Moving to Silver Spring with family (fit in, real estate, apartment)

[Tumbledweed]

My family may be moving to the Silver Spring area this summer. We will probably rent an apartment for at least 3 months or until we find the right home. I've been looking at real estate sites and searching by zip code and it's become overwhelming. I know once we get there in June and start looking it will be easier, but I'd like to be focused Please provide suggestions based on -

- My husband's job would be in Silver Springs and I would look for work in the area.
- We'd like to be a one-car family and we enjoy neighborhoods with an urban (vs. suburban) feel, so access to the metro, as well as restaurants are important.
- I have two kids - middle school and high school. A good school is important for my kids and, of course, future resale. But having the "top" school is not critical. The reviews for Springbrook High School on Trulia reflect what we'd want: diversity, inclusive, yet still challenging. But it seems like living in that school's zipcode would take us into a more suburban environment and make us car-dependent.
- We'd look for a 3-bed condo or townhouse in the range of $270-350K. We'd only go near the top of that range if we thought we'd get a killer deal.
- Last, we may move in the future (not before 2-3 years), possibly overseas. We'd like to keep this property as a rental or as a home for our older child who will be off to college in a few years.

Thanks ahead of time for any thoughts.

[diplomat74]

I would look into the neighborhood areas immediately surrounding silver spring inside the belt way. Some really nice housing stock there

[goldenage1]

I would recommmend the 20902 zip code (Wheaton and the Georgia Avenue corridor). There are plenty of single family homes and TH's in your price range. Most of the zip code would be near Ride-on buses which will bring you to a Metro stop. Some TH/condos are within walking distance to the Wheaton or Glenmont Metro stop. There are many different schools in the zip code, but there are many magnet school programs for kids with specialized interests. The shopping is mostly accessible by bus. There are lots of good ethnic restaurants. As you can read, its a diverse but very interesting area.

[CHIP72]

You cannot live in an urban environment with good transit access and at the same time get a 3 bedroom condo or townhouse in the DC area for $350,000.

[skysurf51]

Try the condos in forest glen, just outside the beltway. Americana finnmark. It's close to downtown silver spring, there is a metro stop next to it, and the beltway is very close. The area is nice, and it should fit in your budget. The high school that serves that area is Einstein.

[dcvtss]

First things first, the area is never called Silver Springs by anyone who lives here, it is always Silver Spring. If you want urban, metro access, and walkable the only area that really fits is downtown Silver Spring and your price range is simply not realistic for that area. I did a quick search and the best I could find were two bedroom condos at the very top end of your price range.