East Bethesda Neighborhood - Good for Kids?

[Anonymous]

PP: Of course! Ten rental listings have come on the market in 2008, three are still currently available, priced at $2,400/mo for 2-BR, 1-BA cape to $3,650 for a 4-BR, 3-BA split. The ones that have rented ranged from $2,200 (2-BR, 1-BA bungalow) to $3,595 (4-BR, 4-BA colonial). Please call my cell, 301-379-6601 or email, [e-mail] for more info.

[Anonymous]

PP 2:14, very nice and informative post.

But I do disagree with your contention that it is "A very friendly neighborhood of mixed incomes." It is surely a very friendly neighborhood. But "of mixed incomes" it is not. There are some retirees and a handful of student group houses, I suppose, that skew the statistics. But by every other measure, it is most certainly on the high end of incomes for the region. We should know - we are one of those couples competing (and losing) on a number of bidding wars in the neighborhood over the last few years.

[Anonymous]

We moved into East Bethesda in late 2008. We LOVE this neighborhood (and it's the best kept secret in DC) because:
1. Neighbors are extremely friendly and it's a cohesive community. We know ALL of our neighbors and have met a ton of neighbors from adjoining streets because everyone spends a lot of time working on their yard, walking their dogs, walking their babies, playing outside, hanging out at Lynnbrook park, etc.
2. The East Bethesda Citizen's Association is really active. It meets every month to discuss issues in our community (expansion of Naval hospital, purple line, etc), and it organizes regular neighborhood happy hours, community yard sales, monthly newsletter, etc.
3. Schools are awesome: Rosemary Hills/Bethesda ES, Westland MS, BCC HS
4. Walk to EVERYTHING - Metro, Safeway, Giant, Library, Capital Crescent Trail, Fitness First or Sport and Health, CVS, Woodmont Triangle restaurants, Bethesda Row, movie theatre - it's easy to go down to 1 car. With high gas prices, this neighborhood is ideal.
5. Tons of kids of all ages, and also a great mix of retirees, expats who are working for World Bank and the embassies.
6. Quiet neighborhood with tons of large trees just steps away from downtown Bethesda
7. Just enough yard (6000 SF lots) that are just big enough for the kids to play outside without spending hours on the weekends doing yard work.
8. Woodmont Triangle and Bethesda Row have festivals/events every week. Woodmont Triangle has weekly live music on Thursday nights, and all of the neighbors bring the kids and hang out. The neighborhood is just hopping in the summer.

The houses are expensive. A 2BR with an family room expansion in good condition sells for $750K and a 6BR newer home can go up to $1.8MM. Many of the homes have expansions that are really well done and offer more space than the original 2BR/3BR houses that were built in the 30s and 40s. The neighborhood is really popular, and the houses that went on the market this spring went quickly. Late last year, we got into bidding wars for houses and it was a shock to us- we lost 2 houses before getting the one we moved into.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We moved into East Bethesda in late 2008. We LOVE this neighborhood (and it's the best kept secret in DC) because:
1. Neighbors are extremely friendly and it's a cohesive community. We know ALL of our neighbors and have met a ton of neighbors from adjoining streets because everyone spends a lot of time working on their yard, walking their dogs, walking their babies, playing outside, hanging out at Lynnbrook park, etc.
2. The East Bethesda Citizen's Association is really active. It meets every month to discuss issues in our community (expansion of Naval hospital, purple line, etc), and it organizes regular neighborhood happy hours, community yard sales, monthly newsletter, etc.
3. Schools are awesome: Rosemary Hills/Bethesda ES, Westland MS, BCC HS
4. Walk to EVERYTHING - Metro, Safeway, Giant, Library, Capital Crescent Trail, Fitness First or Sport and Health, CVS, Woodmont Triangle restaurants, Bethesda Row, movie theatre - it's easy to go down to 1 car. With high gas prices, this neighborhood is ideal.
5. Tons of kids of all ages, and also a great mix of retirees, expats who are working for World Bank and the embassies.
6. Quiet neighborhood with tons of large trees just steps away from downtown Bethesda
7. Just enough yard (6000 SF lots) that are just big enough for the kids to play outside without spending hours on the weekends doing yard work.
8. Woodmont Triangle and Bethesda Row have festivals/events every week. Woodmont Triangle has weekly live music on Thursday nights, and all of the neighbors bring the kids and hang out. The neighborhood is just hopping in the summer.

