so confused on where to look - Maryland (Baltimore, Columbia: loan, income)

[NicoleJ]

We've lived in El Paso, Texas for the past 7 years. We just found out dh got a job in L'Enfant Plaza. We don't know where to look for a decent house. I need to be able to get to UM - any campus will do. Here in MD, I have narrowed it down to Columbia or Ellicot City. We'll have about $30k to put down on a house and will be able to use dh's VA Loan. I hope to find a job soon after getting there.

We would like to not spend more than $375k or so on a house (I cannot believe I just said that. We could get a mansion here for that!). As long as he can take the metro, dh has no problem doing an hour or so commute. We'd like a decent neighborhood that's very integrated.

We have 3 kids - 12 yo boy, 7 yo girl, 4 yo girl. GOOD public schools are important. We'd prefer a small town or city.

also, excuse the double post - I'll probably do this same one on the Virginia board.

[smash731]

There is no metro station in Ellicott City or Columbia. Schools are great so no worries there. There won't be much available for 375k though....certainly no mansions

[dorado0359]

Odenton might work for you; there is a commuter train station in Odenton that goes into Washington. Odenton is a very large new planed community with townhomes in your price range. For of UM campus, Odenton is aproximately 20 Minutes from the UMBC (University of Maryland Baltimore County) and 20 Minutes from the University of Baltimore, which is located downtown Baltimore.

Good Luck

[lscalder]

You should look into Laurel. I think you should be able to find comethng there and its 15 mins from UM. Its a nice area as well

[NicoleJ]

Thanks you guys. Are the areas you mentioned as nice as Columbia seems to be? (ie, would you live there?)

[dorado0359]

Columbia is a city more or less; Odenton is a small planned community. Therefore, Columbia has more to offer than Odenton. Columbia is more or less an upscale community, even though it does have some pockets of lower income sections. So, if you want the premium community, top-notch schools, shopping, etc. Columbia is nicer. If you only desire a very nice planned community with good schools then Odenton is nicer. Needless to say Columbia costs more.

[dorado0359]

Oops, forgot to answer your question...yes I would live in Odenton.

I also need to clarify that when I say Odenton, I am referring to a specific planned community by the name of Piney Orchard. But, there are other nice single family home setions within Odenton also.

One down-side of Odenton is that there is no malls or shopping in the community. The closest major mall to Odenton is Annapolis Mall. Incidentally, you are only 10-15 minutes from historic Annapolis if you enjoy being by the water.

Now, I am giving you my account of Odenton when I lived out there a few years ago, so things should not have changed that much since then.

Good Luck

[NicoleJ]

Dorado, you are awesome. Thank you. (and everyone else too! )

[smash731]

I would live in Odenton (I love northern AA county)...I did live in Columbia and would definitely live there again...I did live in Laurel and I would NOT live there again. There are nice places in PG and Laurel is not one of them. Also, it's 15 min from CP at non rush hour only.

[lscalder]

Pg county is a very nice county. Its very diverse. Pg county do have crimes e but its in certain areas which are Palmer park,Hyattsville. People will judge the entire county base upon the small areas that do have crimes. Pg county is like every other county in Maryland. I live in Upper Marlboro Maryland which is in Pg county and I know 100% that in upper marlboro I will never be a victim in Upper Marlboro to any type of crime. I feel 100% safe in my community. I know my family is safe. when we bought our home the builder install a monitoing alarm system which my family have never turned on due to the fact that we are and feel safe in our community. I have never heard or witness any crimes in pg county. I have been a victim to crimes and have witness crimees in Montgomery county but never in Pg.

Every single county jave its good and bad areas and its up to you to find the good areas in each county. Howard,Motgomery,Pg all have its good and bad areas. Now if you want to break each county down and see which county is perfect for your family base up on what they have to offer but to not move to a county because a small portion have crime is crazy.
The things that I do love about Pg county is that its the fastest growing county in Maryland as far as developing goes. We are one of the only county that majority of its communities have excellent amenities such as golf course,Walk trail,recreation center. I know 95% of the new communities all have the followings amenities. My family moved to Pg county because of the growth. I wanted a fast appreciation in my property and every one in I know in pg county is getting that.