Moving to Maryland,need help (Columbia, Silver Spring: apartment complex, to rent, condo)

[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

[mysticfire0213]

I am not very familiar with that part of md, I lived in Harford Co most of my life, but we moved from CO when I was 7...

Have a safe trip!

[newtoutah]

I say Columbia area in Howard County...the commute is horrible regardless of where you live when u are heading to the DC area

[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

Beltsville is in PG County, and it's mostly an industrial area. Also, the schools are average in that general area, and it's not a walkable community.

I'd recommend somewhere more east (Woodmoor or Takoma Park, both in Montgomery Cty) or north of there (Laurel or Columbia in Howard County) for your short term living plans. Both Woodmoor and Takoma Park are near Silver Spring, which is rapidly building up and has a lot of nice stores, restaurants, a big movie theatre, and a great bookstore. It's also convenient to public transportation.

Going east will make your hubby's commute more palatable when he needs to head to Fairfax.

[Relo Man]

Traveling on the Beltway is no fun. Traffic is one of the biggest issues-currently the area is in competition with LA for the worst traffic.

The flip side is that the greater DC has unlimited amount of activities and interesting things to do and see. Columbia is a very nice area and would seem to be positioned well considering all the factors.

[dkf747]

Originally Posted by handy man88

Beltsville is in PG County, and it's mostly an industrial area. Also, the schools are average in that general area, and it's not a walkable community.

I'd recommend somewhere more east (Woodmoor or Takoma Park, both in Montgomery Cty) or north of there (Laurel or Columbia in Howard County) for your short term living plans. Both Woodmoor and Takoma Park are near Silver Spring, which is rapidly building up and has a lot of nice stores, restaurants, a big movie theatre, and a great bookstore. It's also convenient to public transportation.

Going east will make your hubby's commute more palatable when he needs to head to Fairfax.

Uh, both times that you said "east" should have been "west". Silver Spring is west of Beltsville/Calverton. That said, it's a good point. Going west, rather than North to Columbia does make more sense. In that case, the OP should try Bethesda, North Bethesda, or Rockville. Those will put you in between Fairfax and Beltsville.

[handy man88]

Originally Posted by dkf747

Uh, both times that you said "east" should have been "west". Silver Spring is west of Beltsville/Calverton. That said, it's a good point. Going west, rather than North to Columbia does make more sense. In that case, the OP should try Bethesda, North Bethesda, or Rockville. Those will put you in between Fairfax and Beltsville.

Yes, I meant West, but wrote East.

If these people are willing to go by your suggestion, I would pick Bethesda vice Rockville. Rockville would require a trip on 270 which most people would want to avoid.

Also, the beltway heading EAST to Beltsville in the AM is not bad, because most of the traffic is heading West from PG County and 95S for jobs in NoVA.

[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.

[handy man88]

Originally Posted by stonybrook00

Ok, here is something about us.

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).

I think your hubby will have to sacrifice a slightly tougher commute by not living in Beltsville since you have young kids, so Woodmoor/Takoma Park and Bethesda are the only real options.

Nothing in that immediate PG area meets your needs for good schools and walkable.

[lscalder]

The schools in Beltsville /Greenbelt are very good. These people are just running their mouths without doing their homework. When my husband looked up test scores for Elementary schools in Beltsville they are all in the high 90's to 100% which are comparable to the areas such as Bethesda.

You can find very nice communities in the areas you mention just remember PG county is majority Black so those whoa re not so fond of Blacks will only generalize us as a whole.