Looking to buy SFH in good neighborhood. Seeking recommendations. New Job is in Gaithersburg, MD

[Anonymous]

Do you consider Potomac?

[Anonymous]

Greenbelt. Takoma Park. Glen Echo. Frederick.

[Anonymous]

OP, I used to live in the Bay Area, both in SV area and on the Peninsula. Do you have school aged children? What are you looking for?

Have you visited this area? You can so much more for your money here than in Cupertino, even in the pricier Potomac.

There are some differences between G'burg and Rockville, and even with Rockville, there is the City of Rockville (incorporated with Rockville city services) and the non incorporated parts of Rockville (they don't get Rockville city services).

Then there is N. Potomac and Potomac.

What are you looking for? what's important to you?

One thing I like about this area is the amount of green space. Food diversity is awesome except for good Mexican food.

[Anonymous]

Some people love the Kentlands. If possible drive thru and see for yourself. I get the appeal but I need more space! Also it would not be the school district I would choose. Several new restaurants in the Kentlands area and lots of community spirit.

I personally would look in 20878. In your price range, you are probably looking to the areas north of Travilah elementary to the west and east of Muddy Branch. You could get a SFH in that price range. That would also put you in Wootton which draws a premium in real estate and is a good school but a bit of a pressure cooker. Other homes nearby may zone to quince orchard high school which does not score as high test wise but is a bit more relaxed. Both are good schools and part of MCPS. There has been some talk of redistricting but I haven’t heard many updates lately - maybe on hold because of Covid. If you wanted more land you could go south in 20878 or 20854 for bigger lots, but probably not in your price range.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some people love the Kentlands. If possible drive thru and see for yourself. I get the appeal but I need more space! Also it would not be the school district I would choose. Several new restaurants in the Kentlands area and lots of community spirit.

I personally would look in 20878. In your price range, you are probably looking to the areas north of Travilah elementary to the west and east of Muddy Branch. You could get a SFH in that price range. That would also put you in Wootton which draws a premium in real estate and is a good school but a bit of a pressure cooker. Other homes nearby may zone to quince orchard high school which does not score as high test wise but is a bit more relaxed. Both are good schools and part of MCPS. There has been some talk of redistricting but I haven’t heard many updates lately - maybe on hold because of Covid. If you wanted more land you could go south in 20878 or 20854 for bigger lots, but probably not in your price range.

What's wrong with the school district? It's no worse than the rest of MCPS or the other local districts.

Also, we have pretty large (5,000 sqft) SFHs in Kentlands. Even the townhouses can be 3,000 sqft.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Greenbelt. Takoma Park. Glen Echo. Frederick.

Odd choices for someone asking no longer than 30 minute commute to Gaithersburg. Greenbelt. Really?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some people love the Kentlands. If possible drive thru and see for yourself. I get the appeal but I need more space! Also it would not be the school district I would choose. Several new restaurants in the Kentlands area and lots of community spirit.

I personally would look in 20878. In your price range, you are probably looking to the areas north of Travilah elementary to the west and east of Muddy Branch. You could get a SFH in that price range. That would also put you in Wootton which draws a premium in real estate and is a good school but a bit of a pressure cooker. Other homes nearby may zone to quince orchard high school which does not score as high test wise but is a bit more relaxed. Both are good schools and part of MCPS. There has been some talk of redistricting but I haven’t heard many updates lately - maybe on hold because of Covid. If you wanted more land you could go south in 20878 or 20854 for bigger lots, but probably not in your price range.

What's wrong with the school district? It's no worse than the rest of MCPS or the other local districts.

Also, we have pretty large (5,000 sqft) SFHs in Kentlands. Even the townhouses can be 3,000 sqft.

Also, do you realize Kentlands is in 20878? Hilarious ...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some people love the Kentlands. If possible drive thru and see for yourself. I get the appeal but I need more space! Also it would not be the school district I would choose. Several new restaurants in the Kentlands area and lots of community spirit.

