Best place to buy in Annapolis Area

[Anonymous]

Where are you commuting to?

Is walkability important?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People on this board always suggest Davidsonville and I can't understand why? There is absolutely no diversity, no real shopping or restaurants, the 3 schools that feed from it are not that great and it's mostly McMansions, horse farms, well water and septic tanks, plus unless you go past Edgewater or over near the West River you are landlocked.

I lived in Annapolis for 10 years, near the Key School but we did the local elementary, Hillsmere and was very pleased with it. We had a very involved PTA that worked very hard at the school so it was a pleasant experience. If you are planning to do private, I'd look at Bay Ridge and the neighborhoods right before it, communities off of Arundel of the Bay Road, Hillsmere and Hunt Meadow. There is also a cute neighborhood off of Forest Drive behind Heritage Baptist Church, won't give you water but there is a pool and it's convenient to the highway. Another idea is up on Riva Road, Riva Trace and the few neighborhoods that are on either side of it, between the high school and Cape St. John. There is a kinda new neighborhood across from the mall on Bestgate, I think Ehrlich lives there, no water but a pool. As others have mentioned there's Murray Hill in downtown Annapolis, the neighborhood by the stadium and other pockets in the city.

We moved closer in to Crofton because the traffic just got too overwhelming trying to commute into DC every day so that is why I suggest areas that are going to be nearer the highway and I suggest you pay attention to traffic patterns and how far you really want to be. Severna Park, Arnold, Pasadena and Broadneck are just too far and too remote to travel into DC everyday for me. Don't get me wrong, I love Annapolis and once I can retire or can telework at least 3 days a week long term, I will be living back there but the commute is a killer. The Dillon's bus isn't bad but it's a bus and their isn't a lot of flexibility if you need to get home in the middle of the day.

Why choose Annapolis?

We chose Davidsonville because we want more land and don't want neighbors. Frankly I just want to be able to jump in my pool naked in my backyard and not have to worry about peering neighbors. It is 10-15 minutes to Annapolis. But the peninsula neighborhoods (Bay Ridge, Hillsmere, etc.) aren't really convenient either. Forest drive is generally heavy and typically a parking lot. They don't really offer any true dining options down there either, Jacks Fortune is the place down there I would actually spend any money. Davidsonville is convenient for getting into DC and also getting to Waugh Chapel/Crofton. You also have the option of taking 214 or 50 to the Beltway.

As far as diversity, I have a very diverse group of friends at my house frequently. And lets face it there are a lot of neighborhoods in Annapolis that have little if any diversity. Annapolis does a good job of keeping crime in the projects. Because if it happens there it is not happening in the white neighborhoods.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Annapolis proper is the only place with decent restaurants...if thats important to you. Davidsonville, Severna Park etc are all nice but definitely "suburbia" living. My partner takes the bus from Annapolis to DC everyday and loves it. Its 1.25-1.5 hours each way but she is free to sleep, listen to podcasts, read etc rather than sit in traffic behind the wheel. Whats your price range? Ive been actively looking in the Annapolis market for about a year and we just found a house we are going to put an offer on. So if you want advice about real estate in Annapolis I can help you.

I live in Annapolis, there aren’t decent restaurants. It’s my biggest complaint about living here.

Have you been to Sailor Oyster Bar? Its our haven outside of DC lol

And where do you live? Are you a DC transplant? Would love to compare notes...missing Ethiopian food so bad!

Not PP, but another DC transplant.

Can't help with Ethiopian, but try Royal Karma for Indian and M Thai in Edgewater for Thai. Both consistently good and sometimes better than good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:18:21 here. Davidsonville is convenient (“convenient”) for commute to DC but it’s not really my taste...it’s all McMansions on pseudo-farmland. Some people love the country feel but personally if I had that $ to spend on a house I would prioritize being on the water.
The only private school I would have considered is Key. Granted my knowledge is a bit outdated but I was never impressed with the privates in Annapolis. They did not seem to have very strong academics or notable college exmissions compared to the top public schools. My peers who left public for private were honestly not that impressive and some of their math/science was WELL behind the top students at my school. I would only do private for a kid who would struggle without the smaller classes and extra attention you get with them, and then I would really only prefer Key school. Otherwise always seemed like a waste of money to me. But again that was 15 years ago.
I don’t know the subdivisions you list but if I were to move back I would focus on Annapolis proper, plus Eastport, bay ridge, etc. But I will NEVER move back .

