What is it about the houses in Mantua that makes them so expensive? Is it because the homes are bigger, nicer, newer, located closer to work and school or other reasons not listed? Homes near Little Run ES, Olde Creek ES, and Canterbury ES have homes that are around the same size in sq ft living space and in some cases better landscape than Mantua homes, and yet Mantua homes are still more expensive.

For example there are two homes near Little Run ES for sale. One is 2,614 sq ft at sale for $555,000 and another one is 1,950 sq ft at sale for $524,900. Homes around that sq ft in mantua would be mid $600,000 to $700,000. In fact there is a home in mantua that is around 1728 sq ft at sale for $725,000!

Can anyone explain the reasoning for the large price difference between Mantua homes and the ones in Little Run ES, Canterbury ES, and Olde Creek ES?

You pay a premium to live on property that had millions of gallons of oil/gas spilled on it.

Cause you get to live near me. Duh!




Word of advice. If you're a man that wants to fit in in Mantua, get a pinkie ring.

mantuas is not real plz stop talking about it.

might as well talking about purchasing a unicorn or finding a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow.

notriel Wrote:
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> mantuas is not real plz stop talking about it.
>
> might as well talking about purchasing a unicorn
> or finding a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow.

Didn't this debate just happen about a week ago?

Undisputed King of Mantua Wrote:
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> Cause you get to live near me. Duh!

Someone should do a Zillow search around Gerry's house. I almost think there may be some truth to that.

Lived here forever Wrote:
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> Undisputed King of Mantua Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Cause you get to live near me. Duh!
>
> Someone should do a Zillow search around Gerry's
> house. I almost think there may be some truth to
> that.


Finding his address takes all of like 10 seconds of searching on Google. It also further confirms mantua is not a real place. He lives in Fairfax, VA .. in fact his street name has "Mantua" in it but is listed as Fairfax.

Just google:

Gerry Connolly + Mantua

You can find it in the first 10 results.. no trick to it.

Two reasons:

[1] great schools
[2] great location.

for home buyers - nothing else matters.

Jazzy Juice Wrote:
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> Two reasons:
>
> [1] great schools

Woodson is a death factory.

> [2] great location.

It is outside the beltway.

Probably a bunch of reasons but I'd say one reason is because of that cemetery.

neither apply Wrote:
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> Jazzy Juice Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Two reasons:
> >
> > [1] great schools
>
> Woodson is a death factory. - as is FCHS and FFX HS (which would be the schools associated with the other locations the OP highlighted). Woodson ranks high in all other areas
>
> > [2] great location. - barely - only 1.5 miles outside the Beltway, and far better than any community inside the beltway.
>
> It is outside the beltway.

Jazzy Juice Wrote:
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> > > [2] great location. - barely - only 1.5 miles
> outside the Beltway, and far better than any
> community inside the beltway.

Yeah who wants to live in the city of Falls Church or McLean or North Arlington?

get real.... Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Jazzy Juice Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
>
> > > > [2] great location. - barely - only 1.5
> miles
> > outside the Beltway, and far better than any
> > community inside the beltway.
>
> Yeah who wants to live in the city of Falls Church
> or McLean or North Arlington?

If I recall correctly the OP was not comparing Mantua to Falls Church, Mclean or North Arlington (MORON!) Unless somehow Little Run ES, Canterbury ES, and Olde Creek ES have gone through massive redistricting (IDIOT!)

Jazzy Juice Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> get real.... Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Jazzy Juice Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> >
> > > > > [2] great location. - barely - only 1.5
> > miles
> > > outside the Beltway, and far better than any
> > > community inside the beltway.
> >
> > Yeah who wants to live in the city of Falls
> Church
> > or McLean or North Arlington?
>
> If I recall correctly the OP was not comparing
> Mantua to Falls Church, Mclean or North Arlington
> (MORON!) Unless somehow Little Run ES, Canterbury
> ES, and Olde Creek ES have gone through massive
> redistricting (IDIOT!)

It wasn't in response to OP (MORON!). You are the one that stupidly stated that Matua is "far better than any community inside the beltway" (IDIOT!).

Okay yeah good school and great location. But here's the thing, the neighborhood homes in Little Run ES, Canterbury ES, and Olde Creek ES also have Woodson has thier default high school.

