Where to live in Northern Virginia. (Arlington, Alexandria: low income, apartment complex, to rent)

[nktsd]

Hi everyone! I'm moving from San Diego, CA to Northern Virginia beginning of August and need to rent a two bedrooms apartment for 6 months. I don't know where I should live. I checked this complex called Mount Vernon Saquare in Alexandria with a good price, but the nearest bus stop will be 15-20 mins walking ( I won't have a car for these first 6 months. I checked places in Ashburn and liked the prices a lot, but seems not to have a good public transportation around. I'm a nanny and I think living in Ashburn will be easy for me to find a job even with no car and poor public transportation. Am I right? Or better stay in Alexandria? Somebody know a nice apartment complex not too expensive? 2 bedrooms for no more than $1400 will be perfect thank you all!

[Mnseca]

Mt. Vernon Square is in a low-income area. Many who live there are on public assistance. It is about as cheap as apartments get in NoVa. I do not think you will find 2 bedrooms for 1400 anyplace.

We do not have good public transportation here. It will be difficult to get anywhere without a car and will typically require a combination of long walks, buses, transfers, and maybe a metro stop or two. In other words, it will take a long time to get anywhere and you will find that missing one bus means being two hours late, because buses don't run that often. Because of this, most people here will not hire you without reliable transportation.

Are you sure this move is a good idea? Can you wait until you have a car at least?

[ChristineVA]

nktsd--

Can you give more information? I mean, you say you are going to be a nanny, but do you have the job lined up? A 2 BDRM apartment within walking distance of a Metro for $1400 is going to be tough, if not impossible. Arlington has some of the highest needs for nannies because of lack of group daycare facilities as well as many of the residents are dual income and high wage earners to boot. But living there is expensive.

You might be better to try to find an arrangement where you are a live-in nanny and you are provided a car.

[TulipGrl]

Agree with others. A live-in situation is best.

Be aware that studios tend to start at $1400, one bedrooms are around $1800, and many two bedrooms are over $2k/mo, depending on the area, Metro proximity, amenities. I've found I am not interested in making more than one connection (e.g., bus to a Metro, due to reliability of scheduling (or really, lack thereof)). You might want to consider a roommate, or if close to metro and a grocery store, living in someone's walk out basement.

[Carlingtonian]

I know there's a group called Moms of North Arlington, which has a website and forum you could inquire on for live-in nanny positions. As others have said, plenty of affluent working moms who might be looking for such help in N. Arl or McLean. (Not sure what the group would be in McLean.)

[USAFfamily]

A 2 bedroom within walking distance to the Metro, in that price range, will likely be low income apartments. The other misconception is that the Metro stops put you within walking distance of the towns they are in and that is NOT the case. Without a car, you will have to take a bus to a metro and then another bus from the metro station in most cases. The concept of "touring DC" is even deceiving. Travel magazines and TV shows portray it like you step off public transit and then walk a few blocks to all of the sites which is NOT the case at all. It would take miles and miles of walking to see "all of the DC sights." I grew up in Ohio, moved to CA and then to NOVA. The cost of living is higher than CA and accessibility and walkability can be tough. Also keep in mind that several months out of the year you will be walking in snow and rain and a lot of it here! We got 14 inches of snow over night this past winter! I would look for a live in nanny position or have a definite secured position somewhere before moving!

[nktsd]

I can't do a live-in, I'm married and I have a two years old daughter. My husband will have a car and I decided not to have a one for two reasons: we are going to buy a house, so I don't want to have any financial on my credit and I heard after talking to lots of people from there, that you can go anywhere without a car, but I understood that will be a little complicated without one, specially at winter time. Thank you all for the replies, really helped me!

[Vectorhead]

The people you talked to weren't being practical. There are plenty of areas that aren't covered by public transportation at all. And even if you can find public transportation to get you from point A to point B, it often involves several bus and metro transfers and can take two or more hours. Public transportation just isn't like it is in New York or Boston.

I understand your desire to save money but having only one car, and having the budget limitation that you have, will make it very difficult for you to find a job, especially since you'll be deciding where to live before you find a job.

Good luck!

[blindside]

Ashburn without a car?

It's going to be very difficult unless you happen to live in an apartment complex that is in the same subdivision that you will be nannying in.

[mdcrim]

A couple who lives in my neighborhood in Ashburn only have one car. He works in DC and she works in Herndon. He walks about 5 blocks to the neighborhood bus stop, takes that to the commuter bus lot then the commuter bus to DC. She drives to Herndon. It can be done, believe it or not.