I should clarify that the people who really want “elite” private schools commute to the DC area ones or Baltimore (McDonogh, St. Paul’s, Gilman, etc).

That's true, but I think that Key offers an extraordinary education. I have two kids there and it's far superior to our previous highly-regarded public and compares favorably to Norwood, SSFS, and other privates of that ilk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Annapolis proper is the only place with decent restaurants...if thats important to you. Davidsonville, Severna Park etc are all nice but definitely "suburbia" living. My partner takes the bus from Annapolis to DC everyday and loves it. Its 1.25-1.5 hours each way but she is free to sleep, listen to podcasts, read etc rather than sit in traffic behind the wheel. Whats your price range? Ive been actively looking in the Annapolis market for about a year and we just found a house we are going to put an offer on. So if you want advice about real estate in Annapolis I can help you.

Thanks! I want to keep under 1.2. Would love house suggestions!

This has been helpful. Though would love more suggestions in Davidsonville and Crownsville. As well as the more sprawling parts of Annapolis. Im into the D'ville thing, though not thrilled with the McMansions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Annapolis proper is the only place with decent restaurants...if thats important to you. Davidsonville, Severna Park etc are all nice but definitely "suburbia" living. My partner takes the bus from Annapolis to DC everyday and loves it. Its 1.25-1.5 hours each way but she is free to sleep, listen to podcasts, read etc rather than sit in traffic behind the wheel. Whats your price range? Ive been actively looking in the Annapolis market for about a year and we just found a house we are going to put an offer on. So if you want advice about real estate in Annapolis I can help you.

Thanks! I want to keep under 1.2. Would love house suggestions!

This has been helpful. Though would love more suggestions in Davidsonville and Crownsville. As well as the more sprawling parts of Annapolis. Im into the D'ville thing, though not thrilled with the McMansions.

1.2 will get you an ok McMansion. Or a small waterfront on a postage stamp lot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Annapolis proper is the only place with decent restaurants...if thats important to you. Davidsonville, Severna Park etc are all nice but definitely "suburbia" living. My partner takes the bus from Annapolis to DC everyday and loves it. Its 1.25-1.5 hours each way but she is free to sleep, listen to podcasts, read etc rather than sit in traffic behind the wheel. Whats your price range? Ive been actively looking in the Annapolis market for about a year and we just found a house we are going to put an offer on. So if you want advice about real estate in Annapolis I can help you.

I live in Annapolis, there aren’t decent restaurants. It’s my biggest complaint about living here.

Have you been to Sailor Oyster Bar? Its our haven outside of DC lol

And where do you live? Are you a DC transplant? Would love to compare notes...missing Ethiopian food so bad!

Not PP, but another DC transplant.

Can't help with Ethiopian, but try Royal Karma for Indian and M Thai in Edgewater for Thai. Both consistently good and sometimes better than good.

Basmati is even better Indian.

[Anonymous]

We have the “waterfront postage stamp” and send our kids to Key. I wasn’t going to go without waterfront so that was more important than zip code, which is sort of the Annapolis norm.

I can’t say enough about Key. It’s not just a wonderful, nuturing school that has done a brilliant job meeting our kids where they are, it also has a remarkable reputation in the local community. Lots of public school kids come to “Summer at Key” and people who don’t send their own kids to Key go out of their way to tell me how highly they regard the school. I went to publics so I didn’t really know what to expect but I’m constantly wowed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Annapolis proper is the only place with decent restaurants...if thats important to you. Davidsonville, Severna Park etc are all nice but definitely "suburbia" living. My partner takes the bus from Annapolis to DC everyday and loves it. Its 1.25-1.5 hours each way but she is free to sleep, listen to podcasts, read etc rather than sit in traffic behind the wheel. Whats your price range? Ive been actively looking in the Annapolis market for about a year and we just found a house we are going to put an offer on. So if you want advice about real estate in Annapolis I can help you.

