Rockville/Gaithersburg - Townhomes/Condos (Bethesda, Montgomery Village: apartments, foreclosures, condominiums)

[DanPz]

I'm about to start a job near the Tenleytown Metro in DC (Red Line). I currently live in NOVA and have been looking at 2-bedroom townhouses and condos under $350K in Arlington (Orange Line) and Alexandria. Basically Arlington would be great but is too pricey. Some things are of interest in Alexandria but getting to and going to work from the end of the Yellow Line will mean an hour commute.

I'm realizing that buying in MD (Rockville, Gaithersburg) and coming down the Red Line will significantly cut my commute - so I'm going to start looking this weekend with a realtor. I want to be within a 10-minute drive (if possible) of one of the outer Red Line stops (up to Shady Grove).

Is anyone able to help out with suggestions of potential communities to look at in this area? Also, are there areas in Rockville/Gaithersburg that I should particularly stay away from? (blight, crime, etc). One of the lower-priced developments I saw listed was Rosewood Condominiums in Gaithersburg, an apartment conversion. Is this low-income area or OK?

Any advice very much appreciated!

[lind1550]

That area is most likely in the Gaithersburg High School school district. I think for most people that is not a school district they are trying to end up in, so properties are priced accordingly. I don't know much about that particular neighborhood, but it is on the "Old Town Gaithersburg" side of town (you will notice many older apartment buildings) which is definitely not as nice as the areas around the Kentlands or Rio. For more information search for Montgomery Village, Old Town Gaithersburg, etc. on the forum. Levels of crime, etc. are relative to each individual's experiences . . . therefore difficult to sort out on a forum.

[TrippingJay]

The worst parts of Gaithersburg are the areas near Lakeforest Mall and the Old Towne area. However;your best bet is to drive around the areas at different times of the day. Sometimes people an area is unsafe or scary looking out of xenophobia. The most desirable areas are the Kentlands, Rio, and Darnestown.

If you are commuting to Tenleytown, I would start with Rockville. The nearest metro station in Gaithersburg is Shady Grove. For your price rage, you could find a condo in King Farm or even a small house or townhome near the Twinbrook metro.

[dkf747]

For Gaithersburg, look west of 270, but not right next to 270. 370 gives quick access to Shady Grove from there.

[DanPz]

Thanks! this is helpful info. I'm going to check out some places with a realtor this weekend.

[Fawcett]

While it may be a little run down and the apartments there are older, the Master Plan shows that the whole town will be revitalized with new luxury apartments and retail space, something like the Bethesda area. Those old solid, spacey brick apartments such as Villa Ridge were taken over by many during the housing bubble with the sub-prime mortgages, and as a result, there are many foreclosures. Many of these are now being bought by investors and others who will remain on the property. This will eventually "up-market" the place and quite honestly, with the management of the building really cleaning up, it won't be long. These solid spacey condo units are much much better than the matchbox rabbit holes that are going up with much less square footage and high density. They will presumably be worth something soon given that they are so close to two metro stations and in close proximity to Shady Grove.

[Fawcett]

Originally Posted by Fawcett

While it may be a little run down and the apartments there are older, the Master Plan shows that the whole town will be revitalized with new luxury apartments and retail space, something like the Bethesda area. Those old solid, spacey brick apartments such as Villa Ridge were taken over by many during the housing bubble with the sub-prime mortgages, and as a result, there are many foreclosures. Many of these are now being bought by investors and others who will remain on the property. This will eventually "up-market" the place and quite honestly, with the management of the building really cleaning up, it won't be long. These solid spacey condo units are much much better than the matchbox rabbit holes that are going up with much less square footage and high density. They will presumably be worth something soon given that they are so close to two metro stations and in close proximity to Shady Grove .

[filmsniffer]

What's your relation to those things? You've been bumping similar threads with the same drivel.