Move to DC/VA from ATL (apartment, for rent, townhouse)

[Biggles]

Hi! I'm currently living in Atlanta, and have a job offer in Fredericksburg. I would like to live a little closer to DC, maybe somewhere in between and could use some recommendations.

I'm 30 SWM, making good $$ but hoping to keep rent to around $1000/month on rent. I'd like to live closer to DC because I enjoy the activities of the big city (museums, concerts, sports, night life), but I hear about how terrible the traffic can be. On the plus side I should be doing a reverse commute since I'm heading south in the morning. I don't know much about DC/VA, is there anywhere fun to live by the water? Woodbridge or Quantico? Or should I just keep going north closer to the Alexandria area?

Suggestions welcome! Thanks!

[saganista]

$1000 per month won't let you get too much further north...unless your new roommate is chipping in at least half that amount...

[juniperbleu]

Try Woodbridge. It's not that exciting, but just about halfway to DC. I've only driven south during rush hour a few times, but the traffic wasn't too bad (especially compared to oncoming traffic). I also have friends who routinely drive up from NC in the afternoon/evening and don't run into any troubles.

You could also try living a little further north, although once you get near the Beltway (I-495), $1000 won't go very far. I'd also stay south of the Beltway just to save yourself having to go through the Mixing Bowl every day (where 495, 395, and rt 7100 meet in Springfield).

[ceejamon]

$1000 won't get you far at all unless you have a roomie paying another $1000. Housing prices are a huge shock to Southerners like us when we moved up here. Check out HotPads.com and look around for affordable areas. Then compare those areas in SpotCrime.com to make sure it's not affordable because it's dangerous.

[AeroGuyDC]

Originally Posted by ceejamon

$1000 won't get you far at all unless you have a roomie paying another $1000. Housing prices are a huge shock to Southerners like us when we moved up here. Check out HotPads.com and look around for affordable areas. Then compare those areas in SpotCrime.com to make sure it's not affordable because it's dangerous.

As a southerner new to DC myself.....I can say this is very good advice. Generally speaking, the lower the rent, the less desirable the area...at least in the immediate DC-area. In my search for a place to live, I found that there were an abundance of new townhome owners who had the finished lower level of the townhouse available for rent. I lived in a situation like this in the past and it worked out great because it essentially was like having your own apartment, with the benefit of not having the normal apartment feel. I didn't end up going that route here in DC, but you should be able to find an arrangement like this within your price range.

Good Luck!