Moving to Maryland in June NEED MAJOR HELP! (Baltimore, Bowie: apartment complexes, rentals)

[aac725]

Hi everyone! Needing some major help here since I don't know Maryland to well, only been to Balitmore 2 times for an Orioles game that's about it.

Here is the Scenario:

My boyfriend and I currently live in the Philadelphia Suburbs. I work as an Occupational Therapist in Philly.

My boyfriend just landed a job in Bowie Maryland, we did some mapping of the area it seems to be the mid-point (30 minute drive or so) from Baltimore, Annapolis, College Park, DC, Laurel.

So what we would like some help on some areas to live: We are in our mid twenties, we would like 2-3 bedrooms with parking for 2 cars for around $1200/month, we would be getting a dog since we are moving away from everyone we need the place to accept pets.

We would like safe area with a downtown to walk to stores or some bars, walking trails or parks.

Since my boyfriend will be working in Bowie ideal commute would be about 30 minutes, he has a care but any use of public transportation would be great too ( regional rail or subway????)

As for myself I would be working as an Occupational Therapist ideally in a school setting (elementary, middle, or high school) If anyone knows any of the better school districts to work for that would be helpful also. I can also work in nursing homes or hospitals, I am pretty flexible with the health care settings. I would ideally like my commute to be less than 30 minutes.

Any information would be terrific!

[golfgal]

Do you move every other month or something??

[aac725]

It seems like that but no. Job offers have been coming in from all over. California isn't feasible even though it be a lot of fun to move out there but the job wasn't paying enough to actually live out there.

My boyfriend got in with a government position so its the safest job to be taking right now.

So yes it seems like I post on here a lot about different locations but I really have no clue about Maryland and that's where we are going to be moving to in May/June.

[eav1221]

Look for a place in Annapolis (good luck with 1200/mo though)--lots of stuff to walk to and easy commute to Bowie. Eastport is also a nice little community where you could walk to places. Arnold is another close commute to Bowie but not as much to walk to...I live in Severna Park and I can walk to the gym, froyo, pizza place, and the walking/biking trail is outside my door. Severna Park would be a great place but it'd be hard to find something fro 1200. Good luck with your search!

[WhoDatInMD]

It'll be hard to find a 2br apt for around $1200 within a 30 min commute to Bowie. I was paying almost $1450 for a 1 br apt in Bowie before I moved out in the fall of last year. As the previous poster mentioned, Annapolis would be a good choice for what you're looking for, minus the price and maybe walking trails. Bowie itself has many great walking trails and parks that I take advantage of. Maybe you can look for townhomes/condos for rent in the area on craigslist that come close to that price.

[No_Allegiance]

I would also suggest renting a townhome or condo in Bowie. The prices for rentals will oftentimes be better than apartment rates. While there isn't a downtown per se, there are numerous parks, shopping centers and Bowie Town Center. You should be able to find

[ay jayy]

Central MD doesn't have a lot of walkable downtowns. The ones we do have do not contain any 2-3 bedroom apts that rent for 1200/month.

[skeddy]

$1200 a month?.......any place you can find for that money you won't want to live...

[Patz0709]

There are perfectly reasonable, livable, safe places to rent in Laurel for 1200/month. The commute to Bowie is about as easy as they come for this area, just down and back up 197, which is usually no problem at all. Watch out for a few sketchy areas on the extreme south side of Laurel, but enjoy the convenience of an easy trip to work plus MARC train and Metro access. Downtown Laurel has a small trail system near the Patuxent River downtown, and shops and a historic district there too.

[dropping_k]

For $1200 per month there are a few nice apartment complexes in PG in and around the capital beltway, but not sure if you are comfortable living a predominately AA community.

Contrary to what many people will tell you, PG County is not a slum, yes the majority of the county is African American, but there are many nice well maintained apartment complexes within your price range. Greenbelt, Landover, Lanham, and Glenarden is a few minutes away from Bowie. And the good thing is that you will be driving against traffic.

Many people who will tell you to avoid these areas haven't actually been there. In the early 90's these were areas that you wanted to avoid, but they are ok now. Still not good as Annapolis or Crofton, but much better than before and reasonable prices.

I work in Healthcare and they are many well paying jobs in DC, but the cons is that its best to take Metro and not drive. Which again leaves me to point you to living closer to DC near metro