Is National Harbor Worth My Time?
I have recently had the opportunity to go to National Harbor for the first time. National Harbor is located in Maryland, city of Fort Washington. I was very happy to finally see and experience a bit of National Harbor and here's why:
The first reason I am glad to get over to National Harbor is that it is quite a different view from over there on the Maryland side of the Potomac River. The view at night is beautiful, while driving by on the Virginia side of the water, but during the day, it was just as beautiful to see all of the yachts, restaurants on the waterfront and people just walking around enjoying a beautifully sunny day.
Another reason why I liked going over to the Maryland side was the existence of the Capital Wheel. I will very soon experience this, but just seeing it from very close up was a sight to behold. The Capital Wheel is a Ferris Wheel that takes you 180 feet
above the Potomac River waterfront, providing amazing views (I can't wait for these). Some attractions which you will be able to see are the White House, the National Mall, Arlington Cemetery and the parklands throughout the Maryland, DC and Virginia area.
A third reason to get over to National Harbor is the restaurants. We enjoyed a delicious meal at Redstone American Grill on our visit and I loved my salad, with all of its many pleasant flavors complimenting each other and got totally stuffed on the amazing corn bread - yum! I will definitely go back to Redstone American Grill, probably after my ride on the Capital Wheel. The question is, will you?
Budget
How much you can
afford is very important to consider when buying a new home. As a rule of thumb, some experts suggest paying 25% of your salary towards your
mortgage. Fortunately, for people living in
Northern Virginia, there are several job centers like the
Mark Center,
Inova Hospitals,
USPTO,
NOVA Community College,
Fort Belvoir and
Reston Town Center in the area which offer high paying salaries.
Size
Would you like to have roommates? Do you have a wife and plan to start a
family? These are questions to consider before taking the step towards
home ownership. Depending on your circumstances you might prefer a
2 bedroom condo in
Courthouse, instead of a
1,000,000 home in
Mount Vernon.
Location and Atmosphere
Northern Virginia has a vast array of neighborhoods. For example,
Arlington has a bustling metropolitan scene that is just a few metro stops away from DC. On the opposite end of the spectrum, there is
Woodbridge, which is a quieter small town type of area, which attracts
commuters. Alexandria is a nice middle ground in between the two aforementioned neighborhoods.
Alexandria has plenty of
nightlife,
restaurants, and shopping in a variety of neighborhoods like
Old Town,
West End, and
Fairfax County.
Type
Condo?
Townhome?
Single family home? Each of these homes has their own advantages and disadvantages. Condos are nice because some include
amenities, like a pool, fitness center, or dry cleaner, all conveniently located in the condo community. Some may prefer a home, because there aren’t any
condominium fees.
Commitment
A mortgage is a long term commitment. It is important to factor in job security when preparing to purchase a home. For those who end up having to leave the area, whether it is temporary or permanent, there is the option of hiring a
property manager so that you can rent out your home and collect
rent on it while you’re gone.
Credit Score
To be considered a serious
buyer, the first step to buying a home is to get
pre approved. Getting pre approved can speed up the home buying process. One way to
improve your credit score is to always pay your bills on time. Another way to build your credit is to open a credit card and use it monthly and pay it on time.
