that’s got to say something about how I feel about living here.

I’ll take both sides of the New York comparison for $1000 please Alex. This video isn’t really comparing DC to New York, but, I am using it loosely as a “barometer.” 

Why Living in DC is Awesome!

1) DC Has Ethnic Food on LOCK (with one exception)

If they make it, it’s here. You can find pretty much every single ethnic food you could want. I often tout Ethiopian food, but there’s Afghan, Argentinian, Brazilian, Belgian, French, Greek, Indian, Korean, Laotian, Middle Eastern, Peruvian, Spanish, Turkish, Thai, Vietnamese. I alphabetized that for you all. And I missed probably a couple dozen others. 

One exception is that there is Italian food here, but this is where in the DC vs NYC battle, New York wins. In New York, there’s Italian food on every block. And rare is the place with the red and white checkered tablecloths with food that tastes like your Italian Grandma made it here in DC. You have to go the burbs or Baltimore for that.

2) Green Space & Walkability: Loved Universally in the DC Area

The parks and trails here are pretty awesome. Many connect and go from one trail to another. You can bike or walk to George Washington’s House in Mount Vernon from DC. You can bike or walk from Arlington to Purcellville Virginia. You can bike or walk from Georgetown to Bethesda – and eventually that trail will be extended over to Silver Spring and Rock Creek Park. 

Maryland generally seems to preserve more green space than Virginia but both states have their share of parks and greenery. This all leads to walkability, which is a critical factor that people who live here use to evaluate their lifestyle. In New York you also walk, for miles sometimes. But it’s all sidewalk, and there’s nothing peaceful about it. In this DC vs NYC battle, I think DC wins.

3) DC vs NYC: DC’s Airport Proximity is Ace

I’ve never lived 13 minutes from an airport. But yes, at 5 a.m., I am 13 minutes from the airport! Otherwise, it’s more like 25 minutes. The other places I’ve lived (NY, Atlanta, Miami) it was always a colossal production to get to the airport. I find it super easy here. You can even take public transportation!

4) The Weather

I’m fine with it. But, you need to take what I’m saying here with a grain of salt, lovers. I like heat. Not humidity, but heat. If it’s 99 degrees with no humidity, I’m outside without sunscreen and without complaint. 

I hate winter. If you hate winter and snow, the only months here to dread are January and February. For the eight great months we get from March to November, I’m fine. I’ll take it. Again, growing up outside New York, I had zero idea that skies could be blue. Have you seen the sky up there? It’s grey – all the time. NO. THANK. YOU! DC vs NYC on the color of sky alone – DC wins.

5) DC vs NYC: DC Has Jobs

There’s a world of opportunity in New York across many industries. That is obviously a draw. If you can make it there, you can make it anywhere, right? But New York is not as recession-proof as DC. (Although our current administration seems to be testing that.) We may not have fashion, but there is a ton of tech here. Stats say that 70% of the world’s internet traffic comes through Northern Virginia. How’s that for a claim to fame and job security for the techies?

6) Walk Left, Stand Right is Genius

I know DC isn’t the only city to do this, but it is incredibly efficient for navigating the long metro escalators!

7) Inner Loop, Outer Loop, Also Genius

Describing a highway that loops around a city seems to be difficult for other cities. In Atlanta, they called it the “perimeter,” and it was always “Northbound from this road to this road, there’s a backup.” And you would have to decide which northbound it was – the traffic on the west side of the city or the east? 

Here in DC, it’s the inner loop, which travels clockwise, and the outer loop, which travels counterclockwise. New York doesn’t have any such loop around the city aside from a moat, so not sure how to compare DC vs NYC in this category.

Why Living in DC Sucks!

1) Maryland Drivers are Indeed the Worst

I have no clue what is on the Maryland Driving Test, but it’s nothing like the other 49 states, I can assure you of that. To Marylanders – Left lanes aren’t for passing, they are for creeping along like a snail, parallel parking looks more like perpendicular parking and four-way-stops for Marylanders are a disaster. They stop then they go. They don’t know what “taking turns” or “first to the painted line” means. If Marylanders miss their exit, you better be driving a padded bubble. They will cut across 4 lanes of highway, leaving a flaming 27-car pile-up in their path. 

They don’t care. I have never seen anything like it. Each and every Marylander who learned to drive in Maryland is a menace. You’ve been warned.

2) The Local DC, Maryland and Virginia Governments are all DRASTICALLY Different

DC has lots of problems. The city has had a lot of fraud and corruption in their politics. I’m not talking about our national government; I’m talking about the city. We have a Mayor and then an 8-member Council with one member representing each of eight wards. Many councilmembers over the years have gone the way of corruption. Even past Mayors have. Then they get re-elected. It’s absolute bananas. 

Currently, the Ward 8 Councilmember, born and raised in the Ward he serves, was caught taking bribes ON VIDEO. Then he was re-elected. Make it make sense. This guy was the first elected official to say we needed the National Guard in DC, and then when they arrived, he walked that right back and said we need to take care of our own issues. Yeah, like he took care of his own bank account at the expense of the people he serves.

The Deputy Director of DC’s Building Permit department was terminated after it was discovered she was working remotely – at two full time jobs! Fleecing the city of not only the salary paid, but the severe lack of attention to the business of building permits, resulted in a lot of properties with severe issues. 

Virginia and Maryland do not have such problems – at least not to this extent. There are more layers of government in the states and more checks and balances. There has been issues of fraud and corruption, but it’s nothing like what happens in DC.

3) DC is Filled with People Who are High Strung & Inconsiderate

There are a lot of lawyers here, a lot of doctors and a lot of tech people. Pretty much all the Class Presidents of your High Schools are here. These are people with serious jobs and not a lot of time for witty banter. Everyone is always in a hurry. Out in the wild, people aren’t particularly friendly. You won’t be able to make idle chatter with someone in a slow line at a store.

In New York, they would be suspicious of you. In DC, I think they just don’t have time for you. If someone smiles at me here, before they even open their mouth I say, “You’re not from here, are you?” And they always say, “Is it that obvious?” to which I say, “yes. You’re nice.”

And those nice people may have a hard time understanding how inconsiderate people can be. My one huge complaint on this is driving in the city. If someone is being picked up by a driver, and I’m looking right at you every Uber Driver from Maryland and Virginia, they stop in the middle of main roads and block traffic to get their people. Even when there are plenty of spots to pull out of the way of traffic. It’s maddening. You beep and they just don’t care.

4) DC is a Great Place to Own Property Except DC’s a Terrible Place to be a Landlord

Rents only go up in DC. But the property rights extended to tenants for property they don’t own is astonishing. It is a travesty to property owners to trample their rights. The power DC holds over property owners is outrageous. You have to have a rental license. It involves an inspection. Inspections are done by “members of the public” (read: people with no skills) to go through a checklist. They are paid per inspection, so they are incentivized to fail perfectly rentable properties. They want you to file a business license tax. It’s a whole money-grab that is frankly, insulting.

The rental voucher program is a disaster. I found myself on the phone this past summer, advocating for a client who has a voucher tenant in his property. The new director is from another state. When I spoke with her, she said she had never seen anything like this before where tenants have such strong rights and it puts the property owners at such risk. She sees it. But I’m sure she’ll be drinking the Kool Aid soon enough.

5) DC Crime (is) (Was) Atrocious

Notwithstanding the deportations, I’m going to say it. The National Guard coming here definitely sent many little street punks packing. I know people didn’t like it because they believe we should fix our own problems in DC. I too believe this. I believe in what our founding fathers set up for DC to be independent of any state and to have its own authority. The problem is, the Mayor has a lot going on. People criticize the crap out of her, but I don’t see how she can solve all these issues. Everything falls under the Mayor – the police, the schools. The city has a lot going on. 

The bad part of the National Guard was that they were focused downtown. The neighborhood commissioners in the rougher neighborhoods said they weren’t in their area, and had they connected with them, they could have told them what the hotspots are. Where the trap houses are. Who the dealers are. This was a huge missed opportunity. 

DC vs NYC: Final Thoughts

DC is generally less sarcasm and wit of the old school New Yorkers with their tough as nails attitude, but you will be surrounded by intelligent people doing intelligent things. And that’s pretty cool. I’ve loved raising the girls here where they have access to so much, a diversity of friends and great educational opportunities. Plus, they are very picky and they eat Ethiopian food!

Does the good outweigh the bad? I believe so. I try to minimize my experience with the bad parts and focus on the good. And the truth is, while DC isn’t perfect, I have no idea where it would be better. DC vs NYC isn’t even a comparison. We’re DC. We may not own the motto “If you can make it here you can make it anywhere,” but we do own the motto “DC is just Hollywood for ugly people.  

Condo Financing

You found the perfect condo. The finishes are great, the location is ideal, and the price is surprisingly reasonable. For the past few years, buying condos has been a bit easier as there is more for sale and less demand. But wait – can you actually get financing for it? That’s the million-dollar question. Thanks to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the answer might be: not anymore. What happens if the condo you want to buy isn’t eligible for financing and what do you need to know before you get your heart set on a new home?

I’m Melissa Terzis, DC Real Estate Mama and I’ve been in DC Area Real Estate since 2001. I help people like you buy and sell homes throughout DC Maryland and Virginia so shoot me a message if you want to chat.

After the Surfside collapse, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac started reviewing guidelines for how they assess the risk of a condo building. These guidelines are constantly being reviewed to ensure lending in these condo buildings and communities is as secure an investment as possible. If the building collapses, the master insurance policy is what determines the rebuilding process. Right now, things are getting stricter, particularly with insurance requirements. 

These aren’t minor tweaks being instituted. These are sweeping changes to underwriting guidelines—some experts think 30–40% of condo buildings might not qualify under the new rules.

