Affluent African American Family, Considering Rockville Area (Baltimore, Columbia: HOA, new home)

[TuborgP]

Originally Posted by SRS

My husband and two small children are moving from San Fran to Montgomery Co. due to job relocations. This area seems to be a great place due to the school clusters and overall family-friendliness. I am looking for info regarding the diversity, particularly for well-off African Americans. Is this an area where you can find a nice church, get your hair done, have a diverse neighborhood, etc or do you take advantage of the good schools and have a social life outside of Rockville.

Also, if anyone can recommend excellent preschools - I would GREATLY appreciate - Pls let me know!

No need for questions/comments about African Americans seeking African Americans - I'm not looking to debate - just want to get a sense of the area - thanks in advance!

The OP said she wanted diversity not exclusivity, you need only be able to read with intelligence to know she is not requesting a racially pure neighborhood. Affluent means she is able to afford many neighborhoods. How else is she suppose to describe the affordability of the neighborhood she seeks. She clearly stated she didn't want controversy just information. How much clearer could she be for the literate reader? Maybe she said to diverse to avoid all Black. Who knows. My personal recommendation is that she advise her husband to consider taking a job in another state that doesn't hate each other as much.

[sundaze]

As an almost lifelong Marylander (until this Saturday) I would say that people on this forum do not represent people in Maryland in general. If you do come, you will make friends, you will have a nice house (maybe not as nice as you would like but the market is headed south) and your children will have a good school. My kids got good educations at Montgomery County Schools. People with busy happy lives may not be hanging out on forums twisting the meaning of words like affluent. Having said all of that, I don't think I would choose Rockville. It is very bland suburbia, with heavy traffic, strip mills, and no real sense of community that I ever noticed. In all the time I lived in Maryland, I made friends with the parents of my kids' friends, with co-workers, with people at my church, with people who shared my hobbies -- never really got to know any neighbors much. I have got to know more neighbors in 2 days in North Carolina than in 36 years in Maryland. Having said that, happiness is where the job is, get involved in activities you enjoy, and you will meet people, have a good life, and make good friends. Don't let this forum put you off!

[Jaded]

I have just stopped laughing at this thread. Some very interesting points. My husband and I are considering moving to the DC area because he would like to advance in his career and DC is where he needs to be to do this, so I've been researching different neighborhoods. We currently live in Phoenix.

While I have to agree that the OP's mention of "affluent" has sparked much of this debate, I am a bit confused as to why any person who has substantial means would ask those who post on an internet forum questions about neighborhoods. This seems odd to me.

Most affluent people I know, and no, they've never mentioned their financial status to me, I learned about it through years of associating with them, pretty much can determine where to live in any state/city just by having a good realtor run comps for them. Also, you can search an areas median income for families. This information should be sufficient in determining if you and your neighbors will be like minded. Also, try Realtor.com and simply put in the amount of money you wish to spend on your home...some commonalities of affluent neighborhoods are steady, high home values, solid schools, and very few renters.

One warning to the OP: most AA affluent communities are surrounded by not-so-good areas and are in poor public school districts, which many have pointed out on this thread. I don't know why this is. So, if education is important to you, then you may want to reconsider an exclusively AA affluent community. I took your post as meaning you want to live in a neighborhood that is "known" for being an affluent AA community. Because if race were not an issue, it is pretty easy to find affluent neighborhoods by the methods I've listed above.

Sorry SRS, I know you weren't looking for a debate, but your post was begging for it

[TuborgP]

Originally Posted by Jaded

I have just stopped laughing at this thread. Some very interesting points. My husband and I are considering moving to the DC area because he would like to advance in his career and DC is where he needs to be to do this, so I've been researching different neighborhoods. We currently live in Phoenix.

While I have to agree that the OP's mention of "affluent" has sparked much of this debate, I am a bit confused as to why any person who has substantial means would ask those who post on an internet forum questions about neighborhoods. This seems odd to me.