I personally would look in 20878. In your price range, you are probably looking to the areas north of Travilah elementary to the west and east of Muddy Branch. You could get a SFH in that price range. That would also put you in Wootton which draws a premium in real estate and is a good school but a bit of a pressure cooker. Other homes nearby may zone to quince orchard high school which does not score as high test wise but is a bit more relaxed. Both are good schools and part of MCPS. There has been some talk of redistricting but I haven’t heard many updates lately - maybe on hold because of Covid. If you wanted more land you could go south in 20878 or 20854 for bigger lots, but probably not in your price range.

What's wrong with the school district? It's no worse than the rest of MCPS or the other local districts.

Also, we have pretty large (5,000 sqft) SFHs in Kentlands. Even the townhouses can be 3,000 sqft.

The lots in the Kentlands are too small for me, not the houses. It’s a nice area - but it’s not for everyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Greenbelt. Takoma Park. Glen Echo. Frederick.

? traffic would be a nightmare. You would be going with traffic on 270, and 495 would be horrible, too. You could take 200 toll road I suppose.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some people love the Kentlands. If possible drive thru and see for yourself. I get the appeal but I need more space! Also it would not be the school district I would choose. Several new restaurants in the Kentlands area and lots of community spirit.

I personally would look in 20878. In your price range, you are probably looking to the areas north of Travilah elementary to the west and east of Muddy Branch. You could get a SFH in that price range. That would also put you in Wootton which draws a premium in real estate and is a good school but a bit of a pressure cooker. Other homes nearby may zone to quince orchard high school which does not score as high test wise but is a bit more relaxed. Both are good schools and part of MCPS. There has been some talk of redistricting but I haven’t heard many updates lately - maybe on hold because of Covid. If you wanted more land you could go south in 20878 or 20854 for bigger lots, but probably not in your price range.

What's wrong with the school district? It's no worse than the rest of MCPS or the other local districts.

Also, we have pretty large (5,000 sqft) SFHs in Kentlands. Even the townhouses can be 3,000 sqft.

The lots in the Kentlands are too small for me, not the houses. It’s a nice area - but it’s not for everyone.

Fine. Just be accurate.

Kentlands is in 20878.

You mentioned QOHS as a fine school to look at, but then said Kentlands isn't the district you'd choose. Kentlands goes to QOHS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some people love the Kentlands. If possible drive thru and see for yourself. I get the appeal but I need more space! Also it would not be the school district I would choose. Several new restaurants in the Kentlands area and lots of community spirit.

I personally would look in 20878. In your price range, you are probably looking to the areas north of Travilah elementary to the west and east of Muddy Branch. You could get a SFH in that price range. That would also put you in Wootton which draws a premium in real estate and is a good school but a bit of a pressure cooker. Other homes nearby may zone to quince orchard high school which does not score as high test wise but is a bit more relaxed. Both are good schools and part of MCPS. There has been some talk of redistricting but I haven’t heard many updates lately - maybe on hold because of Covid. If you wanted more land you could go south in 20878 or 20854 for bigger lots, but probably not in your price range.

What's wrong with the school district? It's no worse than the rest of MCPS or the other local districts.

Also, we have pretty large (5,000 sqft) SFHs in Kentlands. Even the townhouses can be 3,000 sqft.

Also, do you realize Kentlands is in 20878? Hilarious ...

Why so defensive about Kentlands?
Let me be clearer - my suggestion (which you can agree with or not) would be the parts of 20878 that zone to Wootton. I also made it clear that QO is less of a pressure cooker if that’s a better fit for OP.

[Anonymous]

Clarksburg is the most diverse neighborhood in the county, and safest. You can get a new construction home for less than 750k.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some people love the Kentlands. If possible drive thru and see for yourself. I get the appeal but I need more space! Also it would not be the school district I would choose. Several new restaurants in the Kentlands area and lots of community spirit.

