Looking for Young Professional life in Bethesda Area (apartments, rentals)

[Gaidin43]

I will be moving from NC to the Bethesda area this summer and looking for a lively and young professional area to live. I will be working at the Naval Medical Center and want to limit my commute as best I can and be close to the metro. I would be prefer a home rental, but not against town homes or apartments (Not really interested in the high rises) 2 bedrooms+ and have a price range of about $1500-$2500 for rent.

I am a late 20's single male. I have lived in Boston, as well as other places across the country and understand high rents and what you get for it. After living in NC for the past few years I am ready for some night life again, close to home. Anyone have some suggestions?

[psychofan]

I guess downtown Bethesda is out of the question, since it's mainly high rise apartment. Although if you reconsider then, you'll probably have a 5 min Metro commute or even just bike to work since it's probably within 2-3 miles and living in the lively area.

[Gaidin43]

How are they to live in? Most everything I have lived in has been small apartments or houses. I kind of like the idea of having a garage and driveway to work in on my truck or whatever little project I have. I know they offer work out facilities which would save me a gym membership else where, but what are the other benefits of living in a high rise in the area?

[FrankLaw]

There are older apartment buildings in Bethesda (I'm thinking right now of some along Battery Lane) that are only two or three stories and have parking right out in front. Those may be more what you're looking for. You'd be on the outer edge of downtown Bethesda, but you'd be right on the southern edge of NIH's property (and therefore, within walking distance to the Naval Medical Center).

[Gaidin43]

Thanks for the info I will start looking there a little more heavily.

[vanyali]

There are plenty little houses to rent or buy right in downtown Bethesda. I'm looking there right now. Look east of Wisconsin and south of the Naval Medical Center. There's a neighborhood just south of the Medical Center, and it keeps going even after you cross East-West Hwy. Prices are all over the map. I'm looking to buy, and I can tell that a lot of the houses have been used as rental properties for years. I'm pretty sure you can find something to rent there.

There's a tonier neighborhood right in that area but on the other side of Wisconsin. Out of my price range, and not as close a walk to the shopping, so I haven't checked it out as much, but it's just a few blocks over, so you might look there too.

If you look at Google Maps, it'll tell you the neighborhood names at the right zoom level, and that helps with looking at listings/Craigslist online.

There are single family houses all over these neighborhoods in downtown Bethesda. I don't know how much they rent for, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't bother looking.

[Joykins]

There are single family houses (including some rentals) in the neighborhoods south of Montgomery Mall (off Fernwood/Greentree) as well. The one I visited was old and had some issues (2 foot step into the backyard for example) so you could probably stay within budget too if you don't mind that.