And the timing? Impeccable, as always. Between rising insurance costs and lingering post-pandemic repair delays, this is hitting condo communities hard. Just when the condo market was recovering in some areas too. Locally in the DC Area, condos have had a burst of traffic the past few months.

What are the Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac Changes for Underwriting Condos

1. Replacement Cost Requirement
Insurance policies must now cover 100% of the cost to rebuild – not just the depreciated value. You know how insurance used to say, “That 20-year-old roof? Yeah, it’s worth about $50”? That’s done. Full replacement value or bust. The lender has to provide documentation on how the replacement value was calculated.

2. Required Perils Are Now Standardized
Think fire, smoke, wind, water damage—those kinds of things. And no, buyers can’t just tack on a separate policy anymore. These risks must be included in the master policy, regardless of location. Last year I bought a condo in Florida. For some reason there was no wind insurance in the master policy insurance. My mortgage company came back and said, “You need wind coverage.” You know what insurance companies in Florida don’t want to cover? Wind. The mortgage company assigned a policy to me. Uh…thanks?

3. Deductibles Must Be Reasonable
Policies with more than a 5% deductible of replacement cost raise an automatic red flag.

4. Inflation Guard Clause
Insurance policies must include inflation protection on reconstruction costs. Because lumber prices don’t exactly stay the same year to year. My DC Condo Association recently learned that the master insurance policy replacement value hadn’t been updated since the building was built. In 1981. So had something happened to the building, the policy would rebuild. But everyone would end up getting carpeted floors and low-grade cabinets because the policy didn’t account for upgrades or inflation.

5. Waiver of Subrogation
In plain English? If the roof leaks and damages a unit, the insurance company can’t turn around and sue the owner. The master policy has to waive that right.

What’s Happening With Condos Now?

One of my go-to lenders, Kari Sansom at Atlantic Union Bank, shared what she is are seeing locally in the DC Area. She’s awesome so I’m going to share her contact info: 

Kari Sansom
Kari.Sansom@atlanticunionbank.com
(301) 767-6354

Insurance:
Many condo buildings are underinsured. Their current policies only pay out depreciated values—because hey, cheaper premiums, right? But that’s not going to cut it anymore. And most condo boards don’t even know this is an issue. As they learn of the changes, premiums are going to increase so that the insurance can cover what’s needed.

Deferred Maintenance:
New inspection requirements mean more eyes on the building. And those eyes always find something. If it’s structural or a safety concern, forget financing until it’s fixed.

Litigation:
If the building is in the middle of a lawsuit, that’s another strike.

Other common disqualifiers:
Too much commercial space, one owner holding too many units, high condo fee delinquencies—these are all reasons a lender might say: “Hard pass.”

If a condominium isn’t eligible for Fannie / Freddie financing, then they need to pursue the change to insurance with the condo board and management. If not, alternate financing paths – FHA or VA, or non-qualified lenders are options. But the mortgage rates are usually 1-2% higher, and FHA and VA are going to be more restrictive than conventional financing.

What Does this Mean For You?

If you’re a buyer, understand this: it’s not about you. It’s about whether the building qualifies. That’s frustrating, especially if you’re pre-approved and ready to go. But this is a building-level issue. Previous sales are not an indication on whether a property is eligible for financing. And this is where having a local lender is going to be a huge asset. Don’t roll into town with your mom’s credit union contact in Colorado. 

If you’re a seller, know that your buyer pool might shrink to cash buyers only. That’s going to affect pricing and marketability.

And if you’re a condo owner? Get. On. The. Board. Or at least get involved and attend meetings. I say this all the time, but now it’s critical. You need to know what coverage your building has and push for changes if necessary. Your ability to sell—or refinance—may depend on it.

These aren’t necessarily bad changes. You want your condo building to be structurally sound, financially solvent and adequately protected. Get informed. Ask questions. And work with the right Realtor and Lender who are asking questions for you, before you get your heart set on something that may fall apart.

BIG CHANGES Coming to Bethesda

If you haven’t driven through Bethesda lately, you might not recognize it. There’s so much redevelopment happening. There are mixed-use high-rises, luxury apartments, destination restaurants, commercial and trendy retail. The big changes coming to Bethesda are not tip-toeing toward urbanism – it’s diving in, and things are looking amazing! Bethesda is becoming a real hub for arts and entertainment as well. But here’s the real question: can Bethesda keep up with itself or will all the development be too much to support?

If you think all the urban suburban action is in Tyson’s Corner, think again. Bethesda is coming in hot. In 2024, Bethesda Row celebrated 30 years. There’s over half a million square feet of mixed-use space here. The success of Bethesda Row and Pike and Rose up the street has been strong.

Big Changes Coming to Bethesda Restaurants & Retail

The very popular Mon Ami Gabi is a French Restaurant that had closed for renovations. It’s open and back with a vengeance, with seating for almost 300. Remember when hotels were motels and their attached restaurant was like, Howard Johnson’s? No? Just me? Okay, anyway, Fialova is a new restaurant that opened in the Bethesdan Hotel – which is a Hilton. Bet they don’t have those clam strips and mac & cheese like HoJo’s did though.

Hailing from Miami, Pisco y Nazca Ceviche Gastrobar also opened in Bethesda this past spring. 

Evereve is a clothing store that opened this spring, and FP Movement also opened in the same strip of shops adjacent to Bethesda Row.

Sephora is slated to open next year. Now my daughter and her friends will have another outpost at which to spend their parent’s money.

Over at Pike and Rose (North Bethesda) there’s some new stuff happening too. Bouboulina is a new Greek restaurant, very pricey but the foodies are loving it. I have not eaten here, but I have eaten at seaside café’s in the Greek Islands so I have something fab to compare to.

And then, surprise! Brandy Melville opened their first Maryland store last month in Pike and Rose as well. If you haven’t waited in a line just to get into Brandy Melville with your teenager, have you really lived?

Bethesda’s New Infrastructure

The purple line metro development continues. Once complete, you will be able to ride between New Carrollton, Silver Spring and Bethesda. The connection to New Carrollton is critical because that’s also how you could hop on a train to get to Baltimore, New York or Boston. That is a huge win for people living in Bethesda who don’t have a vehicle or who don’t want to drive.

Also happening is the extension of the Capital Crescent Trail. The original trail went from downtown Bethesda to Georgetown. It will be extended from Bethesda over to Silver Spring where it will connect with other trails.

Bethesda Real Estate Development

If you are looking for new home developments in Bethesda, there’s just a couple chances left. There are only a few new homes left in communities. The other avenue for getting a new home is a teardown. Those are still happening in Bethesda, though not as regularly as they once were. Much of Bethesda has been redeveloped.

In the past few years, over 20 multi-family residential development projects have been approved, and it keeps climbing. This has happened thanks to the 2017 Bethesda Downtown Sector Plan which called for a 20-year vision to really re-build the downtown. The theme here is out with the old, in with the new. Many of the buildings being torn down are 50-60 years old.

The plan wasn’t all concrete though. Maryland values green space. There are 13 additional parks as part of the plan. Bethesda also expects there to be an additional 14,000 jobs by 2040. 

There is currently 30.4 million sf existing, under construction or part of an approved site plan – which means yes, it’s coming. The plan called for a cap of 32.4 million sf for downtown Bethesda, to include 10 apartment buildings. Before I go through the highlights of these projects, let me start with the properties for sale.

Condos & Townhomes

• There’s a mixed-use development planned just adjacent to a County Parking Lot – “Lot 25” which we’ll talk about in a moment. There will be a mix of condos and townhomes as well as 15 live/work units. There will be a public park and amenities for the residents.
• 4824 Edgemoor Lane was originally going to be 111 condos. Now it’s possibly going to be a combination hotel/condo building. That is going to make for some interesting financing.
• Amalyn is a community where they are still building gorgeous new homes and have some spec homes you can move right in to. 
• There is also a townhome development happening at Westbard.

Apartments

There are tons of big changes coming to Bethesda apartment living – which is a testament to what the county and developers have planned.

• At 7749 Old Georgetown Road, an assemblage of buildings will be demolished to build a 17-story apartment building. This is going to be part of Bethesda’s skyline as the building is expected to be 175 feet. 
• At 4861 Battery Lane, a 12-story apartment building is in the works, with 453 apartments.
• County Parking Lot 25 mentioned earlier also has redevelopment plans in its future, with 235 units planned and a 90-foot-wide public park.
• At the corner of Wisconsin Avenue and Montgomery Lane, a 26-story building should be complete by the end of the year. There will be 300 apartments.
• Just a block over, 4901 Battery Lane has a 12-story building planned. There will be 400 apartments.
• 4858 Battery Lane which is at the corner of Woodmont Avenue, currently has 6 mid-century apartment buildings that will be redeveloped over the next 10+ years. The building, when complete, will have 315 units and will be higher than the current height limit – allowable due to the Moderately Priced Dwelling Units they are including. 
• The Artena will be at 8000 Wisconsin Avenue with over 400 units and commercial space.
• Across the street at 8001 Wisconsin Avenue there will be a nine-story building with 350 apartments. There is also going to be ground floor commercial space here as well.
• 4719 Hampden Lane is going to be replaced with a mixed-use building of 150 apartments and over 300,000 sf of office/commercial space plus ground level retail. 
• 7-Eleven at 7820 Wisconsin Avenue is going to be replaced with a 31-story building with 430 apartments. I’d say How Could They, but I’ve moved on to Wawa or Mickey D’s for my diet cokes.
• 4725 Cheltenham Drive used to be a Midas, but it’s being turned into a building of 110 efficiency/junior one bedrooms. What’s different about this building compared to everything else covered is that there will be no parking here. There is clearly a plan here with aiming at a different demographic.
• 4405 East-West Highway is currently office space but may be redeveloped into a 10-story, 350 unit apartment building.
• Hampden House at 4700 Hampden Lane will be finished at the end of 2025. There will be 366 apartments within the 25 floors, and ground floor retail.
• 7155 Wisconsin Avenue is the Farm Women’s Cooperative. There are potentially 585 units and commercial/retail space coming and the current building will be moved.
• 7126 Wisconsin Avenue has a proposal for 355 apartments plus restaurant/retail space.
• Infill behind Bethesda Row – this is a sliver of a lot behind Bethesda Row that, if approved, would have 250 apartments

You probably noticed this is heavy with apartment rentals. Maryland just does things differently than you might see in Virginia or DC. Affordable housing is a major objective in Montgomery County. They will approve rental apartment developments and then require 20% or more to be “affordable” to help achieve that objective.

