We're real estate specialists in properties located in the desirable Fairfax community of Mantua.  We live in Mantua and have firsthand knowledge about the friendly neighbors, great amenities, top-rated schools, and the wonderful homes that make Mantua such a popular place to live. 

Current Active & Under Contract Mantua Listings, as of 11/202009

Click this link to see Mantua properties sold, as of 11/20/2009

ALL ABOUT MANTUA

 

Mantua was built on parkland in the 1960’s.  The builder did not tear down many trees or change any of the natural landscape, so there are still large oak trees and hills and streams running naturally through the neighborhood.  The neighborhood is made up of several legal subdivisions:  Mantua, Mantua Hills, Ridgelea Woods, Ridgelea Estates, Langhorne Acres, Sunny Hills, Skybrook, Stockbridge, and Westchester.  People are drawn to the the neighborhood’s convenient location just outside the beltway at the Rte 50 AND the Rte 236 exits.  There are several commuting options for people traveling downtown during rush hour:  I-66, Rte 50, Rte 29, I-395.  There is a commuter bus that goes to the State Department and a lot of Mantuans use the metro to get to their jobs downtown.

 

HOUSING MARKET

 

Houses currently run from $500,000 - $900,000.   Occasionally a builder will construct a new house that will sell for $1,300,000 - $1,500,000.   Most of the homes are built on half acre lots, but there are also some quarter acre lots and a few larger lots on acreages of between 1/2 and 1.  Houses range in style from the traditional colonial and split level homes to split foyers, ramblers, raised ramblers, and bi-levels.  There are several contemporaries, that are quite large and all brick.  These are called the Phoenix models and they vary in size, from 3 to 5 bedrooms with partial or full basements.  Other contemporaries built of wood can be found along Prince William Drive and Coronado that were designed by the well known architect, Ken Freeman.  These houses are also flat roof homes and considered to be more of a “California contemporary” style.  Another style of contemporary, of a good size, with 3 floors, can be found on Amberley Lane and Mantua Drive.   Several homes in the neighborhood have their own swimming pools.

 

SCHOOLS

 

Being part of the Fairfax County Public School system, we have an excellent elementary school within the boundaries of the neighborhood, safely nestled on a private cul de sac. Frost Middle and Woodson High are considered to be excellent schools also and among the top schools State wide.  Woodson has been listed in Newsweek magazine several years in a row among the top 100 high schools nationwide. (see http://www.newsweek.com/id/39380 to view the entire article).  This survey focused on the importance of students being ready for college.  The criteria of the study mainly looked at how many advanced placement courses and exams are completed at the school in relation to how many students are enrolled in the entire school. Woodson has just undergone an expansion and renovation that was very successful, giving the school, in addition to its great academic reputation, updated facilities, science labs, a new auditorium, and a renovated gymnasium.

 

PARKS AND TRAILS

 

The neighborhood also has two county and city parks attached.  One is a Fairfax City ball field for little leagues, Thaiss Park.  The other is a family park, Eakin Park I, with a baseball field, playground and two public tennis courts. There is also a trail going through the neighborhood that is part of the Accotink trail.   This trail goes all the way to Accotink Lake and is paved for a good part of the way.

 

 

AMENITIES NEARBY

 

There are many options for grocery shopping in the area.  Shopper’s Food Warehouse has recently renovated up at Pickett Shopping Center, providing us with a reasonably priced food store.  Trader Joe’s is also very good value and is located in Pickett Road Shopping Center.  Here there are many organic and healthy food options and a reasonably priced, good wine selection too.  A large Safeway is located on the way to Vienna Metro at Pan Am shopping center.  Mantua is also not very far from Wegman’s at Fairfax Corner and Whole Foods in Vienna.  The Korean supermarkets at Merrifield and on Rte 50 West provide excellent places to purchase good quality produce at reasonable prices.  They both have very good fish counters.

 

Fairfax County Recreation Centers are located at Providence Rec Center – just inside the beltway on Rte 50 and also Wakefield Recreation Center, which is on Braddock Road.  Both have large indoor pool facilities and gyms and offer many classes and monthly passes.  Classes are for pre-school age children through seniors.

 

George Mason University is nearby, providing a good venue for concerts, sporting events, and other entertainment at the Patriot Center.

 

There are all types of restaurants in the area—many different ethnic restaurants and some American restaurants too.  Some of the local favorites are Artie’s and Sweetwater (Great American Restaurants group), 2941 (more upscale), Jaipur, The Wine House, to name just a few.

 

Tysons Corner and Fair Oaks Shopping Centers are approximately 15 minutes drive.

 

MANTUA SWIM AND TENNIS CLUB

 

Mantua has its own Swim and Tennis Club, with 2 pools, a baby pool and 4 lighted tennis courts.  There is a gazebo at the tennis courts for outdoor entertaining and the clubhouse at the pool can be rented out for larger indoor parties.  The social committee holds a few parties a year at the clubhouse—including a holiday party, newcomer’s dinner, block captain’s luncheon.  There is an active swim team, dive team and tennis team for kids.  We have a tennis pro who manages the children’s lessons and matches in the area with other tennis teams.  There is a very active women's, men's singles and doubles program here too for adults, and a Friday evening social tennis season during the summer months.  All this is very affordable (Approx $55 per summer for each child playing tennis, swim team membership is about the same, pool membership is a one time membership fee $1,100 plus $375 per year dues).  There is an approximately three year waiting list, unlike surrounding neighborhoods, to become a member of Mantua Swim and Tennis Club.  It is important to try and buy the membership with the house if you want to use the pool immediately.  Although, almost everyone who has wanted to rent a membership while they are waiting to purchase one has been able to over the last few years.

 

COMMUNITY

There is a strong sense of community, which is one of the attributes this neighborhood is known for, as well as its geographical and physical traits.  There are lots of different types of people in our neighborhood from various backgrounds and who have diverse interests.   There are many clubs open to all neighbors.  We get together for an annual parade/picnic and a few other community events.  There are lots of parties in the neighborhood organized by the Swim and Tennis social committee as well as the Mantua Citizen’s Organization.  Parties are diverse in theme, ranging from Crab Feasts and Dog Days of Summer parties during the time the pool is open, to Casino night, Band evenings and Oktoberfest gatherings.

 

The Mantua Citizens’ Association prints and delivers a monthly newsletter to all homes within the development.  There is also a Mantua Directory that is printed every 2 years.  Dues are only $20 per year to cover the costs of these publications and a few other expenses.  The MCA organizes a Newcomers’ Dinner in the Spring as well as a Block Captain’s and Neighborhood Watch Volunteers’ Luncheon.

 

People have different reasons for wanting to live in Mantua.  In summary, some of the reasons they choose our neighborhood:

 

· Top Fairfax County Schools

· Great sense of community with elementary school within neighborhood

· Swim and Tennis Club, annual parties and neighborhood parade and events

· Large wooded lots with mature trees, azaleas and other plantings

· Abundant parkland, parks and trails 

· Great location just outside the beltway

· Easy commuting and many road options to downtown DC, Alexandria, Dulles Toll road

· Both Vienna and Dunn Loring Metros 10 minutes drive away

· Tysons Corner and Fair Oaks Mall both within 15 minutes drive

· 20-25 minutes to both Dulles International and Reagan National Airports, 1 hr to BWI

· Fairfax Hospital just 2 miles