I live in Annapolis, there aren’t decent restaurants. It’s my biggest complaint about living here.

Have you been to Sailor Oyster Bar? Its our haven outside of DC lol

And where do you live? Are you a DC transplant? Would love to compare notes...missing Ethiopian food so bad!

Not PP, but another DC transplant.

Can't help with Ethiopian, but try Royal Karma for Indian and M Thai in Edgewater for Thai. Both consistently good and sometimes better than good.

Basmati is even better Indian.

Not even close. Royal Karma worlds better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Annapolis proper is the only place with decent restaurants...if thats important to you. Davidsonville, Severna Park etc are all nice but definitely "suburbia" living. My partner takes the bus from Annapolis to DC everyday and loves it. Its 1.25-1.5 hours each way but she is free to sleep, listen to podcasts, read etc rather than sit in traffic behind the wheel. Whats your price range? Ive been actively looking in the Annapolis market for about a year and we just found a house we are going to put an offer on. So if you want advice about real estate in Annapolis I can help you.

Thanks! I want to keep under 1.2. Would love house suggestions!

This has been helpful. Though would love more suggestions in Davidsonville and Crownsville. As well as the more sprawling parts of Annapolis. Im into the D'ville thing, though not thrilled with the McMansions.

Check out Poplar Point off of Solomon's Island. Small neighborhood and not sure what's available, but nice home there just went for $1.2.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Annapolis proper is the only place with decent restaurants...if thats important to you. Davidsonville, Severna Park etc are all nice but definitely "suburbia" living. My partner takes the bus from Annapolis to DC everyday and loves it. Its 1.25-1.5 hours each way but she is free to sleep, listen to podcasts, read etc rather than sit in traffic behind the wheel. Whats your price range? Ive been actively looking in the Annapolis market for about a year and we just found a house we are going to put an offer on. So if you want advice about real estate in Annapolis I can help you.

Thanks! I want to keep under 1.2. Would love house suggestions!

This has been helpful. Though would love more suggestions in Davidsonville and Crownsville. As well as the more sprawling parts of Annapolis. Im into the D'ville thing, though not thrilled with the McMansions.

1.2 will get you an ok McMansion. Or a small waterfront on a postage stamp lot.

Have you seen any that you would recommend?

[Anonymous]

I love Annapolis and once I can retire

In Annapolis, where would you live?

[Anonymous]

Since you are going private, you aren't limited to the preferred ES (West Annapolis/Rolling Knolls/Hillsmere), you have some decent options. You'll notice those school districts have higher prices.

Murray Hill is lovely if you want charm and walkability:

https://www.redfin.com/MD/Annapolis/125-Monticello-Ave-21401/home/10433531

https://www.redfin.com/MD/Annapolis/111-Monticello-Ave-21401/home/10433614

Or Eastport has a great community feel and is walkable:

https://www.redfin.com/MD/Annapolis/510-6th-St-21403/home/10433925

Bay Ridge has incredible water access and the community pool is awesome (forest drive traffic is a negative):

https://www.redfin.com/MD/Annapolis/9-Upshur-Ave-21403/home/9942730

Out towards Crownsville, people seem happy in Epping Forest and Sherwood, but they are pretty insular.

South River Colony is option that is pretty popular you may be interested in.

I grew up downtown and am back there a lot...if I could swing the commute, we'd move back in a minute.

[Anonymous]

Seriously the way to shop Annapolis is to get on redfin and follow the water line. It’s not like house shopping other cities, these towns are substantially similar to each other.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Seriously the way to shop Annapolis is to get on redfin and follow the water line. It’s not like house shopping other cities, these towns are substantially similar to each other.

Agreed. Annapolis is all about waterfront, less about towns or even neighborhoods. A lot of neighborhoods have a ribbon of expensive and nice waterfront properties and a block inland it's very mundane. That's the Annapolis scenario. There are a few areas in Annapolis proper where both the waterfront and the rest of the neighborhood are nice but otherwise it's mainly expensive waterfront, boring split level and colonial hinterlands.