The million-dollar question is whether all the big changes coming to Bethesda will result in revenue? Growth doesn’t always mean dollars. Office vacancies are climbing region-wide, urban rents are flattening, and not all retailers are rushing back. 

Here are the takeaways. Bethesda is changing – rapidly. That’s not in question. It’s whether the developers, tenants and riders will match the ambition. We will see!

DC’s Best and Worst Suburbs

Narrowing down DC’s best and worst suburbs for families can be very subjective – for the most part. Most people with families would say the same 10 suburbs, give or take. Then narrowing to 5 might result in a good old-fashioned debate. Everyone would have a different top 5 based on their own priorities and preferences. But what about the worst suburbs? 

I’ll tie up the best areas with a Melissa-invented tagline. When I get to the worst areas, I’ll mostly be doing some apologizing to anyone who actually lives there.

Arlington, VA

Known for: Walkability, schools, proximity to DC.

Standout Neighborhoods: Can I say all of them? If I must narrow it down, then worthy mentions are Clarendon, Lyon Village, Cherrydale, Bluemont, Westover, Yorktown, Barcroft, Shirlington.

Why it’s great: If I wanted to leave DC and I could get my husband to live in Virginia, Arlington is where I would go. Great public schools, housing stock that’s a mix of charming new craftsman homes and older bungalow homes and easy commutes to everywhere. Plus, and this could be just my sense, but you have real people here. There isn’t a feeling of pretension among the residents. Everyone is friendly and they always seem to want to chat. Of course, that could be because I’m there with clients and they are curious about the potential new neighbors. But I’ve never had an off-putting experience here. People just feel .. real.

Arlington is expensive, but home values here increase every year – especially near metro stops. The retail and restaurant choices are excellent. You have a variety of options all over Arlington and won’t feel the need to go into DC for restaurant choices. Every grocery store is here as well – the usual Giant and Safeway choices along with Trader Joes, Whole Foods and Harris Teeter.

Arlington County also boasts this cool fact – anyone in the county is within a 10-minute walk to a park. The recreation center programs are fantastic with class and sports offerings for all ages. Some of the rec centers have fitness rooms and classes that rival area gyms at a fraction of the price. 

You pay for convenience in Arlington, but you get convenience in Arlington.

Vienna, VA

Known for: Yard space, trails, schools and a community vibe.

Why it’s great: Vienna is one of the most sought-after areas in Fairfax County. The W&OD trail access is something people love, along with the real small-town downtown. The number of restaurants and the quality of the food served in Vienna is enough to ensure you won’t be making the trek to other areas of Northern Virginia or DC. There’s fine dining, Italian, Asian Fusion, French plus a whole host of casual places like Taco Bamba and Foster’s Grille.

The Vienna schools are excellent. There are 12 parks in the town as well. Vienna hosts a ton of family-friendly festivals and concerts that run year-round.  Chillin on Church is a monthly block party that runs from June to September. There are Fourth of July fireworks, Oktoberfest, a Halloween Parade, Holiday Stroll, a Kids on the Green summer series of events, Memorial Day Celebration and a Farmer’s Market. ViVa Vienna is a music and craft festival.

Vienna is the suburb people grow into—and stay in. Your future self will thank you.

Bethesda, MD

Known for: Schools, established neighborhoods, long-term value.

Standout Neighborhoods: All of them. The variety in lifestyle runs the gamut here. If you want to live close to downtown where the shops and restaurants are, it’s pricier but possible. If you prefer to live in the suburbs, that is also possible. There are also parts of Bethesda on the western edge that feel more green, leafy and private. 

Why it’s great: Bethesda doesn’t have a huge employment center. You will find much more business on the Virginia side of the river. But there is enough nearby that make it a viable option for those who work at nearby employers like NIH, Marriott or Discovery Channel in Silver Spring. The walkability is a huge draw as are the big, leafy lots. Lots of residents here also commute downtown, as it’s a pretty easy ride on the redline.

Parents tend to break Bethesda down into the high schools. For some reason I cannot comprehend, people think Walt Whitman is the best of the three high schools in Bethesda. The other two high schools are Bethesda Chevy Chase (BCC) and Walter Johnson. I encourage you, no, I BEG you to look at the annual Bethesda Magazine where they publish the college outcomes each year. Be careful of the groupthink, the other high schools fare just as well if not better in getting students who go to the top schools.

There is also a lot of money here. You will find the public-school families, and the private school families. It’s been our experience that the private school families travel in different circles than public. But, because the public schools are as good as they are, you also see families with kids who leave private school and go back to public for high school.

Bethesda is Maryland’s answer to Arlington, but less urban and with a bunch more of the Jones’ trying to keep up with each other.

Falls Church City, VA

Known for: Small-town feel with urban access.

Why it’s great: Falls Church City has its own government and therefore, its own school system. It is tight-knit and has a walkable downtown and charming homes. Because of these factors, this is like Mayberry but on steroids because of the money here. Lots of well into the six-figure salaries and real estate bidding wars. In fact, if the world came crashing down, this is the last place in the DMV where there would still be bidding wars. 

You may be wondering why it didn’t rank higher – and that’s due to affordability. I could have and would have easily ranked this ahead of Bethesda, but, the prices here are through the roof and that’s because the schools are considered the best in the area. 

Falls Church City is one of the smallest municipalities in Virginia, with a Hallmark movie set vibe and a bustling family-friendly downtown.

Chevy Chase, MD

Known for: Charm, prestige, proximity to NW DC and lots of money.

Why it’s great: Chevy Chase is divided into Villages, which run like their own little towns. The villages all have their own governing boards. To give you an example of how they operate, Village revenue is made up from half income taxes, 25% property tax and 25% speeding enforcement.

People go to Chevy Chase to escape DC, but still have the convenience to the city amenities. Chevy Chase is residential with retail along the major corridor of Wisconsin Ave. The streets are lined with trees, the public schools are good but you will likely find a lot of residents here have the money to go private. There’s lots of old money aesthetics here. While you will see the teardowns, the village centers are the ones who do the approvals on the building and if they don’t like your design then it doesn’t get that stamp of approval!

Chevy Chase is very classy with a variety of residents who appreciate charm, beauty and being close to but not inside of DC.

DC’s Worst Suburbs

Oxon Hill, MD

Why it’s on the list: Even with National Harbor, it hasn’t taken off the way many hoped. Commuting is tough.
Melissa’s take: Apologies if you love it here or if you live here, but getting to Oxon Hill takes me an entire tank of gas to make my way through the gridlock of 695 and 295. 

Capitol Heights, MD

Why it’s tricky: It’s just over the DC line, adjacent to one of the most dangerous areas of DC. So, it’s not like you cross state lines and things improve.

Melissa’s take: Did you miss the part where I said it’s just over the DC line, adjacent to one of the most dangerous areas of DC?

Laurel, MD

Why it’s on the list: Long commute, inconsistent school ratings, limited housing appreciation.

Melissa’s take: Apologies again if you love it here or you live here, but people get tempted by the price point. Laurel is a tough area. You have to see it to understand. It’s gritty, commercial and generally too chaotic with little upside. I’ve had a lot of people contact me who want to move out of Laurel, but suspiciously, no one ever calls to say they want to move into Laurel.

Manassas, VA

Why it’s tough: Traffic is brutal. Schools and amenities are hit or miss. Pricing is affordable, but growth is limited. 

Melissa’s take: Apologies if you love it here or you live here. You might save on the house, but try getting to 66 to commute anywhere. By the time you get there, you will have been in the car long enough to want to turn around and go home.

Huntington (in Alexandria, Fairfax County)

Why it’s tough: It’s a very transient area.

Melissa’s take: The day I went to Huntington to get video footage of the seedy motel-row, people were beeping their cars at me. I was on the phone with Michael, and I said, “Oh good lord, people think I’m a hooker who escaped from one of these motel rooms!” 

“Best” means different things depending on your phase of life, commute tolerance, and school priorities. But if you’re moving up and want peace of mind and equity growth, stick with the tried-and-true over the overly trendy. Just don’t go too far in the direction of “up and coming.” Sometimes neighborhoods labeled as “up and coming” have infrastructure that will never allow the change needed for to revitalize and gentrify the neighborhood. And when people’s safety is in the mix, all bets are off when it comes to equity-building.

I hope this walk through my version of DC’s best and worst suburbs was informative. If you want to chat about your specific situation, I’m a call / text / email away. 

7 Best Suburbs of Washington DC in 2025

Did you just find out that you have a job offer or transfer and you’re trying to figure out where the best suburbs of Washington DC are? Maybe you lived here 10 or 15 years ago when you were single and ready to mingle and you’re coming back with spouse and family. And all you hear is how different things are. It’s great you found this video because I’m going to tell you about the 7 best suburbs of Washington DC!

