Easy commute to D.C (Washington: apartments, rent, townhouse)

[lesha79]

I just got a job in downtown D.C. Since I would be a crazy person to attempt to drive into that every day, I am opting to take the metro. Now my issue is WHERE do I live? I am looking into northern VA and I WAS looking into Woodbridge, but I would have to catch a bus to get to the metro and I wonder if that would be a big hassle (if there is someone out there that DOES that, that could tell me otherwise I would love to hear from you too!).

So then I am thinking about Alexandria area, but I don't have a lot to spend ($1100), and since I am moving in with my boyfriend we have to get a 2 bedroom. I would really just like someplace reasonably priced (is that too much to ask for that area?) and convenient to the metro AND safe of course. I don't think I have a lot of specifics about where I want to live, just the ones I listed above. Anyone out there have any advice for me?

[lrose4]

Try Silver Spring MD

[jb124]

1100 between you and your boyfriend or could your boyfriend also contribute 1100? If so, that might give you some nicer options in Arlington or Alexandria near the Metro.

[JennOSU2008]

I think commuting to DC would be safer and easier than commuting from Maryland, but that's just my opinion.

[novaman]

Coming in from woodbridge would make for a long commute. How about Falls Church, Arlington, Mclean... all convenient to metro.

[dullnboring]

Originally Posted by lesha79

So then I am thinking about Alexandria area, but I don't have a lot to spend ($1100), and since I am moving in with my boyfriend we have to get a 2 bedroom. I would really just like someplace reasonably priced (is that too much to ask for that area?) and convenient to the metro AND safe of course. I don't think I have a lot of specifics about where I want to live, just the ones I listed above. Anyone out there have any advice for me?

Well, unfortunately it's a matter of supply and demand and since EVERYONE wants those same things, an apartment, close to Metro, in a safe neighborhood; prices for such places are even higher than the already high average cost for an apartment.

Would a one bedroom be a possibility? I'm not sure if there's a third person living with the two of you, or whether or not the two of you would just prefer your own separate bedrooms, but whatever the case may be, you would have a slew of one-bedrooms to choose from in your price range. Honestly, I didn't think that there would be ANY two bedrooms for a price of $1100 considering that's the average price for a decent one-bedroom in the area, but to my surprise, after plugging in some numbers on Craig's List, I came up with this:

Basement Apt.

As a note, I am not advertising. I have no connection to this home or the people who are renting it out. I know for a fact however that this is a nice area and commuting would be much easier than a commute from Woodbridge (this is near the West Falls Church Metro). If you enter in your price and room requirements at the top however, you'll see some places do pop up, largely basement apartments and a good chunk of them in shady areas, but take a look at what you see, and if you have questions about particular neighborhoods that pop up, come back and ask .

[ZorroRojo]

I currently live in Woodbridge and if you are not familiar with the area then there is another option that you may not be aware of.

I work in Bethesda, MD which makes my commute about an hour and a half one way. You say you got a job in DC and it usually takes me between 30 to 45 minutes to get to DC depending on traffic. There is a free commuter lot (refered to as Horner RD) near where the Prince William County Parkway crosses I-95. It fills up around 7:30AM or 7:45AM.

From there you can take what is called a slug line (free) to many points in DC. It is basically an instant car pool so that you can ride with someone in the HOV lanes which are less crowded than the normal lanes. So in the mornings I park at the lot and get in the line that will take me to where I want to go and as soon as a car drives up going that way I get in. Some lines have multiple destinations and some just have one. In the afternoon there are slug lines in DC to take you back to the Horner RD commuter lot.

I can answer any questions you have about these slug lines if it is something you would be interested in doing. There is a web site at Slug-Lines.com - Slugging and Slug Lines Information For Washington DC that explains more about these slug lines.

As to houseing, One place you may want to check out is Longview Apts. I rent a 3 bedroom townhouse there and pay $1,110 per month. So if they have any 2 bedroom ones those would be cheaper.

Good luck!

[beeboah]

Originally Posted by ZorroRojo

I currently live in Woodbridge and if you are not familiar with the area then there is another option that you may not be aware of.

I work in Bethesda, MD which makes my commute about an hour and a half one way. You say you got a job in DC and it usually takes me between 30 to 45 minutes to get to DC depending on traffic. There is a free commuter lot (refered to as Horner RD) near where the Prince William County Parkway crosses I-95. It fills up around 7:30AM or 7:45AM.

From there you can take what is called a slug line (free) to many points in DC. It is basically an instant car pool so that you can ride with someone in the HOV lanes which are less crowded than the normal lanes. So in the mornings I park at the lot and get in the line that will take me to where I want to go and as soon as a car drives up going that way I get in. Some lines have multiple destinations and some just have one. In the afternoon there are slug lines in DC to take you back to the Horner RD commuter lot.

I can answer any questions you have about these slug lines if it is something you would be interested in doing. There is a web site at Slug-Lines.com - Slugging and Slug Lines Information For Washington DC that explains more about these slug lines.

As to houseing, One place you may want to check out is Longview Apts. I rent a 3 bedroom townhouse there and pay $1,110 per month. So if they have any 2 bedroom ones those would be cheaper.

Good luck!

I second that. I used to live in Longview and paid 1110 per month for my townhome. The rent went up to 1150 on me, and I had the opportunity to move so I moved into my house .

Some dodgy characters at longview and some roach troubles, but a pretty good community overall. They are putting up security at the front of the complex which will delay your entry into the complex during peak hours I'd guess.

Maintainence there is top notch.

[Andrewhutchinson2]

Hello, beeboah member.

You indicated that you currently live in Woodbridge and commute to Bethesda every day. We are planning on moving to NOVA and we really like the Woodbridge/Lake Ridge area. However, there is a private school in Alexandria that we are planning to send our 4 year old son to. Would it be a difficult commute to take Route 1 to Alexandria every day. I rather not take I-95 with my son a daily basis during rush hour.
In addition, we will be both be working in Alexandria. Is there a particular area in Woodbridge/Lake Ridge that will make my commute easier to Alexandria?

Please note that neither of us have accepted any positions in Alexandria as yet, but we are both professionals and based on our research, the salaries are higher in Fairfax county, so Alexandria seems the choice for our commute.

Please advise

Thanks for your help in this

[beeboah]

Originally Posted by Andrewhutchinson2

Hello, beeboah member.

You indicated that you currently live in Woodbridge and commute to Bethesda every day. We are planning on moving to NOVA and we really like the Woodbridge/Lake Ridge area. However, there is a private school in Alexandria that we are planning to send our 4 year old son to. Would it be a difficult commute to take Route 1 to Alexandria every day. I rather not take I-95 with my son a daily basis during rush hour.
In addition, we will be both be working in Alexandria. Is there a particular area in Woodbridge/Lake Ridge that will make my commute easier to Alexandria?

Please note that neither of us have accepted any positions in Alexandria as yet, but we are both professionals and based on our research, the salaries are higher in Fairfax county, so Alexandria seems the choice for our commute.

Please advise

Thanks for your help in this

You have the wrong person. I think it was someone else in this thread. I used to live in Woodbridge, but now live in Spotsy. Sorry