Are more Mantua homes colonial style compared to the other three nearby neighborhoods? Could that be a reason for the large price difference in Mantua homes with similiar sq ft in the other three neighborhoods?

I think that would depend on what the tax records say about those homes. How about providing some addresses?

933127 Wrote:
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> Could that
> be a reason for the large price difference in
> Mantua homes with similiar sq ft in the other
> three neighborhoods?

The Warriors run Mantua

A totally random house description in Mantua from city-data:


3315 Mantua Drive
Fairfax, VA
Owner: GERALD E CONNOLLY
Land value: $222,000
Building value: $427,850
Total value for property: $649,850
Land area: 34,560 square feet
Living area: 2,972 square feet
Utilities: Water connected, Sewer connected, Gas not available
Number of stories: 2
Building use: Single Dwelling or Patio House
Style: 2 Story
Exterior wall: Brick
Floor type: Hardwood
Roof type: Composition Shingle
Basement: Full
Number of full bathrooms: 4
Heating: Yes
Number of fireplaces: 4
Year property was built: 1946

Additions:
Addition type: Lower: Open porch or portico, First: Area over or dorm room
Addition area: 156 square feet
Addition type: Lower: Patio
Addition area: 538 square feet
Addition area: 105 square feet
Addition type: Lower: Two story colonial porch
Addition area: 72 square feet
Addition type: Lower: Overhang
Addition area: 20 square feet
Sale date for most recent sale: 08/08/1989
Sale price for most recent sale: $420,000
Sale date for second most recent sale: 11/02/1977
Sale price for second most recent sale: $165,000

Read more: http://www.city-data.com/fairfax-county/M/Mantua-Drive-2.html#ixzz2aeaL3Iap

The Mantua premium is starting to vanish. Many of the older houses are in serious need of repair, the trees and landscaping that were beautiful in the 60s and 70s are now overgrown and beyond ready for replacement. The elementary school is overcrowded and the neighborhood streets now have speed bumps because of all the cut-through traffic.

And of course there is the history of oil in the ground, and the tank farm that caused it remains open despite the best efforts of the community to shut it down. A new school bus depot just opened next to the tank farm, and the post office is moving about five miles away.

Mantua and the real estate agents who sell there do a lot of promotion, with good success. But those who look deeper find that newsletters and association meeting minutes are not available online, and much of the information available is old.

Like many communities in Fairfax, Mantua is becoming more diverse, and has its share of free lunch program recipients. An exception is the swim and tennis club, where memberships are rented, not sold, creating an informal approval process that keeps the undesirables out.

Being an older community, there are few sidewalks, making walking and biking difficult and dangerous, and isolating parts of the community. Efforts to get the government to fund sidewalks have failed multiple times.

So what makes manta more desirable than other nearby communities? Lot size, for one. Especially near the flood plains you can have a lot of privacy on land that will never be built on.

We went to numerous open houses in Mantua while home shopping. Our impression is that Mantua might've been nice in 1963, but it's now an ugly neighborhood of outdated, poorly maintained and way overpriced houses with typically overgrown landscaping. Your money goes much further in surrounding neighborhoods. Not sure why anyone would buy in Mantua now.

So its the lot size making the Mantua neighborhood homes more expensive, makes sense. Is that the only reason though? Ex Mantua if you can provide more info that would be nice. Or anyone else.....

It's easy to score drugs in Mantua...with rising gas prices, that is a consideration...

Who cares about lot size when your house looks something like this? Outdated, yuck, looks like a house that should have an AMC Gremlin parked in the driveway.
Attachments:

the wildlife in Mantua is also very diverse...about a year ago the neighborhood email alerted all of a cougar running the streets. I immediately thought of the lady down the street and worried for my teenaged son's welfare. Alas, the emails persisted and it was a four-legged beast not woman he was writing about. I have searched high and low and have only run across the local helmet-wearing, garage band-listening, control freaks. Still, I search for this ellusive cougar...judging from the animal planet chanel bumper stickers around this may be mantua's allure?

OP question is off the mark. Look at actual selling prices for comps - then show me where there is a "mantua" premium. Nicer properties on larger lots in built out areas tend to sell for more...

