Possible job in Rockville. Want to be as close to Baltimore or DC as practical. What are some suggetions? (Columbia: rent)

[emelvee]

We're looking for as suburban as possible - decent access to most services, safe, good schools, maybe 1/2 an acre lot or so, 2,500 sq ft home or so ... under $400k (and preferably closer to $300k). Job would be in Rockville. In a perfect world, I'd live halfway between DC and Baltimore to be accessible to both those cities in case the new job doesn't work out. But I'm pretty certain I won't find anything meeting our criteria there, so Frederick County has been suggested. City of Frederick would probably be an ok commute to Rockville, but too far to DC or Baltimore. I want as short a commute as possible - 45 minutes is about the maximum I'll accept.

I have a feeling I won't find the right combination, but want to learn as much about the area as possible so I know whether I even would accept a position if offered. Thanks!

[dkf747]

Olney? I don't know what housing prices are like there, but Montgomery County somewhere in that area might work.

[HandsUpThumbsDown]

Maybe you should rent first and make sure that the job is all it's cracked up to be?

[emelvee]

We may rent at first, but I want to make sure I want to pursue the job. If we aren't confident that we will find a home that meets our criteria, I won't take the job. So I want to have as much information as possible.

[stpickrell]

Upper Silver Spring may have some stuff you like. Not 100% sure of the schools to like/avoid in that part of the county.

[opequon]

The 300k-400k part is realistic for Rockville, but it won't have a 1/2 acre lot. With prices well below where they were a few years ago, you can get a nice home in the more rural areas of Montgomery or Frederick counties, but commutes can be brutal, so be sure you map out the specific location of work before deciding upon a home. I'm glad to help with more info, if you plan to pursue this job opp.

[emelvee]

Thanks everyone for the advice. I visited the area last weekend. Spent most of the time in Frederick County. I decided the commute from where we would want to live would be excessive. I found out a couple of days later I didn't get the job.

[gosling357]

Columbia, MD is where most people live that want to be between both cities. $400 would have gotten you a good smallish house.