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
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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.
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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