Historically, "mantua" was a finished single family residence area surrounded by lower priced & less restricted zoning properties - so you wound up w/"manuta" vs crappy apts/townhouses (Foxcroft, Chesterfield, whatever those are @ LRT & Pickett)

Today, not so much. A quick Z finds higher/lower prices on both sides of LRT...

Answering the OP's original question-Tradition. It was true 50 years ago and is true today, even when comparing comparable sized homes on comparable sized lots. Some theories I've heard over the years are:

1) Mantua was a large development compared to others in the area. That means there are more sales compared to other neighborhoods and you don't get psychological price barriers.

2) Mantua maintained its identity long after the development ceased. Can you name the developments that feed into Little Run ES? Probably not. People living in neighborhoods feeding into Little Run probably say they live off Olley Lane. If you live anywhere in Mantua you say you live in Mantua. (Actually this is misleading. Mantua today includes certain neighborhoods that were developed separately and became attached to Mantua, but that is a historical footnote.)

3) While comparable nearby neighborhoods attracted military officers, government workers and even more successful tradesmen, Mantua for some reason attracted a large number of professionals. In other words it had a certain snob factor.

4) Decent lot sizes, good quality construction, located near the Beltway with access to Route 236 and Route 50.

"and is true today, even when comparing comparable sized homes on comparable sized lots"

Source? Trulia, Zillow, and Redfin do not agree, as they show similar price points for similar (age, size) properties on both sides of LRT...

if no one above said it:

ask your realtor. they are super helpful.

and check the zoning department. maps and last sales price to check reality, by law, it's there. (or had better be!)

guess what fairfax now has two? why spend money on one when you can create two right? two physical sites anyhow, so far.

It's because of the free gasoline still in the soil. Like sitting on your own private oil well.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/local/counties/fairfax/longterm/wwlive/mantua.htm

Teh Beatles Wrote:
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> Who cares about lot size when your house looks
> something like this? Outdated, yuck, looks like a
> house that should have an AMC Gremlin parked in
> the driveway.

Nice house. What's wrong? No basement for you to hide in?

933127 Wrote:
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> What is it about the houses in Mantua that makes
> them so expensive? Is it because the homes are
> bigger, nicer, newer, located closer to work and
> school or other reasons not listed? Homes near
> Little Run ES, Olde Creek ES, and Canterbury ES
> have homes that are around the same size in sq ft
> living space and in some cases better landscape
> than Mantua homes, and yet Mantua homes are still
> more expensive.
>
> For example there are two homes near Little Run ES
> for sale. One is 2,614 sq ft at sale for $555,000
> and another one is 1,950 sq ft at sale for
> $524,900. Homes around that sq ft in mantua would
> be mid $600,000 to $700,000. In fact there is a
> home in mantua that is around 1728 sq ft at sale
> for $725,000!
>
> Can anyone explain the reasoning for the large
> price difference between Mantua homes and the ones
> in Little Run ES, Canterbury ES, and Olde Creek
> ES?

because it's a very nice neighborhood - very pretty with all the trees and shrubs, and the residences are mostly well-educated and upper-middle income. big lots, lots of privacy. Close to the beltway. Not cookie cutter designs. Very nice pool, tennis courts. many other reasons.

the houses are old, biggest drawback. mcmansion's can be had cheaper in loudon; if you want to leave in loudon.

it's not even a real place. it's just fairfax. like putting lipstick on a pig. look up the property records. all say fairfax, va. calling it by some random street or neighborhood name is stupid. it's not special, not overly convenient to anything, and not really priced that high. this whole thread is stupid. who gives a shit.

It is a real place, a neighborhood. Prices vary by each neighborhood, even though they are in the same county. You must be a dumb focker. You are the stupid one

As long as we believe in it, it's real.

I rent a basement in manjewa 2 b 1 ba and living room 750$\mo no lease lol

Gee it sounds like someone who went to NUMEROUS open houses in Mantua wanted to live in this "ugly, outdated, poorly maintained" neighborhood. What I find more realistic is your description that it was "overpriced." Sounds like you couldn't afford to move in so you now have to rationalize your decision to move someplace else. I think it's a pretty neighborhood and would move there in a heartbeat if I could afford it.