Rockville, Maryland

I lived in Rockville. I loved it and I was actually single when I lived there. I think it’s a really great place for families though. To me this is like America’s quintessential hometown. Rockville has been named, by various websites and publications, a “best” city for families, for women entrepreneurs, for young professionals as well as one of the best suburbs of Washington DC. Rockville is also a very diverse community as noted in the Housing Market Analysis Report commissioned by the City.

People think of Rockville and immediately mention Rockville Pike, which is the main drag through Rockville. Rockville Pike has every single store you could ever want in your life. But each neighborhood also has a shopping / retail area as well.

Rockville is comprised of dozens of neighborhoods, each with their own personality. Less urban than Bethesda but it is busier and has more energy than the suburbs to the north. The red line metro serves Rockville with stations at Shady Grove, downtown Rockville as well as Twinbrook station south of downtown. Interstate 270 runs parallel to Rockville Pike. Rockville is the county seat for Montgomery County, MD.

There are 3 High School Pyramids here: Wootton, Richard Montgomery and Rockville High Schools. Wootton has a well ranked STEM program, and is often on the published national lists. Richard Montgomery has the county’s first IB program.

Bethesda, Maryland

While we are hanging out over here in Maryland, let’s head just south of Rockville and talk about Bethesda. The location is closer to DC and being at the interchange of 270 and 495, you can easily hop on either highway to get where you need to go. I can’t guarantee it will be at the speed of light because traffic is tough all over this area, but it’s a fantastic location, securing its spot on the list of the best suburbs of Washington DC.

More urban than Rockville, Bethesda has an energy unmatched by other areas in suburban Maryland. There is a lot of great shopping downtown and in Bethesda Row, a lot of well-known trendy restaurants and a lot of long time local places too. And here’s something that most people won’t tell you – a “hole in the wall” restaurant here in Bethesda is here for a reason, and is always worth trying. I’ve been shocked at how great the food is at some of the restaurants with let’s say, zero ambiance.

Bethesda also has a rich arts community. There’s the Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club and several other theatres for performing arts – Round House Theatre and Strathmore in North Bethesda.

Public schools here are top rated, which is why many people choose to move here, and why property values hold as a result. The high school pyramids are Walt Whitman, Bethesda Chevy Chase and Walter Johnson – all super highly rated and sought after.

Vienna, Virginia

If you want to know what a cross between Bethesda and Rockville is but on the Virginia side – enter Vienna.

People move to Vienna for the schools, family activities and events, a slower pace of life and green space. Vienna has a main street, called Maple Avenue. There’s a lot packed into this strip. This isn’t the boring suburbs by any stretch, there are a wide variety of ethnic foods options on Maple Ave. Shopping is nearby too – you are just a couple miles from Tyson’s Corner.

The town of Vienna has 12 Parks. The W&OD (Washington and Old Dominion) Trail goes right through Vienna. The entire trail is 45 miles and runs from Shirlington in South Arlington to Purcellville, Virginia.

Schools are well ranked and offer robust academic and sports programs being part of the Fairfax County School System.

Homes here are costlier though, with prices running similar to what you would find in Bethesda. Generally my buyer clients find that something in the $1.2 – $1.6M range is what they will need to spend to get enough house and land for their family. Despite the higher prices of homes, it’s a sought after area to live and definitely one of the best suburbs of Washington DC.

Arlington, Virginia

When people look to move out of DC, most often Arlington, Virginia is at the top of the list. Arlington offers such a variety of lifestyles while having a location so convenient to DC and the whole metro area that there is no way it couldn’t be included in the best suburbs of Washington DC.

You will notice when looking at a map that Arlington is divided into North and South. Route 50 bisects Arlington and the streets to the north are designated with “N” in their name and to the south, “S.” Arlington-ites will tell you that there’s no difference and they are all one county. But that’s not a uniform conclusion.

North Arlington is a combination of residential with most homes above the $1M price point. There is a retail corridor along Wilson and Clarendon Boulevards, running through neighborhoods like Rosslyn, Court House, Clarendon, Ballston. Key to this area is the metro accessibility via the Orange Line.

South Arlington is geographically smaller compared to North Arlington, but within itself it has very diverse vibes. You will find quieter residential neighborhoods and then you’ll find what’s turning into a city on its own over on Route 1. That’s the Crystal City / National Landing area where Amazon is. Also in South Arlington is Shirlington, which has its own little downtown and a similar feel to Clarendon in North Arlington.

Arlington boasts that anyone in the county is within a 10 minute walk to a park. Their Parks & Recreation Program is outstanding.

The Arlington School system has three high schools – Yorktown, Washington Liberty and Wakefield. The county is more urban than other suburbs but what people love about living here is the sense of community, the walkability and the easy access to almost everything in the area.

Falls Church City, Virginia

The City of Falls Church is nicked the “Little City” for good reason! Contained within 2.2 square miles, the population of Falls Church City is 14,000. It is the second smallest city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. It has its own government and its own school system.

This is one of the most coveted areas in which to live. The schools are the reason families flock here. The small school system is top rated, and because it’s so small, it’s run very efficiently. Falls Church City Public Schools serves 2600 students. There are 5 schools in total – a Preschool, Mount Daniel Elementary which is Kindergarten to 2nd grade; Oak Street Elementary is 3rd to 5th grade; Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School, and Meridian High School. All grades participate in the IB, International Baccalaureate Program.

It’s not easy to buy a house in Falls Church City but it is still considered one of the best suburbs of Washington DC. There are always bidding wars here. A single-family home here will be in the high $1M – $2M range. People say it’s worth it though for the relaxed pace, family friendly lifestyle, great schools, and the little downtown area with a lot of cool mom & pop places.

Silver Spring, MD

Silver Spring isn’t often an area that gets a lot of love, but there is a lot to talk about in Silver Spring. The first thing you may notice when looking at a map is the location is so convenient. It’s very close to the 95/495 interchange on the north side of DC. You can get into DC super quickly as well as up to Baltimore in about 30 minutes.

Here’s what people love about Silver Spring. There is a down-to-earth quality here that seems to be harder to find these days. This isn’t a “keeping up with the Jones’s” kind of neighborhood.

Silver Spring is huge and there are dozens of neighborhoods. The areas further north and closer to the ICC – Intercounty Connector have more land and homes priced more affordably than further south. But you can still find homes in Silver Spring well under $1M, which in this area is hard to find.

Even though the entirety of Silver Spring is huge – schools are typically smaller neighborhood schools with lots of families walking to school and the boundary areas being very tight, especially closer to the beltway. It’s “denser” living in the southern part of Silver Spring, so the school catchment area is tight. While you are part of this large “Silver Spring” address, your neighborhood feels like a small town. Because there are so many pros to living in Silver Spring, it had to be included in the best suburbs of Washington DC.

Burke & West Springfield, Virginia

Burke and West Springfield are next to each other and they have a very similar personality and feel. They probably wouldn’t have been my choice for one of the best suburbs of Washington DC but they have rapidly grown in popularity. People move to these two areas because of two amazing reasons. Affordable housing and really great schools. Some areas have better rankings than others, but in general the scores are 7 & 8’s on Great Schools, and a few with mid level scores peppered throughout.

There are single family detached homes in a variety of price points but sweet spot for prices here is $600,000 – low $800,000’s.

There are great things for kids in Springfield. It’s like kid’s paradise. So many of the parks have playgrounds. Kings Park Community has 4 playgrounds alone to serve the 1100 homes in the community and the Timbers has Brookfield Park, which has a great playground.

Sky Zone Trampoline Park is here. The St. James is unbelievable. They have a kids playground inside called Super Awesome and Amazing. The kids can test their skills at indoor rock climbing, traversing the overhead obstacle course, visit the Virtual Reality Games or go to the indoor waterpark. They offer camps and leagues where you can learn to play sports. This is literally worth moving to Springfield for, no joke.

5 Northern Virginia Suburbs of Washington DC You Should Consider Moving

It’s so hard to move to this area with such a variety of choices and cost of real estate. You have probably checked sites like Niche.com and wondered if their rankings were accurate. Newsflash, they are not. I have a video on Niche’s top Arlington neighborhoods and some of the neighborhoods weren’t even real. Beware of AI Garbage people. Don’t trust AI Garbage when making major life decisions.

This is my list, my, “If I were house hunting again, here are the places I would consider in Northern Virginia for my family” list. At the end, I’ll tell you where I would never want to live.

The 5 Northern Virginia Suburbs of Washington DC You Should Consider

Vienna

I admit it, I’m a Vienna booster. Vienna wins “Best All Around” in the Yearbook Superlatives for me so it would definitely be on my list of best Virginia suburbs of Washington DC. It’s filled with family-friendly neighborhoods, crawling with great schools and has a strong community feel. It’s easy to meet people and it is close to employment centers. Vienna, Virginia is about 15 miles west of downtown Washington DC.

There is a variety of real estate in Vienna, but it is on the pricier side of real estate for the area. The $800,000’s will get you a rambler or split-level home. Most of the buyers looking at Vienna would consider that a “teardown.” They will buy the home for the precious land on which it sits, and the location and amenities Vienna has to offer. They will tear it down and build a bigger house in its place. Maple Avenue, which runs right through Vienna, is filled with  restaurants that have stood the test of time, and offer a diverse array of food types.

The town of Vienna has 12 Parks and the Vienna Recreation Center offers recreational and educational programs as well as festivals & concerts year-round. Chillin on Church is a monthly block party that runs from June to September. There are Fourth of July fireworks at Yeonas Park, Oktoberfest, a Halloween Parade, Holiday Stroll, a Kids on the Green summer series of events, Memorial Day Celebration and a Farmer’s Market. ViVa Vienna is a music and craft festival. The W&OD Trail also runs right through Vienna and many walkers, runners and bikers use this trail daily.

