Comparing Silver Spring and Arlington

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Not sure why the SS residents are so defensive here. It's a cool town, and great commute into DC. Nice diversity too. But man, it seems every poster is adamantly defending the area like it's the second coming - and NOTHING critical can be said about it. SS has plenty of flaws as well. And OP isn't choosing between SS and Bethesda - she's choosing between Silver Spring and the more affordable parts of Arlington, which are far more similar than different.

+1 I think its just one or two passionate posters but it is strange or they are stuck in Silver Spring and upset about it.

Commute is a good reason to move up to MD but what happens if the OP changes jobs? Most of the jobs are not in MD, they're in DC and more so in VA. OP won't be able to build much equity in Silver Spring so she'll never be able to afford moving back to VA. Arlington to Silver Spring is counter commute while the opposite direction is bumper to bumper. Arlington and S Arlington at price levels below 1M are positioned to keep increasing. MD isn't.

OP doesn’t work in MD, she works in DC. Everyone should live in VA on the off chance they lose a job and can’t find one in DC or MD? You are really sounding ridiculous now.
Plenty of people are very happy living in Silver Spring. It makes sense that they share their thoughts and experiences when asked about Silver Spring. What doesn’t make sense is the rabidly anti-Silver spring response from people who don’t live there- or apparently even in the same state.

[Anonymous]

This is OP, reporting back. I loved both Silver Spring and Takoma Park. I saw some really lovely homes today. I need to line up chidlcare too, so it’s all in flux, but it was a successful trip. Thanks for your help, all!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is OP, reporting back. I loved both Silver Spring and Takoma Park. I saw some really lovely homes today. I need to line up chidlcare too, so it’s all in flux, but it was a successful trip. Thanks for your help, all!

Glad you found some good options. Here's a Montgomery County resource for finding child care: https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/HHS-Program/CYF/MCCCRRC/index.html

[Anonymous]

Glad you had a good experience OP!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Not sure why the SS residents are so defensive here. It's a cool town, and great commute into DC. Nice diversity too. But man, it seems every poster is adamantly defending the area like it's the second coming - and NOTHING critical can be said about it. SS has plenty of flaws as well. And OP isn't choosing between SS and Bethesda - she's choosing between Silver Spring and the more affordable parts of Arlington, which are far more similar than different.

+1 I think its just one or two passionate posters but it is strange or they are stuck in Silver Spring and upset about it.

Commute is a good reason to move up to MD but what happens if the OP changes jobs? Most of the jobs are not in MD, they're in DC and more so in VA. OP won't be able to build much equity in Silver Spring so she'll never be able to afford moving back to VA. Arlington to Silver Spring is counter commute while the opposite direction is bumper to bumper. Arlington and S Arlington at price levels below 1M are positioned to keep increasing. MD isn't.

I’m one of the Arlington posters and this is terrible advice. Why buy for the commute she doesn’t have?

[Anonymous]

I would look at bethesda or north arlington if you want the best schools and neighborhoods

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is OP, reporting back. I loved both Silver Spring and Takoma Park. I saw some really lovely homes today. I need to line up chidlcare too, so it’s all in flux, but it was a successful trip. Thanks for your help, all!

Awesome, OP! Very glad to hear it. Good luck with childcare--there are definitely options close by. All best!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would look at bethesda or north arlington if you want the best schools and neighborhoods

LOL.
Sure troll.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is OP, reporting back. I loved both Silver Spring and Takoma Park. I saw some really lovely homes today. I need to line up chidlcare too, so it’s all in flux, but it was a successful trip. Thanks for your help, all!

Good luck to you. FWIW the metro ride from SS to NoMa is very easy—you will almost always find a seat and no changing trains. Plus it’s all above ground so you’ll actually get to see the sun on your way to work. And you’ll have Internet access on your phone the whole way, not just in the metro stations!

[Anonymous]

OP - go read some or all of the Amazon/CC threads. If you can find a 500K TH in Arlington, buy it. You can sell it in a few years for significantly more and live wherever. If you really want to live in TP/Silver Spring now then rent for at least a year and wait for prices to stop dropping. MoCo is not in a good position so be careful with your money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP - go read some or all of the Amazon/CC threads. If you can find a 500K TH in Arlington, buy it. You can sell it in a few years for significantly more and live wherever. If you really want to live in TP/Silver Spring now then rent for at least a year and wait for prices to stop dropping. MoCo is not in a good position so be careful with your money.

oh my God!! Amazon's here and all the our jobs in MOCO and in DC disappeared! We must now all move to VA!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP - go read some or all of the Amazon/CC threads. If you can find a 500K TH in Arlington, buy it. You can sell it in a few years for significantly more and live wherever. If you really want to live in TP/Silver Spring now then rent for at least a year and wait for prices to stop dropping. MoCo is not in a good position so be careful with your money.

oh my God!! Amazon's here and all the our jobs in MOCO and in DC disappeared! We must now all move to VA!

They need Amazon to be relevant.

[Anonymous]

If it was just Amazon I could understand. But between all the developments in Tyson’s, Dulles, Arlington etc the jobs and wealth are very clearly shifting to
Nova and MD is in withdrawal mode. Agree with the PP above, buy in NOVA. Although most parts of S Arlington close to metros are significantly more expensive than SS. SS is more comparable to parts of Alexandria.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If it was just Amazon I could understand. But between all the developments in Tyson’s, Dulles, Arlington etc the jobs and wealth are very clearly shifting to
Nova and MD is in withdrawal mode. Agree with the PP above, buy in NOVA. Although most parts of S Arlington close to metros are significantly more expensive than SS. SS is more comparable to parts of Alexandria.

Give it up, PP. OP already said she liked SS and is looking for childcare there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP - go read some or all of the Amazon/CC threads. If you can find a 500K TH in Arlington, buy it. You can sell it in a few years for significantly more and live wherever. If you really want to live in TP/Silver Spring now then rent for at least a year and wait for prices to stop dropping. MoCo is not in a good position so be careful with your money.

Just bought in Arlington. There are no townhouses for $500k. I don’t even think there are any townhouses for $600k.