Mantua's price premium goes way back. At W.T.Woodson 40 + years ago it was one of the places where some of the higher income families lived. Gs 15's Navy Capts. Army Col's. State Dept/CIA people. The subdivision was a custom built area, lots were divided up streets and utilities put in and you get your own house built. Some builders built several houses some only 1. the lots ranged from a big 1/3 acre to some lots with a full acre. Most are about 1/2 acre.
Thats the difference between Rutherford, Camelot and Mantua. Camelot was the #2 income subdivision then others Wakefield Forest, Canterbury Woods, Rutherford, Surrey Square, Old Forge, Old Creek many more. Of course their were custom homes around as well on their own 1-5 acre lots here and there, They had the highest prices. Yes Mantua is old it goes back to the late 50's as I know it.

Mantua is not too far from DC about 18 miles, Its just outside the Beltway, the lots are large, Houses also, Wooded there are lots of things to do and good schools.All in all a nice place to live and raise children. I dont know if there is a HOA I bet there is not.

And in FXCO you will pay for these things.

In any event as time has gone by Fairfax Co homes have gone up and up and today the only new homes are way up 800's 900's.

Keg party central late 80's,always loved Eakins park and the trails behind the pool,they knocked down half the the forest on that side of Mantua to build McMansions of Prosperity.

Meant off Pickett rd.Drunk

Yuck. North Arlington, McLean or Falls Church only. The rest sucks balls.

Lot size is a factor.

The Mantua identity also lends itself to a community that is very close-knit. People know each other, their civic assocation/HOA is very active, and their size is helpful, too.

Makes it a good place to live for reasons other than the quality of the homes themselves, which are, as is said, a bit older.

Having grown up in Fairfax, Mantua was generally one of the more prestigious places to live. It is older now and a few houses seem to need some work, but I think it has held up pretty nicely through all these year. Didn't former Redskins John Riggins live there?

Mantua may have big lots, but why live in a house that is super dated and constantly needs fixing? Oh God, don't get me started on the wet humid basements.
It might be close-knit, but please, it's a racist hellhole. If you're not white, good luck.
It's practically Wisteria Line ("Desperate Housewives" ref.). People are way too nosy. They ask you personal questions and get into your business. "Oh you got a package delivered?" "Oh, your religion is what?" "Oh i see you had a late visitor last night? I saw a car park, what are they doing out so late on a weekday"

luckily. i'm outta there. mantuan's all need their brains checked.

Mantua is just a satellite community that services the mattress mills of Vienna.

Lots of wops, krauts, and micks live there

I looked at Mantua homes when they were newly built. They are well built houses on larger than normal lots. They cost more then and they cost more now.

Back in those days, there were actually differences in builders. Some better than others and the price reflected that. Now, they are all the same, Mexican crews throw them up as fast and cheaply as possible. I won't see it but imagine how bad these modern day particle board shit boxes will look when they are as old as Mantua. If they're still standing.

I ended up buying in George Mason Forest (Red Spruce Dr is the entry street). They were built by Van Metre, a high quality builder back then. Though not as expensive as Mantua, GM Forest commanded a higher price than say Kings Park West, et al. As with Mantua, a GM Forest cost more then and they'll set you back more now.

^^^ George Mason Forest is a wiser choice than Mantua for the price. So is Somerset South, Somerset, and Wakefield Forest.

Before buying in Mantua, be sure to test for lead paint, basement water, and radon. Get copies of the final inspections for additions, especially garages. Also make the seller produce the map showing the extent of the tank farm leak that we all received.

Too many Mantua houses have strange cheaply made additions. No sidewalks and too much overgrowth so the kids have to walk in the street. The neighborhood pool keeps the membership low to give the appearance of exclusivity while maintaining super high dues. And the Mantua elementary school seems to be overrun with illegals these days, taking instructional resources from the other students.

There was a time when Mantua had a strong voice at Frost MS and Woodson HS. That role has now been taken by Canterbury Woods, which has a far better elementary AAP center.

Summary: Mantua had its time, but failed to keep up with progress as a neighborhood. Now it's nothing special, just old. It does serve as a nice cut through when 236 or 50 are backed up.