Lyon Park – Arlington

Lyon Park in Arlington is about as good as it gets for people who love the urban vibe but still like green space. This is one of the Virginia suburbs of Washington DC that has always attracted families for its proximity to DC for short commute times and amenities. Lyon Park has a friendly feeling with many people walking dogs, biking and hanging out at the park. The streets are narrow, discouraging speedy drivers and easy for kids to get to friend’s houses. The park & playground in the middle of the neighborhood serve as an anchor for everyone to head outside.

Clarendon metro is just a couple blocks away, as well as the shops and restaurants along Wilson and Clarendon Boulevards. Arlington schools are well rated, and you will see a lot of people who live here before kids, then stay in the neighborhood once the kids arrive on the scene. Homes are expensive though, they start in the $800,000’s if you’re lucky to find something at that price and go well into the $2M’s.

Del Ray – Alexandria

If living in a neighborhood with only local shops and delicious mom and pop restaurants, tons of walkability and a great sense of community sound like a dream, Del Ray is one of the Virginia suburbs of Washington DC you need to know about. This neighborhood is super popular among both families and those without kids. Del Ray is very walkable, and it is stroller and kid-friendly.

You can find row homes, townhomes, and duplexes sprinkled throughout the neighborhood in the $500,000 – $1.5M range.  If you want a single-family home, prices range from the $600,000s up to $2.5M. The popularity of Del Ray has driven the home prices quite high.

These prices vary so greatly because of age, condition, square footage, and location. Most homes in the lower ranges require a lot of renovation. Del Ray also can often have wet basements, so inspect your home thoroughly and be sure to bring in any additional inspectors that may not be typical in other neighborhoods, such as mold.

Falls Church City

The City of Falls Church stands on its own. Cities in Virginia are not within counties, and the city portion of Falls Church not only has its own government, but its own school system as well. Contained within 2.2 square miles, the population of Falls Church City is 14,000. It is the second smallest city in the Commonwealth of Virginia.  Falls Church City is 6 miles east of Washington DC.

It’s not easy to buy a house in Falls Church City. There are many bidding wars here. Why do people endure this trauma? Schools are unbeatable, making it one of the best Virginia suburbs of Washington DC.

A single-family home here will be in the $1M – $2M range.

About 30% of Falls Church City is comprised of one person households, so it isn’t all families here. The demographics the city provides each year outline the breakdown and 41% of households have 3 or more people.

The City of Falls Church has a little downtown area with a lot of cool mom & pop places. Route 7, which is called West Broad Street, runs right through the city and has a variety of ethnic restaurants – Greek, Italian, Irish, Bolivian, Thai, Salvadorean, Jamaican and Seafood. There’s a lot to choose from and it’s all rated pretty close to 5 stars. For coffee and pastries, Northside Social is very popular as well as Rare Bird and Bakeshop.

West Springfield

If you have kids and need great schools and amenities but you also want to live somewhere without the mansions and high prices like most of Northern Virginia, without a doubt you want West Springfield. The affordability of West Springfield cannot be overstated. You can easily get a home here in the $600,000 to $700,000’s. If you want to spend more you can, there are neighborhoods that are $1M+.

This is as great of a low-key family community as you can find here. The Fairfax County Schools that serve West Springfield are some of the best in the area. While more residential feeling than other areas on this list, you have a ton of amenities nearby that are so close that you won’t feel isolated. Parks, trails, playgrounds and pools, Hidden Pond Nature Center.

Northern Virginia Suburbs of Washington DC You Shouldn’t Consider

So where are the Virginia suburbs of Washington DC  where you shouldn’t live? We can’t steer people into or away from areas, but, these are places where I feel the cons outweigh the pros, or the cons are just too strong to consider the pros that exist.

Sterling

Before I get nailed here, I will say there are some awesome parts of Sterling. There are! The northern parts, closer to Potomac Falls are everything the Virginia suburbs of Washington DC should be. Lots of big box stores make it super convenient, and a lot of pretty awesome restaurants. It feels clean and new and of course my own personal barometer of if I could live there – there’s a Sweetwater Tavern, northeast of Dulles Town Center. There’s a Wegmans and Costco. But I’m not a chain-restaurant or big-box snob. If you hate all that, then even the northern parts of Sterling probably aren’t for you.

So why is it on my list of places you shouldn’t move to? This is Ground Zero of where 1/3 of all Internet Data is housed, in many many data centers. You may not comprehend what this really means so let’s break it down.

Did you know that 1/3 of all internet data in the world is housed in Northern Virginia? These data centers use up a ton of power as I’m sure you can imagine. And that could seriously put the power grid in jeopardy. The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality suggested that the data centers use their generators more. But, the generators are diesel fueled, and this isn’t so great for air quality.

If you live in an area where the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality suggests waiving air quality rules to appease the data centers, how do you think you stand as a citizen? Did I mention that whole humming thing too? You’ll never get a moment of peace and quiet, that humming will become the background noise of your life. I have tried to capture this on video, but it’s nearly impossible to hear it.

If that wasn’t enough for you, you’re also in the shadow of Dulles International Airport. If you don’t hear the data centers humming, you’ll hear the airplanes. Also, the one chain restaurant I have cut ties with happened for me in Sterling. The world’s most expensive Benihana BS Chain Restaurant in the world, so don’t go there. Seriously. They wanted like $40 for Hibachi Shrimp. That wasn’t even that good. Insanity!

Crystal City

The 1980’s called, and they want their obsolete office buildings and condos back. One of the Virginia suburbs of Washington DC that time sort of forgot about.

Crystal City has been trying to rebrand into National Landing for six years now. A little company you have probably heard of decided to put their second headquarters here. Amazon. And BB – Before Bezos, Crystal City was a neighborhood everyone sped through on their way to somewhere else, like Old Town Alexandria. It was filled with offices and condos with high monthly fees – relics of everything half-assed about 1980’s construction.

Before Bezos, these were condos that sat on the market. After Bezos, people from all over the country started snatching them up, sight-unseen, banking on the Amazon effect. How did that work out for them? The Amazon machine hasn’t panned out the way it was advertised. Last year there was some job loss, and while Amazon has recently stated it wants all employees back in the office 5 days a week, their hiring targets aren’t where they were promised they would be. And they get a subsidy from the Commonwealth of Virginia for each new hire, so you know they must be hurting.

Development is crazy in Crystal City but there’s still much ugly. The Costco here wins the prize for being the world’s worst Costco, but it doesn’t stop me from going there and smashing my car through the parking lot. Speaking of the parking lot, someone was just carjacked in the garage there. They have a six-story garage and surface parking, I’m not sure who parks in the garage. I’m also not sure who would want to carjack someone in the garage because the line to get out of there is like the lines trying to leave a concert. You can’t really make a quick getaway.

Also did I mention you’re right next to the airport? Like, right next to it.

Manassas

People move to Manassas because it’s less expensive, but, I’m going to let the map do the talking. Do you see what I see? I’m not even sure it’s one of the real Virginia suburbs of Washington DC. It’s nowhere near a highway that goes anywhere helpful. Sure you can take the Prince William County Parkway but that’s going to take you from one bedroom community to another. If you need to get to work, you’re likely going to head north to 66, and that could take forever. People commuting to Centreville report that it can take anywhere from 30 – 75 minutes.

People leave Manassas because of the commute. The commute from Manassas to pretty much anywhere else is awful. If you don’t believe me, you can ask Michael. He left the city to buy a house in Manassas and I made fun of him for a year. First he claimed it wasn’t that far and he could get there in the same time it took him to get across the city. Joke’s on him – He moved out and you will too.

Alexandria – Specifically, Huntington

When you leave the charm and loving embrace you feel in Old Town Alexandria and head south, you will wonder if you somehow went from Boston to Gary Indiana in a split second. After you pass some ugly high rise apartments, here come the sketchy motels. I’m going to let the video do the talking here. One of the least appealing of the Virginia suburbs of Washington DC.

There you have it, the unfiltered, non-sponsored list of what I believe to be the best and worst of Northern Virginia!

Most Affordable Family-Friendly Suburb

Is there a Washington DC suburb that has affordable homes, fantastic schools, great parks and playgrounds and is diverse and safe? There absolutely is and you’ve probably never heard of it. In fact, it probably isn’t even on your radar. It’s not for everyone though. This quote from a resident made me laugh: “If you’re single, you’ll die of boredom in a week. If you’re married with kids, you’ll never want to leave.”

Since the top question I get from people moving here is “Where are the great schools that have affordable homes,” today we are telling you about Burke, Virginia!

Make sure to stick around because you want to see this Disney-esque 888 acre park in the center of town with a hiking trail that ranks as one of the ten best.

We do these videos for you every week and break down living in DC, Maryland and Northern Virginia. We have both lived here over 20 years and know these areas well. We write it and we film it all – No AI or stock footage. We give you the real deal. Make sure you subscribe so you don’t miss the new videos.

Burke, Virginia is an unincorporated community in Fairfax County. Burke does not tend to be a place that’s on the top of people’s radar, but you shouldn’t overlook this community. When buyers find themselves priced out of more well-known areas like Vienna, Tysons or Arlington, Burke often rises up as a possibility and for good reason! There are idyllic suburban neighborhoods in Burke. It is a nature lover’s paradise, best known for its parks and recreation activities and is very popular with families. You will find a good bit of conveniences and amenities in Burke, but Springfield, Alexandria, Fairfax, and Falls Church are all reachable in 15-20 minutes.

Location

Where is this little hidden gem? Burke is centrally located in Northern VA, which makes commuting and getting around to other cities easy. Burke lies north of Fairfax County Parkway, south of Guinea Road and west of Rolling Road. It is about 20 miles southwest of Washington DC.

