live in North Virginia, job in Rockville, MD (Fairfax, Clarksville: apartment complexes, to rent)

[Anika1]

My husband accepted a job in Rockville. We have a 4 year old who is already excited about the move. We will be moving from Maine and I have several questions about the area.

First of all we are planning to rent for short time before starting to look for houses.

What are some decent apartment complexes in Rockville area that are safe and clean?
Good preschools?

For houses, Our child has several allergies, so we want to go with a new-er home. How far out do we have to go before we can afford a decent house?

What are some excellent school districts? Safety, no rednecks and decent commuting distance to Rockville are our priorities.

Are the houses less expensive in VA than MD that fit our criteria?
I would like to hear suggestions from people who know the areas.

Thanks.

[54321]

Please, define decent?

decent apartment complexes....decent house.....decent commuting distance...excellent school districts, good preschools

no rednecks? I'm laughing sorry I can't help you but if you give more definitive info, maybe other can

[Anika1]

I am glad this is amusing to you. I am just about freaking out. The housing prices are through the roof. The commuting distances are aweful. The rural areas are full of rednecks (so we are told). DC and Baltimore share the dubious distinction of being homicide capitals.

How in the world do people afford so much for housing? I mean my husband makes a good living but 800k for a house - we cannot do it on a single income AND have a good lifestyle.

A silver lining would be good schools for our kid. Since we will not be able to afford private schools after purchasing a house, good school districts are a must. And I will definitely have to find a job. So what is the job market like around there?

What is so good about these areas that makes it so pricey? I am imagining spoilt, obnoxious kids with pretentious parents trying hard to keep up with the Jonses. I cannot stand snooty snobs.

Sigh. Can you tell i am freaking out?

[dullnboring]

Like 54321 said, "decent" is a subjective term so it would be good to get some more specifics on your criteria. Are you looking to buy or rent? An apartment, condo, townhouse or single family home? How much are you willing to spend? How far are you and your husband willing to commute.

The housing prices are through the roof, but you should be able to find perfectly nice homes in nice communities with terrific schools for well under 800K. Salaries are higher here than they are in most areas, but yes, like most urban areas now, these salaries haven't increased at the same rate as housing prices and people, particularly new homebuyers are struggling to try to afford one. I would say that home prices are roughly similar in Maryland and Virginia. Maybe a bit cheaper in Maryland but not by much (and for the record, I would choose Maryland over Virginia if working in Rockville for commuting purposes). There seem to be some good deals in places like Gaithersburg and Germantown, cheaper than what you'd find in comparable areas in Virginia. At the moment, it's a much better bargain to rent than to buy. And generally, the DC area's households are two-income households.

As far as crime, neither DC or Baltimore are currently the nation's murder capitals. While still generally a dangerous city, DC has made tremendous inroads in recent years. Baltimore, not so much. Regardless, if you don't live in city itself as you don't plan to, and avoid a few suburbs, you should be fine. Generally, the DC suburbs are remarkably safe. Similarly, if you steer clear of DC and a few other choice areas, you are pretty much ensured high quality public education. Schools in Montgomery and Howard counties in Maryland and Fairfax in Virginia, are particularly good.

As far as fear of rednecks, that really isn't an issue until you get a significant distance away from DC. If you stay in Montgomery County, you should be fine.

[Lookingforasafehome]

Clarksville., MD is very nice and affordable to you. I have a friend who bought a very nice condo, three beds and 2 and half baths for 600,000...I am sure you could find a home for under 800 there as well...It is also one of the most beautiful areas I ever seen as well, countryside and peaceful and yet close to the Metrostops to DC. Good luck on your search!

[saganista]

Originally Posted by Anika1

I am just about freaking out. The housing prices are through the roof. The commuting distances are aweful. The rural areas are full of rednecks (so we are told). DC and Baltimore share the dubious distinction of being homicide capitals. How in the world do people afford so much for housing? I mean my husband makes a good living but 800k for a house - we cannot do it on a single income AND have a good lifestyle.

Keep in mind that the median household income in the DC area is about 95K, more than double the national average. A lot of money translates into high prices. Rednecks and crime aren't actually a problem, but commuting will be. By working in Rockville, you'll have a better chance of staying sane in traffic than most do. Look into whether your employer offers flexible work hours. If you can get a non-standard workday, you can cut your commuting time in half, which greatly expands your options re where you can live without becoming a homicidal maniac. By all means, stick with Montgomery County...don't even think about Virginia...it would only add 45-60 minutes' worth of rush-hour nightmare.

Originally Posted by Anika1

A silver lining would be good schools for our kid. Since we will not be able to afford private schools after purchasing a house, good school districts are a must. And I will definitely have to find a job. So what is the job market like around there?

Montgomery County has a very good school system overall. The best bet I think would be to settle on the areas where you can afford to buy and commute from first, then look into which available high school is the best and see if you can finagle a way into its middle and elementary school tree. The job market in the DC area is very easy. Unemployment is among the lowest in the country. With any credentials and experience at all, you should have your pick among at least several reasonable alternatives.

Originally Posted by Anika1

What is so good about these areas that makes it so pricey? I am imagining spoilt, obnoxious kids with pretentious parents trying hard to keep up with the Jonses. I cannot stand snooty snobs. Sigh. Can you tell i am freaking out?

What makes the area so attractive is that, aside from the traffic (which really is awful), there aren't any serious quality of life negatives. Instead, you've got plusses on almost every front. People are people, of course, and you'll certainly find some pretentious snobs and obnoxious kids if you go look for them, but the majority of folks who live here once did what you're doing now...move here from someplace else. Makes for a little easier time in being a 'newcomer' when everyone else has already been there and done that themselves. Anyway, I think you're 'freaking out' a little too much. Moving is always a little scary, but there is a lot available in the DC area, and even if you don't find exactly what you want on the first shot, you should soon be able to, no matter what 'exactly what you want' actually is.