Pregnant, first time homebuyer, looking to move to DC

[Anonymous]

If you are priced out of Mt Pleasant, I think you might look into the Shaw/Eckington/Bloomingdale/Edgewood area. Lots of families, we go to one of the DCPS school there and love it, very community/neighborhoody vibe, a pool if the pandemic ever lifts, proximity to interesting things and good restaurants, and you'll probably be able to get a yard.

Also, this gets complicated on a forum like this, but you may want to really look into what you need from your IB school, and it might be something other than the highest test scores. Test scores say more about demographics than they do the quality of the teaching. If you are educated, and the school is safe, odds are your kid will do well. Middle schools are a hard thing to solve just about everywhere in the city (even in upper NW some people seem less than enthused), and a lot changes in 10 years, including feeder paths, so I would focus on elementary for now--you can always move to the Upper NW/suburbs later if you feel you need, or try the lottery if you like, or try the local catholic school. The truth is, most of DCPS does a good job in elementary. Much of the DCPS elementary schools also lose a lot of kids before middle school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Woodridge? It has the neighborhood vibe but it’s not as fancy with fewer amenities. I’m not sure pps are being realistic about your budget.

I think I am definitely priced out of Mt Pleasant. Do you also think the other neighborhoods mentioned here (Brightwood, Shepherd Park) are unrealistic? Zillow shows recent sales in that range, but I'm a first time buyer so I could be missing something. I posted a few things I've saved recently on another comment.

Thanks for your thoughts, all- really appreciate it.

I think Brightwood is a little more within reach than Shepherd Park. SP is zoned for Deal and Wilson, which are the most desirable non-application public middle and high schools in DC. In Brightwood, there is less buy-in for zoned middle and high schools, so you'll see more people doing charter or private/parochial. However, that could always change by the time you need middle and high.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Woodridge? It has the neighborhood vibe but it’s not as fancy with fewer amenities. I’m not sure pps are being realistic about your budget.

I think I am definitely priced out of Mt Pleasant. Do you also think the other neighborhoods mentioned here (Brightwood, Shepherd Park) are unrealistic? Zillow shows recent sales in that range, but I'm a first time buyer so I could be missing something. I posted a few things I've saved recently on another comment.

Thanks for your thoughts, all- really appreciate it.

I think Brightwood is a little more within reach than Shepherd Park. SP is zoned for Deal and Wilson, which are the most desirable non-application public middle and high schools in DC. In Brightwood, there is less buy-in for zoned middle and high schools, so you'll see more people doing charter or private/parochial. However, that could always change by the time you need middle and high.

Sorry, didn't finish my thought--the prices in Brightwood will be more within your reach than SP, and this partly reflects the school differences. However, Brightwood is also getting expensive, especially updated SFHs near the new Walter Reed development.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP to add do a Redfin search and find homes you like and see what schools they are. Post them here and we can tell you about the school and the neighborhood. Redfin will at least help you see what areas you can afford and how inventory is there.

Thanks! I saw some recent homes in Takoma Park that were lovely and in budget, and some row homes zoned for Maury that were also quite nice. Am I missing something here? Let me know if I need a reality check! I'm also interested in other neighborhoods- we just started with what we know, as we rented in Capitol Hill at one point. Currently living in Baltimore.

In Capitol Hill:
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/218-17th-Pl-NE-Washington-DC-20002/426835_zpid/
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/217-17th-St-NE-Washington-DC-20002/426826_zpid/
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1600-E-Capitol-St-NE-Washington-DC-20003/426363_zpid/

In TkPk:
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/6631-Eastern-Ave-Takoma-Park-MD-20912/37284864_zpid/?
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/527-Albany-Ave-Takoma-Park-MD-20912/37284076_zpid/?

For your Capitol Hill homes, one wasn’t a true 3 bedroom and two didn’t have off street parking. Just things to consider if you need parking.

