40ish single woman looking for DC area neighborhood advice (apartment complexes, leasing agent)

[Returning Expat]

Hi, everyone - I'm a first-time poster but somewhat longtime lurker here. I apologize in advance for a "please tell me where to live" thread, but I'm not finding anything both recent and relevant in a number of search forums, so I've decided to officially join the forums.

I am an American, currently working in SE Asia, where I have been based for the better part of the last decade. I am planning to relocate to DC within the next few months and would like some advice regarding places where I might consider renting.

Some information about me:
- I am in my early 40s and single (no children, no pets), but would like to be in an area where it is easy to meet others my age, both socially and romantically
- I've previously lived in Chicago and NYC, so I think I have a decent safety threshold. However, I'd prefer spots that are not terribly far off the beaten path
- My working location will vary, so while I prefer to be close to a metro line, there is no specific commute that I am trying to manage at the moment. If parking is available, I might get a car, but I don't need a car
- I may be working from home a fair amount, so I would like to be in an area that is close to gyms, cafes, etc.


My budget is $2000-2500/ month for a 1BR, though I'd prefer closer to the lower side. If I can snag a 1BR+den or a small 2BR for that price, I'd be ecstatic, but I'm not holding my breath. I'm currently considering DC proper and Arlington, but can be open to other suburbs (Bethesda, Alexandria, etc.) if they come highly recommended.

If there is any other information that I can provide, please let me know. TIA for any helpful advice.

[gomason]

For the District proper, I would recommend looking at Capitol Hill (Eastern Market) which is very suitable for your age range. Old Town Alexandria would also be very suitable for your age range. Both of those places have very easy street parking and apartments in your range. Crystal City and Pentagon City in Arlington also are slightly older than most urban neighborhoods in the area but parking would be a little more difficult.

I would avoid Ballston, Clarendon, Rosslyn, Adam's Morgan, and the U street areas because they are much younger neighborhoods, although they do have some older singles.

[DistrictSonic]

You have a pleathra of options. My advice though is to stay in an older building west of the park. You are more likely to find your peer group in Chevy Chase then you are on U St. NW.

There are communities though like Takoma Park, which have better age diversity than the hyper-young areas of the city and suburbs.

So if I were to make a list...Takoma Park, Bethesda, Chevy Chase, Old Town Alexandria, Capital Hill, and west of rock creed neighborhoods in general in DC.

Crystal City and Pentagon city are a little too office parky, they kind of lack the character of these neighborhoods.

Finding a 2BR will likely be difficult, so at least you are realistic. But you should be able to find a nice 1BR.

[Returning Expat]

Thanks for the suggestions thus far. It looks like the suburbs come more highly recommended, but are these areas single friendly or do they cater more to couples/families? I'm particularly interested in Alexandria, as well as any specific neighborhoods in Arlington which draw an older crowd (30s-40s).

Another question I have is how easy will it be to rent an apartment without pay stubs? I'm working for a non-US company right now, so I don't have W2 information, though I do have tax returns which state my income at my current company and I can get a salary letter or something similar from my new company.

I think I once managed to rent an apartment in a similar situation by showing a few months of bank statements with some multiple of the rent, but I'm not sure if that is a common practice or some lucky one-off. Can anyone weigh in?

Thanks again!

[coldbliss]

With your budget, you have many options. I would recommend an apartment near the Metro red line stations. I would avoid the 14th Street/Logan Circle/U Street/Columbia Heights/No-Ma/Shaw areas if I were you. Only because the age demographic is mostly Millennial professionals, hipster musicians and trust fund kids. Speaking as a Generation Xer myself, I have a lower tolerance for vapid and pampered Millennials.

Neighborhoods are safer and quieter from Woodley Park all the way up to Chevy Chase. And they are still walkable with retail and restaurants within short distance of most apartment buildings along the Connecticut and Wisconsin Ave. corridors.

You may want to check out the Penn Quarter neighborhood in downtown but you would be really stretching your budget thin. Lots of 40-something professionals such as yourself have a pad in PQ.

You would like Bethesda too. Basically, stick to the WMATA red line.

Originally Posted by Returning Expat

Hi, everyone - I'm a first-time poster but somewhat longtime lurker here. I apologize in advance for a "please tell me where to live" thread, but I'm not finding anything both recent and relevant in a number of search forums, so I've decided to officially join the forums.

I am an American, currently working in SE Asia, where I have been based for the better part of the last decade. I am planning to relocate to DC within the next few months and would like some advice regarding places where I might consider renting.

Some information about me:
- I am in my early 40s and single (no children, no pets), but would like to be in an area where it is easy to meet others my age, both socially and romantically
- I've previously lived in Chicago and NYC, so I think I have a decent safety threshold. However, I'd prefer spots that are not terribly far off the beaten path
- My working location will vary, so while I prefer to be close to a metro line, there is no specific commute that I am trying to manage at the moment. If parking is available, I might get a car, but I don't need a car
- I may be working from home a fair amount, so I would like to be in an area that is close to gyms, cafes, etc.


My budget is $2000-2500/ month for a 1BR, though I'd prefer closer to the lower side. If I can snag a 1BR+den or a small 2BR for that price, I'd be ecstatic, but I'm not holding my breath. I'm currently considering DC proper and Arlington, but can be open to other suburbs (Bethesda, Alexandria, etc.) if they come highly recommended.

If there is any other information that I can provide, please let me know. TIA for any helpful advice.

[stateofnature]

Old Town Alexandria would be perfect for you. Yes in general the suburbs are mostly family-oriented and terrible for singles, but Old Town seems to be the one of the few bar/restaurant areas geared more toward middle-aged people than other groups. It also is a really beautiful, historic and walkable area, which is a combination difficult to find elsewhere in the suburbs.

[Returning Expat]

Originally Posted by stateofnature

Old Town Alexandria would be perfect for you. Yes in general the suburbs are mostly family-oriented and terrible for singles, but Old Town seems to be the one of the few bar/restaurant areas geared more toward middle-aged people than other groups. It also is a really beautiful, historic and walkable area, which is a combination difficult to find elsewhere in the suburbs.

I turned 41 a month ago and still can't bear the term, middle aged!

Thanks for the vote on Alexandria, though. I've been there before and it is lovely.

[lovely40]

I moved to the area roughly a month ago. I've been diligently looking around at the various neighborhoods within DC proper. Old Town was a top contender for me, until I found Glover Park. Very nice area, you should check it out. Also, based on my chats with leasing agents at the various apartment complexes, you'll totally be ok with tax returns and/or a salary letter.

[coldbliss]

Beware of Old Town Alexandria if you care about politics. Old Town looks lovely with the brick streets and 150 year old townhomes but there is a high concentration of conservative Republicans who live on those blocks. The number of Republican candidate, NRA and Marine Corps bumper stickers on resident cars is a dead giveaway. If you are cool with that then no problems.

Originally Posted by Returning Expat

I turned 41 a month ago and still can't bear the term, middle aged!

Thanks for the vote on Alexandria, though. I've been there before and it is lovely.

[r_u_a_wizard]

Originally Posted by coldbliss

Beware of Old Town Alexandria if you care about politics. Old Town looks lovely with the brick streets and 150 year old townhomes but there is a high concentration of conservative Republicans who live on those blocks. The number of Republican candidate, NRA and Marine Corps bumper stickers on resident cars is a dead giveaway. If you are cool with that then no problems.

hahahaha. stay away from those republicans