Couple moving to DC (sales, real estate, apartments)

[Thucydides]

My fiance and I will be moving to DC in August for me to start a new job. We currently live very far away (in Oklahoma) so we're doing our apartment searching on the internet.

We're trying to find a 1 bedroom under $1500 (but at the top end would need to include at least some utilities) which we could pay for on my salary alone since she doesn't have a job there yet and we'll both have pretty hefty student loan payments for a while. We'd like to be within walking distance of the metro (I'll be working near L'enfant Plaza).

We're watching craiglist and the Post religiously but we're finding that a lot of english basement and partial townhouse (which seem to be a better deal in our price range than some of the high rises) renters on CL don't want to deal with people so far away.

If anyone has any thoughts or knows of any great places please let me know. Would love to live in the Cleveland Park/Woodley Park area if we could find a place in our price range.

Also, does anyone know anything/have any thoughts about these buildings:

Waterside Tower at 907 6th Street SW

Sulgrave Manor at 5130 Connecticut Ave.

The Willoughby at 4515 Willard Ave.

Oakwood in Falls Church, VA at 501 Roosevelt Blvd

[VirginiaGal]

I'm afraid I don't have any answers but only more questions. My husband and I will be moving to D.C. in August, too, and we're coming from Arizona. He'll be working at Children's National Hospital, I'll be trekking to Baltimore for graduate school. I'm wondering if anyone can comment on the convenience/safety/etc. of the Petworth area, and specifically Randolph St at Georgia Ave. Being close to the metro is important to us and this location fulfills that requirement, but it is not an area I know much about.

Thank you in advance!

[mettler]

I still think this is a good website, and I used it when scouting areas to live:

Crime, Home Sales and Schools in DC, Maryland and Virginia - Local Explorer (washingtonpost.com)

[arkcitynative]

Hi:

I am not sure if I can really help either of you but I used to live in Oklahoma and will move to Petworth soon.

Poster 1: I think your best bet would be to either go to DC for a weekend/day and find a place or stay in a hotel for a few days after you get here and find a place. There are tons of places that are available now so you should not have trouble finding a place within a few days.

I don't know if you are trying to find a place without looking at it first but I would not suggest it. My husband and I are relocating from NYC. We basically knew our price range and the area we wanted to live in. He made appointments to look at 5 different places in one day and we just picked one of the 5. It was pretty simple. You could easily go to DC for a weekend and find a place.

I haven't even seen pictures of the place so I might change my tune but that system worked out pretty well.

Poster 2: We are moving to Petworth. My husband's job will be in Petworth and we find a place about 4 blocks from there. I have been doing a done of research on the area.

I found a great blog that might help you get the feel of the neighborhood. Prince Of Petworth

Poster 1: What school did you go to?

Good luck to both of you.

[LFF]

Thucydides, I haven't lived in the Oakwood in Falls Church myself but haven't heard great things about it. Have you looked into Columbia Heights? It's not too far from the area you're wanting and I know several people who live there and are quite happy with it.

If you're having a hard time on Craigslist, I know I've seen several real estate companies with rentals posted while walking around DC (though I agree Craigslist is the best). I lived in Capitol Hill myself (SW) and loved it and know there are loads of basement apartments there. Do you have a car that you'll be bringing with you? Parking in many places can be a problem and some apartments charge a couple hundred bucks a month for parking.

VirginiaGal, I've been hearing for awhile that the Petworth area is up and coming. If you want to do a search, the DC police have a crimemap on their site... I think.

[saganista]

DC CityPaper (alternative weekly) did a profile of 23 DC neigborhood clusters this week. It's sort of written to be read by people who already live here, but it still might be useful. See Hoods & Services. They (obviously) made up their own names for the clusters -- CSPAN-istan, Episcopalia, Upper Caucasia. Petworth to Brightwood, they call NotYetWorth, and that's actually just about right. It has everything you need to be one absolutely great neighborhood, except for stuff like schools, places to shop, places to eat, and anyplace actually worth going out to at night. I've been bullish on Petworth for years, but I'd still have to say that not as much has happened there so far as might have. Biggest plusses are some wonderful architecture (usually available at very decent prices) and a very well-developed sense of community. As noted above, Prince of Petworth is just great...probably the best neighborhhod website in the city. Those folks who are headed there would do well to jump on that right away. You can learn a lot there even without asking any questions...

[PenguinSix]

Do not rent based on ads.

I would recommend, strongly, coming to DC and looking for a short-term (3 month) rental somewhere--anywhere. Keep your stuff in storage and move with only that which you need right off the bat.

There is simply so much that you cannot see in an advertisement, or even in a short weekend visit. Is there a fire station next door with loud sirens, is there a drug dealer around the corner, do the helicopters going to the Pentagon shake the windows at 7 am every morning (Waterside Towers)?

Rent for a few months and then find your dream place when you are not under any time pressure or dealing with the difficulty of being so far away.

Good luck

[gzjht1]

You happen to be moving to DC at prime time. I learned this when I moved two years ago. Never fear, you'll find something.

Downside of Waterside is that it's in SW - often called the forgotten part of the city. There isn't much going on there. Upside is that it can seem pretty tranquil and quiet there (in the right place) abd prices are generally cheaper in this area. You probably will be able to walk to work and be close to the new baseball stadium.

All along Connecticut Ave esp the upper area, very nice but you may be stretched with your budget. Same goes for the Willoughby.

As far as the Oakwood goes, that's often a place for temporary housing. May be an option for 1-2 months until you find a place more permanently.

You didn't say if you'll have a car - maybe that's why you want to be near the Metro. Keep in mind, DC also has an extensive bus system that will get you places the Metro won't.

Have you considered looking in Arlington (blue and orange lines)? You may get more for your money there.

Let me know if you have more questions.