The base itself received a facelift in recent years with new roads, refurbished buildings and some new development. In 2003, the U.S. Army chose Clarke Pinnacle Family Communities as the development partner at this area. The goal was to provide military families the same quality of life as the civilians they defend. During the next several years, five new community centers, a state-of-the-art recreation center and numerous children’s play areas will be built. This area is evolving into one of today’s most modern military installations. Purchasing a home now will afford the homebuyer leverage to sell in the future when demand is expected to increase. More importantly, the Fort Belvoir area is currently a buyers market, where prospective buyers have the luxury of having the most housing inventory to choose from in nearly 10 years. Right now prices are low, interest rates remain near 40-year lows and the tax benefits of owning a home are immeasurable in regards to long-term savings.

Military families are accustomed to relocating every three to five years and do not always have the luxury of buying low and selling high. For those stationed at Fort Belvoir, now more than ever, is an opportunity to purchase a home in this fast-growing market that should bare real monetary value in the next three to 10 years. The most popular and attractive home buying opportunities can be found in Lorton Station, Laurel Hill, Crosspointe and South Run. Subdivisions and residential neighborhoods in these communities are situated just two to five miles off-base and feature single-family residences as well as a variety of affordable townhouses and condominiums. More importantly, proximity to the base minimizes commute times. For those working at the Pentagon, the expected commute time ranges between 20-40 minutes, depending on traffic.

FAIRFAX COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

The Fort is part of the Fairfax County Unified School District, which enables youngsters to be part of one of the finest academic institutions in the country. Overall, Fairfax County public schools are amongst the country’s highest academically ranked. Transportation to any of the areas schools are provided by the Fairfax County Public School. The Fairfax schools also feature a School Age Care (SAC) Program that offers before and after-school care for students attending most elementary schools. The developmental program has a homework center and computer lab. Hours are 6:30 AM to school departure and return from school to 6:30 PM.

CULTURE AND NEARBY ATTRACTIONS

There is a commissary on base as well as a food court with eateries such as Anthony’s Pizza, Charley’s Steakhouse, Frank’s Franks and Robin Hood. Once off the base, residents are blessed with a litany of choices when it comes to food, recreation and anything else one could imagine. A trip to the nation’s capital is less than 16 miles from Fort Belvoir. In the metropolitan city center, there are hundreds of historic sites and places to experience history and watch history in the making. Residents and tourists from the world over can visit the White House, the U.S. Congress and Capitol, the headquarters of 14 federal cabinet departments and a host of other federal agencies and bureaus. Almost every nation in the world has an embassy or diplomatic representative here.

The nation’s capital is also one of the world’s most beautiful cities. Major Pierre Charles L ‘Enfant, a member of General George Washington’s Continental Army staff, laid out the District of Columbia in 1791, with broad avenues and traffic circles, allowing for monuments, memorials, pools and parks. There’s a world-class zoo, shopping for every taste and budget, hotels, theatres and restaurants featuring some of the world’s finest cuisine. Cultural activities from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts to local jazz clubs and dinner theatres cater to every taste. What’s more, recreation at Atlantic Ocean beaches in Maryland, Virginia, Delaware and New Jersey are only a few hours away, as are the snow-covered slopes, campgrounds and lakes in the Blue Ridge Mountains of the Appalachian chain in Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia.