Need advise on where to live if my job is in Owings Mills, MD (Baltimore: hardwood floors)

[NYMOMINNC]

Hi,

I'm considering a consulting assignment in Owings Mills, MD and I need some advice. I'm a single mom, 44 with two kids in college. The apartment must have hardwood floors, 2 bedrooms, washer/dryer, gas stove, pet friendly and hopefully a 1 car garage. I can pay up to $1600 per month. I'm from NY so I'm looking for an area that is has great shopping (not mall but boutique shopping), diverse and has great markets to buy spices, fresh fish and vegetables. A safe place to live, where I can walk my dog at night and have something to do on the weekends is what I am looking for, plus I need to be able to either drive or take public transportation to Owings Mills. What do you suggest? Thanks in advance for your help.

[nurider2002]

I'm assuming that you are serious but, there is no place like NY! In the Baltimore area, you have the city (Baltimore) which offers some boutique shopping, decent farmer's markets and specialty shops for spices, ethnic foods etc. and places like Cross Street Market, Lexington Market, etc. to buy fresh seafood etc. Walking your dog at night would depend on your level of comfort but the Dog Park in Canton (near the Harbor) is relatively safe at night. The city offers your best bet for weekend activities if you are looking for cultural events. The suburbs around Baltimore including Owings Mills, Columbia, Ellicott City, White Marsh, etc. are just that--suburbs. Some offer farmer's markets, specialty grocers with fresh seafood, ethic foods, etc. but, things are spread out. If you are have lived in NY city you are in for a culture shock, regardless of whether you choose Baltimore City or a suburb. Safety varies significantly in the burbs depending on where you are, as does specialty shopping. There is limited light rail from Baltimore City to Owings Mills. A 2 bedroom apartment with the amenities you seek is possible for $1600.00 but may require a bit of looking. You definitely need to spend some time in Baltimore area before you make a decision. Baltimore has its appeal but compared to NY, it really doesn't "feel" like a city. And, suburban living here can be fine, as long as you understand the limitations, e.g., you're going to drive to most destinations whether shopping, entertainment, whatever. Bottom line, plan to visit for at least a week before making a decision. good luck.

[subwayfan]

Originally Posted by nurider2002

There is limited light rail from Baltimore City to Owings Mills.

The rail is the Metro rail from the city to Owings Mills. From there, she would probably need to take a bus transfer to any of the corporate office parks as well.
The light rail goes to Timonium and Hunt Valley.

[NYMOMINNC]

Thanks Nurider2002, yes I'm serious (sadly) I've gotta go where the work is and right now the work is in MD. If I moved closer to D.C would I have better access to what I am looking for? Would a commute to Owings Mills be doable? If DC is better what areas would you recommend? Thanks for your advice.

[nurider2002]

I live near Owings Mills area and wouldn't do the daily d.c. commute. Traffic is a bear and you would have to drive to one of the train stations (either downtown or closer to Laurel to access the train). It doesn't sound like the suburbs would suit you. A couple areas to consider then; downtown look at Canton and Butcher's Hill--they offer close proximity to shopping, the Harbor, a few decent parks for your dog, etc. North of "downtown", look at Mt. Washington--an older established community with boutique shopping, some interesting restaurants, close proximity to downtown and decent dog walking. Also check out Roland Park and the areas around University Parkway near Hopkins Campus--reasonable rents, convenient location. Just a few minutes northeast of Roland Park is Belevedere Square (York Road and Belevedere avenue)--a great open market for fresh meats, veggies, coffees, specialties, as well as a considerable amount of specialty shops. Probably not where you want to live but, only a few minutes drive from most centrally located neighborhoods above. Another area a bit further north is Towson. Towson is just inside the Baltimore Beltway (in Baltimore county), about 20 minutes north of downtown, but with a lot of shopping, restaurants, some interesting music/cultural venues, etc. Towson has a lot of apartments in various price ranges, is only about 15 minutes by car to Owings Mills and has some areas for dog walking. D.C. offers more in terms of culture but is extremely expensive for housing and would be a major b*#*h of a commute! Suburbs between d.c. and Owings Mills probably wouldn't be what you are looking for. Again, plan a visit, stay downtown and check out some neighborhoods each day. June is maybe the best month of the year to visit Baltimore weather-wise!

[NYMOMINNC]

Nurider2002, thanks for the great advice. I will be in MD in a few weeks and will check out these neighborhoods.

[aworkingmom]

Nurider, you have amazing knowledge of the area. Would you help me? I'm from down-to-earth New Jersey and considering a job offer in Owings Mills. I'm looking for a racially diverse, family-friendly area with decent schools that's within a 1/2 hour or less commuting distance from Owings Mills. I've heard there are some really snobbey and overly materialistic areas and I'd like to avoid them for my 8 year old daughter's sake. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!