fixer upper in an up and coming neighborhood?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Personally, I'd feel stranded in Brookland, but YMMV.

What does YMMV mean? "Stranded" in Brookland sounds very strange to me given that everyone else here has been talking about Fairfax and other boring suburbs that, to me, are definitely way out there and pretty scary to someone who likes a more urban environment. Brookland is on the red line and an easy drive to downtown DC.

That said, if you can work out the schools option, I'd also be inclined to consider both Mount Rainier and Hyattsville in MD as "up and coming" and also areas that you can get a fixer upper and do substantial renovations and still have money left. The housing stock is beautiful there, you can get a large interesting home with a yard, there is a thriving arts scene and a great food co-op, plus I hear that many families are starting to send their kids to the local schools so they can only improve.

[Anonymous]

Here's a listing in TP in your price range, OP, and Hilton is a great block with *lots* of small kids and really nice neighbors on it: http://franklymls.com/MC7793180

It's not walking distance to Metro or in the historic district, but it's basically impossible to get a house under $600K in the historic district and walking distance to metro. Search 20912 in Frankly MLS to see other listings and create a search. Also check www.megfinn.com -- Meg gets many/most of the good listings in downtown TP (though perhaps less of the fixer uppers). You can also post to the Takoma Pakk list serve (yahoo groups) and indicate you're looking for a fixer upper in downtown TP and ask if anyone is looking to sell. There are a LOT of private sales w/ no realtors in TP, it's sort of part of the community vibe there (we bought privately w/o no listing, as did our friends). GL!

[Anonymous]

Another option in TP (def. needs work!): http://franklymls.com/MC7731860

[Anonymous]

Silver Spring or Kensington is basically right out side the bounds of DC, but with good schools and cheaper prices.

[Anonymous]

TP is great, but OP also needs to think about neighborhood "character"---TP is historically very lefty, hippie liberal-bent (it's a "nuclear-free zone"). I personally find that environment kind of fun and quirky, but if OP is a conservative Republican, she may feel more at home in NoVa or in a more conservative neighborhood like Kensington. Virginia also has lower taxes than MD.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:TP is great, but OP also needs to think about neighborhood "character"---TP is historically very lefty, hippie liberal-bent (it's a "nuclear-free zone"). I personally find that environment kind of fun and quirky, but if OP is a conservative Republican, she may feel more at home in NoVa or in a more conservative neighborhood like Kensington. Virginia also has lower taxes than MD.

Very good point. Though TP is becoming less and less "hippie" as the houses approach the $1M mark (though still markedly lefty, liberal).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:TP is great, but OP also needs to think about neighborhood "character"---TP is historically very lefty, hippie liberal-bent (it's a "nuclear-free zone"). I personally find that environment kind of fun and quirky, but if OP is a conservative Republican, she may feel more at home in NoVa or in a more conservative neighborhood like Kensington. Virginia also has lower taxes than MD.

Very good point. Though TP is becoming less and less "hippie" as the houses approach the $1M mark (though still markedly lefty, liberal).

We are in kensington, and while it is no TP, I wouldn't say it is conservative.

OP, where are you moving from?

[Anonymous]

How about Bloomingdale or Eckington? You will have to worry about charters etc (although the neighborhood school, Emery, is getting better). But you can still great some great victorian row houses with a lot of character that need fixing up. The neighborhood is great in my opinion and you can walk to great restaurants, farmers market, U st, and more. You can probably make it work with your budget--get a place that needs work in the 300s and spend another 100-150K on renovations.