Hubby and I have spent the last couple of weekends checking out what is on the housing market here in Northern Virginia. About a year ago, we started looking and decided maybe we should add on instead …then we put it on the back burner…and again we are looking at our options. We love our 1940s Dutch Colonial and adore our huge yard and established neighborhood, but we are outgrowing our house.
We live in Falls Church in an older neighborhood called Sleepy Hollow. We love that you get a big lot (we have .5 acres) and have tons of room from your neighbors; I just can’t imagine looking out my window and seeing in my neighbor's house. I say that, and we will end up in one of those homes. We have a small number of areas we are willing to move to, mostly so we can keep my husband's commute as short as possible. Plus with all of the businesses in Falls Church, it’s nice to be close in case of an emergency.
If you live in our little pocket of Northern Virginia right outside of DC (within 10 miles) you know how crazy expensive it is. Of course, the farther out we go we could get more for our money but we have just decided the quality of life is so much better without the commuting. I used to drive to Baltimore Md for my VP Corporate job, and I couldn’t imagine doing it again. Plus we are spoiled with our big lot and mature trees.
So for now we are scouring the open houses on Sundays and working with our realtor in hopes of either finding the perfect home or deciding to pull the trigger on a renovation. I have to admit I enjoy the open houses (except for the prices!). I feel like it’s important to see what is on the market to make an informed financial decision.
Have you ever had to decide to build or buy? Do you have an architect or builder you have used in our area and really like?
