Relocating from Ft. Meade to N. Va/Southern MD, Advice!! (Woodbridge: foreclosure, to rent)

[jwils0n]

Howdy!

I was just curious if everyone could give me some advice on relocating...

I am currently stationed at Fort Meade in Maryland... Myself, Wife, and 9 week old baby girl ( ) are ready to purchase our first home.

I am looking to move up near N. VA, D.C. but still have commutable distance to Fort Meade (<50 miles) each way. Another option for us is Southern Maryland, but I will re-post that Maryland piece on the appropriate board.

Primary reason for moving up there is because it puts me within commutable distance between Fort Meade, N. Va, and D.C... so if you can think of all 3 metros in your analysis, that is preferred!!!

Now, some statistics about me to help you out..

What we want:

Preferably a Single Family Detached Home with fenced in yard (or yard that can be fended)... the yard doesnt have to be huge, just enough for the dogs and baby to play in once she gets bigger. A townhome would be ok, but only if it was able to be fenced in.

Good schools. We only plan on staying in this first home for about 5 years, as I get off active duty in 2011, and we've sort of resigned ourselves to the fact that this is the best place for me to work, both opportunity wise, and salary wise. Our little girl will be school age by the time 5 years from now rolls around, so we need to have some sort of schools that are held in high regard.

Safe neighborhood. I do not want a lot of crime. Crime is a constant in the world, and we know this, but we don't want to live in a high crime neighborhood, or these "ghettos" that people speak of. Diversity isn't a problem for us, crime is.

Stuff to do (outside and inside), i.e. parks, malls, trails, movies, etc, all the common amenities that people expect in modern areas.

Now, our price point:

We want to be around 1500/mo, so that equates to around 225k purchase price + taxes. We are not looking to rent, but buy...

Help us, please! Do it for the baby!

[ChristineVA]

For the most part, Southern Maryland should be off limits if you want good schools--not gonna happen.

When you get into the price point of $225,000K you really are putting yourself out in a far flung suburb of Northern VA which then ruins any sane commute to Ft. Meade. For $225,000 single family home, you are looking at foreclosure properties in Woodbridge, you *might* get something in Stafford/Fredericksburg.

Even Southern Maryland (Waldorf) you will be hard pressed for $225,000.

I have to say I think your goals are a bit unrealistic.

[Margery]

I would suggest using homesdatabase.com and searching in your price range in different areas (get a map to find communities not too far from Ft. Meade, pick a few addresses, and drive around the communities to get a feel for them). I think Woodbridge would be an awful commute to Ft. Meade. Try Takoma Park, MD, I have read several newspaper stories that put it in a favorable light and it is a reasonable commute for you.

[justtitans]

Takoma Park is not a very safe area, it has a reputation, especially with the high crime in surrounding areas like Langley Park and Hyattsville. If you want to find something in that price range, you can forget about NOVA, because as others have pointed out it is either too high or too far. You should consider places in Howard county like Columbia, Scaggsville, Jessup or Laurel, which are much more in your price range and have places that are relatively safe. Howard County also has the second best school system in MD and it has shopping or is near other areas that have shopping. And to be honest with you, I just went searching for a home, a few months back, and I don't think it is realistic to expect a single family home in that price range in part of the metro area that is 'safe'. If that's your range, you should be looking for a townhome, or if you do get a house, it will be a fixer-upper.