Maryland or Northern Virginia?

[Jaded]

Alanboy395 - Thanks! This info is very helpful.

Also, I continue to welcome others...please

[JustBeingMe404]

I haven't lived in either state, but I'm relocating to DC this weekend (will be staying in a corporate apartment in Baltimore for 3 months, then getting my own place in DC). I have spent the last 3 months back and forth to different spots in MD/DC/VA, and one thing I can tell you is that whoever said whatever about readjusting your plan was RIGHT! I am still shocked that it is so uncommon to find a nice house with a ONE car garage, let alone TWO, for a decent price. It's just not gonna happen, sister.

As for "do they have cars," yeah, they do. They park them on the streets or on those things they call "parking pads," which are just driveways, essentially.

I live in Atlanta in a 3-level (no basement, just three levels) 4BR/3.5BA townhouse with a two-car garage, and my mortgage costs about the price of a one bedroom apartment in DC and most parts of Maryland. It's quite the shocker for my wallet (and for my lifestyle), but hey, loving my job outweighs loving my house (in this case).

Anyway, you're not gonna find that, so you need to either settle on having a house that you don't love, or raise your price range.

[McOctopus]

We do have a kid, but only one car which we mostly use for errands (and park outside in the condo's parking lot). It's all about what is most important to you, we were looking for a good school within walking distance of a metro. Where we live met our needs. I think for what you are looking, living farther out and driving to a train is probably the way to go. Some areas to consider in MD is the greater Rockville/Shady Grove area and Silver Spring away from a Metro (which pushes up prices obviously). Two other considerations is that taxes are probably lower overall in VA, but as I said Maryland is clearly the more liberal/progressive of the two states. The areas farther out are also the ones most impacted by declining prices (e.g. Prince William County in VA).

[HomerBrink]

Neither, IMO

[Jaded]

After reading various threads, including this one, it appears that we will definately not be living within 10 miles outside of DC (in either MD or NOVA).

I've been looking on Realtor.com and have found some properties farther out that offer two car garages within our price range.

I totally understand why there are not too many garages in DC or areas close to it though. It's cool, hubby and I will just have to commute in.

Again, thanks for the responses!