Bethesda Naval Hopital.. (Germantown, Gaithersburg, Rockville: housing, condo, rental)

[bunky3301]

Hi , the wife is Navy and she is being sent to Bethesda Naval Hospital for her next duty station. We currently are in San Diego and have to make the long trip back across country , which we had made from Virginia Beach just last year for her to go to a school here. Oh the maddness of our goverment spending "thousands of Your/ours tax dollars sending us back and forth.They should have kept us out here..oh well...nothing I can do about this one.

But I grew up in the DC area and left about 15 years ago and I know that things have change alot in Montgomery County. BTW I grew up in Clinton, MD in PG county. Also lived in Hollywood and Greenbelt/College Park area before excaping..I mean moving to Florida.

Anyway the main thing I'd like to know is this : I know that Bethesda is out of the question. Way to expensive to live . By the way we are renting and when the 3 years is up here , we'll be moving on.

We have two small children and want a SAFE place to call home for 3 years.I want to stay away from apartments and would be happy with a townhouse. I also want a short or easy commute for my wife. Metro if possible because she is not use to the kind of traffic that area has and also has never had to drive in winter weather before either.

Im considering Olney, North Rockville and the Derwood area. Olney is my first choice right now because I've heard it's still a nice place to live with kids. Is this still true?

Devirsity is not a problem, I lived with diversity where I grew up in PG county and I live with it here in Chula Vista, California (suburb of San Diego). We live 12 miles from downtown San Diego and 12 miles from the Mexican border and we LOVE it here!!! Wouldn't leave if we weren't military.

[DragonFly757]

Go to Germantown. Your commute via the Metro (Gaithersburg station) would be quick and easy.

You really, really don't want to deal with highway 29. Avoid it!

We are former military (husband was at Walter Reed and I worked at WRAMC/Bethesda) with 3 school-age kids. We left there a little over a year ago. We had a townhouse in a nice area. Schools were great and other than traffic, had no complaints. Metro makes it easier than driving.

BTW, I am now in Suffolk, just a stone's throw from Va. Beach. We are thinking of moving back to the West Coast. LOL

[bepperoo]

Hi, just happened across your post and thought I'd respond. We are leaving Bethesda National Naval hospital in June. We live in a townhome in Rockville in the Fallsgrove community. Its a really nice area, safe, great elementary school and community pool. We live in a townhome which has three bedrooms and an office downstairs and 3 and 1/2 baths. We do not own this townhome but if you would like me to forward you the number to the property manager then I would be happy to. The only bad thing is that there is no back yard. You said that your kids are young so that may not be a problem because there are parks within walking distance. Don't know what your BAH is but they have rent set at 2600. A bit high but Rockville can be a bit expensive.

[bunky3301]

Originally Posted by bepperoo

Hi, just happened across your post and thought I'd respond. We are leaving Bethesda National Naval hospital in June. We live in a townhome in Rockville in the Fallsgrove community. Its a really nice area, safe, great elementary school and community pool. We live in a townhome which has three bedrooms and an office downstairs and 3 and 1/2 baths. We do not own this townhome but if you would like me to forward you the number to the property manager then I would be happy to. The only bad thing is that there is no back yard. You said that your kids are young so that may not be a problem because there are parks within walking distance. Don't know what your BAH is but they have rent set at 2600. A bit high but Rockville can be a bit expensive.

Thanks....we're going to have to shop around a little our BAH wouldn't cover that and I'm going to try and stay home with the kids as well as try to get a home base business off the ground...we'll see? But at least I know that Rockville may yeild something and has some safe areas still as well. Like I said I'm thinking of looking at Olney and the Derwood area North of Rockville.

Actually maybe I would like to get that number to the Property Manager,they may have other properties in our price range as well. If you could send it to me in a Private messagae or Direct Message as they call it on this forum it would be much appreciated.
Thanks,
bunky

[bunky3301]

Originally Posted by TailoredMaid

Go to Germantown. Your commute via the Metro (Gaithersburg station) would be quick and easy.

