S., can you give some more details? Where will you and/or your husband be working? What is your deal-breaker as far as commute time you or he is willing to spend each day? You don't want to live way out in, say, Leesburg, Va., if you're working in downtown DC -- it's doable but a looooong commute, and the Metro (subway) does not run all the way to Leesburg....So more details on what you need to be near, whether driving or taking Metro is the preferred option, etc. would help. How important is the school district quality? Do you care if you're in DC, or VA, or MD? Do you care if you have to drive a while to get to, for instance, a grocery store, or does saving on house price mean more than having close-by stores etc.? Info will help those of us in the area to help you. By the way, yes, I agree with the person who said you might want to rent first to find out truly where you want to be around here! The "DC area" is vast and can mean everything from 2 hours south of DC in Virginia, to way east of DC in Maryland, etc.!
UPDATE based on your additional info....
I live in Vienna, which is a great town (part of the huge Fairfax County area but an incorporated town, so it has its own town government). Fairfax County schools are considered very good, and so are Montgomery County (MD) schools -- check both out online. Chantilly, which someone mentioned -- I can't believe it would be 25 minutes to DC, as was posted -- maybe "as the crow flies" on a Sunday morning, but not in rush hour traffic! Another place that could work for you is Arlington, Va -- much closer in to DC. but I'm not sure about housing prices there.
If I were you I would (1) start working now, from up there, with a real estate agent who knows the area well and (2) rent at first, not buy. I would think you will find it very hard to resell a house here if you choose the wrong location/house/school district the first time out, because a lot of houses are just sitting on the market right now and not selling. Good for buyers, potentially, but know your desired area before you commit! A good realtor should be open to working with renters because he or she will see that you want to buy eventually and would be a potential client for purchasing later.
This is a wonderful, wonderful area with kids. There is SO much to do, both free and otherwise, both educational and just fun, with and for children! Don't fear DC, either -- you can look thereffor a home too, but I don't know the school situation, which is always a source of controversy in the paper here; if you get in the area for certain public schools it may be great. And there are some excellent private schools there and all over the area. But I only know the suburbs, as a resident. I do take my child into DC for lots of activities and hope you will do the same!