Best areas to buy "way out" if working in DC?

[patriot201]

Originally Posted by mcleanexec

PG County is close to DC for a house in that range. 300K will buy you a large townhome in Chantilly.

Where? I haven't seen any large townhouses in Chantilly for that price.

[bonnielisabeth]

Should try PG County in MD, especially if you don't care about schools; ask on the MD forums.
There are still some areas in PG with a rural feel, and prices are still falling in many places. The Maryland housing market has not recovered like the VA one has, at least in the less expensive markets--which includes PG. People also live in West Virginia and Frederick County MD and take the MARC train (which uses Amtrak tracks, but is a commuter train) to DC.

[slowlane3]

May I ask, What is the exact address of your jobsite ? Because even a distance of a few city blocks, can make a big difference as far as which direction you want to live from the city, and which freeway, metrorail or other rail line it's closest to.

And if you're single, why wouldn't you want to live closer-in, where the action, social life, and culture are?

I want to emphasize that the DC area overall has the nation's second worst traffic congestion, according to careful Amer.Auto.Association studies annually for the past several years. You sound very naive thinking you can just drive so easily. The last thing our clogged, gridlocked area needs, is more single-occupant cars ruining the environment.

[bykim5]

300K is kinda pushing it these days in FFX County (at best, Centreville or Lorton). Loudoun is a bit too far. You could try Woodbridge along I-95 then just carpool or pick up slugs and take the HOV

[Fundman]

You can buy a single family detached house in Lake Ridge for $300,000.

[SmoothGuy]

Ft. Washington, MD would be perfect for what you are looking for. There are many large new waterfront developments down there for under $400k, and Ft. Washington is only a 25 minute drive into DC. It is pretty rural down there and the schools are so-so but the area is drastically changing.

[slowlane3]

The community of Fort Washington, MD can be a 25 minute drive into central DC during non-rush hour. During rush-hour it's much worse, depending on exactly how far uptown in NW he's going. I did that commute daily for 14 years.

[Silverseale]

Hubby and I live slightly SE of Front Royal and he drives in to Dunn Loring 3 days a week (telecommutes the other 2 days). He leaves our place at 4:20am to beat the worst of the I-66 traffic and gets there no later than 5:30am. We love it here (and also have some family reasons for staying out here), but some days it's very tough to roll out of the sack at that time. If you rent first and decide the early commute isn't for you, then you're not stuck. Good luck with your search.