Burke is a great area for commuters, especially if you work a hybrid schedule. You are not far from the highways and byways in most locations of Burke, which makes commuting to the business hubs like Tysons, DC, Falls Church, Alexandria, and Arlington easy.

If you work in Alexandria, Crystal City, the Pentagon, or in DC, you can take advantage of the Virginia Railway Express Train (VRE). It has two stops in DC, L’Enfant and Union Station, which are main hubs for many government buildings downtown. You would park at the Burke Center station. You can also jump on the metro at Union Station once you get off of the VRE if your work location isn’t right next to one of those DC stops. The VRE is a very nice way to commute and we have many clients and friends who utilize the VRE.

Real Estate

Like Melissa, Burke came of age in the 70’s. There is lots of 70’s and 80’s housing stock here. There are very few condos so we won’t discuss those.

There are a lot of house types here, but the prevailing house type is the center hall colonial. If you have a problem with center hall colonials, then the 1980’s called and they would like to have a word with you.

In the past six months, 220 homes and townhomes have sold. Of those, 130 were single family detached homes. The average price for those was $916,000. The median price was $888,000. The list to sold price ratio here is high – 104%.

The remaining 90 homes were townhomes. The average price on those homes was $619,000 and the median price was $625,000.

Activities & Fun

If Coolio sang a song about Burke, it would be called Suburban Paradise. All the fun is here! All of it! If you don’t like the suburbs, you will not like it here. One of Melissa’s friends grew up in Burke and when Melissa asked her what the best part of Burke was she said, “Well, leaving.” She’s very much a city-person with a local rockstar husband.

Burke Lake Park is one of the best parks in all of Northern Virginia.  It is designated by the American Hiking Society as one of the top ten best fitness trails in the nation. The park and lake are spread out over 888 acres and have a ton of activities: ride the train around the park, ride the carousel, camping, biking and walking on a 4.7 mile trail around the lake, mini golf and frisbee golf, fishing, boating, and indulging in some really great ice cream at the concession stand. The park also has a ton of themed events, including Goblin Golf for Halloween, foraging for wild edibles, bug bingo, and more. Fun fact about Burke Lake Park – It was the original site slated for what is now Dulles International Airport.

Hidden Pond Nature Preserve is also another amazing park in the Burke area.  They have a variety of curated Summer camps and programs. They also have weekend birthday nature parties that feature a hike in the woods and an interactive animal session.  In October they have the Haunted Pond event that features campfires, a twilight walk through the woods, and scary and not-so-scary ghost story sessions.

If swimming and pool / tennis is your thing, there are a lot of options in Burke and Springfield right next door. There’s Old Keene Mill Swim & Racquet, Burke Racquet & Swim, Orange Hunt Swim & Tennis Club, plus many inside of the Homeowner’s Associations. Something to know about Burke is that the private pool clubs do not have the crazy wait lists you will find in other areas in the region.

Don’t miss the Go Ape Zipline and Adventure Park in neighboring Springfield! They have zip lines, obstacle courses, axe throwing, and a really cool outdoor version of an escape room. This place is so cool and for limited periods, they have zip lining and obstacle courses open in the evening for twilight events.

The Burke Lake Golf Center features 18 beautiful par-3 holes located in one of the county’s most pristine parks. The driving range is a great place for all skill levels, but is great for beginners.

Sky Zone Trampoline Park is also right on the border of Springfield and Burke, which is a great activity for everyone. I swear these trampoline parks improved my feelings about parenting ten fold. I loved sitting there reading a book or listening to a podcast while I knew the kids were basically bouncing around a giant padded room and burning off their energy.

Schools

People come for the schools. They are solid across the board. 7’s and 8’s on Great Schools and that includes the middle school which never happens. Usually that middle school angst brings their score to a 5, but not in Burke. Those tweens are paying attention and learning the things!

All kidding aside, the schools and the burbs – this is why people move here.

Food & Grocery Stores

Burke has many shopping centers spread throughout the area, but the most notable of them all is Burke Centre Shopping Center. It has so many stores but Kohl’s and Safeway are the two anchor stores. It has a very strong history in the community and has been a vital hub for Burke. Other grocery stores include Giant Food, H Mart and Lidl. You are also not a far drive from Whole Foods in Springfield and two Wegmans locations.

Dining options are plenty and feature many types of cuisines. Some of Michael’s favorites are Villa Bella, Lil Cow Cafe & Bistro, the awesome food court in H Mart, Chi Mic, and AmThai.  One of the great things about Burke is that you aren’t far from so many restaurants in the neighboring areas, so you will never run out of options!  One of Michael’s favorite bakeries in the area is The Swiss Bakery, which is technically a Springfield address but is right on the border of Burke. Their sandwiches are amazing and their fresh bread, desserts, and pastries are the best. They also have a small store front where they sell different imported goods and a lot of delicious chocolate!

The Burke Farmers Market is a great market and runs from late April until the end of December.  It is on Saturdays and features so many vendors. They have everything from the typical veggies and fruits to sweets, premade meals, pastries, bread and so much more!

History time!

Burke was a critical and strategic area during the Civil War for both sides and therefore has made its mark in American history. Fun fact! On April 10, 1865, Fairfax County’s last shots of the Civil War were fired in a skirmish between Mosby’s Raiders and the 8th Illinois Cavalry at Arundels Tavern in Burke.

Burke is named after Silas Burke who was among many elected and appointed positions a local farmer, judge and sheriff.

Another fun fact, in 1951, Burke residents protested the siting of a new International Airport in the Burke area and won! The airport (known now as Dulles International Airport) was later built in Chantilly.

Pros and Cons of Living in Maryland

Are you trying to decide where to live in the Washington DC Area? The pros and cons of living in Maryland is always a popular topic! We’re going to talk about everything I love about Maryland – except for two things.

1. Green Space

Maryland is excellent at preserving green space and trees. There is rarely a development that wasn’t thought-out well. Each jurisdiction responsible for approvals gives serious consideration to every single tree on a property when there is a development application. They use something called “tree banks.” What are those? The counties all have “master plans” that guide the development rights and standards. Within that plan there are requirements on the number of acres of trees and green space, and allowable approaches when dealing with existing trees.

When someone submits an application to develop a piece of property or change the use, the county in question has to consider this for approval. If the location would be served well by more homes instead of less, then the approval may be granted and developer allowed to remove more trees than allowed by the zoning. To compensate, they may be required to purchase from a tree bank – which is another area in the county that will never be developed. This keeps the overall proportions of development to green space within the original design intention (that “master plan”) of the county.

Some counties in the country will want to save all the trees at any cost, others will not. Maryland tends to lean on the side of saving the trees – even when multiple 3rd party arborists testify that they are dead.

2. Location

The location of Maryland is amazing for both its proximity locally to everything you need but also in the country. Depending on where you live, you will have the choice of two international airports – Baltimore and Dulles in Northern Virginia, and then Reagan National in Arlington for domestic flights.

The location is also great for taking advantage of weekend getaways. Day trips to Baltimore, Frederick or Annapolis are all a lot of fun. You can get to the mountains in less than 2 hours, the beach in 2 hours, and on a good day you can get to New York in 4 hours by car or bus, but definitely by train. It’s also easy to get to Philadelphia or Hershey Park in Hershey, PA for a quick weekend trip.

3. Diversity

When clients contact me asking about diversity and inclusion for their family, I can count on so many locations in Maryland to be a place they will feel at home. Montgomery County is the main area I service in Maryland and there is such a diversity in so many capacities – not just backgrounds. Yes, people can come from all over the world and find their place to call home in Maryland. But there is also a diverse array of lifestyles.

If you want to live in an urban or city environment, you can find that in Maryland. If you want more rural, you can find that too. And some communities are even progressive such as places like Takoma Park where you can vote in local elections at 16 years old.

4. Crabs, I Mean – Food (but I really mean crabs)

When I lived in Rockville, I would sit at Tower Oaks Lodge every weekend inhaling their crab artichoke dip. If you like crab, there is no better place to be on the east coast than Maryland. If you’re a crab-purist, and you don’t like your crab mixed with artichokes and cheese, you can find many crab houses where you can hammer away at fresh crabs and pull your own meat. It’s an art, and I can teach you! If you have a shellfish allergy, I’m sorry. But there is so much more here in the way of ethnic foods. We benefit tremendously from such a diverse population in the metro area with so many restaurants and ethnic grocery stores.

There are so many different food choices that you would have trouble hitting them all without gaining a few dozen pounds. French, Italian, Lebanese, Ethiopian, Middle Eastern, Greek, Asian, Farm to Table, Cuban, Mexican, Brazilian – the list goes on and on as does the eating!

5. Climate

Depending how you feel about the weather, climate could appear on either side of the pros and cons of living in Maryland. I feel it’s thankfully quite mild here in the DC Area. We have four seasons. Actually, locals say that we have 12 seasons. They are: Winter, Fool’s Spring, Second Winter, Spring of Deception, Third Winter, The Pollening, Actual Spring, Summer, Hell’s Front Porch, False Fall, Second Summer, Actual Fall.

Seasons like Actual Spring? That lasts for about 45 minutes so enjoy it.

Expect to wear shorts for June, July, August and September. Hats and gloves in December, January and February. Our winters are usually not too bad, we don’t often get weather below 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Summers can get to 100 but it usually tops out in the 90’s. If you live north toward Frederick or north of I-70, you may actually have snow when it’s 15 degrees warmer further south. I lived northwest of Baltimore and would routinely arrive at work in Columbia, 20 minutes away, with snow on my car and everyone else thought I was lying until they went to the window and looked.

