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I currently live in Dumfries, VA, but work and go to graduate school in DC. The travel time, as well as the transportation expenses are becoming a real pain. Days I have class, I need to drive into DC, pay for parking and drive back. I also have two children so the extra time it eats up is a bummer. Like many Section 8 participants, I've found it extremely difficult to rent in the past. Correction: I've found it difficult to get a potential landlord to actually give me the time of day. Once I've done that it's usually been fairly easy convincing them to rent to me. The Section 8 rates aren't terrible (about 1900-2300 for a 3BR depending on the neighborhood). Any advice for someone considering moving but would like a safe neighborhood with decent schools?
In DC the only places you will find in that price range that are amenable to Section 8 are places you probably don't want your kids to live. I would cross DC off the list and look at somewhere like Alexandria. Even Springfield would be closer than Dumfries.
Post your question in the Northern Virginia forum and the people can probably point you toward a neighborhood in NoVa closer to DC.
The above posters are correct that your budget is too low for a family in DC proper.
In DC the only places you will find in that price range that are amenable to Section 8 are places you probably don't want your kids to live. I would cross DC off the list and look at somewhere like Alexandria. Even Springfield would be closer than Dumfries.
Do you think Arlington might be more feasible? It seems as though housing in DC is so, so expensive. The reason why I've stayed in Dumfries is because you can get a relatively large living area (4 BR 3.5 BA) for about $1600, a safe place to live and good schools. I would be willing to sacrifice on space and move into something smaller, but not at the expense of the kiddos.
In DC the only places you will find in that price range that are amenable to Section 8 are places you probably don't want your kids to live. I would cross DC off the list and look at somewhere like Alexandria. Even Springfield would be closer than Dumfries.
Really, even at $2300? I thought that price looked astronomical when I first saw it (Mind you, I'm from upstate NY where I think the most they would pay was about...$500 and in VA it's about...1800/1900). I guess I'm just floored that for over 2K a month you still can't find something decent in the District
Wow. I am shocked. We provide Section 8 government assistance to someone who is going to graduate school? Someone who is already educated enough to have a decent paying position? Someone who could get their graduate degree online (in the evenings), while working, saving the taxpayers' money?
I'm also shocked at the "entitlement" attitude of someone looking for a 3-bedroom. Have you children share a bedroom, like the rest of the people who don't take government assistance to live in this expensive area. Why should I be paying you to live in a $2300 apartment, when I can only afford $1500? Or $500? Ridiculous!
Wow. I am shocked. We provide Section 8 government assistance to someone who is going to graduate school? Someone who is already educated enough to have a decent paying position? Someone who could get their graduate degree online (in the evenings), while working, saving the taxpayers' money?
I'm also shocked at the "entitlement" attitude of someone looking for a 3-bedroom. Have you children share a bedroom, like the rest of the people who don't take government assistance to live in this expensive area. Why should I be paying you to live in a $2300 apartment, when I can only afford $1500? Or $500? Ridiculous!
I have to agree. Your section 8 voucher is more than my mortgage. Also I can't go to grad school because my mortgage takes up too much of my monthly income. It doesn't pay to be a middle class person anymore esp in the DMV.
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