Getting stationed in Bethesda.. (Silver Spring, Rockville: renting, house, safe area)

[Rhammond]

My husband is being stationed in Bethesda Maryland this winter. We are a newly married young couple and don't know where the best place around here is to live. We have an allowance for housing through the military so cannot afford anything too expensive. We are looking for something in a safe area with a reasonable commute to Bethesda, 30 min or less. We were looking at Silver spring?

[TrippingJay]

The major obstacle in Bethesda and most of Montgomery County is finding a decent place that doesn't force you to spend a large portion of your earning on rent.

Silver Spring and Rockville might be the best options to start since they are not too far from Bethesda.

Do you have a specified amount you wish to spend in rent?

[bunky3301]

My wife is active duty Navy and we just arrived here at Bethesda Naval Hospital. We were very concerned about the area as well for safety and an easy commute.

With some advice off the board we found that "Kensington" was a great fit for us. It was tough to find a house (renting that is) is our price range with the BAH we are giving. My wife is an E-4 and that BAH doesn't go far in this area. We came from San Diego and the BAH dropped a $100 and the housing is just as expensive here as San Diego and the utilities are alot more expensive since you don't really have much of heating and cooling electric bill like you do here in the DC area.

Long story short we found a place with the help of a Realtor and you can PM me if you want his name. Its a 3/1 Rambler with a basement and nice size yard. We sacrificed the second bathroom , larger bedrooms/closet space for the nice yard for the kids and a very short commute to the Naval Hospital of only 4 miles. Hope it helps. Bunky