Is Frederick an OK place to reside, for an early 30s professional single woman? (Baltimore: rentals)

[Beautyxoxo]

I'm in the process of exploring where I should eventually set down roots. I can't say that the state of MD is at the top of my list, but it's where my job is, so I'm staying put for the moment. My job is based in Rockville, MD and I have the option of teleworking two days out the week.

I am wondering if it would be wise to purchase a townhome in Frederick. I seem to go from one extreme to the next; one moment I want to reside in an urban area (i.e. DC or Baltimore), while the next moment, I prefer a suburban area (i.e. Frederick or Raleigh, NC). Perhaps I should focus on selecting a hybrid area (not too urban and not too suburban)...

Should I focus primarily on the downtown area of Frederick?

[smackasalmon]

Rent here for a year and see if you like it. That would be my suggestion.

Frederick is a little bit of both worlds. You could be in DC and Baltimore in an hour and the mountains in an hour. Yet have a bit of city to live in.

[dad2paisley]

Frederick is a nice area. It's not a small town anymore and is growing. Traffic is bad but that's what you get for living near DC and Baltimore.

[Greenville Fan]

Traffic isn't bad in Frederick except on the interstate during rush hour. It is a small city.

I'd probably try to live in Gaithersburg/Germantown area if I was working in Rockville. The interstate b/t Rockville and Frederick is parking lot in the afternoons. It is worth paying more for housing than sit in that everyday in my view and housing in Frederick is not exactly a good deal..

[MidValleyDad]

Depends on where your job is. Is it in Frederick or would you be commuting 'down the road'. I would suggest renting near the job to begin with

[tw71]

I agree about the traffic, but even working in Bethesda, I found Frederick made more economic sense for housing than trying to buy a place closer like in Gaithersburg or Germantown.

Are you only referring to the cost to rent?

The biggest negative I hear about Frederick homes are the high property taxes, but Montgomery County imposes plenty of taxes themselves - so I'm not convinced that's not essentially a wash. You can take the MARC train from Frederick to places like Rockville and avoid the drive and the traffic.

Originally Posted by Greenville Fan

Traffic isn't bad in Frederick except on the interstate during rush hour. It is a small city.

I'd probably try to live in Gaithersburg/Germantown area if I was working in Rockville. The interstate b/t Rockville and Frederick is parking lot in the afternoons. It is worth paying more for housing than sit in that everyday in my view and housing in Frederick is not exactly a good deal..

[LAMINI]

Start renting in the case you haven't already started. If you don't like the place find another. I would avoid rentals that require long-term contracts as you are still discovering

Good hunting

[DistrictSonic]

My advice. Test out living there for a year before you commit to buying there than later regret it.