Moving to Fairfax VA, Seeking Advice - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Wrexify · 05-12-2010, 09:06 AM

I'm hoping some of you TFP Virginians (Washingtonians?) might be able to offer some insight on my upcoming move.

I'll be starting a new job mid-summer in Fairfax, so I'm busy searching for 1-2 bedroom apartments in the surrounding towns. Do any of you have suggestions for a newbie to the area? Anywhere I should avoid? I've been looking into Centreville / Chantilly / Reston which seem nice, but I have no idea.

A little additional background info... I'm moving with my fiancée and ideally we'd like a 2 bedroom place for visitors, etc. We're both in our mid 20's, but not necessarily looking for a "young" neighborhood; anything safe, clean, and fairly modern will do. We both have cars and have always lived in an area that requires us to drive to get anywhere, so public transport access isn't a necessity either. Decent shopping centers / restaurants would be nice... Being from upstate NY has made me a bit of a Wegmans snob, so I'll be satisfied as long as I'm within a 30 minute drive from one of their VA locations

All suggestions are welcome and appreciated! Looking forward to visiting the area very soon.

PonyPotato · 05-12-2010, 10:07 AM

AVOID US-50 LIKE THE PLAGUE. SERIOUSLY.

So no, don't live in Chantilly. I lived in Leesburg and commuted to Fairfax for work until I started commuting to Rockville, MD for work instead. The drive to Chantilly was fine - the drive from Chantilly to Fairfax made me want to rip my hair out.

Why not live IN Fairfax? Or Fairfax Station? Avoiding traffic as much as possible is really your best bet if you want to keep your sanity. If you live close to Vienna/Fairfax metro station, that will give your fiancee more options in terms of commuting to a job of her own. There is a Wegmans in Fairfax, so you don't have to worry about that, either!

Realize that if you live in Chantilly, you might be within 30 minutes of a Wegmans.. but you'll be more than 30 minutes from work!

FuglyStick · 05-12-2010, 02:45 PM

Coonskin hats are mandatory.

Plan9 · 05-12-2010, 05:35 PM

Stay out of my yard.

...

Seeing that you'll be working in Fairfax and I'd imagine both of you will be pulling decent paychecks, I'd recommend living in Fairfax. The 2Bed/2Bath apartment where I keep my junk is $1400 a month, the average rent around here, but you can expect to see more. It's yuppie paradise.

When the commute from hell was mentioned, it wasn't exaggerated. You'll learn to hate these numbers: 50, 66, 28.

Lemme know if you need help moving in. I'm always available for TFPers and powered by Dead Guy and Papa John's.

Wrexify · 05-12-2010, 07:53 PM

Excellent, thanks for the heads-ups! I've got a couple apartments in Fairfax lined up for visits as well as a few nearby. Basically everyone I've talked to has immediately warned me about the commute, so we'll be doing our best to minimize that!

Not sure when I'll be making the big move quite yet, but I'll be sure to take you up on your offer if I'm shorthanded, Plan9. I'll be the guy stomping around in your yard to get your attention.

05-12-2010, 09:06 AM	#1 (permalink)
Wrexify Crazy Location: Kramerica	Moving to Fairfax VA, Seeking Advice I'm hoping some of you TFP Virginians (Washingtonians?) might be able to offer some insight on my upcoming move. I'll be starting a new job mid-summer in Fairfax, so I'm busy searching for 1-2 bedroom apartments in the surrounding towns. Do any of you have suggestions for a newbie to the area? Anywhere I should avoid? I've been looking into Centreville / Chantilly / Reston which seem nice, but I have no idea. A little additional background info... I'm moving with my fiancée and ideally we'd like a 2 bedroom place for visitors, etc. We're both in our mid 20's, but not necessarily looking for a "young" neighborhood; anything safe, clean, and fairly modern will do. We both have cars and have always lived in an area that requires us to drive to get anywhere, so public transport access isn't a necessity either. Decent shopping centers / restaurants would be nice... Being from upstate NY has made me a bit of a Wegmans snob, so I'll be satisfied as long as I'm within a 30 minute drive from one of their VA locations All suggestions are welcome and appreciated! Looking forward to visiting the area very soon. __________________ "Nitwit! Oddment! Blubber! Tweak!"

05-12-2010, 10:07 AM	#2 (permalink)
PonyPotato Soaring Location: Ohio!	AVOID US-50 LIKE THE PLAGUE. SERIOUSLY. So no, don't live in Chantilly. I lived in Leesburg and commuted to Fairfax for work until I started commuting to Rockville, MD for work instead. The drive to Chantilly was fine - the drive from Chantilly to Fairfax made me want to rip my hair out. Why not live IN Fairfax? Or Fairfax Station? Avoiding traffic as much as possible is really your best bet if you want to keep your sanity. If you live close to Vienna/Fairfax metro station, that will give your fiancee more options in terms of commuting to a job of her own. There is a Wegmans in Fairfax, so you don't have to worry about that, either! Realize that if you live in Chantilly, you might be within 30 minutes of a Wegmans.. but you'll be more than 30 minutes from work! __________________ "Without passion man is a mere latent force and possibility, like the flint which awaits the shock of the iron before it can give forth its spark." — Henri-Frédéric Amiel

05-12-2010, 02:45 PM	#3 (permalink)
FuglyStick WHEEEE! Whee! Whee! WHEEEE! Location: Southern Illinois	Coonskin hats are mandatory. __________________ AZIZ! LIGHT!

05-12-2010, 05:35 PM	#4 (permalink)
Plan9 I Confess a Shiver	Stay out of my yard. ... Seeing that you'll be working in Fairfax and I'd imagine both of you will be pulling decent paychecks, I'd recommend living in Fairfax. The 2Bed/2Bath apartment where I keep my junk is $1400 a month, the average rent around here, but you can expect to see more. It's yuppie paradise. When the commute from hell was mentioned, it wasn't exaggerated. You'll learn to hate these numbers: 50, 66, 28. Lemme know if you need help moving in. I'm always available for TFPers and powered by Dead Guy and Papa John's. __________________ *Whatever you can carry.* "You should not drink... and bake." Last edited by Plan9; 05-12-2010 at 05:52 PM..

05-12-2010, 07:53 PM	#5 (permalink)
Wrexify Crazy Location: Kramerica	Excellent, thanks for the heads-ups! I've got a couple apartments in Fairfax lined up for visits as well as a few nearby. Basically everyone I've talked to has immediately warned me about the commute, so we'll be doing our best to minimize that! Not sure when I'll be making the big move quite yet, but I'll be sure to take you up on your offer if I'm shorthanded, Plan9. I'll be the guy stomping around in your yard to get your attention. __________________ "Nitwit! Oddment! Blubber! Tweak!"