Montgomery County - good apartments - urgent! (Bethesda, Gaithersburg: leasing, condos)

[kinjul]

I have read so many bad apartment reviews. Any suggestions for a good apartment/condo with private fullsize washer and dryer in apartment and good elementary school? I have heard older highrise buildings are more quiet - is this true? Specifically interested in Bethesda, Rockville, and Gaithersburg. Max price 2200 for 2bed/2bath. Need suggestions immediately as must move in less than 1 month. Thanks!

[lind1550]

kinjul,

Just know that those ratings boards might not provide a balanced view of a building. Friends have given positive reviews to the apartments in the following New Urbanism communities:

King Farm
Pros: across the street from Shady Grove metro (and has shuttle service weekdays), several parks in walking distance, nice garden-style apts w/full washer/dryer

Cons: southern half in the Richard Montgomery, Julius West, College Gardens school cluster, northern half in the Gaithersburg school cluster (you would want to be The Huntington at King Farm, not The Residences at King Farm for that reason), some of the apts in are areas where road noise is problematic . . . if you end up leasing there and this is a problem insist they move you to a quieter apt

Fallsgrove (contains some condos for rent I believe, Post-Fallsgrove apartments, and Camden Fallsgrove apartments . . . would think all have full washer/dryer)

Pros: close to Shady Grove metro, has the Rockville Transit Center (2 publically-operated bus routes stop there), good schools (Richard Montgomery, Julius West, Richie Park), construction is a little newer than King Farm

Cons: possibly fewer parks than King Farm because it is smaller, have heard that Camden Fallsgrove apartments are much more expensive than Post Fallsgrove apartments

Good luck in your search.

[jauburn]

The best kept secret in Bethesda is the Kenwood Place condos. The building is built like fort knox--older, solid brick, four stories. 20816, Whitman district. A minute from the D.C. line.

[iabb]

Kinjul I think you've probably already found something, but just in case anyone else is looking - Upstairs at Bethesda Row has real problems for tenants, with little resolution. There's even a website about how bad it is. On the good side, the locations is awesome! parks, libraries, school, all right there, the best restaurants right out your door, great shops right within walking distance, just pick a different building.

[MichaelinMaryland]

Rockville: Congressional Plaza apartments might have what you're looking for. My grandparents lived there and they were very nice, not sure on the washer/dryer though. A lot of shopping centers near there. Near a great elementary school in a very safe neighborhood...where I went

Bethesda: Then there's apartments on Battery Lane and I think by the Marriott off of Rockville Pike and Nicholson Lane both good locations.