Time-lapsed Blogography Day: Twenty Years Ago Today

Twenty years ago today, on January 17, 2004, I was traveling across the region in search of a new house. I had picked out 4 houses to view with my realtor, Marion White, in the coming week and on the 17th, I drove around by myself to get a feel for the neighbourhoods.

The first house (shown on the left) was in south Reston, which has since become "the Green Line of living in Reston", with all of the high Reston Association fees and none of the lack of crime you'd get from living north of the toll road. I liked this house although I had always been negative about ground-level basement windows ever since someone tried to break my childhood home in the 80s.

The second house was in a nice neighbourhood that I now know turns into an island surrounded by gridlock during rush hour. Still, I would have been within walking distance of Evil Mike had I purchased this one (although my HOA fees probably would have been 10x as high).

The third house caught my eye because of its orientation, "That's not how houses are supposed to look!" and it reminded me more of a Red Roof Inn than a house. I was impressed with how much extra room you get in the house when the foyer isn't in the way right in the center of the long wall. (Spoilers: This is the one I picked).

Finally, the fourth house was down in north Centreville and had already gone off the market by the time I arrived, so I never got to see inside. However, its shape looks just like the shape of any number of my friends' houses growing up so I could imagine what it'd be like.

Here are some of the house criteria I sent to my realtor.

As it turned out, I met all of my criteria! I paid $303,000 (20% up front with the help of my parents) to get a $1400 mortgage that I finished paying off last year. HOA fees started around $120 per year and have since risen to $350 per year. Every time I hear that someone in our neighbourhood has complained about the fees, I think of poor Herndon / Reston and how they pay that much in a couple months.