I personally would look in 20878. In your price range, you are probably looking to the areas north of Travilah elementary to the west and east of Muddy Branch. You could get a SFH in that price range. That would also put you in Wootton which draws a premium in real estate and is a good school but a bit of a pressure cooker. Other homes nearby may zone to quince orchard high school which does not score as high test wise but is a bit more relaxed. Both are good schools and part of MCPS. There has been some talk of redistricting but I haven’t heard many updates lately - maybe on hold because of Covid. If you wanted more land you could go south in 20878 or 20854 for bigger lots, but probably not in your price range.

What's wrong with the school district? It's no worse than the rest of MCPS or the other local districts.

Also, we have pretty large (5,000 sqft) SFHs in Kentlands. Even the townhouses can be 3,000 sqft.

Also, do you realize Kentlands is in 20878? Hilarious ...

Why so defensive about Kentlands?
Let me be clearer - my suggestion (which you can agree with or not) would be the parts of 20878 that zone to Wootton. I also made it clear that QO is less of a pressure cooker if that’s a better fit for OP.

Not being defensive -- just pointing out the inaccuracies in your post.

Also, there's a long trend in this forum of being anti-Kentlands and pretending there's a quality difference between Wootton and QO, when there really isn't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some people love the Kentlands. If possible drive thru and see for yourself. I get the appeal but I need more space! Also it would not be the school district I would choose. Several new restaurants in the Kentlands area and lots of community spirit.

I personally would look in 20878. In your price range, you are probably looking to the areas north of Travilah elementary to the west and east of Muddy Branch. You could get a SFH in that price range. That would also put you in Wootton which draws a premium in real estate and is a good school but a bit of a pressure cooker. Other homes nearby may zone to quince orchard high school which does not score as high test wise but is a bit more relaxed. Both are good schools and part of MCPS. There has been some talk of redistricting but I haven’t heard many updates lately - maybe on hold because of Covid. If you wanted more land you could go south in 20878 or 20854 for bigger lots, but probably not in your price range.

What's wrong with the school district? It's no worse than the rest of MCPS or the other local districts.

Also, we have pretty large (5,000 sqft) SFHs in Kentlands. Even the townhouses can be 3,000 sqft.

The lots in the Kentlands are too small for me, not the houses. It’s a nice area - but it’s not for everyone.

Fine. Just be accurate.

Kentlands is in 20878.

You mentioned QOHS as a fine school to look at, but then said Kentlands isn't the district you'd choose. Kentlands goes to QOHS.

I’m very sorry I incorrectly identified the Kentlands zip code.
QO can be both a fine school, AND also not my choice. If you’d prefer, I could have bashed it like lots of people on DCUM do? It was supposed to be a nicer way of saying Wootton is generally the chosen school and you should expect to pay more if the house zones to a Wootton.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some people love the Kentlands. If possible drive thru and see for yourself. I get the appeal but I need more space! Also it would not be the school district I would choose. Several new restaurants in the Kentlands area and lots of community spirit.

I personally would look in 20878. In your price range, you are probably looking to the areas north of Travilah elementary to the west and east of Muddy Branch. You could get a SFH in that price range. That would also put you in Wootton which draws a premium in real estate and is a good school but a bit of a pressure cooker. Other homes nearby may zone to quince orchard high school which does not score as high test wise but is a bit more relaxed. Both are good schools and part of MCPS. There has been some talk of redistricting but I haven’t heard many updates lately - maybe on hold because of Covid. If you wanted more land you could go south in 20878 or 20854 for bigger lots, but probably not in your price range.

What's wrong with the school district? It's no worse than the rest of MCPS or the other local districts.

Also, we have pretty large (5,000 sqft) SFHs in Kentlands. Even the townhouses can be 3,000 sqft.

Also, do you realize Kentlands is in 20878? Hilarious ...

Why so defensive about Kentlands?
Let me be clearer - my suggestion (which you can agree with or not) would be the parts of 20878 that zone to Wootton. I also made it clear that QO is less of a pressure cooker if that’s a better fit for OP.

Not being defensive -- just pointing out the inaccuracies in your post.

Also, there's a long trend in this forum of being anti-Kentlands and pretending there's a quality difference between Wootton and QO, when there really isn't.

And that’s why you’re defensive.
Sorry but your post is now inaccurate.