We are thinking of moving to Bethesda...which schools should I look at?

[Anonymous]

How about Carderock? Carderock Elementary is a nice little (it's very small) neighborhood school which feeds to Pyle and Whitman. I bet you could find a house for $800K there.

[Anonymous]

I live in the BCC district with kids in elementary - Rosemary Hills. We're in a small older home and I can tell you that finding anything in 20815, 20816 or any of the parts of 20817 that feed into Whitman or BCC under $800K will be a challenge... it's a very small pool of houses, at least right now, and most of them have issues (need lots of rehab or are on a busy street or - relevant from my perspective - aren't any bigger than we currently have at half the mortgage!) There is the occasional hidden treasure, and presumably there will be more stock on the market by the spring, but I'd just caution you that you are going to have relatively slim pickings. Between 800 and $1m there are a lot more houses so consider whether you can stretch yourself some. FWIW I can't, and I think these are crazy numbers, but that's the reality that I've seen over the past 5 years.

Fwiw, you'll get a ton more for your money in Potomac or Rockville, and Churchill is at least on par with Whitman and BCC and I hear very good things about Richard Montgomery HS. For us the commute from Potomac to DC still seems a bridge too far, but if you work in Bethesda it might be worth considering.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I live in the BCC district with kids in elementary - Rosemary Hills. We're in a small older home and I can tell you that finding anything in 20815, 20816 or any of the parts of 20817 that feed into Whitman or BCC under $800K will be a challenge... it's a very small pool of houses, at least right now, and most of them have issues (need lots of rehab or are on a busy street or - relevant from my perspective - aren't any bigger than we currently have at half the mortgage!) There is the occasional hidden treasure, and presumably there will be more stock on the market by the spring, but I'd just caution you that you are going to have relatively slim pickings. Between 800 and $1m there are a lot more houses so consider whether you can stretch yourself some. FWIW I can't, and I think these are crazy numbers, but that's the reality that I've seen over the past 5 years.

Fwiw, you'll get a ton more for your money in Potomac or Rockville, and Churchill is at least on par with Whitman and BCC and I hear very good things about Richard Montgomery HS. For us the commute from Potomac to DC still seems a bridge too far, but if you work in Bethesda it might be worth considering.

Actually, Bethesda zip code 20817 (which includes Carderock Elementary/Pyle/Whitman) has a number of nice-looking houses in that price range:

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-search/Bethesda_MD/20817/beds-2/price-600000-850000

[Anonymous]

We live in Luxmanor, which feeds Tilden MS (which is supposed to move back into our actual neighborhood in 2017), which feeds WJ. Luxmanor elementary has a great rep (dd will go to Kindergarten there next year). The community is mixed old and young, with plenty of housing in the 800 range, and some much higher. Tilden's rep was bad a few years back, but I think the new principal is doing wonders over the past couple of years. I don't hear so much complaining anymore. The post did an article on Luxmanor a month or two ago.

There are also areas in Potomac that 800K will go a long way. Bells Mill elementary is brand new, and Cabin John MS will be brand new in 18months. Right now, the kids are in the holding school in my neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

I don't know what you want out of a house, but I think I'd target the townhouses between Bradley Blvd and Little Falls parkway that feed to Somerset Elementary. 3-4 bedrooms, easily walkable to downtown Bethesda, lots of great playgrounds and a nice public swimming pool, and in district for arguably the best elementary school in the State.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't know what you want out of a house, but I think I'd target the townhouses between Bradley Blvd and Little Falls parkway that feed to Somerset Elementary. 3-4 bedrooms, easily walkable to downtown Bethesda, lots of great playgrounds and a nice public swimming pool, and in district for arguably the best elementary school in the State.

This is a good area, but townhomes here are NOT 3-4 bedrooms generally. Most are 2-3 and if they have a 3rd bedroom, it is very small or is in the basement. Many of these townhomes don't even have a basement. That said, they are way below OPs 800K budget (more like 500-600K), but if you can take exchanging a very small home for a great location and school, then it's a good deal.

[Anonymous]

Umm, as far as townhouses go, there are alot in the 3-4 bedroom range - We lived in one in the townhouses on the corner of Tuckerman and Old Georgetown - Devonshire East - Sells for around 600k - and we had four bedrooms - three bedrooms on the second floor and 1 bedroom in the basement, with a nice size living room and separate dining room and kitchen. Playroom in basement. We backed up to the soccer fields as well. If you can handle a "very" small backyard plot, then a townhouse is definitely doable. Our schools would have been Kensington Parkwood, North Bethesda MS and WJ - all well-thought-of schools, and not as "big" as Churchhill or RM.

[Anonymous]

I'm assuming 10:46 was talking specifically about the townhouses between Bradley and Little Falls Parkway, not the size of townhouses in general.

[Anonymous]

Ahh, that would explain that comment. OK. I should read more carefully.

[Anonymous]

The townhomes are small between Bradley and Little Falls, but I do love living here. We have a 3 bedroom with basement. I love walking EVERYWHERE and Somerset is an amazing school. My child has attended private school before and it is comparable to Somerset ES. Amazing teacher and very active families. I honestly can not imagine a better school for my child. She loves school, loves her teachers, and loves her friends. No bullying that I've seen or heard of.

The town of Somerset is a great area for kids. The kids play outside, ride their bikes, and play at the pool in the summer. The town has its own pool and is free of use to all residents of Somerset (and it's nice!). If I could afford a home anywhere in this town, it would be in Somerset.