Arlington Virginia offers many different neighborhoods, all of which reflect the qualities that help define the county: the demographics, the excellent schools, the wonderful restaurants, the variety of entertainment options, and the efficient county services. But to someone moving here from outside the county, it might be quite difficult to discern the nuanced differences that only become clear after living here awhile.
Here are five ways for you to learn the lay of the land:
- Visit the county websites — they are really excellent
- Visit the schools — if you have kids, this is mandatory
- Visit the grocery stores — the local community in a contained environment, kind of like a petrie dish
- Talk to your local friends — if you don’t have any, visit any park (there are many of them here) and start talking
- Drive around, and look at the lawns — mowed or not? nicely maintained beds or not? Do residents care? Do you care?
As an agent, I am bound by Fair Housing Law to avoid discrimination, which is clearly the right thing to do. And, really, everyone has different preferences, concerns, and interests that dictate their choice of house location. Once we get started driving into different geographic parts of Arlington County, looking at different real estate options, considering condos versus single family homes, understanding what you get for the money, understanding where the metro stops are and how the bus can get you to them, talking as we drive, you will get to the know Arlington County pretty darn well.
