Moving to MD - possible to find a home with a country feel? (Silver Spring: for sale, crime)

[Rocktsrgn]

We're a youngish couple moving to the area to start jobs at Goddard, in Greenbelt, and are thinking about purchasing a home. Right now we're considering a place in Laurel (Howard Co.), but are also thinking about Bowie, Silver Spring, or somewhere closer to Annapolis, like Edgewater. We don't have kids yet, but are thinking long-term and would like a place with decent schools.

We are moving from the southwest, and are used to wide open places with mountains in the distance. While I know we won't find anything like that (sigh), we'd like something a little more open and country, with a small town feel. Is that a reasonable thing to look for? We're thinking that a 30 minute commute would be about the max, and a home under $400k with an acre+. We don't need/want fancy (would rather make it into what we want it to be), but really would like some space around us. Does Laurel have a good sense of community? Or would we be better off looking further out in AA county?

Thanks in advance!

[goldenage1]

Originally Posted by Rocktsrgn

Does Laurel have a good sense of community? Or would we be better off looking further out in AA county?

Laurel does have a smaller town feel, but there's no way you will find an acre of land for under $400K, that is still within a half-hour of Goddard.

You might find an acre in Carroll County, but you would have a much further commute. You need to be realistic.

[Zimar]

Based on our own house search in PG County, you might be able to find what you are looking for in Upper Marlboro, but I don't know if the schools there are on the same level as the places you are suggesting...

A while back we did see a house for sale in Glenn Dale MD that had .93 of an acre and it sold for 340k.

[goldenage1]

Originally Posted by Zimar

A while back we did see a house for sale in Glenn Dale MD that had .93 of an acre and it sold for 340k.

OK, there may be an exceptional house with that large a lot, but typical lots are less than a quarter acre in Prince George County.

There are 5 houses currently listed in Millersville, MD (AA County) with a bit over an acre. They are mostly 1950's or 60's houses, which would be typical with larger lots. The commute is probably longer than 30 minutes to Goddard.

[Rocktsrgn]

I've actually found a couple of places that fit what we're looking for in terms of the commute/price/land, so I guess I'm more interested in the communities. I've checked the crime stats/school rankings online, but it's hard to get a feel for the place without spending a good deal of time there. I drove around a bit in the Crofton/Davidsonville area, and liked that, but the houses out are mostly out of our price range, with a few exceptions. In North Laurel, there are a few options that we like, but I haven't been there, other than a quick drive-by, and I've never gone into downtown Laurel.

But it's good to know that what we're looking for is pretty rare.

[RamblingMan]

Rocktsrgn,

I hope you can find what you're looking for. I think you might find the acre+ lot you want in your price range if you're willing to make other compromises.

You may have to calibrate your expectations on country or small town feel, though. I'm pretty sure a home on a larger lot in North Laurel will feel more suburban than rural. This simply isn't the underpopulated Southwest where land is abundant. This is a highly developed and densely populated area of the East Coast and Goddard is only about ten miles from the major job center of DC. Pretty much by definition, there aren't any real small towns or country left within easy commuting distance of job centers. Those areas that still have that feel (and decent schools) will be expensive.

[smitity]

You might want to check western Howard Co, if thats withing a reasonable commute to Goddard for you. Places like Clarksville, Scaggsville, etc till have a fair amount of open land, of course there's less property actually for sale in that area too. Anne Arundel Co. would be more affordable it terms of property costs and the schools are pretty good. Gambrills might be a good compromise, its kinda sandwiched in between Crofton, Annapolis, and the farms of Davidsonville. Its a suburb with a little more of a country feel.

[Rocktsrgn]

Thanks, all.

[Uptkid]

Maryland south of DC is country

[bowian]

Try Croom, which is near the part of Upper Marlboro off Rt. 301. There's also the Brandywine area, further south off 301. The commute won't be the greatest, but not the worst. Some parts of Upper Marlboro (again, off 301) will have some acreage. These areas are pretty, too.Good luck.