Another DC location question. Opinions and facts needed please!! (to rent, violent crime)

[ddj8]

Need some opinions about northeast D.C. adjacent to the Capitol Heights Metro Station. 126 57th st SE to be exact.

Thinking about buying in this area but we are not living in DC right now so dont know anything at all about this area as far as crime etc. I have done a lot of research online about the schools in this area and I know they are pretty bad. Any help with info about this area would be great.

[wylekaters]

Those are new town-homes right?

I don't know much about this area, but I personally wouldn't want to live there. The area right where you're buying may not be terrible, but the surrounding area is not good.

check this out: Metropolitan Police Department (this is within 1500 feet of that address, and for the past year.)

Only 1 homicide in the past year, but 22 violent crimes and 55 car thefts. Also, most of the public schools in DC are not good. Elementary and some middle schools are OK, but as far as high school goes many parents opt for the privates schools.

Hope this helps.

[JimGriffith]

That's an awful, awful neighborhood.

[ddj8]

Darn, thats very disapointing, but good to know. My husband job is in DC so I thought this area would be great and very affordable, but I guess it was to good to be true.

Before I found this area I was interested in the 20016 zip (schools seemed to be higher rated here). But there are no houses to be found in our pice range (380,000) in that area.

So even though they are building up this area (and tearing down the public housing in nearby area) this still would not be a wise investment? Sorry, need some more reasurance.

[MadManofBethesda]

Originally Posted by ddj8

Darn, thats very disapointing, but good to know. My husband job is in DC so I thought this area would be great and very affordable, but I guess it was to good to be true.

DC has some great neighborhoods and it has some very affordable neighborhoods. Unfortunately, it does not have neighborhoods that are both great and very affordable.

[juniperbleu]

Originally Posted by ddj8

So even though they are building up this area (and tearing down the public housing in nearby area) this still would not be a wise investment? Sorry, need some more reasurance.

I don't think it'd be a wise investment. Maybe 10 or 20 years from now it'll be better, but it'd be wiser to purchase in an area where the redevelopment is further along.

Unfortunately, most houses (in DC) in your budget aren't going to be in great areas. You have a better bet looking in the suburbs. Try investigating places that are on a bus line to a metro station, near a station with parking, or offer shuttles to the metro. These are usually cheaper than ones where you can walk.

Also, since you said that you really don't know the area, it might be a good idea to rent for a year and get a feel for what you like and what you can afford. That way you don't find yourself stuck in a *meh* house in a *meh* area with a nice fat mortgage.

[Tin Knocker]

Why not look in neighboring states? I could see going into DC to make a living but unless you are wealthy living there isn't something I'd even consider.

[anglophile]

Where is your husband's job in DC? For 350,000-400,000 you can get a decent house right now in parts of Montgomery County MD (Takoma Park, Silver Spring, Wheaton, Glenmont, Olney). Opinions about these areas very, but Takoma Park is certainly better than NE. Olney is quite nice, but that would be a long commute.

[ddj8]

Thanks everyone for your info., really helps with our decision. We really wanted this to pan out because we have been searching for the past 2 months with no luck, and husband has been in a hotel the past 2 months while me and the kids are still in TN anyway,

Originally Posted by MadManofBethesda

DC has some great neighborhoods and it has some very affordable neighborhoods. Unfortunately, it does not have neighborhoods that are both great and very affordable.

I totally agree. We have looked in surrounding areas and think that quote applies to most surrounding areas we would like to live (Fairfax, woodbridge, princegeorge co., arlington, alexandria, herndon, louden, etc.) Man, theres just so much of a give and take in all these places seems to me if its not the schools its the home, or if its not the transportation issues its the location,and so on. We are not used to this townhome thing which seems to be popular in these areas but looks like thats all we can afford, and with that comes no yard (or very small) or garage issues.

Then theres a whole other issue for us which is the racial/ethnic mixes in the schools there. We are a biracial family (black/white). We noticed most of the schools in dc (except in the expensive areas) are all black, whereas in fairfax (our #1 choice) the best schools where like 98% white or white/asian??? We would like more of a mix but be able to get good schools also. Also where hoping to find great special ed prog but give and take again.

I am now researching Olney. I am concerned about the transit time for my husband. He is in the army and works out of fort mcnair. Does Olney have any kind of good public transportation to DC? Ive read some of the other posts regarding Olney, anyone have personal experience commuting from here or just any other city options for us? Thanks

[juniperbleu]

Originally Posted by ddj8

I am now researching Olney. I am concerned about the transit time for my husband. He is in the army and works out of fort mcnair. Does Olney have any kind of good public transportation to DC? Ive read some of the other posts regarding Olney, anyone have personal experience commuting from here or just any other city options for us? Thanks

If he's working in Fort McNair I'd think somewhere in Virginia might be best in terms of the commute. Did you look at the Kingstowne area of Alexandria? I've heard good things about that area and he could drive to the metro, or there might be a bus. You could also look into Springfield (I don't know about the schools) or Falls Church. Does his office offer a shuttle from the L'Enfant metro station (I know the Coast Guard at McNair does)? Using Trulia.com I also found some listings in your budget in North Arlington, which I've heard has good schools. The commute wouldn't be bad, either.