Working in Silver Spring- Recommendations needed (Bethesda, Rockville: transplants, rental, townhouse)

[sunflowerz2881]

I have been offered a job in downtown Silver Spring. I am 42 . I'm American but have been working in Europe for the past 15 years, so haven't lived in the USA for some time. I have been looking at maps and reviewing old threads to assist me in determining the best place to live. The plan so far would be to live near work- I would then be looking to buy.

What other specific areas (zip codes) other than downtown Silver Spring/Takoma Park/Wheaton should I also consider for a short term rental whilst I familiarize myself with the area and look for a home/townhome to purchase?

I am looking for culturally diverse, walkable, cafe culture- My budget for a 2 bedroom rental would be under 3,000/month.

I recognise I may not be able to purchase in a walkable area due to my budget, so willing to look further afield as long as a commute by car or public transport to downtown Silver Spring would not exceed 1 hour . What other towns or zip codes should I consider to buy that are affordable, safe, suburban, friendly. My budget would be approx. 420,000-510,000 for a 2 bedroom or 3 bedroom SFH or townhouse.

[goldenage1]

Burtonsville, along the Route 29 corridor, has express buses to downtown Silver Spring.

[MrRational]

Originally Posted by sunflowerz2881

I am 42 . I'm American but have been working in Europe for the past 15 years,
so haven't lived in the USA for some time.
I have been offered a job in downtown Silver Spring.

DELAY the entire range of purchase questions.
Look for a RENTAL that is convenient to the job location for the first year.
Minimize the time involved for the 500 commuter trips per year.

Use that years time (lease term) to gain personal experience of the area ...
enough experience that YOU can answer all the questions you have from that.
Use that time to sort out the new job, and the new people, to make a few friends,
to learn your way around, to be really sure you want to remain the DC area at all...
and in that job at all... and LAST... what direction you want to drive into work from.

[DCarea]

Downtown silver spring would be perfect for you for renting if that’s where your work is. It’s very walkable with all the city amenities that you need. You should be able to find plenty of options in your price range.

For townhouse purchasing, maybe look to Wheaton for that price range.

[sunflowerz2881]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions.

[UMDajl]

Check out Takoma Park for rental, it has the lifestyle you are interested in. You can take a bus to DTSS. For purchasing, check out College Park, and further down the Red Line, such as Brookland. Also consider DC areas like Mt. Pleasant.

[QuietOpinion]

I second that renting in downtown Silver Spring makes the most sense. Be sure to check out the AFI Silver Spring, a great movie theater. I'd say to definitely venture into DC a lot as well and get familiar with it. If you want, you could look at Bethesda, North Bethesda and/or Rockville but I'd start in Silver Spring. All of this will keep you pretty busy.

The DC area as a whole is diverse, walkable (& mass transit, Uber/Lyft), with a cafe and restaurant culture. It will keep you busy and you can meet both locals and transplants. There are lots of groups for people who are new to the area even with the modifications of the pandemic. Many people are educated and have travel experience. It's honestly a great place for someone with extensive international experience. Public health permitting, it also has proximity to multiple ways to travel and areas to day-trip or to go more locally with a lot of history and nature.

[prospectheightsresident]

I live in Downtown Silver Spring now and generally enjoy the area very much, though the homeless and mentally unstable who frequent the shopping areas have been rather aggressive in my vicinity when I've been out and about. Most recently, a clearly unstable man threatened me and other passersby with physical violence because we were ignoring his begging.

But the area where I am is still plenty safe and is close to a variety of amenities; for locational context, I literally across the street from the DC border on 16th ST.