Moving to Maryland,need help (Silver Spring, Gaithersburg: apartment, for rent, houses)

[handy man88]

Originally Posted by stonybrook00

Ok, here is something about us.

We are a family of four with 2 young kids (4 and 1) and we are moving from Colorado to MD around December, 2008. My husband will be working at Claverton/Beltsville most of the week and at Fairfax, VA one day per week. So, our primary residence will be around Claverton/Beltsville. We plan to rent a place first (apartment, townhouse, condo, single house...) , then maybe buy a house after 1 or 2 years.

and we need help finding a safe and commute-easy and family friendly place. Since we have young kids, so safety is my biggest cocern. My son will go to kindergarten next September, so a good pubic school will help a lot. Also we are looking for the place easy access to libirary, parks, shoppig center(perferably by walking).

Are there any good towns or apartment complexs you recommend? I can think of living 30 minutes away, even in VA if neccesary. BTW, how is the everyday commute situation? I might have tons of questions later.

thank you very much

When considering a place to live, make sure you understand why some areas have lower prices than others. That usually means demand is low, while supply his high.

PG County has a lot of newer homes on the market at very reasonable prices, but these homes continue to stay on the market. That's a huge indicator that demand is low, which from a distance, doesn't make sense because the DC area is a generally expensive place to live.

Factors that may contribute to the lower price of homes (comparatively speaking) include mediocre schools, crime, poor government management, lack of nearby jobs, lack of shopping, high taxes, etc.

When buying real estate, don't lose sight of the cliche, "location, location, location." If other people are having a tough time selling their house in PG, you'll have a tough time selling when it's your turn. You're not just thinking about Elementary Schools, you're also thinking about Middle and High Schools.

Also, neither Greenbelt nor Beltsville are walkable communities.

Below are some links to help you with choosing a school for your kids. I think Bethesda is the best area for you.


Here are links to a few Greenbelt and Beltsville Elementary Schools. Ratings are on a 10 pt. scale.

http://www.greatschools.net/modperl/...chool/md/1060/

http://www.greatschools.net/modperl/...chool/md/1050/

http://www.greatschools.net/modperl/...chool/md/1034/

http://www.greatschools.net/modperl/...chool/md/1065/

while here are some from Bethesda:

http://www.greatschools.net/modperl/...school/md/868/

http://www.greatschools.net/modperl/...school/md/957/

http://www.greatschools.net/modperl/...school/md/990/

http://www.greatschools.net/modperl/...school/md/862/

http://www.greatschools.net/modperl/...chool/md/1001/

http://www.greatschools.net/modperl/...school/md/977/

http://www.greatschools.net/modperl/...school/md/855/

[lscalder]

Originally Posted by handy man88

When considering a place to live, make sure you understand why some areas have lower prices than others. That usually means demand is low, while supply his high.

PG County has a lot of newer homes on the market at very reasonable prices, but these homes continue to stay on the market. That's a huge indicator that demand is low, which from a distance, doesn't make sense because the DC area is a generally expensive place to live.

Factors that may contribute to the lower price of homes (comparatively speaking) include mediocre schools, crime, poor government management, lack of nearby jobs, lack of shopping, high taxes, etc.

When buying real estate, don't lose sight of the cliche, "location, location, location." If other people are having a tough time selling their house in PG, you'll have a tough time selling when it's your turn.

Please this is is lie. If you want better example lets take a look at Fairfax in VA which has the highest in foreclosure in the MD,DC,VA area. Are you saying Fairfax is not a good area to live. Prices are down everywhere.
All Home Owners are having a tough time selling. As those home owners who have renovated their home and still can not sell.

The bottom line is it is all about race and this person is basically telling you do not move to Pg county because it is majority black. If you notice the poster mention areas that is majority white.

[handy man88]

Originally Posted by lscalder

Please this is is lie. If you want better example lets take a look at Fairfax in VA which has the highest in foreclosure in the MD,DC,VA area. Are you saying Fairfax is not a good area to live. Prices are down everywhere.
All Home Owners are having a tough time selling. As those home owners who have renovated their home and still can not sell.

The bottom line is it is all about race and this person is basically telling you do not move to Pg county because it is majority black. If you notice the poster mention areas that is majority white.

Please, I do not want to debate with you because we are not allowed to debate on this blog.

I will say this, that far western Fairfax County where the latinos are being chased out such as PW County and Loudon County and Herndon is where there are foreclosures. In fact, these latinos are running to PG County (Langley Park).

Sales of homes will always move around areas with plentiful jobs, public transportation, and great schools. If prices in Fairfax County went down to the levels of PG County, everybody would be buying in FFX. In fact, homes in PG cost almost 50-75% less for a comparable home in the best district in FFX vs. the best district in PG. There are many reasons for that.

Stop talking about race. You keep talking about PG County being majority black, but ask yourself, what is the makeup of blacks in the US? Does PG reflect the norm or does Montgomery Cty/FFX Cty reflect that better?

[handy man88]

Originally Posted by lscalder

Please this is is lie. If you want better example lets take a look at Fairfax in VA which has the highest in foreclosure in the MD,DC,VA area. Are you saying Fairfax is not a good area to live. Prices are down everywhere.
All Home Owners are having a tough time selling. As those home owners who have renovated their home and still can not sell.

The bottom line is it is all about race and this person is basically telling you do not move to Pg county because it is majority black. If you notice the poster mention areas that is majority white.

The lie is that you said Beltsville/Greenbelt schools are at the same level that Bethesda schools are.

[handy man88]

Currently, there are 3,074 homes in foreclosure in PG County out of a total of 177,206 (as of 2005) homes.

Prince Georges County Foreclosures

http://www.city-data.com/county/Prin...County-MD.html

Currently, there are 2,161 homes in foreclosure in FFX County out of 248,848 (as of 2005) homes.