You really, really don't want to deal with highway 29. Avoid it!

We are former military (husband was at Walter Reed and I worked at WRAMC/Bethesda) with 3 school-age kids. We left there a little over a year ago. We had a townhouse in a nice area. Schools were great and other than traffic, had no complaints. Metro makes it easier than driving.

BTW, I am now in Suffolk, just a stone's throw from Va. Beach. We are thinking of moving back to the West Coast. LOL

Tailormaid,
Can you be more specific as far as what community you lived in Germantown, or at least a cross roads so I can look it up on Mapquest. If its safe and I can walk down the street with my two little ones and not have to worry about anything would be great. One of the problems we're having is that we're not going to be able to make a trip ahead of the move to scout out the areas. We'll have about two weeks once we get there to find permanent housing so that's why I'm trying to do as much homework as I can now.

Oh yeah Suffolk, I know it well. I worked for a company in Norfolk that did alot of business in the Suffolk and Smithfield areas.I traveled there twice a week for three years. I hope the recent tornado's didn't damage any of your property? I was sorry to see all the destruction it had done.

We liked Va. Beach ok , but really fell in love with the whole San Diego area and we actually lived in Chula Vista (East Side) and love it. Yes it's extremely expensive here but seems like such a great place to raise kids. Neighbors here aren't afraid to get to know each other which you don't see alot of these day's. Thats why we're going to do our best to move back there after my wife's tour is up...we'll see?
Thanks,
bunky

[DragonFly757]

Bunky,

We lived right beside the Department of Energy, off exit 15B. Here is a link to Trulia defining the area:
Moderator cut: Please use the DM feature to contact other members. Thanks.

All the way out to Wisteria is good. Let me know if you have any further questions. PM me to make sure I don't miss a post.

ETA: We fared out fine in the tornado. We live in NE Suffolk near the Joint Forces Command Center. Thanks for asking!

[bunky3301]

TailoredMaid,
thanks for the info....I did get that link before the moderator deleted it.

I'd like to ask one question of that area you lived in? Would you take a walk by yourself , with your husband or pushing a baby stroller at night in that neighborhood and feel safe?

Saftey is the main thing I'm looking at for my family, I have a 3 year old and a new baby due in about three weeks. I want to live somewhere you don't have to worry about walking a mile away from your house and you run into a bad area.

We're really lucky here in Chula Vista, California(San Diego suburb) to have found a place like that. Its 12:22 am right now and I wouldn't have a problem going for a walk around my neighborhood right now at all. This neighborhood is just average, not the ritz or anything , just average middle/upper middle class people of all race's. We're really going to miss it here alot, especially the people.

I hope you can answer the safety question as well as you can. Thanks again,
Bunky

PS- don't get me wrong there are sections of this town that aren't as nice but the majority of it is (East Side of Chula Vista)

[Moth]

Bunky:

Welcome back, although I would probably move to San Diego if I could. In any case, give Kensington a look. Where I reside it is an excellent school district and your wife could literally walk to Bethesda Naval. That might help alleviate the shock of the high prices. Best of luck.

[bunky3301]

Originally Posted by Moth

Bunky:

Welcome back, although I would probably move to San Diego if I could. In any case, give Kensington a look. Where I reside it is an excellent school district and your wife could literally walk to Bethesda Naval. That might help alleviate the shock of the high prices. Best of luck.

Thanks Moth,

If I could find a townhouse or large condo in Kensington and the area is safe I would. How is Kensington these days? Like I said I grew up in the DC area but left there 15 years ago. I have two small children and only one will be school age but that will only be in the last year we're there.

The only other thing is we are somewhat limited on what we're going to pay for rent and yes we're only renting becasue we're only going to be there for 3 years. I know that Bethesda will be out of our budget and I don't remember what Kensington is like anymore. Let me know. Whats the average rentals in Kensington? I do want to stay away from apartments ,mostly because of noise problems I've had with them in the past.

[Moth]

Kensington is fine as far as safety goes. Just make sure any residence is in the Walter Johnson school cluster.