Relocating fr Detroit to D.C./Maryland Area (Baltimore, Rockville: rentals, townhouse)

[wlwj2]

My wife and I currently live in the Detroit metro area specifically Farmington Hills, MI but will possibly be relocating to the MD/DC area. We are trying to decide where to look to buy a home. My wifes job will more than likely be in D.C at the Navy shipyards. We are trying to find somewhere that wont be too long of a commute, that has a decent school system(we have a 4yr old and 1yr old) and that wont break the bank when it comes to a mortgage....any suggestions ????

[tercel95]

What is your budget and what is the longest you are willing to commute? Are you aware of the sky high cost of living in the DC/metro area?

[wlwj2]

Yeah which is why we are not necessarily trying live in D.C. metro...was thinking more VA and/or Maryland or if more practical closer to Baltimore etc..etc..Our budget is from $200k to $350k. We are looking for a 4 bedroom home in a safe area with good schools. Will prefer to have no more than a 30min commute if possible...thanks for any help...

[tercel95]

Between 4 bedroom home, 30 min commute, safe area and good schools you could probably get two out of those 4 things for 350k...

PG county has some good areas and some really bad areas but that is the only place that is going to have houses in your price range with a reasonable commute. Even in most of the nice areas of PG the school system is very poor...

[aneftp]

Originally Posted by wlwj2

Our budget is from $200k to $350k. We are looking for a 4 bedroom home in a safe area with good schools. Will prefer to have no more than a 30min commute if possible...thanks for any help...

That's asking A LOT for "safe area and good schools with a 4 bedroom home in the 200K-350K range".

Personally you should avoid PG county all together (unless you want to send your kid (would will be 5 soon) to a private school. There are patches of PG county that are acceptable but still lots of crime. But you will get more value for your home and that maybe acceptable to get a home within your price range.

Housing in the DC metro area is very expensive (especially if you compare with the good neighborhood in the Detroit area).

You may have to live with a 1 hour commute if you want a 4 bedroom home in a good/safe community with excellent schools.

Sorry, there isn't a lot of "great housing deals" with your criteria (30 minute commute and 4 bedroom/good schools and in the 200-350K range). Home prices have dropped the most in the exurbs (like Prince William County, parts of Loudon County Virginia and PG county MD and Charles County MD but you may have to deal with 1.5 hr commutes (with the exception of PG county which you can get into the city within 20 minutes but deal with potentially shady neighborhoods and poor scholl districts compared to others in the area).

[LogSS]

Trying looking at Hyattsville, MD or near College Park, MD. Both are still in PG County but the demographic is changing rapidly in those areas. You'll just have to keep tab on your kids education as PG does not have the greatest schools. Lots of affordable nice old homes and close to the city, especially the Navy Yard. Its pretty safe and up and coming. I'm thinking about moving there myself. I dont have any kids but I will be saving money on housing.

[tercel95]

I could not in good faith tell anyone who wanted a "safe" area with good schools to live in Hyattsville... Can you even get a 4 bedroom house anywhere in PG for 350k?

[dkf747]

I agree. The price range is too low for what they want.

[firefightermom]

Unfortunately, what everyone has already posted regarding housing prices is all too true. Even with the price drops, housing is still extremely expensive in the DC market. We decided to leave the area so we could buy a 4 bedroom SFH under $250,000--it was our only option if we didn't want to live in a townhouse forever.

Check out this link to a local realtor...I plugged in your price range and did a search in Rockville, which is in Montgomery County, MD, just to give you an idea of what you could expect. Property Quick Search

[TrippingJay]

Unfortunately a $300K in Farmington Hills, MI would cost well over $700K in a similar area in MD.

Personally, I would seriously think about renting, while getting to explore the area. You find decent prices on rentals even in the exclusive areas.

In MD, I would focus on Montgomery and Howard Counties. You could also try VA in Fairfax or if you're willing to commute Loudoun or Prince William County.