6. Education

The school systems for the kiddos are top notch. Montgomery County Schools are progressive and very highly sought after. There’s a lot of school choice as well, and different consortia where you have options to go to different high schools within a region.

There are several top high schools in the country that are located in Montgomery County, but when Bethesda Magazine puts out their annual college issue, the results are staggering. Students at the many of the county high schools are very successful well when it comes to college applications. There is no one “top” high school here like people may say, there are close to a dozen in the county that rank extremely well.

7. Recreation

The outdoor recreation in Maryland is so unbelievable. It’s easy to hop on the various trails like the Capital Crescent Trail which goes from Bethesda to Georgetown in DC or all the trails along the Potomac River or through Rock Creek Park if you want to get close to nature. Maryland is very pedestrian friendly, and you will notice that on any road you drive. You can also take advantage of the many recreation centers where they offer all kinds of classes from fitness, dance, art & crafts, martial arts – there are a ton of choices.

People who move here from the west coast and more progressive areas tend to really like Maryland and everything it has to offer. Don’t forget that I promised you a couple things I don’t love, so let’s do that next.

Cons of Living in Maryland’s Suburbs of Washington DC

Traffic & Drivers

Because Maryland home prices have trended slightly lower than neighboring Virginia, and Maryland has a lot more of the “close-in” affordable areas, there are more commuters heading back to Maryland after work. If you drive, you will be in this traffic. The metro also doesn’t go as far into Maryland as it does on the Virginia side, so this creates the perfect storm for flows of traffic.

A tidbit of good news – so far, Maryland has not imposed any toll lanes. There is an HOV overpass lane on 270 you can use to get to 270 and flyover the traffic below in the interchange, but lots of people cheat so this doesn’t always save a lot of time.

Now a tidbit of bad news. Well, it’s more than a tidbit. Maryland drivers are some of the worst I’ve seen in this country. I talk about it all the time. People move here and think I was joking then they say, “Nope, you were right, they are truly bad drivers.” I can’t explain it, I can only repeat it incessantly because defensive driving takes on a whole new meaning in Maryland.

Cost of Living

It’s expensive in Maryland. Some slight good news – there is more housing affordability on the Maryland side close to the beltway than you could ever find on the Virginia side. You can get homes in Silver Spring in the $600,000’s. It’s virtually impossible to find a single-family home in the $600,000’s on the Virginia side until you’re pretty far from the beltway. This is definitely not the case in Maryland. But that doesn’t mean life is cheaper on this side of the Potomac!

Maryland has a state income tax similar to Virginia. It’s not a flat tax, you move up in brackets, but it caps out where Virginia does – 5.75%. There’s one huge difference though. The Maryland counties impose income taxes as well. In most cases, this adds another 3% or more to the income tax you will owe. Virginia does not have income tax at the county level.

That sums up the pros and cons of living in Maryland. I hope this gave you all the details you need to consider in your move to the Crab State (it’s not really called the crab state.) If you are ready to crack some crab shells, my contact info is coming next!

Living in McLean VA

McLean Virginia is a Census Designated Place or CDP in Fairfax County Virginia. McLean is home to large homes and lots, the CIA Headquarters, the MARS Headquarters and a lot of wealth in the DC Area. The median income is $250,000. Over 85% of the residents have a bachelor’s degree or higher.

What is it like living in Mclean? And, how do families feel about living in McLean.

My last video about Living in McLean continues to be one of the most popular videos on my channel. But my experience filming for you all didn’t go so well when some woman told me I couldn’t take video of her ugly subdivision on a public, ungated street. I grew up in a town like McLean, but up in Connecticut, so I’m well versed in the behavior of some people who have more money than the rest of us. And unfortunately, I’ve got yet another unbelievable encounter with another resident of McLean to share with you too.

Location

McLean is located west of Arlington and Washington DC. The Potomac River, The Dulles Toll Road (267) and the Arlington County border make up the border of McLean. McLean is a CDP though Census Designated Place, meaning it is unincorporated and the boundaries are fluid. This is why you will see some areas by Tyson’s Corner also have a McLean address. McLean is 15 minutes from DC.

McLean Real Estate

McLean Virginia ranks as one of the wealthiest areas in the country. Let’s dive into the housing market and see how things look.

In the last six months, the prices of single-family detached homes sold for $1M at the low end and $10.5M at the high end. What does $1M will get you? A 1500 sf ranch style home which most buyers will tear down. The value is in the land and people pay for it because they love living in McLean. The houses priced at $10.5M have over an acre of land, 6 or more bedrooms and most were paid for in cash. The average price of all homes sold in the last six months is $2.4M, and the median is $2.1M.

Townhomes range from $800,000 to $1.8M. The average price of all townhomes sold in the last six months is $1.1M and the median price is $1.04M.

What kind of house styles are in McLean? There is a tremendous variation. Many of the older colonial homes that used to be here have been torn down and McMansioned. McLean has been one of the ground zeros in the DC Metro Area for tearing homes down, due in part to the fact that many homes date back to the 1950’s to 1980’s. Some of these newly built homes are gorgeous. Some are…not.

If you recall my other McLean video, when I was driving around, I passed a road which was filled with the ugliest houses I have seen in my life. When I was filming and giggling to myself about the ugly houses, Jabba the Hutt’s wife Karen came running out yelling at me. She said, and I quote: “We don’t want anyone to copy what we have here.”

Holy moly lady, no one wants to copy this. She said she and all her neighbors were watching me and that I should go back to DC. I’m afraid this is what living in McLean might be like. I grew up in a town like this, filled with Karens, and I escaped.

This was not my only run-in with the mean of McLean. For me, McLean is the gift that keeps giving. I’ll let the video do the story telling for me. I’m in an office park in McLean trying to get through the only road that leads to my awesome Pilates class. And this guy stopped his giant truck next to a car that was already stopped where it shouldn’t be. He effectively blocked the road and anyone from passing. He didn’t like that I beeped and told him he was blocking everyone behind me from passing. Here’s what happened next.

As you can see, my luck here in McLean in finding considerate and friendly people who are either visiting or living in McLean is not so good. To be fair, while he was in an office park in McLean, he may not live in McLean. There are a lot of high-ranking government officials living in McLean. Perhaps many of the people here are just used to everyone jumping when they scream how high.

There are several condo communities, Lilian Court, the Rotonda, Fountains at McLean, Gates of McLean, Regency at McLean, Colonies at McLean – you get it. The high-rise buildings have very high monthly condo fees – think in the $1000’s, like New York City prices. This is due to the size of the building, amenities and staff on site.

Schools in McLean

The most recent census information states that about 40% of the households in McLean have children under 18.

Elementary, middle or high school, the scores are high here. These are Fairfax County Schools, which is often considered one of the best school systems in the country. If you go by Great Schools, the scores are 8, 9 and 10. All schools feed to either one of two high schools – McLean or Langley.

McLean offers Honors, AP and Dual Enrollment Courses where you can get college credit. Languages offered are Spanish, French, Chinese, Latin and German. McLean High School is walking distance to the downtown area of McLean. Many students head over after school to grab Starbucks or hang out with friends. This really gives it a small town kind of feel.

Langley High School offers AP classes. The languages at Langley are Spanish, French, Latin, Russian, Chinese and Japanese. Langley was recently renovated.

What’s the difference between AP and IB? IB Courses are writing heavy and tend to cover less material. AP classes are more focused on the college credit, but they go deep into the subject matter. Fairfax County instituted IB into underperforming high schools to allow for a standout group or a school within a school as it’s often called. AP existed at the higher performing high schools

Historically, these schools were different. A 1978 Washington Post Article compared the two schools. With respect to redistricting, a Langley student who may possibly be redistricted to McLean said: “It’s a whole different class of kids that go to Langley. The kids who go there come from all over the world; they’re more cultured and intellectually stimulating than the ones who end up going to McLean.”

Here we are 45 years later and the topic du jour is still redistricting.

Langley High School is under enrolled as of right now. According to the demographics on Fairfax County’s website, Langley’s population is 53% white, 30% Asian, 7% Hispanic, 1% Black and 8% other. Just 2% of the students are identified as English Language Learners. Langley is on Georgetown Pike, in a very residential neighborhood.

McLean High School is close to the downtown areas of McLean. Despite things you read on message boards and see online, McLean’s demographics are similar to Langley. The population is 49% white, 26% Asian, 14% Hispanic, 4% black and 6% other.

Why Living in McLean is Great for Families

Aside from school, what else is here that makes it such a great place for families?

There’s Child’s Play which is a toy and bookstore for kids. For playtime, check out MyGym for the little ones. We took various levels of tumble classes at MyGym and I had the best time with the kids.

Clemyjontri Park is one of my top 5 must-do parks in the DC Area. Clemyjontri Park has a carousel and several different play areas for various ages and abilities.

There are a lot of neighborhood parks in McLean as well – McLean Central Park and Meadow Lane Park are neighborhood parks with a playground. There are several of these neighborhood parks throughout McLean.

McLean is the quintessential suburb with extraordinary natural resources. Scott’s Run Nature Preserve has hiking trails. Great Falls Park has a McLean mailing address but it’s a few miles north of McLean, heading toward Great Falls. You can hike along the Potomac River where trails and overlooks have some amazing views of the falls in the river.

The Alden Theatre is part of the McLean Community Center. They have close to 400 seats for guests of their musical or comedy acts that stop here. There’s teen improv and other programs for kids. McLean Project for the arts offers camps from age 3 through teenagers. The Old Firehouse is a recreation space for teens. The Community Center also offers classes and camps, live music and other shows. There’s a concert in the park series in the summer, the Community Center is the hub of entertainment offerings in McLean.

There are also several membership-based swim and tennis clubs. There’s Highlands Swim & Tennis, Chesterbrook Swim & Tennis, Kent Gardens Recreation Club, McLean Swim & Tennis and Tuckahoe Recreation Club.

