Pros and Cons of Moving to DC Area

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^^More precisely $750K first mortgage and $250K HELOC on which we pay interest only.

The first lien is a 5/5 ARM at 2.625% with interest increase capped at 2% at the end of 5 years. We will have downsized well before then.

HELOC was taken towards the kids' college expenses.

No reason for me to understate our expenses ..... but it blows me away when I see the sort of numbers that are bandied around on this forum.

If the kids are grown and independent, I can believe it. Kids are expensive, especially when you add in college.

[Anonymous]

I've lived here for my entire adult life (came here for college) and I love it. What I do not love: the housing costs to live close-in and the commuting. After 12 years of commuting from Fairfax, I bought in North Arlington, so my commute is now a 10-minute drive to park near metro, then a 20-ish-minute ride downtown. I find Metro mostly reliable and pleasant.

There are some rude people, of course, but I find the majority of people I meet to be pretty decent. Some are nicer than others. I'm from the midwest and I don't notice a significant difference between the two in terms of friendliness, to be honest. If you're nice to people here, they will generally be nice to you.

I love the cultural opportunities here, how much there is to see and do, and how quickly you can get to other places (mountains, ocean) when you want to. Downside is that there are a lot of people trying to do the same things you are, so stuff can get crowded. And for kid activities, you have to be pretty on-your-game because stuff fills up.

[Anonymous]

DC 4EVER!!!!!

Fuck everywhere!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:Also, what will your income be?

As I said previously, sufficient to afford a good neighborhood and schools. That should not be the focus.

Wow, you are a treat. I really want to help you. OK, SE DC is GREAT now! Live there.

+1

Bossy, bossy, bossy. You know you're asking people to take their time to help you, right?

Yeah, you'll fit right in. Come on back.

I certainly apologize to all you would-be helpers for any personal offense, but is it polite to ask "what will your income be?" It certainly is not polite to ask someone "how much do you earn?" in most places. Is this something that I should be aware of, that these type of personal questions are commonplace in DC? Will we get asked often "what do you make"?

Dude, you're an ass. This is an anonymous message board. No one is asking You what your income is. They are responding to your relative questions by asking for more info, and a key piece of how life is in DC depends on your income level. No one needs to know down to the dime, but roughly- are you expecting you'll make 50K? 100K? 350K? ANswners to each of your questions do depend on knowing that. Each question you ask depends on your frame of reference. DC is very expensive to live. Yes, I think a 15-20 minutte commute is worth it - but if I worked on Capitol Hill, I couldn't afford 15 minutes and get good schools and a good neighborhood. My commute would have to be longer. But if I work in Tyson's, and can afford a house priced around 1M, then 15 minutes is do-able, but public transportation is not. Etc. The DC area IS HUGE. There is no one answer to each of your questions.

We can afford to live close-in, Bethesda, Potomac, Chevy Chase, or McLean, and we can afford the private schools in DC and the surrounding areas. As with many people who relocate to DC we would be doing so because there is a strong economic incentive. I hope that this helps.

Since when do Potomac or McLean qualify as being close in? Are you coming to take a dep or asst sec job and plan to cash in on backside? Your comments are a little perplexing. If you can afford DC privates, then why would you be looking to live more than 10-15 minutes from them, which means NW DC (or B/CC on a good day)? You really haven't helped yourself in garnering the info you seek. Why didn't you just say - thinking of relocating from mid-size midwestern town/large metro West coast city/growing southern metropolis, etc? A 6 BR/4 BA house in my current neighborhood, which is 15 minutes from our jobs as well as kids' school runs $475K/800K/1.9 mill?

It's not that hard....

[Anonymous]

The Virginia equivalent of Ptomac is Great Falls, not McLean. Much of McLean is as close to downtown DC as Bethesda.

[Anonymous]

"I'm a partner. While I'm not yet clearing $750,000, I'm getting there."

is this really what partners make????

[Anonymous]

dc is very provincial and everything closes down early. there is a non-existent downtown and people are superficial. no one is original, all cookie cutters of eachother. it's way too conservative and everyone wants to talk politics all the time. the weather sucks six months a year and it's expensive! stay where you are!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"I'm a partner. While I'm not yet clearing $750,000, I'm getting there."

is this really what partners make????

Many make more.

[Anonymous]

Here's a big con: you are living next door to probably one of the most hated people from other countries. Come nuclear war attack, bombing, terrorist activity, or any other threat that some other country's terrorist group wants to instill on the US (yet again), you will have a front row seat to the catastrophic event. Either make sure you have an underground bomb shelter, or pray for absolution if the time ever comes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:dc is very provincial and everything closes down early. there is a non-existent downtown and people are superficial. no one is original, all cookie cutters of eachother. it's way too conservative and everyone wants to talk politics all the time. the weather sucks six months a year and it's expensive! stay where you are!!

+10000


...politics, or recipes....

BORING!!!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:dc is very provincial and everything closes down early. there is a non-existent downtown and people are superficial. no one is original, all cookie cutters of eachother. it's way too conservative and everyone wants to talk politics all the time. the weather sucks six months a year and it's expensive! stay where you are!!

Have you been here since 1979?