A lot of political and government folk live here

Sounds like you are jealous of other's successes. You must be a broke ass uneducated welfare queen who lives in a crappy school district, in an even crappier house that you probably haven't paid a payment on in years and will get evicted from any day now.

>And the Mantua elementary school seems to be overrun with illegals these days, taking instructional resources from the other students.

The Apts off 236. Roach City.. But every school now is overrun..Thanks to Smug Smart ass Democrats.. Screwing themselves and their Issue for ever. Stupid as hell..

>If you're not white, good luck.
It's practically Wisteria Line ("Desperate Housewives" ref.). People are way too nosy. They ask you personal questions and get into your business. "Oh you got a package delivered?" "Oh, your religion is what

WHAT?? Liberals Are Supposed To Be "Tolerant!"

Mantuas bigger lots means a biger Mc Mansion can be built on the lot also Price > 1 million plus.

For those of you who are saying that Mantua is not a place, it is a neighborhood just like Long Branch, Canterbury Woods, Kings Park, etc. Back in the day if you asked somebody where they lived they almost always referenced their neighborhood. If you drive through there you will see that the houses are spaced farther apart (0.5 to 1.0 acre lots) and there are lots of old growth trees. As far as to how douchey the residents are I will leave that up to the snobs and the reverse snobs.

Undisputed King of Mantua Wrote:
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> Cause you get to live near me. Duh!
>
> src=http://www1.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Rep+Gerry+C
> onnolly+VA+Holds+Health+Care+Town+w1QTxxAayrwl.jpg
> >
>
>
> Word of advice. If you're a man that wants to fit
> in in Mantua, get a pinkie ring.

His house, his hood, his rules. Word.

Mr. Potter Wrote:
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> Mantua is just a satellite community that services
> the mattress mills of Vienna.
>
> Lots of wops, krauts, and micks live there

The City of Falls Church has more mattress stores per square mile than the Town of Vienna does.

oil/gas spill Wrote:
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> You pay a premium to live on property that had
> millions of gallons of oil/gas spilled on it.


This mineral rights are expensive.

How is a community name as reference "stupid"? Do you really not know the difference between a community name and a city??

I dont know if its the CancerGas or what but the parents from Mantua are wacked. PTA from that area stands for Parents To Avoid. Seriously jerks that dote over their kids way beyond normal and treat parents from other subdivisions like the unwashed.

I wonder if the home owners of Mantua know about the massive gasoline spill created by the tank farm, and that there are cancer causing chemicals that in the soil and groundwater?

There is some nasty stuff in that earth under those homes. The owners of the homes, at the time of the contamination was discovered, sold them off as quick as possible.

mantuaprettymuchsucks Wrote:
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> Mantua may have big lots, but why live in a house
> that is super dated and constantly needs fixing?
> Oh God, don't get me started on the wet humid
> basements.
> It might be close-knit, but please, it's a racist
> hellhole. If you're not white, good luck.
> It's practically Wisteria Line ("Desperate
> Housewives" ref.). People are way too nosy. They
> ask you personal questions and get into your
> business. "Oh you got a package delivered?" "Oh,
> your religion is what?" "Oh i see you had a late
> visitor last night? I saw a car park, what are
> they doing out so late on a weekday"
>
> luckily. i'm outta there. mantuan's all need their
> brains checked.


Racist hell hole you say?


Hmmm....improves my thoughts on the place based on that alone.

Ex Mantua Wrote:
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> the post office is moving about five miles away.

The one on Pickett. With the terrible parking. Where the workers walk across the street to the church to their cars. That one? It needs to move somewhere

because people will pay it

Anyone wanting to return to 1965 can just drive through Mantua. It looks trapped in time. Tacky, gaudy houses and plenty of racist liberal democrat hypocrites.

Family of four recently purchased in Mantua and of mixed race. I'll post my observations. Interested in gardening but only aftet a soil test; lol. In Manuta near Prince William Drive. House is updated, double car garage and best schools in the area. With any neighborhood I hope the people are nice.

Look, they want to keep up their real estate investment after the windfall of buying 100K homes that were worth several hundred K before the oil spill. They had a lot to gain by improving Mantua ES....Apparently, it worked.