Also, Takoma is in DC, Takoma Park is MD so make sure you know you’re comparing two vastly different school systems when looking at prices. Taxes are also lower in DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you are priced out of Mt Pleasant, I think you might look into the Shaw/Eckington/Bloomingdale/Edgewood area. Lots of families, we go to one of the DCPS school there and love it, very community/neighborhoody vibe, a pool if the pandemic ever lifts, proximity to interesting things and good restaurants, and you'll probably be able to get a yard.

Also, this gets complicated on a forum like this, but you may want to really look into what you need from your IB school, and it might be something other than the highest test scores. Test scores say more about demographics than they do the quality of the teaching. If you are educated, and the school is safe, odds are your kid will do well. Middle schools are a hard thing to solve just about everywhere in the city (even in upper NW some people seem less than enthused), and a lot changes in 10 years, including feeder paths, so I would focus on elementary for now--you can always move to the Upper NW/suburbs later if you feel you need, or try the lottery if you like, or try the local catholic school. The truth is, most of DCPS does a good job in elementary. Much of the DCPS elementary schools also lose a lot of kids before middle school.

If you’re priced out of Mt. Pleasant, you’re priced out of Shaw, bloomingdale, and eckington, unless you’re willing to get a row house condo situation. Maybe Edgewood or brookland, but even those prices are quickly climbing over 850k for a SFH.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP to add do a Redfin search and find homes you like and see what schools they are. Post them here and we can tell you about the school and the neighborhood. Redfin will at least help you see what areas you can afford and how inventory is there.

Thanks! I saw some recent homes in Takoma Park that were lovely and in budget, and some row homes zoned for Maury that were also quite nice. Am I missing something here? Let me know if I need a reality check! I'm also interested in other neighborhoods- we just started with what we know, as we rented in Capitol Hill at one point. Currently living in Baltimore.

In Capitol Hill:
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/218-17th-Pl-NE-Washington-DC-20002/426835_zpid/
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/217-17th-St-NE-Washington-DC-20002/426826_zpid/
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1600-E-Capitol-St-NE-Washington-DC-20003/426363_zpid/

In TkPk:
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/6631-Eastern-Ave-Takoma-Park-MD-20912/37284864_zpid/?
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/527-Albany-Ave-Takoma-Park-MD-20912/37284076_zpid/?

You need to find out what the sale price is before you decide it's an in-budget comp.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Takoma Park would be good. My cousin lives there and the mature trees are amazing. Great schools, diverse area with friendly neighbors. It's very liberal. Not sure about how far $750k goes there though, you'd probably need over $800k. Can you husband commute on either green or red lines?

Green line would be super easy for him... Red line I suppose he could transfer?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP to add do a Redfin search and find homes you like and see what schools they are. Post them here and we can tell you about the school and the neighborhood. Redfin will at least help you see what areas you can afford and how inventory is there.

Thanks! I saw some recent homes in Takoma Park that were lovely and in budget, and some row homes zoned for Maury that were also quite nice. Am I missing something here? Let me know if I need a reality check! I'm also interested in other neighborhoods- we just started with what we know, as we rented in Capitol Hill at one point. Currently living in Baltimore.

In Capitol Hill:
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/218-17th-Pl-NE-Washington-DC-20002/426835_zpid/
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/217-17th-St-NE-Washington-DC-20002/426826_zpid/
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1600-E-Capitol-St-NE-Washington-DC-20003/426363_zpid/

In TkPk:
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/6631-Eastern-Ave-Takoma-Park-MD-20912/37284864_zpid/?
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/527-Albany-Ave-Takoma-Park-MD-20912/37284076_zpid/?

You need to find out what the sale price is before you decide it's an in-budget comp.

The Albany Ave one is from 2017.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you are priced out of Mt Pleasant, I think you might look into the Shaw/Eckington/Bloomingdale/Edgewood area. Lots of families, we go to one of the DCPS school there and love it, very community/neighborhoody vibe, a pool if the pandemic ever lifts, proximity to interesting things and good restaurants, and you'll probably be able to get a yard.

