How did you pick between MD and VA?

[Anonymous]

If you moved to the DMV from somewhere else, how did you decide which state was the right place to buy? Are taxes that different? The commute? There are excellent schools in both VA and MD. Not asking about DC proper because budget/yard/parking struggles.

We moved here last year and it looks like our jobs are staying local remote, so that takes our commute concerns off the table. We’re primarily looking to buy in Montgomery County because that’s where we’ve been renting, but we’ve never lived in an area with so many jurisdictions so we’re not sure what to look for.

[Anonymous]

For most it is commute or family... maybe politics. My DH works in MoCo so that made it simple. I have lived in both. I think they are similar.

[Anonymous]

Here is good info on taxes:

https://www.arlnow.com/2019/02/19/ask-eli-does-virginia-washington-dc-or-maryland-have-the-most-favorable-taxes/

People often reflexively say that VA taxes are lower, and that's true for income tax, but the money has to come from somewhere, and VA is higher on property tax. Plus VA is unique in taxing your vehicle at the rate of approximately 5% every year.

[Anonymous]

I moved five times in two decades trying to "live near my job." Finally settled in Maryland because that was where our friends and church are.

[Anonymous]

Once I was freed from forced Maryland residency I turned south and never looked back. It wasn't even a choice it was so obvious (DC was an option but never made it work).

[Anonymous]

It is a wash. Arlington county and Montgomery county are both politically the same. They do not enforce/prosecute property crimes so if you are ok with that mentality of both very liberal educational and judicial system you will really not notice a difference other than lower taxes in VA.

Once you go farther west in VA or north in MD it becomes more purple/red for both.

[Anonymous]

We chose Fairfax County for lower taxes but I really do think it's a wash.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here is good info on taxes:

https://www.arlnow.com/2019/02/19/ask-eli-does-virginia-washington-dc-or-maryland-have-the-most-favorable-taxes/

People often reflexively say that VA taxes are lower, and that's true for income tax, but the money has to come from somewhere, and VA is higher on property tax. Plus VA is unique in taxing your vehicle at the rate of approximately 5% every year.

Our car tax combined is under $1000. Much less than an extra roughly 3% Marylanders pay in income tax. What's 3% of 250k? $7500? That's over $600/month, which is the equivalent of an extra $100,000 in mortgage.

Here in Fairfax County, they must be cheap I guess. Just look at the median strips. Like a jungle.

I'm from MoCo. I moved to Fairfax County because it is generally nicer. But, you give up some things living here. Yes, it has less crime, overall better schools, and lower taxes. Sounds awesome so far. . Except the less friendly, strivery people, the lack of many good food options, and the ugly median strips. But if living in a low crime neighborhood with unfriendly people, great schools, and roads littered with weeds is your thing, and eating from the same handful of places all the time suits you, come on down!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here is good info on taxes:

https://www.arlnow.com/2019/02/19/ask-eli-does-virginia-washington-dc-or-maryland-have-the-most-favorable-taxes/

People often reflexively say that VA taxes are lower, and that's true for income tax, but the money has to come from somewhere, and VA is higher on property tax. Plus VA is unique in taxing your vehicle at the rate of approximately 5% every year.

Our car tax combined is under $1000. Much less than an extra roughly 3% Marylanders pay in income tax. What's 3% of 250k? $7500? That's over $600/month, which is the equivalent of an extra $100,000 in mortgage.

Here in Fairfax County, they must be cheap I guess. Just look at the median strips. Like a jungle.

I'm from MoCo. I moved to Fairfax County because it is generally nicer. But, you give up some things living here. Yes, it has less crime, overall better schools, and lower taxes. Sounds awesome so far. . Except the less friendly, strivery people, the lack of many good food options, and the ugly median strips. But if living in a low crime neighborhood with unfriendly people, great schools, and roads littered with weeds is your thing, and eating from the same handful of places all the time suits you, come on down!

Should have lived in Bethesda, which is nicer than Fairfax with better schools.

[Anonymous]

If you put va vs md in google, the first thing you get is a video that explains it all.

[Anonymous]

^^^ MoCo defector PP again. Tell us your housing budget and how important school ratings are, and we will tell you where we think you should live.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here is good info on taxes:

https://www.arlnow.com/2019/02/19/ask-eli-does-virginia-washington-dc-or-maryland-have-the-most-favorable-taxes/

People often reflexively say that VA taxes are lower, and that's true for income tax, but the money has to come from somewhere, and VA is higher on property tax. Plus VA is unique in taxing your vehicle at the rate of approximately 5% every year.

Our car tax combined is under $1000. Much less than an extra roughly 3% Marylanders pay in income tax. What's 3% of 250k? $7500? That's over $600/month, which is the equivalent of an extra $100,000 in mortgage.

Here in Fairfax County, they must be cheap I guess. Just look at the median strips. Like a jungle.

I'm from MoCo. I moved to Fairfax County because it is generally nicer. But, you give up some things living here. Yes, it has less crime, overall better schools, and lower taxes. Sounds awesome so far. . Except the less friendly, strivery people, the lack of many good food options, and the ugly median strips. But if living in a low crime neighborhood with unfriendly people, great schools, and roads littered with weeds is your thing, and eating from the same handful of places all the time suits you, come on down!

Should have lived in Bethesda, which is nicer than Fairfax with better schools.

I paid under 800k for a house in a top notch school pyramid (2020) in Fairfax County. Considering higher taxes in MD, it's like paying 700k in Bethesda. Might buy me a Bethesda garage lol!

[Anonymous]

We first looked into taxes and didn’t think there was a big enough difference to matter. Then we started mapping out where we could go that would give DH a 45 minute to an hour commute to work. That’s the length he was ok with. We ended up in northern Calvert County, which was never on our radar and almost never recommended here.

There’s no traffic, far fewer people, good schools, and we got a huge, updated house + land for the same amount we’d pay for a small townhouse in Nova. We gave up better food options and diversity (depending on neighborhood), but we just drive a little further in on weekends for restaurants and activities we don’t get here. We’ve got all the main stores we need with a 10-minute drive. It works for us. Too “remote” for much of DCUM, but it feels like a typical suburb to me, just with horses and chickens.

[Anonymous]

Couldn’t find any newer homes in Bethesda/Potomac so we went to VA.

[Anonymous]

I've lived in both. I just didn't like the people at all in Maryland. Silver Spring was trashy and Chevy Chase was stuffy. Lots of entitled boomers. Vienna has better diversity in terms of asian community and as others have said, lower taxes. Saving 3% on 500k HHI is nothing to sneeze at.