Fairfax County Foreclosures

http://www.city-data.com/county/Fairfax_County-VA.html

That makes it 1.73% (PG) vs. .86% (FFX). PG has double the % of homes in foreclosure compared to FFX.

[lscalder]

Originally Posted by handy man88

When considering a place to live, make sure you understand why some areas have lower prices than others. That usually means demand is low, while supply his high.

PG County has a lot of newer homes on the market at very reasonable prices, but these homes continue to stay on the market. That's a huge indicator that demand is low, which from a distance, doesn't make sense because the DC area is a generally expensive place to live.

Factors that may contribute to the lower price of homes (comparatively speaking) include mediocre schools, crime, poor government management, lack of nearby jobs, lack of shopping, high taxes, etc.

When buying real estate, don't lose sight of the cliche, "location, location, location." If other people are having a tough time selling their house in PG, you'll have a tough time selling when it's your turn. You're not just thinking about Elementary Schools, you're also thinking about Middle and High Schools.

Also, neither Greenbelt nor Beltsville are walkable communities.

Below are some links to help you with choosing a school for your kids. I think Bethesda is the best area for you.


Here are links to a few Greenbelt and Beltsville Elementary Schools. Ratings are on a 10 pt. scale.

Calverton Elementary School - Beltsville, Maryland - MD - School overview

Beltsville Elementary School - Beltsville, Maryland - MD - School overview

Greenbelt Elementary School - Greenbelt, Maryland - MD - School overview

Catherine T. Reed Elementary School - Lanham, Maryland - MD - School overview

while here are some from Bethesda:

Burning Tree Elementary School - Bethesda, Maryland - MD - School overview

Somerset Elementary School - Chevy Chase, Maryland - MD - School overview

Wyngate Elementary School - Bethesda, Maryland - MD - School overview

Bethesda Elementary School - Bethesda, Maryland - MD - School overview

North Chevy Chase Elementary School - Chevy Chase, Maryland - MD - School overview

Westbrook Elementary School - Bethesda, Maryland - MD - School overview

Ashburton Elementary School - Bethesda, Maryland - MD - School overview

You are so clever. So i guess in the entire Greenbelt and Beltsville area you can only find 4 schools. Both are two different cities while in bethesda which is only one city you just happened to find 7 schools.

Ok so you only posted those 4 schools for PG county because you found the 4 lowest performing schools and posted them while for Bethesda you found 7 of the highest performing schools.
Ok so now I will do the exact opposite I will find 4 of the lowest performing schools in Betheda and the performing shcools in Beltsville/Greenbelt and compare them.

[handy man88]

Originally Posted by lscalder

You are so clever. So i guess in the entire Greenbelt and Beltsville area you can only find 4 schools. Both are two different cities while in bethesda which is only one city you just happened to find 7 schools.

Ok so you only posted those 4 schools for PG county because you found the 4 lowest performing schools and posted them while for Bethesda you found 7 of the highest performing schools.
Ok so now I will do the exact opposite I will find 4 of the lowest performing schools in Betheda and the performing shcools in Beltsville/Greenbelt and compare them.

Good luck.

While you're at it, do the same for MS and HS too.

[stonybrook00]

Originally Posted by dorado0359

Traffic in the area is a NIGHTMARE. If you are looking to rent, I would say to look within Calverton, Beltsville and Greenbelt and College Park. There are plenty of nice, afforadable apartments in each of the communities, and will eliminate the need for you to hassle with the traffic congestion in the area. Traffic on I-95, 295-BWI Parkway, and 495 is absolutely terrible.

thank you. Now I know the traffic are bad.

[Jaded]

Originally Posted by stonybrook00

Ok, here is something about us.

We are a family of four with 2 young kids (4 and 1) and we are moving from Colorado to MD around December, 2008. My husband will be working at Claverton/Beltsville most of the week and at Fairfax, VA one day per week. So, our primary residence will be around Claverton/Beltsville. We plan to rent a place first (apartment, townhouse, condo, single house...) , then maybe buy a house after 1 or 2 years.

and we need help finding a safe and commute-easy and family friendly place. Since we have young kids, so safety is my biggest cocern. My son will go to kindergarten next September, so a good pubic school will help a lot. Also we are looking for the place easy access to libirary, parks, shoppig center(perferably by walking).

Are there any good towns or apartment complexs you recommend? I can think of living 30 minutes away, even in VA if neccesary. BTW, how is the everyday commute situation? I might have tons of questions later.

thank you very much

Silver Spring, MD
College Park, MD
Glenn Dale, MD
(North) Bowie, MD
Rockville, MD
Potomac, MD (?)
Bethesda, MD
Alexandria, VA
Kensington, MD

...Just from looking at areas that may offer what you desire via Google Maps.

[stonybrook00]

thank you all very much. I did some research last night. Lots of people advice not to live inside the beltsway, the further away the better. Is this generally true? Also, my husband only needs to teach one day a week at GMU, so, travelling to VA is not our priority, we can deal with once a week bad commute. Besides, he is already a workaholic, If we live too far from Calverton, he will be working crazy to make up the time he lost in traffic. I want the kids see their daddy before they go to bed.

I can see from map, columbia, bowie, rockville are further out from DC, unless places like Laurel, beltsville, greenbelt, claverton are indeed bad, we won't be considering living too far. Then again, since all the towns metioned above are outside the circle, traffic may not be bad.

We are just looking for a 1-2 years rental, and the kid will just be in kindergarton, so I will put the school aside for now.

I really want a place there are nice parks, good library and friendly people and most importanly feel safe whatever we are doing.

And if we choose a place near Calverton, is it possible to commute to Fairfax by public transportaion (bus, subway)?

thank you very much.