Relocating to DC area (suburbs)

[austindoxie1972]

How about Reston? Once the Metro opens, it may be a 45 minute commute to downtown. I agree with others, though -- 2015 is a long way off. The real estate market could be very different (as in a "down turn"). Apartment rents are already dropping slightly, and some areas may get overbuilt.

[Carlingtonian]

Originally Posted by Fairfax Mom

Don't worry D.C. has no "flava" whatsoever - people are very dull

Nice blanket statement there. I sing opera to my dog sometimes, walk on my hands, and make a mean coq au vin. Is that enough flava for you?

The fact that the OP and family are going to homeschool their kids gives them a LOT more options. I would suggest Hillcrest in DC. It's close to the WH, and it's a very quiet, upscale area. I think some of the city council members and maybe even the mayor live there. And yet it's not insanely expensive like most of NW DC.

Barring that, the NE portion of South Arlington (Penrose, Arlington Heights) is a quick shot via Route 50 to the WH via bus. Depending on your budget, North Arlington is nice, but you would be paying more money just to live in a school district whose schools you're not going to use. (This is also true of Bethesda, MD.)

Or you could live in northern Alexandria--maybe Del Ray or (if you can swing the price) Old Town. It's like an upscale, more ethnically homegeneous version of Brooklyn. Maybe more like Sutton Place. Crap schools but on the water and a quick bus or train ride into DC.

[Matt2789]

You should seriously consider Hyattsville, MD and the neighboring towns (Brentwood, Mt. Rainier) along the Gateway Arts District over across the NE DC border. This area is easily commutable to the Whitehouse area in much less than 45 minutes (I commute from here all the way over into Arlington via Metro and it still takes me less than an hour door to door). This area is super affordable and safe. I just bought a 2 story/ 3 bedroom with big yard for well under 190k which you'd be lucky to get for twice that in Arlington/Alexandria. A lot of people on here will cringe of the thought of moving to PG county because there is a misconception that all of PG county is gang infested/dangerous. Also the school systems not known to be great but you say you are home schooling. Also people will say that property taxes are higher here, which is true but when you consider my house is valued at less than half of what it would be in NOVA I am paying much LESS tax! Seriously, check out the crime stats for this area and you will see it has vastly improved due to all the redevelopment/gentrification going on here. Get in a car and drive around these streets and talk to some actual people who live here, you'll be suprised such an affordable and nice are exists so close to downtown!

[FindingZen]

To the OP:

If you want more details like the member above, check out the sub-forum below:

http://www.city-data.com/forum/washi...urbs-maryland/ .