Also, this gets complicated on a forum like this, but you may want to really look into what you need from your IB school, and it might be something other than the highest test scores. Test scores say more about demographics than they do the quality of the teaching. If you are educated, and the school is safe, odds are your kid will do well. Middle schools are a hard thing to solve just about everywhere in the city (even in upper NW some people seem less than enthused), and a lot changes in 10 years, including feeder paths, so I would focus on elementary for now--you can always move to the Upper NW/suburbs later if you feel you need, or try the lottery if you like, or try the local catholic school. The truth is, most of DCPS does a good job in elementary. Much of the DCPS elementary schools also lose a lot of kids before middle school.

It's before first or second grade in a lot of the schools in the neighborhoods mentioned in this thread.

[Anonymous]

Where in MD do they live? Do you want to set yourself up for elementary schools? Or is it OK if you have to move in 5 years?

[Anonymous]

Is Kensington too far out?

https://www.redfin.com/MD/Kensington/4912-Flanders-Ave-20895/home/10502161

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you are priced out of Mt Pleasant, I think you might look into the Shaw/Eckington/Bloomingdale/Edgewood area. Lots of families, we go to one of the DCPS school there and love it, very community/neighborhoody vibe, a pool if the pandemic ever lifts, proximity to interesting things and good restaurants, and you'll probably be able to get a yard.

Also, this gets complicated on a forum like this, but you may want to really look into what you need from your IB school, and it might be something other than the highest test scores. Test scores say more about demographics than they do the quality of the teaching. If you are educated, and the school is safe, odds are your kid will do well. Middle schools are a hard thing to solve just about everywhere in the city (even in upper NW some people seem less than enthused), and a lot changes in 10 years, including feeder paths, so I would focus on elementary for now--you can always move to the Upper NW/suburbs later if you feel you need, or try the lottery if you like, or try the local catholic school. The truth is, most of DCPS does a good job in elementary. Much of the DCPS elementary schools also lose a lot of kids before middle school.

If you’re priced out of Mt. Pleasant, you’re priced out of Shaw, bloomingdale, and eckington, unless you’re willing to get a row house condo situation. Maybe Edgewood or brookland, but even those prices are quickly climbing over 850k for a SFH.

I take your point--looks like prices have gone up a bit since I last looked. But there are a few options-- here is an option for a smallish house in Seaton (https://www.redfin.com/DC/Washington/402-R-St-NW-20001/home/9883962), or there are some options in Bloomingdale if you are okay with a split up row house (unclear if that meets needs tho), and Eckington had some options (https://www.redfin.com/DC/Washington/1926-2nd-St-NE-20002/home/10073433). brookland is a good suggestion too though.

[Anonymous]

OP still hasn’t explained what a solid school is, so we have no idea if any of the schools suggested will be satisfactory. Most neighborhoods suggested have people bailing on DCPS by 2nd grade which isn’t indicative of “solid.” OP at least has to say what risk she is willing to take. Also, OP, are you planning on DCPS PK-3 because that changes things too. It’s a different lottery game than Kinder and above.

[Anonymous]

If Amidon-Bowen is "solid" enough for you, I'd look at Southwest. However, most rowhomes in your budget are in condo developments, like https://www.redfin.com/DC/Washington/59-G-St-SW-20024/unit-110/home/9885294

You could also look in the Van Ness boundary for something like https://www.redfin.com/DC/Washington/915-5th-St-SE-20003/home/9896272 or https://www.redfin.com/DC/Washington/922-4th-St-SE-20003/home/39955885 --these have sold recently and nothing in your price range is on the market now, but be on the lookout. Your odds of getting in to preK there are lower than at Amidon, but in either place you have Appletree, Eagle Academy, and other charters. Plus if your husband's a fed there could be day cares there and there are a bunch in columbia heights.

[Anonymous]

Also, where in MD does family live? If Potomac, living in Arlington might not take any longer for them to get to you than living in DC would. If they're in Waldorf, the calculation is different!