The houses are expensive. A 2BR with an family room expansion in good condition sells for $750K and a 6BR newer home can go up to $1.8MM. Many of the homes have expansions that are really well done and offer more space than the original 2BR/3BR houses that were built in the 30s and 40s. The neighborhood is really popular, and the houses that went on the market this spring went quickly. Late last year, we got into bidding wars for houses and it was a shock to us- we lost 2 houses before getting the one we moved into.

Congratulations! Which street? Hope to see you at the park for the fireworks, etc. on the 4th.

Very Happy ECBA Resident

[Anonymous]

OP from Glover Park, Did you get the house in East Bethesda? What street are you living on? Are you enjoying the neighborhood?

[Anonymous]

Just wondering, what do these young families do for a living that they can afford 1.5 million houses? Who are these young people that live in East Bethesda?

We just moved to AU Park and spent 900K on a house and I've been pleasantly suprised at how down to earth our neighbors are. Most of our neighbors are 2 (low 6 figure) income professional couples with kids under 5 (ourselves included). I kind of view places like East Bethesda as the "next step up". I'm wondering (frankly being nosy) how young familes ascend to that level and afford that neighborhood.

Please don't slam me for being jealous/nosy. I'm just genuinely curious what type of people we would have as our neighbors in East Bethesda.

[Anonymous]

Dear Poster 15:40:

Your impressions concerning East Bethesda are almost identical to mine concerning AU Park!! I really don't think it would be a "next step up" move as much as a "step across" the DC line.

Rest assured that you will find the families in East Bethesda to be very down to earth and truly lovely. Many of the families are dual-income, which puts these 1m homes within reach. I have found telling that while so many of the parents have interesting and impressive and potentially all-consuming jobs, it is pretty clearly a kids above all neighborhood. Take a stroll or drive around the neighborhood or park on any given evening, and you'll see exactly what I mean.

Good luck.

Happy in Bethesda

[Anonymous]

Are parents happy with the Rosemary Hills commute? It seems quite far away from the neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

Rentals come up frequently and you won't need an agent. Rental signs are often placed by owner on the property. Many long time owners simply want good tenants and regular on time payments and will negotiate a good deal without the mark ups of an agent!

[Anonymous]

In response to PP 15:40, the owners of the homes are varied with different situations. All hardworking, nice and normal. Some have traded up from equity in previous homes, some have family money, some are further along in careers. Some have young kids, some with teenagers, some no kids. There is no typical family. They all seem friendly.

[Anonymous]

I am a very happy and proud resident of East Bethesda and agree with the 20:48 poster. In addition, many of the families with kids bought 8-10 years ago. Although there is a wide price range in the homes here, everyone is hardworking, down to earth, very involved with their kids and willing to lend a helping hand to their neighbors. This is not one of those pretentious, keep up with the Jones neighborhoods.

[Anonymous]

OP, We have not experienced any safety or other concerns being so close to EW HW and Wisconsin Avenue. Many of the streets have speed bumps, and the streets are narrow so it slows down traffic. It is an urban neighborhood so I wouldn't recommend leaving doors unlocked, etc. As other posters mentioned, it's a tight knit community so the neighbors look after one another, and we have received phone calls that we have left our gararge door open or the light inside the car is still on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are parents happy with the Rosemary Hills commute? It seems quite far away from the neighborhood.

It can be brutal.

They need to re-open the elementary school at the foot of Lynnbrook Park.

Having a neighborhood school would mean true Paradise Found.

[Anonymous]

Did anyone see that recent article in the Gazzette about proposed limits on the size of new houses springing up after a tear-down? They focused on the East Bethesda neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

Someone asked about the East Bethesda fireworks?

They are tonight! See you at the park!