Most affluent people I know, and no, they've never mentioned their financial status to me, I learned about it through years of associating with them, pretty much can determine where to live in any state/city just by having a good realtor run comps for them. Also, you can search an areas median income for families. This information should be sufficient in determining if you and your neighbors will be like minded. Also, try Realtor.com and simply put in the amount of money you wish to spend on your home...some commonalities of affluent neighborhoods are steady, high home values, solid schools, and very few renters.

One warning to the OP: most AA affluent communities are surrounded by not-so-good areas and are in poor public school districts, which many have pointed out on this thread. I don't know why this is. So, if education is important to you, then you may want to reconsider an exclusively AA affluent community. I took your post as meaning you want to live in a neighborhood that is "known" for being an affluent AA community. Because if race were not an issue, it is pretty easy to find affluent neighborhoods by the methods I've listed above.

Sorry SRS, I know you weren't looking for a debate, but your post was begging for it

This is a typical question that we as African Americans ask when we have a degree of affluence that gives us choices. When we ask for diversity we know that is not as easy to obtain as if we wanted exclusivity. If we want a diverse church we want to know if it is multicultural. Modern churches often advertise they are multi cultural so folks know they are welcome. Ever try being Black and wanting to retire in a active 55 community? You want to know you are welcome and guess what? So many developments advertise with a smiling Black couple on the golf course so folks know they are welcome. They could have said we are looking for a community with homes in the 700K plus range that have an adequate representation of African Americans and someone would have said something. Not every affluent community in Maryland is integrated and many are not welcoming to Blacks. If you are from out of state you don't know the turf and for some reason I thought this was called City-Data. That to me suggest that this is a forum to obtain data/demographics about geographical areas with a reference to to lifestyle questions. Seems to me that is what she was asking. Just like a Gay/Lesbian might be seeking an area friendly to them. The affluent part is letting folks know that cost is not an object. Hey Maryland cost is a big thing because the state is so darn expensive so that is a logical qualification for someone relocating. Just ask a realtor, I am sure they are but like thousands of other intelligent people they are seeking additional data in a forum context. To me I see this as a typical example of logical discourse versus jaded disussion.

[TuborgP]

Originally Posted by Jaded

I have just stopped laughing at this thread. Some very interesting points. My husband and I are considering moving to the DC area because he would like to advance in his career and DC is where he needs to be to do this, so I've been researching different neighborhoods. We currently live in Phoenix.

While I have to agree that the OP's mention of "affluent" has sparked much of this debate, I am a bit confused as to why any person who has substantial means would ask those who post on an internet forum questions about neighborhoods. This seems odd to me.

Most affluent people I know, and no, they've never mentioned their financial status to me, I learned about it through years of associating with them, pretty much can determine where to live in any state/city just by having a good realtor run comps for them. Also, you can search an areas median income for families. This information should be sufficient in determining if you and your neighbors will be like minded. Also, try Realtor.com and simply put in the amount of money you wish to spend on your home...some commonalities of affluent neighborhoods are steady, high home values, solid schools, and very few renters.

One warning to the OP: most AA affluent communities are surrounded by not-so-good areas and are in poor public school districts, which many have pointed out on this thread. I don't know why this is. So, if education is important to you, then you may want to reconsider an exclusively AA affluent community. I took your post as meaning you want to live in a neighborhood that is "known" for being an affluent AA community. Because if race were not an issue, it is pretty easy to find affluent neighborhoods by the methods I've listed above.

Sorry SRS, I know you weren't looking for a debate, but your post was begging for it

Just wanted to share that most affluent people I know discuss investments and market trends with each other. We know how others react if we discuss our portfolios around them so we don't. That is one of the sad things about American life. We will discuss our kids scoring average with pride but are reluctant to shout their SAT scores in public. Now when they get to that highly competitive college part of the pecking order is based on those scores. We would all be better off if those of lesser means asked those of greater how they did it. Hmmmm Bloomberg and all the other financial shows do that all day long. Yes is Cramer is crazy and rich. So to the OP congrats on being Black and affluent. Ain't it grand!