We were members for three years at Tuckahoe. I woke up one day and thought, “this place is the worst” and I canceled it. There’s not enough lounge chairs, the pool is always freezing even when it’s 100 degrees out and the lifeguards are really mean. They are on their whistles constantly for the silliest little “infractions.” It’s also expensive and then this past year they sent a letter to all members saying there was $3M in deferred maintenance so dues were going up 20%. That, plus one lifeguard screaming across the pool at another lifeguard was enough for us.

Finally, I have to mention Dolley Madison Library. They don’t have just books! They offer a ton of programming geared toward kids too. Storytime, book clubs, classes, games, cooking classes, art, improv – the library is another source of entertainment for the kids.

There’s also Tyson’s Corner which is the DC Metro Area’s largest shopping mecca. If you can’t find what you want in Tyson’s, it probably doesn’t exist!

Food

It probably goes without saying that an upscale suburb is going to have a variety of food options. Most everything you need is in the downtown area. The restaurants are clustered on Old Dominion just south of 123 or Dolley Madison and also along Chain Bridge and Old Chain Bridge Roads. J. Gilberts is a steak and seafood restaurant on 123 and is always packed. There’s Mexican, Afghan, Italian, American and pizza as well. Aracosia is Afghan food that gets all thumbs up from people born in Afghanistan. There’s also an Iranian restaurant that gets high marks – Amoos.

There’s Lidl, Giant and Balducci’s in the downtown area. Over in Chesterbrook Shopping Center there’s a Safeway. Chesterbrook Shopping Center just got a makeover so some stores were closed and now it’s reopening and coming back to life. They have opened the ever-popular Call Your Mother deli here as well.

I hope this helped you in learning why living in McLean is very appealing to families. Getting into a home here is definitely costly. But with the schools, recreation centers, parks, trails and proximity to jobs in DC or Tysons, this is one of the top suburbs of choice for active families!

Woodbridge VA

Watching the real estate shifts and changes throughout the different suburbs of Washington DC is riveting. Woodbridge VA has seen a ton of change over the years. The whole metro area of DC is made up of many different cities and towns that comprise “the burbs.” Then there are other urban centers like Tysons and Arlington that can practically stand on their own as alternate urban centers.  Following these local trends is critical for us so we can help our clients make the right choices in their real estate purchases.

Why is Woodbridge VA on fire? It didn’t used to be like this. In the housing bubble, there were entire streets filled with foreclosed homes in Woodbridge. It was hit especially hard in 2008 – 2009. But here we are, 15 years later, telling you that the market has come full circle. What shifted for Woodbridge VA?

The biggest piece of news for Woodbridge comes from the Virginia Department of Transportation. The I-95 & Route 123 Interchange Project is gaining momentum. This is huge news for Woodbridge because the bottleneck traffic that happens multiple times a day at the interchange for exit 160 is terrible. If the exit number or Route 123 don’t mean anything to you, this may help.

When you’re heading south on 95 from the beltway (495,) you typically move along through Fairfax County. Your confidence is up, you find yourself thinking, “People always talk about how bad traffic is, this ain’t so bad!”

Then you say goodbye to Fairfax County, hello to Prince William County as you cross the Occoquan River, and there it is. Gridlock. There goes your confidence, sailing down the Occoquan along with your plans for rest of your day because it can take up to an hour to go 7 miles down to Dale City.

The improvements proposed include:

• Replacing the northbound Route 123 loop ramp to southbound I-95 with a signalized left-turn to the southbound Route 123 ramp to southbound I-95
• Widening the southbound Route 123 ramp to southbound I-95 from one to two lanes
• Moving the Route 123 and I-95 Express Lanes ramp intersection slightly south
• Realigning the southbound I-95 ramp to northbound Route 123
• Adding a shared-use path along northbound Route 123 from Annapolis Way to Devil’s Reach Road
• Repairing and replacing the deck of the southbound I-95 bridge over Occoquan Road

These improvements will radically change the corridor from what is often a parking lot on 95 to a more functional road representing a highway. We are anxiously awaiting all of this to take shape because it will help to make Woodbridge an even more attractive area to live.  The improvements will ease travel on 95 for both weekday commuters and weekend travelers. And in the summers when the Saturday traffic headed to Virginia Beach or the Outer Banks is in full force, this should be a huge help.

Let’s zoom in now on the market. Woodbridge VA continues to be strong because the price point is very affordable in the DC Metro area. Looking at all of Woodbridge, the average price of single-family detached homes sold in the last six months was $623,500. The median was $579,000. For townhomes sold in the last six months, the average price was $465,000 and the median was $450,000.

Lake Ridge is still the strongest market in Woodbridge and the most desirable area to purchase a home.  The amenities in the immediate area of Lake Ridge continue to attract many of the buyers looking in the eastern side of Prince William County. If we remove the rest of Woodbridge and just zoom in on Lake Ridge, the average price of single-family detached homes in for the last six months was $678,000. The median price was $645,000. For townhomes, the average price in the same period was $480,000 and the median price was $475,000.

What we are currently seeing right in parts of the Woodbridge real estate market is similar to the story in other real estate markets in metro DC. If sellers price their home correctly based on the condition and location, the home sells quickly. Many times, these homes are receiving multiple offers. Michael recently listed and sold a home in Lake Ridge and received four offers the first weekend on the market. But there are other homes in the neighborhood who priced too high, and they did not have the successful outcome Michael did for his clients.

Usually there are large gaps in the average price and the median price. They can be $200,000 – $300,000 different for the same neighborhood. This is not the case in Woodbridge. There are not a lot of outliers in home prices here so it should be easier to get the price right for sellers who have hired knowledgeable Real Estate Agents. Prices here are steady, stable but growing. Houses here are similar to each other and you see fewer custom homes here.

In a real estate market that has been so uncertain for over a decade, the stability in Woodbridge offers buyers a place to call home where their dollar stretches further than in other areas. Of course, the affordable areas are always where people flock to, and that ends up defining traffic patterns. With VDOT’s recent announcement about the changes to the 123 / I-95 interchange, combined with the VRE (Virginia Railway Express commuter train) and the Omni Link Bus, people have a lot of commuting options.

Just because we’re saying Woodbridge VA is super-hot right now doesn’t mean you can’t get a home here. It’s actually quite the opposite. In the past five years, Woodbridge homes used to fly off the market. Now, if they are priced incorrectly or they need significant work and the price does not reflect condition, buyer perception of the home’s value is greatly diminished.

With interest rates and inflation where they are, buyers aren’t as agreeable anymore to take on major renovation projects like roofs, new HVAC, kitchen remodels, etc. without a significant pricing concession.

Since it is the beginning of summer, there are some amazing activities that you can indulge in while you are in the Woodbridge area shopping for your new home:

Brew Republic Bierworks hosts Trivia on Monday Nights or if you prefer to sing, Karaoke is on Fridays.

The Alamo Drafthouse has Trivia as well.

For families, Muse Paintbar offers a multitude of painting class options throughout the summer.

There are a couple recreation centers – Chinn Aquatics & Fitness in Woodbridge and the Dale City Recreation Center – guess where that is! They both offer inexpensive memberships where you can take advantage of sports, swim and fitness classes.

There’s the Waterworks Waterpark which is the biggest splash pad in Northern Virginia.

There’s “Fridays at Five” a concert series that runs every other Friday May through August at the Prince William County Complex.

Occoquan Bay Wildlife Refuge is a habitat for birds. It is free to enter, and you can hike or bike along their 4 miles of trails. You can also drive through, and there is hunting and fishing as well. I realize we called this a refuge, and when I read hunting I was like, what? But yes, they have organized hunts to control the deer population. They also put bands on birds to identify them, and you can go watch the volunteers in this process.

The next three places are all situated together – the Neabsco Boardwalk, Potomac Heritage Trail and the Rippon Lodge.

The Neabsco Boardwalk is an elevated boardwalk through the wetlands. You can get up close to herons, ducks, and all varieties of birds.

The Potomac Heritage Scenic Trail is connected to a network of 800 miles of trails from the Ohio River Basin to the Chesapeake and Potomac Rivers.

Rippon Lodge Historic Site is the oldest house in Prince William County.

Leeslyvania State Park is on the water, and there are trails, a fishing area, boat and kayak launches and a sailing school. They even have days for kids fishing tournaments.

There are a few community pools in Woodbridge. One thing that’s different about Prince William County from other areas in metro DC is that there are admission fees for these pools – typically $5 – $7.50 for an adult.

There’s Hammill Mill Pool as well in Woodbridge.

At Veterans Memorial Park, there are baseball and soccer fields as well as a Skate Park, playground and pool.

In Dale City, there’s Birchdale Community Center which has a pool, playground, basketball court and a skate park as well as a Recreation Center. https://www.pwcva.gov/pools

Lake Ridge Association offers a variety of amenities to include 5 pools and a spray ground, a boat ramp, community centers for rent, sports fields, playgrounds, fitness stations and other outdoor recreational courts  including tennis, pickleball, basketball, multi-use and volleyball. In Lake Ridge, there is a whole system of playgrounds and Tot Lots.

If summer isn’t your thing, cool off at the Prince William Ice Center. They have an indoor skating rink on Dale Boulevard.

Checkout our previous videos on Woodbridge to see all of the activities and dining that Woodbridge has to offer!

We hope you enjoyed this Woodbridge VA update and that you are excited about exploring all that Woodbridge has to offer.  Our contact information is below if you want to talk about purchasing a home in Woodbridge VA and see why it is one of the hottest markets in our area. Make sure you hit the subscribe button to stay up to date on all of our videos about living in the DC Metro area!