Cheap apartment in Chevy Chase - and are black people welcomed? (for sale, real estate market)

[popsicle_dc]

I published this on the Maryland forum but I guess this is the right place...

Hi there, I'll be working in Chevy Chase, Md and thought it was impossible to find something cheap over there with my 50K/year budget. I found a condo in 4242 East West Highway (The Riviera), many units -1 bdr- are renting for 1,000 - 1,100. Since other buildings nearby are over 1,500/month does this mean that there's a problem with the building? Way too many units in the market. It would be really convenient for me, but I'm afraid of having to move 6 months from now.
I'm also worried about race issues in the area. I'm african american and don't want/tolerate to be looked down by neighbors...or having the concierge confuse me with the cleaning lady...

Thanks All!

[seethelight]

Originally Posted by popsicle_dc

I published this on the Maryland forum but I guess this is the right place...

Hi there, I'll be working in Chevy Chase, Md and thought it was impossible to find something cheap over there with my 50K/year budget. I found a condo in 4242 East West Highway (The Riviera), many units -1 bdr- are renting for 1,000 - 1,100. Since other buildings nearby are over 1,500/month does this mean that there's a problem with the building? Way too many units in the market. It would be really convenient for me, but I'm afraid of having to move 6 months from now.
I'm also worried about race issues in the area. I'm african american and don't want/tolerate to be looked down by neighbors...or having the concierge confuse me with the cleaning lady...

Thanks All!

Well, Chevy Chase, Maryland is just over the border from DC where the African American percentage of the population is approximately 60%, so it isn't as if people in Chevy Chase have never seen African Americans in positions of power and prestige, or at least having good jobs, thus able to afford nice places.

Don't worry.

[MadManofBethesda]

I live very close to the Riviera. My DW even has a friend that lives in the building. There is nothing at all wrong with the building; however, you may want to check with the owners of the units that are for rent to ensure that they are in fact full one bedroom units and not studios. I have seen classified ads and flyers when units are for sale and they are listed as "1br" when they are studios.

Other than that, there is nothing to be concerned with. Rents are usually lower when you are renting a condo from an owner than when you are renting an equivalent sized apartment from a commercial establishment. The owner may only be trying to partially offset his or her mortage payment while awaiting for the real estate market to turn around before selling.

If you do end up at the Riviera, try for a unit in the back with a balcony overlooking the Capital Crescent Trail. BTW, you can get on the trail from behind the building and take it directly into downtown Bethesda (about 1/2 mile) or walk or bike all the way to the Georgetown waterfront (about 9 miles).

As fior your question about being an African American: it almost doesn't even merit a response. Suffice it to say that you will not be out of place in Bethesda/Chevy Chase and no one will even take a second look at you.

Let me know if you have any other questions.

[popsicle_dc]

Thanks MadManofBethesda. Will probably move to the Riviera...They just approved building the purple line today and seems like there will be a metro station next to it...hope that's a good thing.

[PenguinSix]

The 'endorsed' building a light rail today instead of a bus. They have no money for it yet and have to beg and plead with Uncle Sam for the next few years, then go through many more years of lawsuits and then finally construction.

It will be a bit of a wait.

[MadManofBethesda]

Originally Posted by popsicle_dc

Thanks MadManofBethesda. Will probably move to the Riviera...They just approved building the purple line today and seems like there will be a metro station next to it...hope that's a good thing.

I believe that I saw a projection that even under a best-case scenario, the earliest that the Purple Line would become operational would be in 2015. Additionally, no station is proposed near the Riviera. The two closest stations would be above the Bethesda Metro Station near Wisconsin Avenue, and where the trail crosses Connecticut Avenue. Either station would be about 1/2 mile away.

[terrence81]

Originally Posted by MadManofBethesda

I believe that I saw a projection that even under a best-case scenario, the earliest that the Purple Line would become operational would be in 2015. Additionally, no station is proposed near the Riviera. The two closest stations would be above the Bethesda Metro Station near Wisconsin Avenue, and where the trail crosses Connecticut Avenue. Either station would be about 1/2 mile away.

Actually 1/2 mile is not bad at all. That's what a 10-15 minute walk. Yeah that's pretty good considering that not everyone gets to live near a metro.

[adio]

u won't have a problem. like seethelight said, there are alotta black people with positions of power and prestige around the area, so you won't be a strange or unusal sight there.

[Moth]

Image is everything. If you are a well-mannered professional, that is what people will see.

No worries.

[Washingtonian]

I'm an AA woman moving to a house in CC in two weeks. I don't think you'll have any problems. The schools are great for my daughter and I can walk to the metro within 15 minutes.
Good Luck