[Jaded]

Originally Posted by TuborgP

This is a typical question that we as African Americans ask when we have a degree of affluence that gives us choices. When we ask for diversity we know that is not as easy to obtain as if we wanted exclusivity. If we want a diverse church we want to know if it is multicultural. Modern churches often advertise they are multi cultural so folks know they are welcome. Ever try being Black and wanting to retire in a active 55 community? You want to know you are welcome and guess what? So many developments advertise with a smiling Black couple on the golf course so folks know they are welcome. They could have said we are looking for a community with homes in the 700K plus range that have an adequate representation of African Americans and someone would have said something. Not every affluent community in Maryland is integrated and many are not welcoming to Blacks. If you are from out of state you don't know the turf and for some reason I thought this was called City-Data. That to me suggest that this is a forum to obtain data/demographics about geographical areas with a reference to to lifestyle questions. Seems to me that is what she was asking. Just like a Gay/Lesbian might be seeking an area friendly to them. The affluent part is letting folks know that cost is not an object. Hey Maryland cost is a big thing because the state is so darn expensive so that is a logical qualification for someone relocating. Just ask a realtor, I am sure they are but like thousands of other intelligent people they are seeking additional data in a forum context. To me I see this as a typical example of logical discourse versus jaded disussion.

I am AA. Check!

[Jaded]

Originally Posted by TuborgP

Just wanted to share that most affluent people I know discuss investments and market trends with each other. We know how others react if we discuss our portfolios around them so we don't. That is one of the sad things about American life. We will discuss our kids scoring average with pride but are reluctant to shout their SAT scores in public. Now when they get to that highly competitive college part of the pecking order is based on those scores. We would all be better off if those of lesser means asked those of greater how they did it. Hmmmm Bloomberg and all the other financial shows do that all day long. Yes is Cramer is crazy and rich. So to the OP congrats on being Black and affluent. Ain't it grand!

What does discussing one's portfolio have to do with affluency or the OP's question? Most affluent people do not discuss investments and market trends as part of their everyday conversation with others who are affluent...however, if you have a circle of friends, affluent or not, and you all like discussing business, economics, financial literacy, etc., that's great. Keep up the good work.

"We know how others react if we discuss our portfolios..." Are you sure you don't believe in the Cast System??

As an AA I can say this...I am truly embarrassed that "we" feel the need to brag about or "show off" (as my parents would say) our financial position in life. And as far as affluent blacks not being welcome in certain neighborhoods...well, I don't hear Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Oprah Winfrey, Denzel Washington, James Bell, Richard Parsons, Stanely O'Neal, Kenneth Chennault, etc., complaining that their neighbors aren't welcoming...

[eastguy]

Originally Posted by SRS

My husband and two small children are moving from San Fran to Montgomery Co. due to job relocations. This area seems to be a great place due to the school clusters and overall family-friendliness. I am looking for info regarding the diversity, particularly for well-off African Americans. Is this an area where you can find a nice church, get your hair done, have a diverse neighborhood, etc or do you take advantage of the good schools and have a social life outside of Rockville.

Also, if anyone can recommend excellent preschools - I would GREATLY appreciate - Pls let me know!

No need for questions/comments about African Americans seeking African Americans - I'm not looking to debate - just want to get a sense of the area - thanks in advance!

Most of Rockville is working class neightborhood with a mix of some upper class....areas closer to Bethesda is more affluent. Rockville has one of the worst traffic in the area expercially on Rockville Pike. Oh rockville is more of a mix culture with all races than say Bethesda or Chevy Chase(mostly white).

[lscalder]

I think Checy Chase is a better area to live the Rockeville. Especially if you have children

[lscalder]

Chevy Chase