Commuter Information

Like many other metropolitan areas, the Metro DC/No. Virginia area struggles with traffic congestion. Many times, the commute is the number one or two factor in deciding where to purchase a home. In addition to the obvious choice of driving to work every day on the Beltway, Rte. 66, Rte. 7, Rte. 50 or Rte. 1, there are other commuter options you should consider.

There is a MetroRail system on par with subway systems you will find in other major cities. There is also a MetroBus system that serves the greater DC area, and some smaller local bus services like ART in Arlington, George in Falls Church City, DASH in Alexandria, and the Fairfax Connector and the CUE Bus system which serves George Mason University and the Vienna Metro Station.

There is commuter train service through Virginia Railway Express (VRE), and the MARC Train which connects both Maryland and West Virginia to downtown DC.

The area also has several different ridesharing programs, many of them targeted at employees of large government agencies downtown or personnel at the Pentagon.

The Amtrak Train is easily accessed through Union Station in DC, and also in Alexandria; and there are Greyhound Bus Terminals throughout the Metro area.

The Northern Virginia region has 3 airports that offer a wide range of choice for air travel: Dulles Airport (IAD) in western Fairfax County, Reagan National Airport (DCA) in DC, and Baltimore/Washington International Airport (BWI) in Baltimore. There are also smaller regional airports for private aircraft in Leesburg, Stafford and Manassas.

Biking and walking are also commuter options, and more companies are allowing telecommuting as an option as well. So consider asking your employer about that possibility.

When considering where to begin looking for your next home, consider all the commuter options that may be available to you. If you have any questions or need guidance, I am only a phone call or email away.

Area School Information

For families with children, one of the primary concerns in moving to a new home is what schools your children will attend. Northern Virginia has some of the best schools in the nation. To see a full listing of both public and private schools, you can check the Web site Great Schools. School Matters is another site providing information on local schools, and still another will provide rankings on area public schools.

From pre-school through high school and on to community college and major universities, this region has some of the finest educational institutions to be found anywhere. There are a multitude of adult education courses through the local counties and also through the parks & recreation organizations.

Local school systems include Fairfax County, Falls Church City, Alexandria City, Arlington County, Loudoun County and Prince William County. These are large school systems that provide many neighborhood elementary schools, as well as the larger middle and high schools.

For those who choose to homeschool their children, there is a strong local network of like-minded parents as well as a statewide organization. There is even an organization based in Herndon, K12 Inc., that specializes in virtual learning centers and individualized education plans.

Major universities in the area include George Mason University, Georgetown, George Washington, across the river is the University of Maryland. Marymount University is located right in Arlington. Virginia has some of the top universities to be found in the nation as well, and your children will likely qualify for in-state tuition!